303 
Pedro Ponce de León, 1596 
[Royal Decree.] 
Let it be written to the viceroy that he shall suspend the execution of 
the agreement with Don Juan de Oñate; meanwhile let the Council look 
into the conditions asked by Don Pedro Ponce de León and what it is best 
to grant him. 
To the viceroy of New Spain: That he shall suspend the execution of the 
agreement with Don Juan de Oñate in regard to the exploration of 
New Mexico until your Majesty shall order otherzvise. [Aceca, 
May 8, 1596 .] 
The King. Count of Monterey, my relative, viceroy, governor, and 
captain-general of New Spain, or the person or persons in whose charge 
the government of it may be: Having examined the letter which you 
wrote me on December 20 of last year, in which you spoke of the contract 
made by Don Luís de Velasco, your predecessor, with Don Juan de Oñate, 
in regard to the exploration of New Mexico, and the reasons why you said 
you were holding back the decision, advising that it was best not to ap¬ 
prove of the agreement, if by chance request should be made for it on the 
part of Don Juan de Oñate, until you should write again to me, and having 
been advised by my royal Council of the Indies on the occasion of an offer 
made by Don Pedro Ponce de León, who they say is lord of the town of 
Bailen, to make the said exploration, I have determined to suspend the 
execution of the agreement with the said Don Juan de Oñate, and I there¬ 
fore command you not to permit him to make the entrance nor to continue 
it if he shall have begun it, but that it shall be delayed until I shall take 
measure and order what seems best to me, of which I will inform you 
shortly. Done at Aceca, May 8 , 1596. I the King. Countersigned by 
Juan de Ybarra and signed by the president and members of the Council. 
[There is a rubric.'] 
The Council of the Indies. May 19, 1596. With account of what was 
discussed and agreed upon with Don Pedro Ponce de León. 
Sir: In conformity with what your Majesty was pleased to reply and 
order in the answer which is returned here, [an order] was written to the 
viceroy of New Spain to suspend the execution of the contract with Don 
Juan de Oñate in regard to the discovery of New Mexico; and the licen¬ 
tiate Agustín Alvarez de Toledo was commissioned to hear Don Pedro 
Ponce de León and examine into the conditions that he was able to offer, 
showing him what Don Juan de Oñate offered, and of his own free will 
he improves upon it, as, if your Majesty please, you may see in the account 
that goes with this, and he asks for the other things therein contained. 
Since the advantages which Don Pedro offers are so well known and his 
character so much more suitable, it seems that hand could be set to the 
