194 
The Founding of New Mexico 
up the former stream to the Pueblo region. An exploring party visited 
most of the pueblos on the east side of the Rio Grande from Isleta to Taos 
and some of the pueblos west of the river. Sosa’s arrest by an agent of 
the viceroy, notwithstanding the now clearly proved legality of his under¬ 
taking, resulted in the expedition returning to New Spain, by way of 
modern El Paso, without having realized its purpose. 3 
Three years later an unauthorized expedition was made to New Mexico 
from Nueva Vizcaya by Francisco Leyva de Bonilla and Antonio Gutiérrez 
de Humaña. After remaining in the Pueblo region about a year the 
country was explored to the northeast probably as far as the Platte River. 
On the return most of the members of the party were killed by the 
Indians. 4 
Competition for the Position of Adelantado of New Mexico, 
i 583-1595- 
The reports made by members of the Rodriguez expedition, after their 
return to New Spain, greatly interested the viceroy, and by him plans 
were at once considered for sending out a colonizing expedition to New 
Mexico. In this connection advice was asked of Rodrigo del Río de Losa, 
lieutenant-captain-general of Nueva Galicia, who not only recommended 
the subjugation of the Indians of New Mexico but the exploration and 
occupation of the country beyond Quivira as far as the supposed strait, 
called Anian, in case it could be reached. This report the viceroy sent to 
the king, together with his own account of the Rodriguez expedition. As 
a result, a cédula was issued on March 29, 1583, in which the viceroy was 
instructed to appoint some suitable person to attempt, under existing 
regulations—referred to in the documents hereinafter printed as the 
“ ordinances for new settlements ”, but better known as the “ laws of set¬ 
tlement of 1573 ” 5 —and without royal expense, the reduction of the 
Indians of New Mexico. Before going into effect, however, it was stipu¬ 
lated that the viceroy’s appointment must be approved by the Council of 
the Indies. This cédula was received by the viceroy in August, 1583, and 
it, together with the new enthusiasm aroused by the return of the members 
of the Espejo expedition and their reports of mineral possibilities and 
other attractions, resulted in a spirited contest for the position of adelan¬ 
tado of New Mexico. 6 
The first proponent for the right to conquer New Mexico was Cristóbal 
Martín, a wealthy citizen of Mexico City. In return for the title of gov- 
3 Dorothy Hull, “ Castaño de Sosa’s Expedition to New Mexico in 1590”, in Old Santa 
Fé, III. 307-332 (October, 1916) ; “ Ytinerario ” of Oñate’s expedition, in Col. Doc. 
Inéd., XVI. 244-245. 
4 Bolton, op. cit., pp. 201-202; Bancroft, Arizona and New Mexico (San Francisco, 
1886), pp. 107-108. 
5 The regulations laid down for making new discoveries are found in “ Ordenanzas 
de Su Magestad hechas para los Nuevos Descubrimientos, Conquistas, y Pacificaciones. 
Julio de 1573”, in Col. Doc. Inéd., XVI. 142-187. 
6 “Testimonio dado en Méjico sobre el Descubrimiento de Doscientas Leguas Adelante 
de las Minas de Santa Barbóla, gobernación de Diego de Ibarra”, etc., in Col. Doc. 
Inéd., XV. 97-100; Bolton, op. cit., pp. 139, 166, 199; and Bancroft, op. cit., pp. 92-94. 
