Juan Velarde Colodro, 1612-1614 
479 
sary as he was commanded by this witness as well as by the general, Don 
Juan de Oñate. This he responds, etc. 
To the fourth question this witness said that he knows the contents of 
it to be true, for he saw, during* all the twelve years mentioned in the 
question, that Captain Colodro was engaged in the expedition and con¬ 
quest, and that he personally attended with care and diligence throughout 
the war to everything which was for the good of his Majesty’s service, 
exploring the land and investigating its secrets; this witness saw that the 
captain endured many hardships and privations in this work, for it was 
his duty to ascertain the whereabouts of the Indians and to enter into rela¬ 
tions with them in such manner as circumstances might direct, and to 
report to his Majesty from time to time as he acquired information. This 
he responds, etc. 
To the fifth question this witness said that he had learned from the 
men in the army concerning the expedition which Captain Colodro made 
with the adelantado , Juan de Oñate, on the journey of discovery to the 
port of the South Sea; and that, according to what they all said of the 
terrible hardships which they endured, it was a miracle that a single man 
escaped. With regard to the journey to the Gran Ranchería, this witness 
went upon that exploration with a part of the army, the adelantado and 
Captain Juan Velarde Colodro going also. They discovered the fertile 
buffalo plains and great numbers of herds, and they heard reports of great 
riches. On this journey the captain underwent great hardships and mis¬ 
fortunes on account of the length of the journey, the cold, and the bad 
roads. This he responds, etc. 
To the sixth question this witness said that he saw happen that which 
is mentioned in the question, for he was present at the fray with the In¬ 
dians of the Gran Ranchería, and saw that Captain Juan Velarde Colodro 
comported himself as a valorous soldier, acquiring name and fame. This 
he responds, etc. 
To the seventh question he said that all the soldiers loved and esteemed 
Captain Colodro on account of his good manners and mode of procedure; 
he held offices of much honor, being, for instance, secretary of the gov¬ 
ernment and legal adviser of the apostolic commissary. He also held 
other positions of importance, and gave a good account of himself in them 
all to the satisfaction of this witness, the adelantado , and the entire army. 
This he responds, etc. 
To the eighth question this witness said that Captain Juan Velarde 
Colodro was present, as he says, during the twelve years of the conquest 
of New Mexico, and spent his entire fortune in it. Many Indians who had 
been reduced to the faith were baptized at his expense, and he endured 
great hardships, all for the aggrandizement of the royal crown and the 
service of his Majesty. He came to this city for assistance, and the vice¬ 
roy, the Marquis of Salinas, gave it to him and made him commissary of 
the men in the relief party, which he led to New Mexico, taking great 
care that no soldier should do evil while on the road. On this errand the 
captain was engaged for two years, going and coming. This he re¬ 
sponds, etc. 
