The following documents are taken from various Internet accessed documents.

 

Francisco Vazquez de Coronado Expedition

From 1540 to 1542, a list of 322 settlers served with the Captain Francisco Vazquez de Coronado. The expedition set out for New Mexico and Arizona but made it as far north as Kansas. They were known as "The Coronado Expedition".

Coronado Expedition to New Mexico 1540

Francisco Vazquez de Coronado, came from Salamanca, Spain. His parents were Juan Vazquez de Coronado and Isabel de Lujan. He came to New Spain (Mexico) with the Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza in 1535. After marrying Beatriz de Estrada the daughter of Alonso de Estrada and granddaughter of King Ferdinand II of Spain, they had 5 children.

The expedition set out for New Mexico and Arizona but made it as far north as Kansas from 1540 to 1542. The men who served with the Captain Francisco Vazquez de Coronado are listed below. These Spaniards and approximately 800 Indians made this historic exploration.

 

List of Men Who Were Part of the Coronado Expedition:

 

 

 

ALBA, Hernando de

From Salamanca

 

ALCANTARA, Francisco de

 

 

ALCANTARA, Pedro de

 

 

ALCARAZ, Diego de

Settled in Culiacan, with his brother Juan de Alcaraz. Diego was killed by the Indians of San Geronimo, Sonora, while accompanying Coronado.

 

ALONSO, Domingo

 

 

ALVARADO, Hernando de

Held the rank of Captain. From: Santander Parents:Juan SANCHEZ DE ALVARADO and Mencia de SALAZAR. Related to the Alvarado brothers. 23 years old.

 

ALVAREZ, Alonso

From: Villanueva de la Serena. Coronado's page.

 

ALVAREZ, Antonio

 

 

ALVAREZ, Gaspar

From Portugal

 

ALVAREZ, Lorenzo

 

 

ALVAREZ, Pedro

 

 

ALVAREZ, Roque

 

 

ALVAREZ, DE ZAFRA, Rodrigo

 

 

AORTA, ?

From Portugal

 

ARANDA, Alonso de

 

 

ARCE, Juan de

From: Buelna in Santander

 

ARIAS DE SAABEDRA, Hernando

Coronado appointed him Alcalde Mayor of Culiacan.

 

ARJONA, Gonzalo de

 

 

ASTORGA, Martin Alonso de

 

 

AVILA, Pedro de

A participant in the rebellion of San Geronimo and returned to Culiacan.

 

AZEBEDO, Baltasar de

 

 

BALDERREINA, Alonso de

From: Astorga.

 

BARAHONA, Hernando de

 

 

BARBERO, Juan

 

 

BARRIONUEVO, Francisco de

 

 

BARRIONUEVO, Rodrigo de

Brother of Velasco.

 

BARRIONUEVO, Velasco de

Brother of Rodrigo. From: Granada. Captain.

 

BENAVENTE, Cristobal de

 

 

BENAVIDES, Pedro de

 

 

BENAVIDES , Juan de

 

 

BENITEZ, ?

Died in Tiguex

 

BERMEJA, Pedro Martin de la

 

 

BERMEJO, Hernando

Coronado's note taker on the expedition.

 

BERMEJO, Juan

Had known Coronado since 1537.

 

BERMUDEZ, Florian

 

 

 

 

 

BERNAL DE MOLINA, Pascual

 

 

BERRUGO, Andres

 

 

BERTAO, Cristobal

From: Bernuel in the province of Rouen.

 

BETETA, Juan de

From: Beteta. 22 years old.

 

BLAQUE , Tomas

From: Escocia (Scotland). Married Francisca de Rivera. More on Tam Blake of Scotland

 

BOO, Pero

 

 

BOTELLO, Hernando

From: Alcantara

 

BRUJAS, Jaco de

 

 

BUSTAMANTE, Juan de

 

 

CABALLERO, Cristobal

 

 

CABALLERO, Lope

From: Lugo. Married an Indian woman he brought on the expedition.

