The Towns are 1. Las Zacatecas, forty Leagues distant from Guadalajara, and fourscore from Mexico, but neighbor’d with most rich Mines, and therefore both Garrison’d and well peopled by the Spaniards; for ’tis suppos’d there are no less than five hundred Families of them in the Town, and about the Mines.
2. St. Martins, twenty seven Leagues distant from Zacatecas, and as rich a Place, having a Colony of four hundred Spaniards at least.
3. St. Lucas de Avinno. 4. Erena, lesser Towns, but both of them rich, and seated in the midst of excellent Mines.
5. Nombre de Dios, in the most Northerly part of this Countrey, sixty eight Leagues distant from Guadalajara, and founded by the aforesaid Francisco de Yvarra; who having subdu’d and quieted the Natives, and thereby gain’d to himself the Government of these Countreys, granted the propriety of some Silver Mines both to the Spaniards and to the Natives, and by that means drew so many of them thither, that in a short time it became the chiefest and best peopled town of the whole Province.
6. Durango, in the Valley of Guadiana, eight Leagues distant from Nombre de Dios, and built by Yvarra.
7. Xeres de Frontera, a Place built on purpose for the repressing of the Chichemecæ aforesaid, and other Salvages that infested the Borders of Guadalajara, in the Regency of the Marquess of Villa Manrique.
8. Last, St. Lewis, built by Alonso Pacheco, in that part of the Countrey which is call’d Uxitipa, and peopled by him with a Colony of Spaniards, being distant about twenty Leagues from Panuco in New Spain, to which the whole Countrey of Uxitipa once belong’d.
Several Mines discover’d by the Spaniards.
The aforesaid Franciscus de Yvarra, Anno 1554. discover’d the Mine call’d Sant Martin, and since also Lucas Avinno, the Mine Del Sombrereto, lying near the City Del Erena: but the Mines De los Ranchos, Chalchuites, De las Nieves, and Del Frisuillo, would produce much more Silver, if the Mine-works were stor’d with Quicksilver. The Vice-Roy of New Spain, nam’d Lodowick de Velasco, order’d a certain number of Soldiers, Slaves, Horses and Mules, for every Mine, to defend the Workmen from the Assaults of the Natives, which oftentimes Sallied out upon them. Moreover, Velasco sent Priests through all the Countrey to Preach the Gospel: But Yvarra having the care of the Priests, guarded them with a company of Soldiers, and in his Way discover’d the Valley San Juan, and the River De las Nacos, where he conquer’d the rebelling Natives.
Near the Silver Mine Sant Martins the Monks built a Cloyster; after which Yvarra gave free leave to all that would, to dig in the Mine at Avinno, which he had bought, on condition they should pay the real fifth part of what they got, to the Spanish King: which Priviledge stirr’d up many, insomuch that Avinno in a short time grew very populous. Yvarra, though having brought his Business to this pass, could not rest, but sent Antonius Pacheco to a Valley in Guadiana, to build the foremention’d City Durango, where several Rivers make a convenient and delightful place for Habitation, whither Yvarra follow’d three Moneths after, and finish’d the new Town. But the chiefest Silver Mines, which borrow their Denominations from the Province Zacatecas, are continually guarded by five hundred Spaniards, and as many Slaves.