Capitulations with Oñate, 1595 
265 
The articles of agreement which the viceroy, Don Luís de Velasco, made 
with Don Juan de Oñate, governor and captain-general of the prov¬ 
inces of New Mexico, in accordance with the royal ordinances for 
such discoveries, 15 together with the modifications of the viceroy, 
the Count of Monterey, and zvith the advantages that follow from 
the confirmation of the articles of the viceroy, Don Luis, and the dis¬ 
advantages brought zvith them by the modifications made by the said 
Count of Monterey. [1595?] 
1. Article. Item: That I shall have the power to recruit men in any 
part of the kingdoms of his Majesty for the settlement and pacification, 
naming for it the captains and necessary officials, raising banners, beating 
drums, and proclaiming the expedition, as is provided in article 73 of the 
ordinances. 
Ordinance 73. Let cédulas be issued granting power to raise men in 
any part of these our kingdoms of the crown of Castile and León for the 
settlement and pacification, and to name captains for it, to raise banners, 
to beat drums, and to proclaim the expedition, without anything being 
required for them or of those who may go upon it. 
Modification. The power to raise men shall not be general nor per¬ 
manent, but for this occasion only. And when they are used up, or more 
are necessary, let permission be asked of the viceroy, as was granted to 
Urdiñola. 
The naming of officials of war shall not be for as long a time as he 
may wish but for this time only and with consultation, as was granted to 
Urdiñola. And if the favor should be granted him, this from now on 
shall be understood to be for the time that he may be subject to the charge 
of the viceroys of New Spain, for if he were not it would be contrary to 
their authority for captains and officials to be named by another and for 
people to be raised in it [New Spain]. 
Advantages of article 1. For an expedition of such great importance 
it is very necessary to be able to raise men whenever they are required, as 
it conduces to the greater service of his Majesty that the governor shall 
have authority in his name to be able to raise men at his choice and will, 
for it would thus be in his power to select those qualified and experienced 
and expert in such conquests of the Indies, as is necessary, and at the 
same time [to choose them] for the confidence that must be felt in each 
one where it is necessary for the soldiers to be as experienced and expert 
as their own captains and officers of war. For those [wars] which are 
had with the Indians are very different from others, for, since the number 
of the Indians is so far in excess of that of the Spaniards, everything is 
done by tricks and stratagems; therefore it is necessary that the soldiers 
shall be men of courage and valor, that they shall expect much reward, 
and that they shall be chosen by the governor who is in immediate charge 
of the conquest and is a witness of its occurrences, and who is so far away 
from the viceroy of Mexico that recourse to him is most difficult. For 
exactly the same reasons the governor ought to have the power to name 
the officials of war, whereby he can reward those who have to take 
part in it and those who work the best in it. If this is not done many 
