The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926 Page: 298
330 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
messenger of the Gospel. Chamuscado led the eight men away,
but died on the way south. It was well for him that he did not
reach Mexico. The evidences that he had discovered mine pros-
pects would have availed him nothing. Rather this evidence would
have been proof that in spite of the royal prohibition, he had
headed such an expedition into New Mexico, and that he claimed
to have been commissioned by the viceroy to that end, whereas
even His Excellency could not extend such a commission to anyone.
He had turned an authorized expedition of peace into an unau-
thorized expedition of war. What was coming to him Chamuscado
could surmise.
Mr. Mecham was, of course, not ignorant of the viceroy's letter
to the king in which he accounts for the Rodriguez (not Chamus-
cado-Rodriguez) expedition? For the benefit of the readers it
follows here entire. Let them draw their own conclusions:
His Very Catholic and Royal Majesty:
In November of last year, 1580, a friar named Fray Agustin
Rodriguez, of the Order of San Francisco, came to me and told
me that he desired to go to the interior to preach the holy Gospel
beyond the mines of Santa Barbola, which are in Nueva Vizcaya;
and seeing his great zeal, and that it was reported that along the
Conchas River were people where this good purpose might be
effected, I granted him permission to do so, and to take with him
other religious, and as many as twenty men who might voluntarily
wish to go with him, to protect them and as company; and that
they might take some things as barter; and that the one whom the
friar should name should go as leader, whom the others should
obey, that they might not cause disorder. I did not give per-
mission for more men to go, because Your Majesty had issued
instructions that no entries or new discoveries should be made'
without express permission from Your Majesty.
They entered with as many as eight men, who desired to go with
them; and it appears that they went along discovering some
pueblos in a good country, fertile, and having a good supply, the
people having better dress and appearances than those of the
Conchas River. Fray Agustin Rodriguez decided to remain in
one of them with a companion, and that the eight men should
come to report what until then had been seen and discovered. I
have had their depositions taken and am sending them herewith,
attested, so that Your Majesty may see them. And Rodrigo del
Rio de Losa, lieutenant captain-general in the province of Nueva
Galicia, a man well informed and of much experience in expedi-
tions, because he was in Florida with Don Tristan de Arellano298
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926, periodical, 1926; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117141/m1/324/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.