Our Catltolic Heritage in Texas
great plains beyond the Pecos to the headwaters of the Canadian, and they had marched as far west as the Zufii pueblos. A truly remarkable achievement for nine soldiers and three missionaries. In their exploration they had trodden upon the soil of Texas at La Junta de los Rios and possibly in the Panhandle along the southern branch of the upper Canadian. Preparation jo,· a new expedition. The glowing accounts of the new discoveries spread like wildfire. The Alcalde of Santa Barbara claimed the new lands for Diego de Ibarra, the Governor of Nueva Vizcaya, and ordered Hernan Gallegos to surrender all his papers to him. Promising to c9mply next morning, the fearless soldier of fortune quietly stole away that night with all his papers and two companions. On May 8, 1582, they arrived in Mexico and rendered a full and detailed report to the viceroy, exhibiting in support of their accounts cotton cloth, buffalo hides, minerals, wicker baskets, and earthenware. The viceroy was truly impressed and reported the whole matter to the king. In the meantime Gallegos lost no time in repairing to the court himself, where he pre- sented a petition on March 30, 1583, for a commission to conquer and settle the lands explored. His request was not granted. 27 But interest of a different sort was aroused in Santa Barbara by the return of Gallegos and his companions without the missionaries. Much concern was felt by the Franciscans over their safety. "Entertaining this fear, they wished and endeavored to find someone who would enter the said land and bring them out and succor them. For this purpose another religious of the same order, named Fray Bernardino Beltran, a resident of the monastery of the Villa of Durango, capital of Nueva Vizcaya, offered to make the journey, with the authority and permission of his superior." 21 Casting about for a leader of the necessary military escort, Providence seems to have favored the zeal of Fray Bernardino. It happened that just at this time there was residing in the vicinity of Santa Barbara a certain Antonio de Espejo. He had come to Mexico in 1571, with Fray Pedro Moya de Contreras, later to become viceroy, as an official of the Inquisition. In the years that followed, he prospered as a merchant and had acquired valuable cattle ranches in the Queretaro country. In 1581 it seems that he and his brother murdered a cowboy in one of their ranches and as a result of this incident his brother had %7Mecham, "Second Expedition," New Mexico Historical R6View, I, 290-291. %&"Account of the Journey which I, Antonio de Espejo .. _. made .. .," in Bolton, S,Panisl, Exploration, 169.
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