The indios amigos were not listed on the 1540 muster but many were present. They also rarely appear as individuals in the documentary record. Due to Luis's participation in the Expedition, he was given license to ride a horse and carry a sword. Most Natives were not allowed to do either. Luis de León was a native of Santiago de Tlatelolco in Mexico City, as were several of the known indios amigos. He served as an interpreter for the Spanish expeditionaries.
1540-1550:
AGN, Instituciones Coloniales, GD72, Real Audiencia, Mercedes, vol.2, exp. 240, 1543 [fols. 93v – 94r: En México, June 24, 1543: Luis de León, indio, is given license to ride a horse and carry a sword “atento que fuystes a la tierra nueva en servicio de su magestad donde servisteis de interprete;” and he continues to serve as lengua mexicana española];
AGI, Justicia, 21 [fol. 866v: licencias a indios para tener caballos] [don Luis de León, principal de Santiago (de Tlatelolco?)];
AGI, Justicia, 264, pieza 3 [Probanza de Mendoza, Antequera, 1547, question 25 of interrogatorio: "si saben que luis de leon a quien el dicho visorrey dio licencia para traer espada fue ynterprete de esta real audiencia y sirvio en la Jornada de la tierra nueva Al qual porque se emborracho el dicho visorrey le Revoco la dicha licencia y le privo de oficio de ynterprete"];
Hanke, Virreyes [I:70 #75, interprete]
1570-1580:
?AGN, Instituciones Coloniales, GD51, Gobierno Virreinal, General de Parte, Vol.1, exp.745, 1576 [In April 1576, a Luis de León and a Luis Pérez are repartidores de los indios de México y Santiago “de esta ciudad [de México]”;
After 1590:
?Aizpuru, Indices y catálog, Moreno, escribano, #866, “Reclamación, 1593”]