DISCOVERY OF NEW MEXICO a.d. 



1581-83. 



saguates ; that toward the North, travelling alwayes by 



land, there were certaine great townes not hitherto 



knowen nor discovered by our Spanyards : mooved with 



a zeale of charity, and a desire to save soules, craved 



licence of the Conde of Corunna as then Viceroy of 



Nueva Espanna, and of his superiours, to go to the sayd 



townes, and to indevour to learne their language, and 



having learned the same, to baptize them, and to preach 



the holy Gospel unto them. After he had obteined 



licence of the parties aforesayd, taking with him other 



two companions of his owne order, and eight souldiers, The chiefe of 



who of their owne good will offered to beare him ^^f^ ^ ^^^^" 



11 1 ^ . . 1 . ^ , . . diers was 



company, he departed to put m execution his Christian fj-ancisco 



and zealous intent. Who after certeine dayes travell Sanchez 

 come unto a countrey called The province de los Tiguas XamwLcado 

 distant from the mines of Santa Barbara, from whence "-^'^^^^ ^^f-^ ^ 

 they began their journey, 250 leagues towards the ^rovinces^^^ 

 North : in which province the inhabitants, upon a cer- zvhich being 

 taine occasion, slew one of the sayd friers two companions, intercepted is 

 The souldiers that went with him seeing this mishap, <^^^^J°^^^' 

 and perceiving the successe, and likewise fearing, that yt^^ province 

 thereof might happen some greater danger, determined de los Tiguas 

 with a common consent to return unto the mines from distant 250 

 whence they departed : considering that their company i^^g^^^^'^^th- 

 was too small to resist the dangers that might happen, ^^ii'^Jlf^^^L 

 being so farre distant from the dwellings of the Span- Barbara. 

 yards, and from all necessary succour. But the two 

 friers which remained alive did not onely refuse their 

 determination, but rather seeing fit occasion to put their 

 good desire in execution, and so great a harvest ripe 

 for the Lords table, because they could not persuade the 

 souldiers to proceed any further in that discovery, re- 

 mained behinde in the sayd province with three 

 Indian boyes, and one Mestizo, whom they had caried 

 with them ; thinking that although they remained alone, 

 yet should they be there in securitie, by reason of the 

 great affability and love which the people of that place 

 shewed unto them. 



187 