 

CADENA, Hernando de la

From Medellin

 

CADENA, Lope de la

 

 

CALDERON, Francisco

 

 

CAMPO, Andres do

From: Portugal. Stayed in New Mexico with Fray Juan de Padilla. They went to Quivira.

 

CAMPO, Bartolome del

 

 

CANDIA, Diego de

 

 

CANO, Pero

 

 

CANSECO, Alonso de

 

 

CARAVAJAL, Francisco de

From: Utrera. Brother of Hernando de TREJO. Injured in the battle of the Rio Grande.

 

CASO VERDE, Hernando de

 

 

CASTANEDA, Alonso de

From: Vizcaya. Came with the first settlers of villa Purificacion in 1536. Was injured in Tiguex.

 

CASTANEDA, Martin de

 

 

CASTILLA, Gonzalo de

 

 

CASTILLA, Diego del

 

 

CASTILLA, Garcia del

From: Sevilla

 

CASTRO, Francisco de

 

 

CASTRO, Miguel de

 

 

CELADA, Juan de

 

 

CEPEDA, Juan de

From: Toledo

 

CERBATOS, Diego de

 

 

CESPEDES, Bartolome de

 

 

CESPEDES, Juan de

 

 

CHICA, Luis de la

 

 

COBARRUBIAS, Andres de

 

 

CONTRERAS, Juan de

 

 

CORDERO, Juan

 

 

CORNEJO, Francisco de

From: Salamanca. Parents: Alvaro Cornejo and Ana Maldonado. Settled in Guadalajara with a wife and 2 children.

 

CUEVAS, Juan de

From: Aranda de Duero Father: Alonso Cuevas. Married the daughter of Lic. Tellez.

 

DELGADO, Anton

 

 

DESTEPA, Martin

Accused of crimes against the Indians.

 

DIAZ, Diego

From: Santo Domingo.

 

DIAZ, Melchior

Captain

 

DUERO, Juan de

 

 

ECIJA, Pedro de

 

 

ENTRAMBAS AGUAS, Miguel de

 

 

ESCOBAR, Cristobal de

From: Aracena

 

ESCOBAR, Rodrigo de

 

 

ESCOBEDO, Luis de

 

 

ESPINOSA, Francisco de

An Espinoza died after eating a poisonous snake near Cibola.

 

ESTRADA, Geronimo de

 

 

FERNANDEZ, Domingo

 

 

FIOZ, Juan

From: Worms, Germany. 22 years old.

 

FRANCES, Juan

 

 

FRANCO DE MENTRE, Juan

 

 

FRIAS, Rodrigo de

From: Talavera de la Reina. 17 or 18 years old.

 

FUENTE, Juan Martin de la

Del Maestre

 

FUENTE, Juan Martin de la

Del Arco

 

FUENTERRABIA, Miguel de

 

 

GALERAS, Juan

From: Almendralejo. Decended the Grand Canyon with Captain Melgosa. 22 years old.

 

GALIVER, ?

 

 

GALLEGO, Cristobal

 

 

GALLEGO, Juan

From: Coruna. Parents: Juan Hernandez de Artes and Mayor Rodriguez. A settler of Villa Purificacion in 1536.

 

GALLEGO, Lope

 

 

GAMEZ, Rodrigo de

 

 

GARCIA, Anton

 

 

GARCIA, Cristobal

 

 

GARCIA, Simon

 

 

GARCIA DE LLERENA, Hernan

 

 

GARRIDO, Bartolome

From: Moguer

 

GAZTACA, Juan de

 

 

GERONIMO, Pedro

 

 

GENOVES, Lorenzo

 

 

GODOY, Francisco de

 

 

GOMEZ, Francisco

 

 

GOMEZ DE LA PENA, Hernan

A settler of San Miguel, Culiacan.

