Abstract
On 30 April 1598, on the banks of the Rio del Norte (Rio Grande), Juan de Onate formally took possession of all the kingdoms and provinces of New Mexico, in the name of King Philip [of Spain]. The reading of the act of possession was followed by sermon, a great ecclesiastical and secular celebration, a great salute and rejoicing, and, in the afternoon, a comedy.1 Although the text of the comedia has been lost, a brief account of the play's subject matter can be found in Gaspar Perez de Villagra's epic poem Historia de la Nueva Mexico. Villagra was a captain under Onate 's command in New Mexico and published his account of the expedition in 1610. He wrote:
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