Luís de Velasco, 1597 
417 
received and examined by my royal Council of the Indies, and I am ac¬ 
quainted with all that you say and inform me of in regard to this matter, 
concerning which I have made the decision which you will see in the 
decree of June 17, of this year. I charge and command you to keep and 
fulfill it in everything and by everything, and that, in conformity with 
what is ordered you in it, you shall prevent the said campaign and ex¬ 
ploration from going further, giving orders for the conservation of the 
Indians reduced to our holy faith with the least cost to my royal exchequer 
that may be possible to you, and, if it may be, let this be done with religi¬ 
ous alone. You will do as you are ordered by the said decree. San 
Lorenzo el Real, August 19, 1606. I the King. Countersigned by Juan 
de CiRigA and signed by the Council. 
Evidence submitted concerning the time that Captain Don Luis Velasco 
served his Majesty in the provinces and government of Nueva 
Vizcaya. [ 1596-1614 .] 
Gaspar de Lesquina in the name of Captain Don Luis de Velasco: I 
declare that my client has served your Highness for twenty years con¬ 
tinuously in this region on all the occasions that have arisen in your royal 
service, in war as well as in peace, with his arms and horses and servants 
and fortune, in the new discoveries of lands and towns which have been 
made in New Mexico as well as in the kingdom of Nueva Vizcaya. 
Because of these facts, by order of the viceroy, Don Luis de Velasco, 
Governor Don Juan de Orlate appointed him captain of the men-at-arms 
whom he took on the said expedition, with which my client went to serve 
at his own expense. In the presence of the governor a large quantity of 
property and goods was inspected, which he took to be used and to serve 
on the said occasion. In virtue of the appointment that he had from 
the governor, he raised his standard in the City of Mexico, and, having 
chosen and named the alférez and other officers of his company, he col¬ 
lected a number of soldiers, who went out at their own expense to serve 
your Majesty, without pay or any cost to the real hacienda. 
For this reason it was necessary that my client, as their captain, should 
provide for them many things necessary for the journey, and he gave 
them much assistance in provisions, arms, horses, and ammunition, in 
which he spent a large sum in gold dollars. In view of the great zeal with 
which he continued serving your Highness, the governor appointed him 
commissary general, to collect the captains, officers, and soldiers who had 
enlisted for the expedition and who were scattered in the towns, villages, 
and places of that kingdom. He gathered them together, collected and 
took the army; and, because of this diligence, the expedition was carried 
out. Your viceroy, Don Luis de Velasco, having been informed of the 
good service given by my client and the large amount that he had spent 
on that occasion, gave orders to the said Don Juan de Oñate that he 
should be appointed official tesorero juez [treasury judge] of the real 
