Pedro Ponce de León, 1596 343 
you will take care to inform me of what is done in this matter. The 
same date. Etc. 
The King. Venerable and devout Father Provincial of the Order of 
Saint Francis of New Spain: I have ordered a contract to be made . . . 
and since it is desirable that learned persons shall accompany him, in 
order to occupy themselves in the conversion and instruction of the natives 
of those provinces, I entreat and charge you to give him six religious of 
your Order who shall be endowed with the qualities aforesaid so that 
they may engage in the said ministry, by which I shall be pleased. The 
same date. Etc. 
The King. Inasmuch as in the contract . . . there is an article in which 
I agreed to place you in direct relationship with my royal Council of the 
Indies which runs as follows: .... The same date. 
Don Felipe. . . . Inasmuch as in the contract . . . there is an article 
in which it is agreed that all those who may assist him in the expedition 
and settlement, and their descendants, shall be hidalgos of recognized 
estate and shall enjoy all the privileges and exemptions which, according 
to the statute laws of these kingdoms, knights and hidalgos enjoy, as is 
contained in more detail in the said article, which runs as follows: . . . 
Here follows article 53 of the contract 
and agreement. 
Given at San Lorenzo, November 3. Etc. 
The King. Inasmuch as you, Don Pedro Ponce de León . . . have 
informed me that though it is your principal purpose to do me a very great 
and signal service in that exploration, in what concerns the preservation 
of it as well as in taking it, you desire also to fulfill the obligations of your 
caste and rank, and you have petitioned me to permit you, after you shall 
have fulfilled your duty there, to return, and this having been approved 
by my Council of the Indies and referred to me, and, it appearing to me 
to be a just and reasonable thing, I have decided upon it favorably. 
Therefore I give you by these presents permission, after the said explora¬ 
tion has been made and the affairs carried out for which you are under 
obligations according to your agreement, to return when and as you please, 
provided that it be not less than six years that you remain there. And 
you will leave some person in your place who will serve me in those offices 
during such time as I may will. By these presents I order my viceroy, 
presidents and oidores of the audiencias of those provinces and the other 
justices and judges of them not to put any impediment in the way of your 
coming when the six years shall have passed, and to retain the person 
whom you leave in your place in the use and exercise of the said offices 
so that he may use and exercise them in the manner that you would have 
the power to do by virtue of your titles, until, as has been said, I shall 
order and provide differently. Done at San Lorenzo in the latter part of 
October. Etc. 
