Pedro Ponce de León, ijpó 
295 
before the entrada should be commenced; and because he had done this 
with the attention and care which the case required, he had not yet decided 
the doubts that occurred to him, but that he would make haste and report 
upon it, and in the meantime it would be best to delay the confirmation 
if it should be asked for here. After consideration by the Council, it is 
the opinion that notwithstanding the contract which had been made there 
with Don Juan de Oñate, since it has not been carried out, it will be 
possible to grant this expedition to Don Pedro Ponce de León. For it is 
believed that he will do it much better and with many and well-known ad¬ 
vantages, not only because he is an intelligent and qualified gentleman, 
and because it cannot be doubted that in New Spain there will be found 
many who will follow him—which, besides accomplishing the purpose, 
will relieve the country of idle and lazy people, who, because there is no 
alternative but to assist them, give a great deal of trouble to the officials 
in correcting them—but also because, being very rich, as he is, he will be 
able to bear the expense of the expedition and to expect very good success 
from it. And, although he might enjoy peace and a quiet life in his house 
with the fortune that he has secured, since he offers himself for an under¬ 
taking so arduous and costly, there is no doubt but that his purpose and 
desire is to do in this a great service to your Majesty, as he says in his 
memorials. 
This expedition may, therefore, be granted to him, by giving him the 
warrants in the form that may appear most suitable for its better accom¬ 
plishment, and by ordering the viceroy that if Don Juan de Oñate shall 
have made any preparations that merit recompense he shall repay him by 
providing him with an equivalent load of merchandise of the country. 
Your Majesty will order according to your pleasure. Madrid, April 7, 
Í596. 
[There are six rubrics.'] 
Don Pedro Ponce de León prays that your worship will propose to the 
members of the Council that they shall grant him what is stated in 
the follozoing articles: [Madrid, April 23, 1596.] 
1. First, that he be given the last decision that was handed down with 
respect to the clergy, so that he may understand the legal order that he 
must keep in discovering New Mexico. 
2. That he be given permission to take with him Fray Hierónimo León, 
guardian of San Francisco de Uveda, as one of the six religious who are 
to go on the expedition. 
3. Inasmuch as a person of entire credit has arrived at this court who 
declares that the captains of Don Juan de Oñate had left Mexico with 
very few men, most of them half-breeds and mulattos, and that they had 
joined together in committing so many outrages along the road upon 
the friendly Indians, and even upon the Spanish residents themselves, 
that they forced the viceroy and Audiencia to send an alcalde of the court 
to chastise them vigorously, Don Pedro prays that he be sent quickly, 
