CHAPTER V.

FRUITLESS PROJECTS-CASTANO AND HUMAÑA.

1583-1596.

VIEWS OF RIO DE LOSA-ROYAL CÉDULA-REPORTS OF BELTRAN AND ESPEJO-ATTRACTIONS IN THE NORTH-FOREIGN ENCROACHMENTS-PROJECT OF CRISTÓBAL MARTIN-THE EMPRESARIO'S DEMANDS-PROPOSED CONQUEST AND SETTLEMENT BY ANTONIO ESPEJO-FRANCISCO DIAZ DE VARGAS WILLING TO SERVE THE KING AS CONQUEROR-NO RESULTS-THE VICEROY'S CONTRACT WITH JUAN BAUTISTA DE LOMAS-FRANCISCO DE URDIÑOLA GASPAR CASTAÑO DE SOSA AND HIS ILLEGAL ENTRADA— UP THE RIO PECOS-A WINTER TOUR AMONG THE PUEBLOS THIRTY-THREE TOWNS VISITED THE LEADER'S RETURN IN CHAINS-CAPTAIN JUAN MORLETE-BONILLA AND HUMANA-FATE OF THE GOLD-SEEKERS IN

QUIVIRA.

IT was in November 1582, before anything was known in Mexico of Espejo's proposed expedition from Nueva Vizcaya, that Viceroy Coruña reported to the king the result of his investigation respecting the entrada and probable fate of Rodriguez and his companion friars. In this report he enclosed for the royal guidance a communication from Don Rodrigo del Rio de Losa, lieutenant captain-general of Nueva Galicia, who had been consulted as a man "de mucha experiencia en entradas," having served with Arellano in Florida and with Ibarra in Nueva Vizcaya. Don Rodrigo wrote on the supposition that the people of New Mexico were now hostile, and urged that a sufficient force should be sent to punish the murderers of the friars, and to inspire such respect for Spanish arms as would prevent future outrages and revolts. The number of soldiers should not be less than 300,

1 Nov. 1, '82, viceroy to king. N. Mex. Testim., 97-9.

VIEWS OF RIO DE LOSA.

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with seven mules and horses for each man. For after the recent murders had been avenged, and the country reduced to a state of peace, a few settlers being left, it should be the main object of the expedition to continue its march across the buffalo plains to Quivira and beyond, even to the shores of the north or south sea, or to the "strait which is near China, in latitude 57°," the occupation of which by the French or English might thus be prevented. With this view, material for building two small ships should be carried, for the crossing of rivers or straits, or perhaps the sending back of news respecting any great discovery. Details of the necessary outfit are suggested; friars must of course be sent with the explorers; and it would be well to encourage the officers and men by release from taxation, offers of titles, and liberal encomiendas of New Mexican Indians. The result was a royal order of March 1583, in which the viceroy was instructed to make a contract with some suitable person to undertake the expedition in accordance with the laws and regulations, without cost to the royal treasury; but the contract must be submitted to the consejo for approval before anything was actually done.3

Then came Beltran and Espejo, bringing reports calculated to increase the growing interest in New Mexico and the regions beyond. The people were not hostile, but well disposed to welcome Spanish visitors; the country in its climate and products presented many attractions for settlers from the south; though the natives made no use of the precious metals, ores rich in silver had been found at several points, and the development of profitable mines might with confidence be hoped for. The spiritual prospects were even more brilliant than the mineral, for 250,000 natives of superior intelligence were awaiting conversion; and es

2 No date. Rio de Losa to viceroy. N. Mex Testim., 137-46. March 29 and April 19, '83. Pacheco, I., xv. 100; xvi. 297. The order was received in Mex. in August.

pecially, to say nothing of the long-coveted wealth of Quivira in the north-east easily accessible from New Mexico as a base, a great lake and broad river, with populous towns and plenty of gold, afforded a new incentive to exploring effort in the north-west. And moreover, it would seem to have been about this time that fears of foreign encroachment in these regions were renewed by the statement of Padre Diego Marquez, who had fallen into the hands of 'gente luterana,' and had been closely questioned at the English court respecting his knowledge of the north. This he made known to the authorities in Mexico, who felt that something must be done to prevent this fair land from falling into the hands of impious Lutherans.*

The first to take advantage of the king's order was Cristóbal Martin, a vecino of Mexico, who in October 1583, probably with knowledge of Padre Beltran's return, applied to the audiencia for a contract to undertake the conquest and settlement of New Mexico in accordance with the late cédula and earlier ordinances. He was willing to fit out an expedition of 200 or 300 men, and to spend $50,000 in the enterprise. He desired a missionary force of six Franciscans, besides two secular clergymen; and asked to be supplied with certain arms and ammunition; but otherwise the entrada was to be at his own cost. There was, however, nothing small about Don Cristóbal's demands. Though full of faith and loyalty, he could not afford to save souls and win for his king new provinces at his own cost for nothing. He must have the position of captain-general and governor of the new reino for himself and family during three lives; the right to distribute as encomiendas to his men all the natives of the conquered towns and provinces for ten lives; the authority to appoint and remove all officials, and to grant lands; a reduction of the king's fifth to one twentieth of the

Villagrá, Hist. N. Mex., 36. Rio de Loza, 139, had declared the importance of occupying N. Mex., to prevent que otras naciones de franceses ó ingleses luteranos no la ocupen.'

