Pedro Ponce de León, 1596 
331 
the persons to serve in the offices of alguacil mayor and all the other offices 
of the cities and towns of that district for the time that may be my will, 
provided that they shall possess the parts and qualities that are required 
for serving in the said offices. Done at San Lorenzo, October 12, 1596. 
I the King. Etc. 
The King. Count of Monterey, my relative, viceroy, governor, and 
captain-general of New Spain, or the person or persons in whose charge 
its administration may be: As you have heard, I have made a contract 
with Don Pedro Ponce de León concerning the exploration, etc., of New 
Mexico. And, since I agree in one article of the contract that if he should 
have need of more powder than the forty quintals which I have ordered 
him to be given here for the expedition, it should be given to him in the 
City [of Mexico], I order that if the said Don Pedro has need of more 
powder you will cause him to be given what more he needs for the affairs 
of my service at the price agreed upon. Done at San Lorenzo, October 16, 
1596. I the King. Etc. 
The King. By these presents I give power to you, Don Pedro Ponce de 
León, whom I have appointed as my governor ... to take from these 
kingdoms and principalities to those provinces all the arms, offensive and 
defensive, and powder and munitions that you may need. And I command 
that no obstacle be placed in your way in this. Done the same. 
The King. Don Pedro Ponce de León, whom I have appointed as my 
governor and captain-general of the province of New Mexico: In the 
contract which I ordered to be made with you on September 25 of the 
present year concerning the exploration, pacification, and settlement of 
the said province there is an article by which I give you authority to give 
public lands and watering places to the towns that may be settled in New 
Mexico, and to open roads, as is contained in the said article, which runs 
as follows: .... Done at San Lorenzo, October 12. Etc. 
The King. By these presents I give permission to you ... or to 
whomever you may authorize, to take from these kingdoms and princi¬ 
palities fifty negro slaves, free of charges, not only for the two dollars for 
the license of each one of them, but also for all and whatsoever duties 
that pertain to me from them in the Indies. For, whatever this amounts 
to, I exempt you therefrom and I command the officials of my exchequer 
of the City of Mexico to take this decree into their possession and tear it 
up, so that the said fifty slaves, or any one of them cannot be passed 
through more than once by virtue of it. October 16. . . . 
The King. Count of Monterey, my relative, viceroy, governor . . . 
or the person or persons in whose charge the administration may be: 
Since by one of the articles of the contract which I ordered made with 
Don Pedro Ponce de León ... I agreed to give him for the expedition 
the Indians that seemed to belong to those provinces, and particularly an 
