Pedro Ponce de León, 1596 
323 
Power granted to Don Pedro Ponce de León, who is going as governor 
and captain-general to the provinces of New Mexico, to give Indians 
in encomienda. [Saw Lorenzo, October 16, 1596.] 
Don Felipe, Q: Inasmuch as in the contract and agreement which I 
ordered to be made with Don Pedro Ponce de León concerning the settle¬ 
ment and pacification of the province of New Mexico, there are two 
articles by which I give him power to give in encomienda the divisions of 
Indians that there may be in the said provinces among the pacifiers and 
settlers of them, as is contained in the said articles as follows:—“ Item, 
you are granted. . . And because it is my will that what is contained 
in them be kept and fulfilled, I give, by these presents, power and authority 
to the said Don Pedro Ponce de León, in conformity with the said articles, 
to give in encomienda all the divisions of Indians of the said provinces 
in the best manner, bearing in mind that there shall be no excess in it, 
but that each of those who may serve in the above shall receive in pro¬ 
portion to his character and services, as may be seen that he deserves, 
provided that the ports and capital cities shall be assigned to the crown, 
and that he shall grant the encomiendas in accordance with the law of 
succession, with the charges and conditions that have been ordered by me, 
taking care that the ordinances, decrees, and measures that have been 
given upon the food, treatment, and instruction of the Indians be kept, 
and taxing them according to the New Laws and what has been ordered 
concerning the tribute that they are to give to their encomenderos, so that 
they shall pay that and nothing more, with the warning that those who 
exceed in this shall be deprived of the said encomiendas and shall be dis¬ 
qualified and incapacitated from holding those or any others. Given at 
San Lorenzo, October 16, 1596. I the King. Countersigned by Juan 
de Ybarra. 
Power granted to Don Pedro Ponce de León, who is going as governor and 
captain-general of New Mexico, to name the maese de campo, cap¬ 
tains, and necessary military officers, and to recruit in New Spain and 
Nueva Galicia three hundred soldiers, married and single, in accor¬ 
dance with an article of his contract. [San Lorenzo, October 19, 
1596.] 
By these presents I give power to you, Don Pedro Ponce de León, with 
whom I have ordered a contract and agreement to be made concerning 
the exploration, pacification, and settlement of the provinces of New 
Mexico, to name, in conformity with one of the articles of the said 
agreement, the maese de campo, captains, and necessary military officers, 
and to you and to them to raise in the cities, towns, and villages of the 
provinces of New Spain and Nueva Galicia, three hundred soldiers, 
married and single, laborers to cultivate the land, and officials for all the 
offices, and to publish the expedition and raise banners and cause fifes and 
drums to be sounded in all the aforesaid places that seem suitable to you. 