 

GOMEZ DE PARADINAS, Juan

From the town of Paradinas. He was a tailor. he brought his wife Maria Maldonado who helped attend to the injured.

 

GONZALEZ, Alonso

 

 

GONZALEZ, Alonso

 

 

GONZALEZ, Fernand

From the Island of Santo Domingo.

 

GONZALEZ, Francisco

 

 

GONZALEZ, Pedro

 

 

GONZALEZ, Ruy

From: Villanueva del Fresno. Came to Mexico with Panfilo Narvaez.

 

GORBALAN, Francisco

From: Guadalajara Spain. 19 years old.

 

GORES, Francisco

 

 

GUADALUPE, Gaspar de

 

 

GUEVARA, Diego de

Alcalde mayor of Nueva Galicia in 1547.

 

GUTIERREZ, Cristobal

 

 

GUTIERREZ, Diego

Captain

 

GUTIERREZ, Francisco

 

 

HERNANDEZ, Alonso

 

 

HERNANDEZ, Andres

 

 

HERNANDEZ, Diego

 

 

HERNANDEZ, Gabriel

 

 

HERNANDEZ, Geronimo

 

 

HERNANDEZ, Juan

From: Selorio, Asturias.

 

HERNANDEZ, Luis

Died in San Geronimo.

 

HERNANDEZ, Manuel

 

 

HERNANDEZ, Martin

 

 

HERNANDEZ, Miguel

 

 

HERNANDEZ, Nofre

 

 

HERNANDEZ, Pero

 

 

HERNANDEZ CALVO, Pero

 

 

HERNANDEZ CHILLON, Martin

 

 

HERNANDEZ DE GUADALAJARA, Pero

 

 

HERNANDEZ MORENO, Cristobal

 

 

HOROSCO, Geronimo de

 

 

HOZ, Cristobal de la

 

 

HUERTA, Francisco de

From: Badajoz

 

ISLA, Rodrigo de

 

 

JARAMIILLO, Juan

 

 

JIMENEZ, Alonso

 

 

JIMENEZ, Juan

 

 

LAREDO, Antonio de

 

 

LAZARO, ?

 

 

LEDEZMA, Pedro de

From: Zamora. Married the daughter of Melchor Perez. Knew Coronado since 1528. 22 years old.

 

LINARES, Pedro

 

 

LOPEZ, Alonso

From: Cordoba

 

LOPEZ, Diego

Captain and served with Nuno de Guzman.

 

LOPEZ, Francisco

 

 

LOPEZ, Gabriel

 

 

LOPEZ, Gonzalo

From: Medellin

 

LOPEZ, Juan

 

 

LOPEZ, Pedro

From: Cuidad Real.

 

LOPEZ DE CARDENAS, Garcia

Captain

 

LOPEZ DE SAYAGO, Juan

 

 

LUNA Y ARELLANO, Tristan de

Captain. In 1558 he was sent to Florida. More on TRISTÁN DE LUNA Y ARELLANO

 

MADRID AVENDANO, Diego de

From: Toledo. 28 years old.

 

MALDONADO, Alonso

 

 

MALDONADO, Cristobal

From: Burgos. Served with Nuno de Guzman in the conquest of Jalisco.

 

MALDONADO, Rodrigo

Captain. From: Guadalajara, Spain

 

MANRIQUE, Alonso

From: Valladolid. Parents: Antonio Manrique and Catalina de Aragon.

 

MARQUEZ, Pedro

 

 

MARTIN, Andres

 

 

MARTIN, Andres

From: Portugal.

 

MARTIN, Anton

 

 

MARTIN, Domingo

From: Brozas in Castilla. 37 years old.

