Discontent Grows for Settlers

By Miguel Encinias
For the Journal
Discontent, which had been brewing among settlers almost since the beginning of the New Mexico expedition, was somewhat tempered by the conflict with Acoma Pueblo.
But when the situation was resolved, dissatisfaction seemed to grow with each passing day.
Out in the pueblos, most of the friars were disillusioned that they were not getting proper support in their missions and returned to San Gabriel, Gov. Juan de Oñate's capital.
Even the arrival of the relief expedition on Christmas Eve 1600 didn't boost spirits much.
The fact that one of Oñate's most trusted officers, Capt. Gaspar de Villagra, was not among those returning with the expedition angered the governor when he discovered why.
Viceroy Gaspar de Zuñiga y Acevedo, count of Monterrey, and Oñate had been feuding because the governor wanted his contract restored to what it was before the viceroy made some changes. His most noteworthy change made Oñate directly responsible to him, rather than to the Council of the Indies.
The viceroy, perhaps to show his authority, took command of the expedition away from Villagra and gave it to Bernabe de las Casas, who a scant few months earlier had been a simple soldier. Oñate had promoted de las Casas to ensign because of his performance at Acoma. Now he was a captain and in charge.
Villagra refused to join the returning expedition and hid in a convent until things quieted down.
Meanwhile back in New Mexico, Oñate became aware of plans for desertion by Capt. Pablo de Aguilar and others.
Aguilar remained very resentful toward Oñate because the governor had wanted to execute him when the expedition was still on the road. The soldier had disobeyed a direct order from Oñate not to enter any Indian pueblos while out on a scouting mission.
Soon after the first of the year, 1601, Oñate issued a proclamation ordering the new settlers who had come north with the relief expedition to present their commissions.
When one of the soldiers presented a letter of appointment for another soldier who was sick, the governor asked, "Is he being sent by the viceroy or my brother?" When the soldier answered, "By the viceroy, your excellency," Oñate answered, "Tell him to wipe his rear end with his patent."
One morning in late February 1601, Aguilar's body was brought to the church in a sealed coffin. The governor explained that the captain had attempted to desert with five soldiers but that he was caught while the others escaped.
One rumor that circulated was that Oñate had invited Aguilar to his quarters, where his servants were waiting to kill him with butcher knives. Another was that Oñate had personally run Aguilar through with his sword.
Another officer, Capt. Alonso Sosa, had requested permission to head back for New Spain with his wife and five children because he could not provide for them in New Mexico.
Soon after, Oñate ordered a general roundup of the horses, since they had been set loose to graze at will. Every available man, including Sosa, was ordered to the task.
Sosa was seen entering a shallow ravine followed by the maese de campo Vicente de Zaldivar and some others.
Sosa did not come out. Oñate did not deny that he had been executed.
The two deaths intensified the dissension. It was not just the executions that made many fear for their families, but living conditions.
More and more the settlers began using words such as "poor," "infertile" and "sterile" to describe the land.
A proverb common in the arid regions of Spain was repeatedly used to describe New Mexico: "Ocho meses de invierno y cuatro de infierno." (Eight months of winter and four of hell.)
NEXT: Quivira and desertion.

Miguel Encinias is an Albuquerque
historian.