214 
The Founding of New Mexico 
authorized Alonso de Oñate to charter a special vessel on which to trans¬ 
port them to New Spain. 84 Later he gave permission for the married men 
on the expedition to carry their wives and children along with them. 83 
But because merchandise was not allowed to be carried on especially 
chartered vessels, Alonso de Oñate was unable to find a ship-owner who 
was willing to transport the recruits unless he himself paid for their 
provisioning, and this, because of the cost involved, he was unable to do. 
As an accommodation to Oñate, therefore, the master of the ship which 
Oñate was authorized in July, 1604, to charter was given permission to 
carry forty or fifty tons of merchandise to help pay the expenses of the 
voyage. 86 In all these ways did the crown and the Council of the Indies 
aid the undertaking of Oñate, despite the fact that the viceroy had not 
then reported upon the investigation ordered relative to Oñate’s conduct. 
At the same time, in New Mexico, Oñate, in order that it might be used 
to support his petition for reinforcements, had been particularly anxious 
to make some strikingly significant discovery; finally on October 7, 1604, 
he left his capital with the intention of going to the South Sea. In this 
he did not succeed, but on January 25, 1605, a fine port at the head of 
the Gulf of California was discovered and possession taken for the king. 
News of the discovery and the recorded belief that California was an 
island was sent to the viceroy by Oñate upon his return to New Mexico. 
In the meantime the viceroy, on March 31, 1605, had recommended to the 
king that Oñate’s acts be investigated and the country’s resources inspected 
by an official of the Audiencia, and that a presidio be established in New 
Mexico. Before waiting for the king’s reply, the viceroy, as a temporary 
measure of relief, sent two missionaries and twenty-four soldiers as rein¬ 
forcements to the province. After Oñate’s report relative to his western 
discoveries had been received, the recommendation that a presidio be 
established in New Mexico was repeated by the viceroy on October 28, 
1605, and at the same time the construction of vessels to follow up by sea 
both Oñate’s and Vizcaino’s discoveries 87 was urged. 
During the next three years the fate of New Mexico was uncertain. 
O11 March 31, 1605, the Marquis of Montesclaros, with the advice of the 
fiscal and three members of the Audiencia who were thought to be least 
prejudiced in the matter, made a secret report to the king upon the findings 
of Monterey’s and subsequent investigations into the alleged offenses and 
misconduct of Oñate. The report itself is not available, but it appears 
that in it were set forth the behavior of Oñate and the poor results which 
attended his efforts in New Mexico. This report was made the basis for 
the king’s ordering the viceroy, on June 17, 1606, “ to cause the said dis¬ 
covery to cease and go no further ”, and “ with tact and discretion, to 
84 Royal cédula to the viceroy of New Spain. Valencia, Jan. 21, 1604. This volume, 
pp. 409-411. 
85 Instructions of the Council, Valladolid, Feb. 23, 1604. This volume, p. 411. 
86 Decree of the Council, Valladolid, July 19, 1604. This volume, pp. 411-413. 
87 In 1602-1603 Vizcaino had explored the west coast as far north as Cape Mendo¬ 
cino. Bolton, Spanish Exploration in the Southwest, pp. 52-103. 