 

MARTIN, Esteban

 

 

MARTIN, Francisco

 

 

MARTIN PARRA, Alonso

 

 

MATA, Diego de

 

 

MAYORAL, Pedro

 

 

MAYORGA, Cristobal de

From: Benavente. Served with Nuno de Guzman

 

MAZUELA, Florian de

 

 

MEDINA, Alonso de

 

 

MEDINA, Diego de

 

 

MELGOSA, Pablo de

Captain of the infantry. From: Burgos where he later returned. 24 years old.

 

MENDEZ, Cristobal

 

 

MENDEZ DE SOTOMAYOR, Pero

 

 

MERCADO DE SOTOMAYOR, Geronimo

From: Carmona. 17 or 18 years old.

 

MERIDA, Alonso Esteban de

 

 

MESA, ?

Injured by a poisoned arrow.

 

MIGUEL, ?

 

 

MIGUEL, Anton

 

 

MILLERO, Alonso

 

 

MIRANDA, Andres de

 

 

MONDRAGON, ?

Conducted an exploration of Tiguex.

 

MORAL, Alonso del

 

 

MORILLA, Diego de

 

 

MORILLA, Juan

 

 

MUNOZ, Juan

Juan took Miguel de Santiago's place on the expedition when Santiago became ill before leaving. Munoz died on the expedition.

 

MUNOZ, Francisco

From: La Granja

 

NAJERA, Pedro de

Had nine children. From Guadalajara in Nueva Galicia. May have been the father of Diego de Najara (also from Guadalajara) who’s son Andres took part in the Onate expedition.

 

NAPOLITANO, Bartolome

 

 

NAVARRO, Juan

From: Aragon. Came to Mexico with Cortes.

 

NAVARRO, Pedro

From: Estela in Navarra. 30 years old.

 

NIETO, Pedro

 

 

NUNEZ DE GARBENA, Diego

 

 

NUNEZ DE MIRANDILLA, Diego

 

 

OCAMPO, Andres do

From: Portugal. Stayed in New Mexico with Padre Fray Juan de Padella.

 

OLIVARES, Francisco de

From: Bejar. A Conquistador of Guatamala. Settled in Mexico City with his wife the daughter of Cristobal Romero.

 

ORDONEZ, Sancho

From: Alhanje, Extremadura. One of the early settlers of Puebla.

 

ORDUNA, Hernando de

From: Burgos

 

ORDUNA, Juan de

From: Toledo. Lost an eye during the expedition and returned to Culiacan.

 

OREJON, Andres

From: Avila

 

ORTEGA, Pedro de

 

 

OVANDO, Francisco de

Died in Mohi

 

PADILLA, Francisco de

 

 

PAEZ, Fernan

From: Villafranca in Portugal. 25 years old.

 

PAEZ, Jorge

 

 

PANIAGUA, Juan

From: Ecija. Injured in battle on the Rio Grande. Returned to Culiacan.

 

PARADA, Francisco de

 

 

PARADINAS, Alonso

 

 

PASCUAL, Pedro

 

 

PASTOR, Juan

Resident of San Miguel Culiacan in 1552.

 

PAZ, Rodrigo de

 

 

PENA, Juan de

 

 

PEREA, Garcia de

 

 

PEREZ, Alonso

Oldest son of Alonso Perez who came to Mexico with Panfilo de Narvaez. Alonso married the daughter of the Captain Diego Gutierrez.

 

PEREZ, Andres

 

 

PEREZ, Juan

From: Aragon.

 

PEREZ BUSCAVIDA, Anton

 

 

PEREZ DAVILA, Cristobal

 

 

PEREZ DE LA TORRE, Melchor

From: Estremadura. Father: Lic. Diego de la Torre (the first govenor of Nueva Galicia). A founder of Guadalajara where he settled with a wife and 3 children. His sister married another founder of Guadalajara, Hernando Flores.

 

PEREZ DE VERGARA, Juan

 

 

PIGREDO, Luis de

 

 

PLASENCIA, Juan de

 

 

PONARES, Francisco de

Died in Mohi.

