Delays Frustrate Oñate, Settlers
New viceroy, political turmoil in Spain put expedition on hold

The Journal is publishing a biweekly series of history articles to commemorate the settlement of New Mexico by Juan de Oñate in 1598. This one covers the wait for permission to enter New Mexico from 1595 to 1598.

By Miguel Encinias
For the Journal
Although Spanish King Phillip II had approved a contract with Juan de Oñate for the settlement of New Mexico in a letter dated June 21, 1595, troubles quickly began to pile up.
Oñate already had done a good bit of recruiting and was establishing a camp along the Nazas River near modern Torreón, Mexico, in preparation for the usual prolonged inspection.
But along with the letter of contract, the king had sent Viceroy Gaspar Zuniga y Acevedo, Count of Monterrey, to replace Viceroy Luis de Velasco II.
As often happens when authority shifts, projects in the works face delays.
The new viceroy began to find fault with the contract and put off the complex inspections of men and material that needed to be completed before the expedition could set off.
Adding to Oñate's grief, in April 1596 the Council of the Indies in Spain received a petition from Pedro Ponce de León, Count of Bailen, asking for the contract. The wishes of noblemen usually were heeded above those of commoners, so the council stated to the king that since the contract had not been put into full effect, the expedition could be granted to Ponce de León.
As was the norm during those days, court rumors began to surface. Oñate was accused of having bad debts and other failings, which strengthened the count's plea.
Since by this time Oñate's expedition was poised to go, the viceroy ordered the inspection, by Lope de Ulloa, to begin.
As it got under way on Sept. 9, 1596, a cedula (royal letter) arrived at the Nazas River camp that suspended further action until Ponce de León's request could be reviewed. Oñate tried to keep the message secret, but soon everybody knew about it, and the people and resources began to diminish.
Oñate, thinking that an inspection would strengthen his position, requested several times in letters to Ulloa that the inspection continue.
The inspector finally agreed and resumed on Dec. 9, 1596, at the Casco mines, a bit to the north of the river camp, where the expedition had moved. But he would not finish the task. On Jan. 15, 1597, Ulloa was recalled to take over the Philippine fleet.
Francisco de Esquivel, Ulloa's assistant, finished the inspection in January at Puana and Santa Barbara, near the modern city of Hidalgo del Parral, Mexico.
Completion of the inspection did not imply permission to proceed, however.
And further delays dashed hopes and played havoc with morale. The first outright desertion occurred, which was followed by the standard military punishment: beheading.
Shortly after, most of the friars left the expedition.
This would have probably been the final blow had not Ponce de León's ascending star suddenly plummeted.
It was discovered that not only was he ill, but he had asked for financial assistance, something King Phillip did not relish at all.
On April 2, 1597, the king dispatched a letter authorizing the expedition to proceed, but delivering a message from Spain to the northern outposts of New Spain took time. And time and other changes brought the need for another inspection.
Juan de Frias Salazar, a new inspector, insisted on an en-route inspection, although it would cause a great inconvenience.
That inspection began on Dec. 22, 1597, out of the various camps. The muster of people and their possessions was held at the mines of Todos Santos on Jan. 8, 1598.
What the travelers took perhaps reflected their intentions and expectations.
Captain Gerónimo Márquez, for example, listed the essential items such as arms and livestock -- and six plowshares.
Captain Pablo de Aguilar, on the other hand, listed a plentiful supply of armor and weapons, but no farm implements.
The final inspection was over on Jan. 21, 1598, but a grumpy Salazar stayed on until the expedition crossed the Conchos River north of present-day Chihuahua, Mexico, on Feb. 6, 1598.
The following day, after Mass, the hated inspector left without leaving a document relative to the inspection and without so much as a sign of goodbye. Probably nobody minded, because the expedition was finally free.
The 83 carts escorted by horsemen and the 7,000 head of livestock that were herded behind must have been quite a sight as the train spread across the desert.
In all, there were 129 soldier-settlers, many with large families. Captain Gregorio Cessar, for example, was accompanied by his wife, three sons, one daughter and five female and three male servants.
They were finally on their way to New Mexico.
NEXT: Oñate takes possession.

Miguel Encinias is an Albuquerque historian. His novel, "Two Lives for Oñate," was published this year by the University of New Mexico Press.