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agreement immediately, so that he might be ready in time to go with the 
fleet to New Spain, which would be of great importance for the success 
of the business. Your Majesty will order according to your pleasure. 
Madrid, May 19, 1596. 
[Royal Decree.] 
Let what has been discussed be closed with Don Pedro Ponce de León 
in the form that seems best to the Council. LRubric .] 
First patent of the Council of the Indies [with Don Pedro Ponce de 
León]. September 7, 1596. 
What shall be contracted and agreed with Don Pedro Ponce de León 
in regard to the exploration, pacification, and settlement of New Mexico. 
It is properly drawn up and signed. [Rubricó] 
Sir: In fulfillment of what your Majesty was pleased to reply and order 
in the last answer among those returned here, the contract with Don Pedro 
Ponce de León was put in effect through the licentiate Agustín Alvarez 
de Toledo, who minutely examined the conditions and made a report to 
the Council, and it was approved and done in the form that goes here, so 
that, if your Majesty will deign to sign it, the other warrants may be 
made and he may proceed at once to make his preparations. Your Majesty 
will order according to your pleasure. Madrid, September 7, 1596. 
Contract and agreement with Don Pedro Ponce de León with regard to 
the exploration, pacification, and settlement of New Mexico. [San 
Lorenzo, September 25, 1596.] 
The King. Inasmuch as you, Don Pedro Ponce de León, whose resi¬ 
dence is said to be in the town of Bailen, have informed me that, desiring 
that our holy Catholic faith shall be exalted, proclaimed, and received in 
more parts, and my crown, revenues, and patrimony increased, you 
wished, with my approval, to explore, pacify, and settle the province of 
New Mexico, of whose great size and wealth and extensive native popu¬ 
lation information has been received through religious and laymen who 
have gone to that country at different times and occasions; 
And inasmuch as you promise that you will endeavor, in the form that 
I have given for making such explorations and in no other way, before 
everything else to have our faith and gospel proclaimed, preached, and re¬ 
ceived, and after this is done to have the natives of the said province give 
