Pedro Ponce de León, 1596 
311 
pacifications, and settlements that are to be made in the Indies, without 
exceeding or transgressing them either in the whole or in part. For the 
inviolable fulfillment of this and the discharge of my royal conscience, 
there will be conveyed to you with this the said ordinances, instructions, 
and decrees that you must thus keep in the said pacification and exploration. 
In accordance with the said ordinances, instructions, and decrees, you 
agree also to make the said pacification, settlement, and exploration in 
all peace and Christianity, avoiding as far as possible every sort of vio¬ 
lence and force, unless it be necessary to protect and defend the ministers 
of the gospel and your person and people, in case it be not possible to 
defend them in any other manner. You will govern yourself and the 
people you are taking with you in conformity with this and in such a 
manner that all will go on as agreeably as possible, so that God, our Lord, 
will be served and the natives instructed without receiving any harm to 
their persons, morals, or property, but rather all good friendship and 
treatment; you will accomplish more by your own good example and the 
discipline and kindness of the people with you than might be done by the 
use of arms, in case you should enter with them. 
23. Item: You agree that of all that you may conquer in the said pro¬ 
vince, in the manner and form in which you ought to pacify and settle 
them, in conformity with the said ordinances, instructions, and decrees, 
you will take possession in my name and that of my crown and the suc¬ 
cessors to it, with the formality, autos, and ceremonies customary and 
required in such cases. You will do the same in all the other lands and 
provinces besides New Mexico which I hope to God that with His aid 
and your good industry and zeal you may explore. 
24. Item: You agree that if this exploration extends to the South or 
the North Sea, or to both seas, you will construct brigantines to sail along 
the coast and examine the ports and rivers that there may be on those 
coasts, and I convey to you the power to order and take measures for 
them, provided that they shall be such as the purposes for which they are 
to be used require. 
25. You also agree that within six years, counting from the day when 
it will be shown by the certified testimony of the clerk that you have 
entered the first land of the said province of New Mexico, you will 
have established in it three cities—one provincial and the other two suf¬ 
fragan—in the most suitable, fertile, and abundant places that you may 
find and consider to be best and most convenient to make and continue 
the said explorations from; in addition to the said three cities you will 
make as many settlements as you can and as seem to you desirable. In 
each one of all these cities you will construct a fort for its defense, so 
that there may be security for what may be gained, and the first year you 
will make as many settlements as possible. 
26. Item: You agree, as the said exploration goes on and God shows 
the fruit that may be gathered in the salvation of the natives of the 
land, and so that it may always go on increasing, to ask for and take into 
those provinces the necessary presbyters or friars from one of the three 
orders or religious of the Company so that there may be no lack of in- 