 

PUELLES, Diego de

From: Miranda de Ebro

 

QUESADA, Cristobal de

From: Carmona, in Andalucia

 

RAMOS, Geronimo

 

 

RAMOS, Juan de

 

 

RAMOS, Pedro

 

 

RIBADENEYRA, Juan de

 

 

RIBERA, Antonio de

 

 

REBEROS, ?

 

 

ROBLES, Melchior

From: Almazan

 

RODRIGUEZ, Francisco

 

 

RODRIGUEZ, Garcia

From: Alcaraz

 

RODRIGUEZ, Gaspar

 

 

RODRIGUEZ, Sancho

 

 

RODRIGUEZ DE ALANJE, Juan

From: Alanje in Estremadura

 

RODRIGUEZ DE AVALOS, Juan

 

 

RODRIGUEZ PARRA, Alonso

From: Coria

 

ROMAN, Gomez

 

 

ROMANO, Marco

 

 

ROMERO, Domingo

 

 

ROXO LORO, Francisco

From: Sicily. Settled in Compostela. He had an encomienda which included the town of Cora. Was a conquistador of Central America with Gil Gonzalez de Avila in 1523.

 

RUIZ, Anton

 

 

RUIZ, Domingo

 

 

RUIZ, Juan

From: Agudo, Toledo.

 

RUIZ, Juan

From the Island of Espanola. Father: Juan Ruiz of Carmona Spain. Married the daughter of Bartolome Sanchez another soldier on this expedition.

 

SALAMANCA, Diego de

 

 

SALAMANCA, Juan de

 

 

SALDANA, Gaspar de

From: Guadalajara, Spain. 17 or 18 years old.

 

SALINAS, ?

Son of Andres de SALINAS, residents of Mexico City

 

SAMANIEGO, Lope de

Killed by an arrow near Chiametla. Buried in the field then his body was transferred to the church of Compostela.

 

SAMANO, Julian de

 

 

SAN VITORES, Juan Batista de

 

 

SANCHEZ, Alonso

Brought his wife Francisca de Hoces and a young son.

 

SANCHEZ, Bartolome

Took part in the conquest of Nueva Galicia.

 

SANCHEZ, Leonardo

 

 

SANCHEZ , Martin

 

 

SANCHEZ , Miguel

 

 

SANCHEZ , Rodrigo

From: Azuaga

 

SANCHEZ DE FROMISTA, Diego

 

 

SANCHEZ DE PLASENCIA, Miguel

 

 

SANCHEZ DEL BARCO DAVILA, Pedro

 

 

SANTILLAN, Francisco de

 

 

SANTOVAYA, Juan de

From: Galicia

 

SAYAVEDRA, Alonso de

 

 

SERRANO, Bartolome

 

 

SIMANCAS, Francisco de

 

 

SIMON, Diego

From: Moguer.

 

SIMON, Rodrigo

From: Moguer.

 

SOLIS FARFAN, Juan de

 

 

SOTO, Sebastian de

 

 

SOTOMAYOR, Juan de

 

 

TALAVERA, Pedro de

 

 

TAMARAN, Rodrigo de

From: Castaneda.

 

TEMINO, Francisco de

A Hidalgo, he married in 1551 the daughter of the Conquistador Gonzalo Hernandez Mosquera. Francisco's brother was Baltazar Banuelos.

 

TORO, Alonso de

From: Alcala de Henares. Resident of Villa Purificacion.

 

TORQUEMADA, Juan de

 

 

TORRES, Francisco de

From: Trujillo

 

TORRES, Miguel de

 

 

TOVAR, Pedro de

He was dispatched ahead with 20 others. They were the first white men to see the Hopi towns of northeastern Arizona. Brother to don Sancho de Tovar. Pedro was a Conquistador with Nuno de Guzman in 1531. Had a son, don Hernando de Tobar.

