Ponce de León and Oñate, 1597 
347 
The Council of the Indies. February 18, 1597. With all the communi¬ 
cations that have been made and papers that have come in regard to 
the exploration of New Mexico, about which a contract has been 
made with Don Pedro Ponce de León, and an agreement made there 
by the viceroy Don Luís de Velasco zvith Don Juan de Oñate. 
Here are the communications that have been made to your Majesty 
in regard to this business from its beginning, until your Majesty made 
the final decision by which the contract was put into effect with Don 
Pedro . . . both because of the difference that there appeared to be 
between his character and that of Don Juan de Oñate, with whom an 
agreement had been made there by the viceroy Don Luis de Velasco, as 
because of the notable betterment and advantages with which Don Pedro 
wished to take charge of it. 
And also the papers that have just been received and a separate state¬ 
ment of everything, so that if your Majesty please you can consider it 
with more convenience. These last papers were not sent to your Majesty 
with the above-mentioned communication of the seventh of the past 
month because I, the president, had been charged with speaking to Don 
Pedro . . . who is convalescing from a grave illness, in order to learn 
what disposition he had to make the expedition at the early date that is 
required, and with his reply to give an account to your Majesty of all the 
reasons upon which the advice was founded for preferring the character 
of Don Pedro Ponce to that of Don Juan de Oñate. They are referred 
to in the same communications, and in them also it is related how the 
viceroy wrote that if confirmation should be requested here on the part of 
Don Juan de Oñate it should be delayed, showing little satisfaction with 
his character and with the agreement, all very different from what he says 
now. This having been considered, and that Don Pedro has all his 
warrants and is so forward with his preparations that no matter what 
decision your Majesty may be pleased to make in this last claim he could 
leave within eight days, and that a brother of his has been for some time in 
Seville preparing the ships, victuals, arms, and munitions, and that if a 
change should be made now it would be with great damage to his reputa¬ 
tion and a poor response to the good spirit and generosity with which he 
has offered to serve your Majesty. The one who has stirred up all these 
difficulties and aroused the viceroy’s doubts is an oidor of the Audiencia 
who is a brother-in-law of Don Juan de Oñate. But all the difficulties 
which he presents will cease with the arrival of Don Pedro, for all the 
people who are now ready will continue the journey, and Don Pedro will 
pay them for what they have spent, so that only the person [in charge] 
will be changed and it cannot be doubted that they will go with a better 
heart with Don Pedro. It is best, therefore, that there shall be no 
change. However, since the viceroy writes that he would hold Don 
Juan de Oñate until your Majesty should reply with your decision, and 
that until such should arrive all is to be stopped and delayed, the one to 
carry the reply should be Don Pedro himself, haste being made so that 
he can depart within a month, as he offers to do. Your Majesty will order 
according to your pleasure. Madrid, February 18, 1597. 
