Our Catholic Heritage, Volume II

Ottr Catholic Heritage in Texas

130

new mission by Father Margil, and a copy of the act of foundation and possession was ordered sent to the governor of Coahuila for him to forward it to the viceroy for his information. The certified copy of the proceedings was sent by the Marquis of Aguayo to the viceroy on March 13, 1720, but the mission itself was officially established by Captain Valdez on February 23, 1720. 36 Organization of Agttayo's Expedition. But let us return to Aguayo in Coahuila. As usual, the preparations for the expedition into Texas were delayed for various reasons. In spite of the sincerity of the Marquis and his strenuous efforts to start as soon as possible, a whole year elapsed before he was ready. With unusual vigor and diligence, he began to collect the provisions and supplies necessary early in the fall of 1719. To prevent the dissipation of the resources of Coahuila, he issued an order on December 7, 1719, prohibiting the inhabitants of the province from selling their corn and other products to anyone other than the governor or his representatives. Any Spaniard violating this order was to pay a fine of fifty pesos for each fanega sold and to suffer the loss of all his corn. If the transgressor was an Indian, a mestizo, or a negro he was to suffer the loss of his corn and to receive one hundred lashes. The governor assured the people that the current market price would be paid them for such supplies as were needed for the expedition into Texas. 37 His difficulties increased considerably when early in 1720, the Indians of the Hacienda of Santa Rosa became dissatisfied and deserted the mission. As they were committing numerous depredations in the vicinity, the Marquis of Aguayo was now not only forced to suspend active preparations, but to recall Alferez Nicolas Flores from San Antonio, who came to his aid with eighteen men in March, 1720. Fortunately, on April 14, the rebellious Indians were overtaken and cornered at Nada- dores, where the new governor, with the aid of Flores and a hastily recruited force, succeeded in killing about half of them and taking the rest prisoners. 38 This left him free once more to turn his attention to the Texas expedition. The five hundred men enlisted in the districts of Celaya, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, and Aguascalientes, agreeable to the orders of the >6Testlmonio de possession y mission de San Jose en el Rio de San Antonio. A. G. I., Audien&ia de G11adalajara, 67-3-11. >7Diferentes autos y otras providencias dictadas por el governador Marques de San Miguel de Aguayo, in Saltillo Archive, Vol. 1, 175-177. UTestlmonio a favor de Nicolas Flores, Provin&ias /11ternns, Vol. 32.

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