Fernando de Oñate, 1612 
461 
brother of the said Don Fernando de Oñate, made the expedition referred 
to in the question about the campaign to New Mexico. As was publicly 
known, he made it at his own cost and expense, in which this witness 
knows that he would spend a large sum, as the undertaking was very 
onerous, and he took on it, as this witness saw, a great collection of arms, 
people, and provisions. This witness is certain that the said Don Fer¬ 
nando de Oñate, his brother, as a gentleman of high position, and bearing 
in mind the service that would result to his Majesty from such a cam¬ 
paign, would aid and succor the said Don Juan, his brother, and this 
witness knows, and it is publicly known, that in some parts of the said 
New Mexico the Indians native to the land have received holy baptism 
and have come under the rule of his Majesty. This he affirms. 
To the fifth question he declared that he knows, and it is publicly known, 
that the said Don Fernando de Oñate, the younger, is married and legiti¬ 
mately veiled with Doña Magdalena de Mendoza, his cousin, legitimate 
daughter of Vicente de Zaldivar and his wife, who are persons of posi¬ 
tion, being held among the noble people of this city as such and as persons 
of the rank stated in the question. This witness also knows that the said 
Don Fernando de Oñate, the younger, by derivation and descent from 
his said father and mother and grandparents, is one of the best known 
gentlemen of this kingdom, and he and all the aforesaid are held to be 
such. He also knows that the said Don Fernando is a very moral gentle¬ 
man, possessed of the necessary tact, judgment, and sagacity for any 
serious and important undertaking. For all of these reasons this witness 
knows that the favor which his Majesty should have deigned to grant to 
his father for his merits and rank, may be confirmed to him, and that the 
favor of the knighthood referred to in the question will be very fitting and 
appropriate to his character. This he affirms. 
In the City of Mexico, on the ninth day of the month of March, 1612, 
I, Martín Ossorio de Agüero, clerk of the chamber of our lord, the 
king, in his Audiencia and chancery of New Spain, caused this copy to 
be made of the official evidence. 
Opinion of the royal Audiencia of Mexico in regard to the merits and 
services of Don Fernando de Oñate and his ancestors. [ 1612 .] 
Don Fernando de Oñate, son of Don Fernando de Oñate and Doña 
Leonor de Ribadeneyra, petitioned that evidence be received in this royal 
Audiencia, by command and officially, of the merits and services of his said 
ancestors and of the legitimacy of his person, rank, and estate. This he 
has verified and proved by the evidence submitted, with the result that 
this Audiencia holds him to be one of the most competent persons in this 
kingdom, in whom are united the requisite parts and qualities for any 
favor that your Majesty may be pleased to grant him, especially for some 
office of administration of justice or royal exchequer in this royal treasury 
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