Marcos de Niza

Marcos de Niza (c. 1495-1558) was a Franciscan friar from Italian-controlled Nice. In 1539, Fray Marcos was part of Spanish conquistador Francisco Vásquez de Coronado's expedition into the areas north of New Spain in search of the legendary Seven Cities of Gold. He was part of an advance group that included Moorish slave Estevánico. Fray Marcos saw the Zuni village of Hawikuh from a distance, and returned to New Spain with exaggerated claims of its wealth. The following year, Coronado and his men arrived at Hawikuh and discovered the truth. Coronado spared Marcos's life, but sent him back to New Spain in disgrace.

Marcos de Niza in "Eyewear"
Fray Marcos de Niza accompanied Estevánico as part of a scouting expedition 1539. Estevánico quickly came to hate Marcos because he talked constantly. Estevánico considered murdering Marcos, but his eyewear indicated that Estevánico could not get away with it.

For a time, Estevánico was able to ride ahead of Marcos, much to his relief.