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Document 13: Title of Lieutenant Captain General and Visitador General, October 6, 1663
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102 Part One Document 13 Title of Lieutenant Captain General and Visitador General October 6, 16631 Captain and Sargento Mayor don Diego Peñalosa Briceño y Verdugo, encomendero in the kingdoms of Peru, alcalde provincial of the Santa Hermandad of the City of La Paz and five provinces in its district, governor and captain general in these [provinces] of New Mexico for the king, our lord, etc. Inasmuch as I am ill and unable to mount horseback because of my many indispositions, it is necessary for me to name a visitor general of the kingdom who shall act as my lieutenant captain general, in order that, representing my person, he may make the visita in all the provinces and pueblos of this kingdom and those which pertain to this government, and so that in case of war my person may not be necessary in all the matters that may come up, both in civil and in military affairs. Such a person, as is fitting in the service of the king, our lord, must be of quality, Christianity, knowledge and conscience, valor, and experience in civil and military affairs. These and many other [qualities] concur in the person of Maestre de Campo don Juan Domínguez de Mendoza, senior alcalde ordinario of this Villa of Santa Fe, in consideration of the many services he has rendered his Majesty during twenty-five years he has served, from ordinary soldier to sargento and alférez, captain of infantry, many times sargento mayor of the kingdom, occupying the post of maestre de campo of the kingdom and that of maestre de campo of campaign three times, as well as that of military commander and chief in active wars; and because he has occupied many times the offices of lieutenant governor and captain general and visitor of the kingdom for my predecessors, and has exercised all posts of the republic, giving a very good and praiseworthy account of himself, as is proved by his titles and certifications which he has presented in my presence. It is evident from them that he has served His Majesty at his own cost and expense, and in addition to his personal expenses he has been and is accoutering a large number of soldiers, giving them the necessary horses and other supplies for the expedition and escorts and other forays which have been necessary to prevent encroachment by the enemy. The aforesaid is the legitimate son of General don Bartolomé [sic] Domínguez, who was one of the first conquerors and settlers.2 Therefore, in consideration of this I have thought it well to appoint and name him my lieutenant captain general and visitador general Military Service Records 103 of the kingdom in the name of the Royal and Catholic Majesty of the king, our lord, for such is his will and mine in his royal name. And I order the maestre de campo and the sargento mayor and other captains, active and retired, and other citizens, Spaniards as well as natives, to hold and consider him as my lieutenant general and visitador general under the penalties he may impose upon them, which he may exercise on the rebellious and disobedient and transgressors. And in order that he may do so, I give him power and plenary authority accordingly and as I hold it from the king, our lord, for such is his will and mine in his royal name. And he shall enjoy all the honors, liberties, and dignities in the same way as all the lieutenant captains general of the armies and forces of His Majesty enjoy them, well and completely without any omission. For the purpose I ordered the present writing issued to him, signed by my hand and sealed with the seal of my arms, and countersigned by the undersigned secretary of war and government ; with the declaration that it goes on white paper, because the stamped paper is not current in this kingdom. Done on October 6 of the year 1663. (Seal) Don Diego de Peñalosa Briceño (rubric). By order of the governor and captain general, Juan Lucero de Godoy, secretary of government and war (rubric). Notes 1. BNE, Madrid, MSS 19258, photos 33–34. 2. For some unexplained reason, Tomé Domínguez, the father of Juan Domínguez de Mendoza, is referred to as Bartolomé Domínguez. This same error appears in a document dated August 19, 1694, Madrid, but the reference to Bartolomé Domínguez is crossed out, indicating the...