MARTIN'S PROJECTED CONQUEST.

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product of mines for 100 years; the privileges of hijosdalgo for the conquistadores and their descendants; exemption from taxation on all products for 100 years; free use of the salinas for the three lives; the chief judicial authority as governor; the right to discover and settle for 1,000 leagues beyond the first New Mexican towns, to occupy ports on either ocean, and to trade with two ships from one of these ports without paying duties; the right to call on the viceroy for additional men and supplies by paying the costs; the right to found a mayorazgo, or entail, for his heirs, with sufficient revenue to perpetuate the family name and glory; and many other things which need not be catalogued here. These conquerors of the sixteenth century took great risks, regulating their demands. accordingly; and as the burden was to fall on the Indians mainly, the king was often most liberal in his concessions. From October to December, Martin several times renewed his petition, and it would ap pear that his contract was finally approved by the Mexican authorities and sent to the consejo de Indias for confirmation.5

Espejo himself was next in the field as an aspirant for New Mexican glory, plausibly claiming that his recent service, experience, and success clearly pointed to him as above all others entitled to preference. But Don Antonio proposed no contract with the Mexican authorities. From motives of pride or policy he chose to apply directly to the king; indeed, he urged most earnestly that the viceroy should have nothing

5 Martin, Asiento con Cripstobal Martin por el que se ofrece á ir en persona al descubrimiento, pacificacion, y poblacion del Ñuero Mexico, bajo las condiciones que erpone.-Mexico á 26 de Octubre de 1583. In Pacheco, Doc., xvi. 277-301. This is the testimonio, or expediente, of the Mexican proceedings sent to Spain at a date not given, but soon after Dec. 24th, when the transcript is certified. It does not appear in these doc. that the contract was signed; but at the beginning M. says that 'él fué el primero que capituló é asentó en virtud de una Real Cédula de V. A., el negocio de la poblacion y descobrimiento del N. Mex., y fué remitido a Vuestra Real Consejo de Yndias.'

Perhaps he had reason to suppose that the viceroy would not favor him. Indeed, there is a slight reference in one of his letters to a part of his estate as embargada, or attached, which may indicate troubles with the authorities of Nueva España.

to do with the enterprise. This, in the empresario's opinion, was absolutely essential to prevent ruinous wrangles and delays, wars and outrages on the natives, or dissensions and desertions among officers and men; and to insure the safe, speedy, and economical transformation of New Mexico into a flourishing community of tribute-paying subjects of Spain. In his original report of October 1583, summing up what he had accomplished, Espejo expressed his desire to spend his life and fortune in the king's service, at the same time announcing that he had brought from the north a native of Mohoce, and another of the Tanos, who might be trained for useful service as interpreters. In a letter to the archbishop he also made known his intention to apply for a royal commission to conquer and settle the country he had visited, and to explore the regions beyond, even to the ocean coasts on either side. Accordingly in April 1584, he authorized his son-in-law, Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza, about to start for Spain, with Bonilla and Barbadillo already at Madrid, to represent him at court, and obtain in his name the "conquista y pacificacion y gobernacion" of the provinces of New Mexico, or Nueva Andalucía, "which provinces I have discovered and taken possession of in the name of his Majesty." At the same time were forwarded a copy of his Relacion, and his formal petition, including a plan of his proposed operations. The expedition was to consist of 400 men, for the most part recruited in Spain, 100 of them with wives and children, to be organized in four companies. The men were to be well supplied with all they could need,

7 Espejo, Relacion, 124-6; Id., Expediente y Relacion, 162-3, 186-9. This latter collection, in Pacheco, Doc., xv. 151-91, is a continuation of the N. Mex., Testimonio, and might as well be included in it, though in print it has a separate title-indeed, two of them, the first being Expediente sobre el ofrecimiento que hace Fran. Diaz de Vargas, etc., though it contains nothing about V. The contents are: 1st, three undated communications (1584) of Espejo to the king, the last being his formal petition, p. 151-63; 2d, a copy of the Espejo, Relacion (as sent to the king with the petition), p. 163-89; 3d, April 23, '84, appointment of an agent, p. 189-91. There is another letter of E. to the king (April 23, '89), in N. Mex., Testim., 100–1.