 

TROYANO, Juan

 

 

TRUJILLO, Pedro de

 

 

TRUJILLO, Rodrigo de

 

 

URREA, Lope de

 

 

URREL, Pedro de

 

 

VACA, Juan de

There were 4 recorded Juan de Vaca's that came to the New World from 1520-1539. Of these, one from Mayorga is recorded as settling in Mexico in 1538. His parents were Nuño de Vaca and Beatriz de Quiñones. Possibly the father of Cristobal de Vaca

 

VALDIVIESO, Francisco de

 

 

VALENCIA, Alonso de

 

 

VALLARA, Juan de

 

 

VALLE, Cristobal del

From: Aranda de Duero. Parents: Antonio del Valle and Ana de Leiva

 

VALLE, Hernando del

From: Olmedo. Resident of Villa Purificacion.

 

VARGAS, Francisco de

 

 

VARGAS, Luis de

17 or 18 years old.

 

VARGAS, Pedro de

 

 

VAZQUEZ, Gonzalo

 

 

VAZQUEZ DE GARABEL, Rosele

 

 

VELASCO, ?

 

 

VELASCO, Alonso de

 

 

VERA, Rodrigo de

 

 

VILLAFRANCA, Francisco de

 

 

VILLAROYA, Martin de

 

 

VILLARREAL, Juan de

From: Agudo. Alcalde of Guadalajara in 1544 where he settled with his wife. Son of Rodrigo de Villareal and Beatriz Alonso. Member of the order of Calatrava http://chivalricorders.org/orders/spanish/calatrav.htmhttp://chivalricorders.org/orders/spanish/calatrav.htm.

 

VILLEGAS, Juan de

Brother of Pedro de VELLEGAS of Mexico City.

 

VITORIA, Juan de

From: Burgos. 26 years old.

 

VIZCAINO, Juan

 

 

VOZ DE RIVADEO, Alonso

 

 

XIMENEZ, Alonso

 

 

XUAREZ DE FIGUEROA, Gomez

 

 

YANEZ, Gonzalo

 

 

ZALDIVAR, Juan de

From: Guadalajara in Spain. Nephew of Cristobal de Onate. Conquistador of Nueva Galicia.

 

ZAMORA, Baltasar de

 

 

* Source of the above names:

Guillermo Garmendia Leal. FUNDADORES DE NUEVA GALICIA, GUADALAJARA, TOMO I

* Supporting info. Coronado Knight of the Pueblos and Plains

RESOURCES Archives of THE WEST

The Journey of Coronado - An account of the expedition to Cibola which took place in the year 1540, in which all those settlements, their ceremonies & customs, are described. Written by Pedro de Castaneda, of Najara.

 

One record of the Expedition: PREFACE

TO ME it seems very certain, my very noble lord, that it is a worthy ambition for great men to desire to know and wish to preserve for posterity correct information concerning the things that have happened in distant parts, about which little is known. I do not blame those inquisitive persons who, perchance with good intentions, have many times troubled me not a little with their requests that I clear up for them some doubts which they have had about different things that have been commonly related concerning the events and occurrences that took place during the expedition to Cibola, or the New Land, which the good viceroy - may he be with God in His glory - Don Antonio de Mendoza, ordered and arranged, and on which he sent Francisco Vazquez de Coronado as captain-general.

In truth, they have reason for wishing to know the truth, because most people very often make things of which they have heard, and about which they have perchance no knowledge, appear either greater or less than they are. They make nothing of those things that amount to something, and those that do not they make so remarkable that they appear to be something impossible to believe. This may very well have been caused by the fact that, as the country was not permanently occupied, there has not been anyone who was willing to spend his time in writing about its peculiarities, because all knowledge was lost of that which it was not the pleasure of God -- He alone knows the reason -- that they should enjoy.

In truth, he who wishes to employ himself thus in writing out the things that happened on the expedition, and the things that were seen in those lands, and the ceremonies and customs of the natives, will have matter enough to test his judgment, & I believe that the result can not fail to be an account which, describing only the truth, will be so remarkable that it will seem incredible.

