Fernando de Oñate, 1612 
459 
nando de Oñate, for whom this evidence is being- taken, and Don Fernando 
de Oñate and Doña Leonor de Ribadeneyra, his wife, legitimate parents 
of the aforesaid; he knows Cristóbal de Oñate and Doña Catalina de 
Salazar, his wife, paternal grandparents of the said Don Fernando, the 
younger, and also Fernando de Ribadeneyra and Doña Maria de Merida, 
his wife, maternal grandparents of the said Don Fernando; and he has 
knowledge of the purpose for which this evidence is being taken. 
As to the general questions respecting competence he declared that he 
is nowise disqualified and that he is fifty-five years of age, more or less. 
To the second question he declared that he knows and has seen that 
the said Don Fernando de Oñate and Doña Leonor de Ribadeneyra are 
married and legitimately veiled according to the order of Holy Mother 
Church, for during many years that this witness has lived in this part he 
has seen them living in matrimony as legitimate husband and wife, and 
they have been commonly held and reputed as such. During the said 
marriage this witness saw that they had and procreated as their legitimate 
and eldest son the said Don Fernando de Oñate, the younger, whom they 
have treated, named, and reared as such, and the aforesaid has recognized, 
named, and honored them as his legitimate parents, and this is public 
knowledge, without possibility of doubt. In the matter of the proofs of 
merits presented by the said Don Fernando de Oñate, the elder, in the 
previous year of 1577, which have just been shown to him, he refers to 
them, and is certain that the said Don Fernando de Oñate mentioned in 
them is the same one that he knows, since his parents, whom this witness 
knows, as he has already said, are referred to in them. This he affirms. 
To the third question he declared that he knows and saw and it is true 
that after the said Don Fernando de Oñate, the elder, had submitted the 
said proofs of merits mentioned in the question, the corregimiento of this 
city having become vacant before this, during the administration of the 
viceroy, Marquis of Montesclaros, in New Spain, and the said Don Fer¬ 
nando de Oñate being a person of rank and position, as is publicly known 
in all this kingdom, the said viceroy selected and named him as corregidor 
of this city, which office he filled and exercised very acceptably, until the 
successor, who is now administering it, came from the kingdoms of Cas¬ 
tile. From his administration of the said office Don Fernando left 
a laudable name, fame, and reputation, and this witness refers to the tes¬ 
timony of his good report, which, as was publicly known, he rendered 
without any blame or charge being made against him. And this witness 
also saw that the said viceroy, Marquis of Montesclaros, named as his 
captain of the guard Don Alonso de Oñate, brother of the said Don Fer¬ 
nando, and this witness saw him fill and exercise the said office of captain 
of the guard, conducting himself with the dignity and decorum due to his 
position. This he affirms. 
To the fourth question this witness declared that ever since he has 
known the said Don Fernando de Oñate, the elder, and his brothers he 
has observed in them a special inclination and desire always to be occupy¬ 
ing themselves in arduous undertakings, important to the service of his 
Majesty and the good of these kingdoms, in consequence of which this 
witness saw and knew that Governor Don Juan de Oñate, legitimate 
