Luís de Velasco , 1601 
435 
Captain Don Luís de Velasco . . . By order of the viceroy I made 
ready to serve his Majesty on this expedition, and I have come in the 
prosecution of the expedition as far as this place, the spring of Santo 
Domingo, which is 180 leagues from the City of Mexico, with the army 
of his Majesty, a part of which is encamped in this place with the 
lieutenant-general and the rest of the married men who are going to serve 
his Majesty on this expedition. In this, and because of the delay which 
has occurred in the start and entrance, I have used up all that I had, as all 
the others have done, and the people ran away from me, stealing a great 
quantity of the horses and arms and other goods which I was bringing to 
serve his Majesty on the expedition and for the adornment of my person. 
In order that his Majesty may recompense me in conformity with the 
quality of my person and my merits, I am under the necessity of submit¬ 
ting evidence of the above. Let the witnesses be examined in compliance 
with this petition and let your lordship order that two or more copies, 
certified and in public form, together with your opinion, be given to me, 
so that it may be evident in the royal Council. I beg and pray that your 
lordship will order this to be done, for it is justice that I ask. Don Luis 
de Velasco. 
Witnesses: Captain Gaspar López de Tabora, royal alguacil of the 
army and expedition. 
. . . This witness being in the City of Mexico, in the past year of 159Ó, 
preparing to come on this expedition, saw there Captain Don Luis de 
Velasco, who had, as such, raised a white standard in the parish of Santa 
Catalina of the said city and in the suburb of San Juan, in both of which 
places this witness saw the said standard raised; and he raised and levied 
recruits for this expedition and had a great abundance of soldiers and 
officers. 
Francisco de Sosa Peñalosa, royal alférez, lieutenant-governor and 
captain-general of these provinces of New Mexico, for the king, our lord; 
Inasmuch as Don Luis de Velasco has served the king, our lord, more 
than five years in this expedition and exploration of provinces as captain 
of cavalry troops . . . being one of the first who offered themselves for 
the work, in the necessary guard and sentry duties which occurred, as well 
as in opening the road and passes never before trod upon by Spaniard, 
so that the army could pass until it reached these provinces, in which work 
he has occupied himself in the company of their governor in the explora¬ 
tion and entrance which was made, serving his Majesty in all like a loyal 
subject and giving great proofs in his person, suffering much hardship 
and hunger in those explorations, especially in the one which he made on 
the Río Salado and Vacas de Cibola, 80 where he reached such an extremity 
that for lack of provisions he ate horse meat. . . . 
By this writing I grant and give permission to the said Captain Don 
Luis de Velasco, in the name of our lord, the king, to leave these provinces, 
freely and without any opposition, and to take all his household, wife, 
children, and family to the place that best suits him, 81 and to ask the king, 
our lord, and the señor viceroy of New Spain, in his royal name, to grant 
