Juan de Oñate, 1596 
383 
Your Majesty will deign to arrange things there as seems most con¬ 
formable with what will have been considered, and what is set forth about 
matters here in this paper in case some things may not have been made 
known or attention not given to them as they are understood by me and 
by the Audiencia and by other learned and well-informed persons here. 
As to what touches upon the preservation of the people and other 
things that Don Juan has it seems to me that no certain decision can be 
made, for it is apparent to all that he runs great risk of their being lost 
and scattered, no matter what efforts he may make or how much I may 
urge him to preserve them. 
The inspection and muster which Don Lope was to have made has not 
been made, because he did not pass the last settlements and arrive at the 
time of the entrance, as was proper, and as he was ordered to do. Besides 
this it has just occurred to the Audiencia that it had already ordered him 
not to put this proceeding into execution if he believed that Don Juan 
had the means to carry out the contract, in order not to justify the claim 
of Don Juan himself for the interest which he would be able to charge. 
Although if he should require him to carry out these measures, with the 
declaration that they would otherwise be done without his presence before 
some clerk, it was the opinion that in such a case Don Lope should do 
this, in order not to give any opportunity for fraud and deceit against your 
Majesty and in order that it should not appear as though the truth were 
not being sought. 
Together with these other greater expenses which I have spoken of, 
I am troubled about that which Don Lope and his officials are causing 
your Majesty, but it has not seemed desirable either to me or to the Audi¬ 
encia to order him to come back, for, although it is not advisable to make 
the inspection and muster now, for the reason that I have said, if he should 
come without making it it would be necessary for him to return there after¬ 
wards in case an order should come from your Majesty for Don Juan to 
continue his journey. The most important of all is that if Don Lope 
were seen to be returning the people would be undeceived and would 
quickly disperse. May God guard the Catholic person of your Majesty. 
Mexico, November 15, 1596. 
The Count of Monterey. [ With rubric .] 
The reasons presented why Don Juan de Oñate should make the entrance 
into New Mexico as he ivas commissioned to do, in virtue of the 
agreement made with him, and why no other person should come 
from Spain to do it, in disruption of the compact, are as follows: 
[Mexico, November 15, /59b.] 
1. It is apparent that Don Juan de Oñate will feel aggrieved—after 
having contracted with the viceroy, Don Luís de Velasco, in conformity 
with the ordinances of his Majesty, and a special order received by the 
viceroy, and, having received in virtue of the agreement, his commissions 
and patents for the entrance and government from the same viceroy, and 
