202 
The Founding of New Mexico 
on October 19, another cédula gave him permission to name the maestro 
de campo , captains, and other necessary military officers, and to recruit 
in New Spain and Nueva Galicia three hundred soldiers, both married and 
single. 36 The same day still another cédula was addressed to the viceroy. 
In it the king said that he had learned that, in violation of his order of 
May 8, 1596, Don Juan de Oñate had already started upon the expedition 
to New Mexico. “ It is my will that he shall not do it, and I command you 
to cause him to desist from this expedition . . . stopping in whatever part 
he may be when he receives your order.” 37 One week later, on October 
26, still another special cédula formally named Don Pedro Ponce de León 
governor and captain-general of New Mexico, and specified all his rights, 
privileges, and authority. 38 In addition to the above no less than thirty- 
three other special cédulas were issued by Philip II. between the dates 
October 12 and 26; 39 these covered in detail every phase of the proposed 
expedition. 
Thus it is clear that as late as the last of October, 1596, the king and 
the Council of the Indies reposed the greatest confidence in Don Pedro, 
and favorable progress was being made relative to his proposed plans. 
By February 7, 1597, however, all this had been reversed. From two 
communications from the Council to the king bearing the dates February 7 
and 18, it appears that Don Pedro had just passed through a very critical 
illness, and, furthermore, being unable to raise the money necessary for 
the undertaking he had petitioned the king to lend him a “ certain sum, 
which, added to the funds that he will be able to collect ”, would be suffi¬ 
cient. 40 In view of this sudden and unexpected turn in affairs the king 
now instructed the Council to deliver to him all the papers on the entire 
subject of the proposed expedition to New Mexico; 41 these were sent to 
the king on February 18, 1597. At the same time the Council advised that 
recent despatches from Viceroy Monterey showed a marked change in the 
latter’s opinion of Don Juan—so much so that he was unwilling to order 
him to desist from his plans before again hearing from the king. The 
Council also reported that the viceroy expressed grave doubts concerning 
the advisability of naming Don Pedro for the proposed expedition. This 
change in the viceroy’s attitude was attributed to the machinations of an 
oidor of the Audiencia of New Spain, who was a brother-in-law of Don 
Juan. The Council further stated that Don Pedro, thanks to the efforts 
of his brother, was so far advanced with his preparations that he could 
depart within eight days, although he really would like to have a month. 
For all of these reasons they strenuously opposed a change from Don 
Pedro back to Don Juan, pointing out that this would be unjust to Don 
Pedro, and that the people collected by Don Juan for the expedition would 
really prefer to go under Don Pedro. This latter could be arranged, it was 
36 Royal cédula, San Lorenzo, Oct. 19, 1596. This volume, p. 323. 
37 Royal cédula, San Lorenzo, Oct. 19, 1596. This volume, p. 335. 
38 Royal cédula, San Lorenzo, Oct. 26, 1596. This volume, pp. 325-329. 
39 Published in this volume, pp. 329-345. 
40 Council of the Indies to the king, Feb. 7 and Feb. 18, 1597. This volume, pp. 345, 347. 
41 Royal decree. This volume, p. 345. 