And besides, I think that the twenty years and more since that expedition took place have been the cause of some stories which are related. For example, some make it an uninhabitable country, others have it bordering on Florida, and still others on Greater India, which does not appear to be a slight difference. They are unable to give any basis upon which to found their statements. There are those who tell about some very peculiar animals, who are contradicted by others who were on the expedition, declaring that there was nothing of the sort seen. Others differ as to the limits of the provinces and even in regard to the ceremonies and customs, attributing what pertains to one people to others. All this has had a large part, my very noble lord, in making me wish to give now, although somewhat late, a short general account for all those who pride themselves on this noble curiosity, and to save myself the time taken up by these solicitations. Things enough will certainly be found here which are hard to believe. All or most of these were seen with my own eyes, and the rest is from reliable information obtained by inquiry of the natives themselves.

Understanding as I do that this little work would be nothing in itself, lacking authority, unless it were favored and protected by a person whose authority would protect it from the boldness of those who, without reverence, give their murmuring tongues liberty, and knowing as I do how great are the obligations under which I have always been, & am, to Your Grace, I humbly beg to submit this work to your protection. May it be received as from a faithful retainer and servant.

It will be divided into three parts, that it may be better understood. The first will tell of the discovery and armament or army that was made ready, and of the whole journey, with the captains who were there; the second, of the villages and provinces which were found, their limits, and ceremonies and customs, the animals, fruits, vegetation, and in what parts of the country these are; the third, of the return of the army and the reasons for abandoning the country, although these were insufficient, because this is the best place there is for discoveries -- the marrow of the land in these western parts, as will be seen. And after this has been made plain, some remarkable things which were seen will be described at the end, and the way by which one might more easily return to discover that better land which we did not see, since it would be no small advantage to enter the country through the land which the Marquis of the Valley, Don Fernando Cortes, went in search of under the Western Star, and which cost him no small sea armament.

May it please our lord to so favor me that with my slight knowledge and small abilities I may be able, by relating the truth, to make my little work pleasing to the learned and wise readers, when it has been accepted by Your Grace. For my intention is not to gain the fame of a good composer or rhetorician, but I desire to give a faithful account and to do this slight service to Your Grace, who will, I hope, receive it as from a faithful servant and soldier who took part in it. Although not in a polished style, I write that which happened -- that which I heard, experienced, saw, and did.

I always notice, and it is a fact, that for the most part when we have something valuable in our hands, and deal with it without hindrance, we do not value or prize it as highly as if we understood how much we would miss it after we had lost it, and the longer we continue to have it the less we value it; but after we have lost it and miss the advantages of it, we have a great pain in the heart, and we are all the time imagining and trying to find ways and means by which to get back again. It seems to me that this has happened to all or most of those who went on the expedition which, in the year of our Savior Jesus Christ 1540, Francisco Vazquez de Coronado led in search of the Seven Cities.

Granted that they did not find the riches of which they had been told, they found a place in which to search for them and the beginning of a good country to settle in, so as to go on farther from there. Since they came back from the country which they conquered and abandoned, time has given them a chance to understand the direction and locality in which they were, and the borders of the good country they had in their hands, and their hearts weep for having lost so favorable an opportunity. Just as men see more at the bullfight when they are upon the seats than when they are around in the ring, now when they know and understand the direction and situation in which they were, and see, indeed, that they can not enjoy it nor recover it, now when it is too late they enjoy telling about what they saw, and even of what they realize that they lost, especially those who are now as poor as when they went there. They have never ceased their labors and have spent their time to no advantage. I say this because I have known several of those who came back from there who amuse themselves now by talking of how it would be to go back and proceed to recover that which is lost, while others enjoy trying to find the reason why it was discovered at all. And now I will proceed to relate all that happened from the beginning.