Bernardo Díaz del Castillo, 1566 
63 
covered many rich mines which have been settled, and from them a large 
number of marks of silver have been taken, which has resulted in an espe¬ 
cial service to his Majesty, etc. 
The alcalde Bernardino de Albornoz. 
VI. That on the journey to Cíbola García Rodriguez served his Majesty 
like the other soldiers who went on the journey. . . . 
VII. . . . That from the journey which the governor Francisco Vás- 
quez Coronado made, there resulted the exploration of the province of 
Culiacán and many other lands, in which rich mines have been dis¬ 
covered. . . . 
Juan Jaramilla. 
VII. . . . That from the journey to Cibola there resulted service to 
his Majesty because much land was explored which those who had gone on 
the exploration declared to contain more than a thousand leagues; and 
because on that road and land which was explored some mines are now 
settled, especially those of Chiametla, from which there has been and is 
now being taken a great quantity of silver, resulting in increase of the 
royal treasury. . . . 
Report on the merits and services of Bernardo Diaz del C astillo one of 
the first conquerors and settlers of New Spain. Mexico, May 14, 
>[T5¿¿]. 
Very powerful lord: I, Francisco de Barrios León, a resident of the 
City of Mexico, say, as is shown and appears by these reports of which I 
make presentation in form, that I am legally married to Doña Bernardina 
Lainez del Castillo, who is a legitimate daughter of Diego Diaz Lainez del 
Castillo and Doña Isabel Farfán de los Godos, and is a legitimate grand¬ 
daughter of Bernardo Diaz del Castillo, one of the first conquerors and 
settlers of New Spain. By reason of this relationship your Highness was 
pleased last year, 1565, to give to the aforesaid two cédulas ordering three 
hundred pesos of common gold paid to the said Diego Diaz del Castillo, 
the same to be paid from the proceeds of removals and vacancies for all 
the days of his life, and also ordering that he should be appointed and 
employed in the offices and employments of justice which are contained 
and declared in one of the said cédulas. But notwithstanding what is 
commanded by these cédulas, none of the viceroys of New Spain has 
placed the said Diego Diaz del Castillo in any of the offices of justice in 
which it was the will of your Highness that he should be placed on account 
of his many services. For this reason, and because the said pension was 
so small, he died very poor and needy, and his daughter, my wife, has 
been and is the same. Now therefore I, because this pension has ceased, 
which, although it was so small, yet served to meet some part of our obli¬ 
gations, and because in the aforesaid cédulas and reports the merits and 
services of the said Diego Diaz Lainez del Castillo are so clearly set forth, 
and because of my necessities, I being a person capable and sufficient for 
