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Show LEADING 306 FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY THE gether with high official titles for his two cousins, as well as for his son, Cristoval Ofiate, who was to accompany him. As soon as the contract had been signed by the viceroy, Onate began, along with his four brothers, and his four nephews, the Salvidars, and other powerful friends, to recruit for hisarmy. Recruiting stations were established in the City of Mexico, to which came adventurers from all portions of the country, anxious to enlist under the banner of the brave Ofiate, and particularly attracted by the terms offered, which gave great promise of wealth, fame, and fortune in the far north. There were many very influential men engaged in promoting this grand enterprise, among them being Don Diego Velasco, governor of Nueva Viscaya, Rodrigo del Rio de Losa, Santiago del Riego, and Maldonado of the Audiencia, Loquetio, Antonio de Figueroa, the Banuelos, Ruy Blas de Mendoza, Juan Cortés, the great grandson of the conqueror, Juan de Guevara, and Salas, the alealde of Zacatécas. The brothers of Don Juan were Fernando, Cristoval, Alonso and Luis Nufies Perez. The brothers Salvidar were Cristobal, Francisco, Juan, and Vicente. They were sons of Don Juan Salvidar, who had been a captain in the army of Don Francisco Vasquez Coronado, nearly half a century before. Already six or seven hundred men had enlisted, and the preparations for departure were about concluded when the count de Monterey succeeded Don Luis de Velasco, as viceroy. The new viceroy arrived at the City of Mexico on the 5th day of November, and immediately began investigating the fitness of Don Juan for the enterprise, and on the 20th day of December wrote to the king asking that a ratification of the project be deferred until he could secure additional information. Many charges were filed against Onate by his enemies and others who were jealous of Ofiate’s brillant opportunities and the most unusual privileges and preroga- tives which had been granted to him under the contract.??° that it should be observed and complied with, and executed in all its parts as His Majesty commanded; and this it was recorded as their act, and they approved the same by placing their rubric thereto in my presence. a (Signed) ‘‘CriToBaL ORosI0.”’ | All of the facts concerning the conquest by Ofiate, confirming what 18 found in the poem by Villagra, are to be found in Pacheco, Doc. xvi, pp- 188227. There is a resumé of the documents, all correspondence, and @ lot of testimony taken in Mexico on the achievements of Ofiate and the great neces: sity for continuing the conquest. On pages 98-141 appear the formal acts of the taking possession of New Mexico for Spain, followed by the acts CONQUEST OF NEW MEXICO 307 Finally, after the many charges agains t Ofate had been tho oughly canvassed and considered by the viceroy, he came to ii conclu sion that he would approve the contract sale by Don fits de Velasco, but insisted upon certain modifications which, when they became known to those who had enlist ed in the anita rise caused Onate a great deal of annoyance and trouble But, dum. daunted, Ofate made additional haste in his prepatariany sid started for the north, halting at Zacatécas. With him at this time went several Franciscans, under P. Rodri go Duran as comisario whose names were Baltazar, Cristoval de Salaza r, and Diego Mar. tinez. In June, 1596, Lope de Ulloa y Lemos was commissioned by the viceroy to make an inspection and invent ory. He was also in- structed to complaints finally remove of the army the army disorderly moved from the conduct; settlements this on to the mines caused on some in Durango and account delay, of but a ae still farther on to the valley of San Bartolomé. A courier arrived on the 9th of September, carrying a royal order of the 8th of May, which directed a Suspension of the entrada until further instructions were received. Ulloa’s letter from the viceroy dated August 12th, came with the same packet, and in this he ous ordered to instruct vance. Onate, under the severest penalties, not to ad- Ofiate promised to obey the order but kept the news from the army for a long time. The order from the viceroy in no manner kept him from his purpose of continuing the enterprise, and, aided by Juan Guerra, who most generously offered to bear a share of the expense incident to the delay, he kept up a brave front durin g the delay, which lasted nearly a year. During all this period , soldiers were constantly deserting, and failure at times seemed certai n. InSpection followed inspection, but each time Ofiate was able to keep his force up to the required standard. His foes spared nothing in their efforts to break up the expedition, and at times it seems that the government entertained this policy also. Father Duran became greatly disheartened, and notwithstanding the most vigorous proom left with most of his friars. During this period, and partic uary between the months of November, 1596, and February, 1597, of submission note 314. of the Pueblo Indians, giving dates and witnesses. See post, |