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Show THE CONQUEST OF NEW MEXICO 337 charged with oppressive exactions of labor and tribute from the natives. This matter was referred to the Audiencia, and drew out a reprimand and warning addressed to both parties. Fr. Geronimo ZarateSalmeron came to New Mexico, probably after the Villa Real de Santa Fé had been established by the Spaniards. He was ardent in his missionary work, and for eight years ‘‘sacrificed himself to the Lord among the Pagans,”’ toiling chiefly among the J emez, of whom he says that he baptized 6,566, and in the languag e of which tribe he wrote a doctrina. This friar also served at Cia and Sandia, among the Queres, and once pacified the people of Acoma, after a revolt. Salmeron regarded, as did all his brothers in the order, the salvation of souls as paramount to everything in the settling of the hew countries, and for the purpose of overcoming certain obstacl es which he believed existed in the matter of salvation for the natives, he went to Mexico with his Relaciones. In the year 1621 the missions, with over 16,000 converts, were formed into a ‘‘custodia de la Conversion de San Pablo.’’ The first custodio was Fr. Alonzo de Benavides, who came from Mexico, bringing with him twenty-seven friars. According to Salmeron and Benavides, five years later, although 34,000 Indians had been baptized in the faith, yet only sixteen friars and three lay brothers were in the country. Requests were constantly being made for the sending of more friars, and, in 1627, the king ordered thirty new friars and a large number of lay brothers to be sent immediately. These came under the leadership of Fr. Estevan de Perea, from the provineia del Santo Evangelico, arriving in 1628-9. Vetancurt states that Fr. Tom4s Manso was the custodio in the year 1629. This friar was procurador of New Mexico for twenty-five years, provincial of them to go with cheerfulness to said labor, and that such it really was not, to make a house for God and His Most Blessed Mother, our Virgin lady, who was enclosed in a wagon; and that if a lady came they were obliged to furnish her with a house, and that such was their duty; and mine it was to issue such orders with much force, because the Lord our God might punish us, seeing that, being Christians, we did not make the church immediately, which they promised to accomplish, as I had ordered; and they afterward sent for the axes which I gave unto them immediately and a hide to make a ladder. And for the authenticity of these proceedings, I have had an act thereof drawn up and signed it, with my secretary in civil and military affairs. D. Diego de Vargas Zapata Lujan Ponce de Leon. Roque de Madrid. Before me, Antonio Balverde, Joseph de Contreras. Military and Civil Secretary. |