204 
The Founding of New Mexico 
appealing in person to the king. 48 Four days later, on September 13, 
Oñate wrote a letter to the Count of Monterey. In it he thanked the vice¬ 
roy for encouraging him in his belief that the king, upon the receipt of later 
despatches, would alter his decision; complained bitterly of the viceroy’s 
expressed lack of confidence in his willingness to obey the order to delay; 
expressed a willingness to delay the expedition and to hold together the 
people “ with the greatest dissimulation that may be possible, as your 
lordship orders ”; explained why the people under him had enlisted and 
why they would scatter in case they should learn that he had been super¬ 
seded by another; expressed appreciation for the diplomatic way in which 
Don Lope de Ulloa had helped to prevent the expedition from breaking 
up; showed deep concern for the losses which his loyal followers would 
incur by this removal and the substitution of another leader; emphasized 
the great inconveniences and embarrassments which he was undergoing; 
pointed out the extraordinary precautions which he had taken to make the 
expedition a success, stating that it was at the point where “ it is now with¬ 
out the lack of a single thing ”; gave reasons why the expedition should 
set out at once, and why, in justice to himself, he should be the one to lead 
it; explained why the viceroy was “ under a thousand obligations to defend 
and support ” him; implored the viceroy to order Don Lope de Ulloa to 
make a thorough inspection of everything that was being taken on the 
expedition in order that proof might be recorded of the exactness and 
liberality with which he had carried out his agreement, adding that upon 
this inspection depended all his “ reputation, honor, and credit, and the 
fundamental reason for the right and justification that I have in the said 
expedition ”; recommended that in view of the desertion of more than two 
hundred members of the expedition, suitable penalties be announced by 
the viceroy for deserters and disturbers of the peace; asked for permission 
and gave reasons for desiring to advance from the Rio de las Nazas to the 
Santa Bárbara Valley, some twenty leagues further north; and, finally, 
gave notice that, should another supersede him, he would carry his case 
in person to the king, although to this legally appointed successor he would 
readily and cheerfully deliver all the arms, cattle, provisions, and other 
things which he had provided, and he would do all in his power to prevent 
the members of the expedition from making any disturbance as a result 
of the change. In conclusion Oñate reiterated his belief that his upright 
and Christian king would see that justice was done him. 49 
Oñate was not without loyal friends who rallied to his support in this 
dark hour. One of these was Doctor Santiago del Riego, at that time 
administrator of the College of San Juan de Letrán, and for thirty-five 
years a member of colonial audiencias, including that of New Spain. On 
November 10, 1596, he wrote a laudatory letter to the king with respect 
to Oñate and his plans. In this letter he submitted strong arguments in 
favor of Oñate being allowed to proceed, and adduced equally strong ones 
48 Notification to Oñate, Rio de las Nazas, Nueva Vizcaya, Sept. 9, 1596. This volume, 
P- 353 - 
49 Copy of the letter of Oñate to the Count of Monterey, dated at the Rio de las 
Nazas, Sept. 13, 1596. This volume, pp. 353-367. 
