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Show 304 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY erers of the unexplored lands of the New World. His father had been an officer in the army of Nufo de Guzman, and his wife’s grandfather was one of the founders of Zacatecas and a large owner in the mines at that place. Ofiate offered to equip and at his own expense pay the wages of at least two hundred soldiers. The king was not to pay °°’ any portion of the expenses °° of this expedition, as proposed by Ofiate, and in the month of September, 1595, the viceroy, Don Luis de Velasco, signed the contract, accepting all of Ofiate’s proposals except some of his most extravagant demands, the agreement as entered into being a stipulation for “‘the discovery, pacification and settlement of the provinces of New Mexico, which are in New Spain.’’ 3% adapted to epic narration, and in the generally smooth-flowing endecasylabic lines of Villagr4 loses nothing of its intrinsic fascination. Occasionally the author quits the realms of poesy to give us a document in plain prose; and, while enthusiastic in praise of his leader and his companions, our New Mexican Homer is modest in recounting his own exploits. Of all the territories of America, or of the world, so far as my knowledge goes, New Mexico alone may point to a poem as the original authority for its early annals. Not less remarkable is the historic accuracy of the muse in this production, or the long concealment of the book from the eye of students.’’ 307 Fernandez Duro says that Ofiate was married to Dofia Isabel Cortés Montezuma, daughter of Hernando Cortés. Villagré says he was married to Dofia Isabel, daughter of Juan de Tolosa, granddaughter of Hernando Cortés, a great granddaughter of Montezuma, and Bernardes, Zac., 31-4, agrees with illagré. $08 According to Gregg, who claims to have seen Ofiate’s petition with marginal notes of approval and dissent, at Santa Fé, Ofiate offered to raise 200 men and to supply, at his own one year’s provisions for the of governor, adelantado, and with all the vassals thereon, expense, live-stock, implements, merchandise, and colony. In return he asked for himself the titles captain-general, for five lives; 30 leagues of land a salary of 8,000 ducats and exemption from the crown tax for working mines; for his family, hereditary nobility and liberal encomiendas; for his army, arms and ammunition; for his officers, repartimuentos of native laborers; for his colony, a loan of 20,000 pesos from the royal Weasury; and for church accoutrements.the spiritual well-being of all, six friars and the Atting 809 The following is a copy of th ig : tn ig favor of Ofiate: 8 PY € original decree of the king of Spain 9: ‘‘Don Felipe, by the grace of God, King of Castile, of Aragén, of the leilies, of Jerusalem, of Portugal, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galecia, Mayoria, Sevilla, of Yerdina, Cordova, Coreega, Murrisa, Jaen, Alre of Algesir 4 Gibraltar, Canary Islands, East and West Indies, Islands, i abe yee the — Arch-duque of Austria, Duque of Borgora and I 0, COUNT o raspur and Molisa, ete., ig : a 66 Whereas, the viceroy, Flander Pia melts nders, and Tirol, of Barcelona, Lord of Viscay Don Louis of Velasco, by virtue of a decree of the ca: 2 lait Lond r= may he live in glory — entered into an agreement and sy Settlement ite ernof on Juan de of Ofiate, relative to the discovery, pacification the provinces New Mexico, which is in New Spain, and Don Gaspar eX. OV € de Zufiga ~e y Acevedo, of New “ Spain, Condé 1595 , de 7 Monterey, 7 Viceroy Tro. be |