380 THE CORONADO EXPEDITION, 1540-1542 [eth.ann.14 



their land because they persisted in the unmarried state. This ar- 

 rangement likewise received the royal approval. 1 When, however, "the 

 new laws and ordinances for the Indies" came out from Spain in 1544, 2 

 after Coronado's return from the northern expedition, one of the sec- 

 tions expressly ordered an investigation into the extent and value of 

 the estates held by Francisco Vazquez de Coronado, since it had been 

 reported to the King that the number of Indians held to service on these 

 estates was very excessive. Mendoza had to answer the same charge 

 at his visita in 1547. 



Mendoza sent Coronado, in 1537, to the mines at Amatepeque, where 

 the negroes had revolted and "elected a king," and where they threat- 

 ened to cause considerable trouble. The revolt was quelled, after some 

 fighting, with the help of the Indians of the district. A couple of 

 dozen of the rebels were hung and quartered at the mines or in the City 

 of Mexico. 3 



In the following August, Coronado was legally recognized as a citizen 

 of the City of Mexico, where he was one of three witnesses chosen to 

 testify to the formal recognition by Cortes of the royal order which 

 permitted De Soto to explore and conquer Florida. 4 A month later. 

 September 7, 1538, the representative of De Soto, Alvaro de Sanjurjo, 

 summoned Coronado himself to recognize and promise obedience to the 

 same royal order, "as governor, as the said Sanjurjo declared him to 

 be, of New Gallcia." Coronado readily promised his loyal and respect- 

 ful obedience to all of His Majesty's commands, but observed that this 

 matter did not concern him at all, "since he was not governor, nor did 

 he know that His Majesty desired to have him serve in such a position ; 

 and if His Majesty should desire his services in that position, he would 

 obey and submit to the royal provision for him whenever he was called 

 on, and would do what was most serviceable to the royal interests." 

 He adds that he knows nothing about the government of Ayllou or 

 that of Narvaez, which were mentioned in the license to De Soto. This 

 part of his statement can hardly have been strictly true. The answer 

 was not satisfactory to Sanjurjo, who replied that he had received 

 information that Coronado was to be appointed governor of New Galicia. 

 The latter stated that he had already given his answer, and thereupon 

 Sanjurjo formally protested that the blame for any expenditures, dam- 

 ages, or scandals which might result from a failure to observe the royal 

 order must be laid at the door of the one to whom they rightfully 

 belonged, and that they would not result from any fault or omission on 

 the part of De Soto. Sanjurjo may have received some hint or sugges- 

 tion of the intention to appoint Coronado, but it is quite certain that 

 no definite steps had yet been taken to supplant the licentiate, De la 



■See the Fragmentn de Visita, in Icazbaleeta's Doc. Hist. Mexico, vol. ii, p. 95. 



*The laws were signed at Valladolid, .Tune 4 and June 26, 1543, and the copy printed in Icazbaleeta's 

 Doc. Hist. Mexico, vol. ii, p. 214, was promulgated in JS'ew Spain, March 13, 1544. 

 3 See Mendoza's letter to the King. December 10, 1537. 

 4 The proceso which was served on Cortes is in Pacheco y Cardenas, Doc. de Indias, vol. xv, p. 371. 



