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Show THE CONQUEST OF NEW MEXICO 305 By virtue of the acceptance of Ofate’s propos ition, he was to obtain the title of adelantado, governor and captain-general, to- among other things he granted to him what is contained in one of the chapters or instructions of new discoveries and settleme nts of the Indies, which is as follows: ‘To those who bind themselves to form said settlements, and shall have done the same, and shall have complied with the agreement, in honor of their own persons and their descendants and of them as first settlers, laudable memory may remain, we make them and their legitima te descendants Hijosdalgos of the lands owned by them, in order that in the Settlement established by them, and in any other part of the Indies they may be Hijosdalgos and persons of noble lineage and Lord paramount, and as such they shall be known, held and considered, and enjoy all the honors and pre-eminences, and may do all things that noblemen and gentlemen of the Kingdom of Castile can do, according to the privileges, laws and customs of Spain, should or ought to do and enjoy. And in behalf of the said Juan de Ofate, I have been requested to grant him the grace to command him to approve, notwithstanding the moderation which the Duque of Monterey used relative thereto, and published by him, my Council of the Indies, I have thought proper that the said prerogatives should be understood to continue during the time occupied in said conquest, for five years, and if the said conquerors should terminat e the conquest thereof before the expiration of the five years, they, their sons, and descendants shall enjoy the said prerogatives as herein set forth. And I do hereby command that all who may have gone and shall go on the said conquest, pacification and settlement, according to, and in conformity with, the provisions of the said chapter, and shall continue in the conquest for five years; and those who shall prosecute there shall be the same reserved who and should secured pre-eminences and prerogatives, formity to, and as is granted die before the expiration unto their sons and of five years, descendants all the exemptions, and liberties as aforesaid in con- and conferred upon them in the said chapter, entirely and completely, failing in nothing, and charge the Infantes, Prelates, Duques, Marquises, Counts, Nobles, Subjects and Priors of Royal Orders, Prefects, Alealdes of the Castiles, houses surrounded with a moat, and country houses (casas fuertes y lanas), and those of my councils, Presidents, Judges, Alealdes, High Constables of my household and court, and chancery to my viceroys and Governors, and to all of my authoriti es and Judges, as well those of my Kingdom and Seignories as those of the Indies and Tierra Firma of the Ocean, and other persons of whatever condition or quality, to observe and com- Ply, and to have obeyed and executed this my franchise and grace, confirme d to the aforesaid, without restricting or increasing, nor consent to any infraction of the contents of this my determination, which I desire and it is my will that t shall have the force of law as though it had been decreed and promulgate d M court, and it be published in all proper parts and places. ‘* ¢ Given at San Lorenzo, on the 8th day of July, 1602. ‘‘ ‘I, THE KING. (Signed) ‘Laguna, Armenteros, Doe. Eugenio de Salazar, Benabente de Venavides, Louis de Salcedo. By order of the King, my Lord. Juan de Ibarra. Re- Corded, Gabriel de Ochoa, Chancellor, Sebastian de la Vega.’ ‘*ACT “In the City of Mexico, Royal Audience of New Spain June OF AUDIENCE 20, 1604, being present the President at the session, and Judge also the of the Mariscal Campo, Vicente de Salvidar, presented the Royal decree governing to the ePosite party and asked that it be complied with; and being seen by the said Audience, they obeyed the same with all reverence and respects, and replied |