instructions are issued to Legazpi by the president and auditors of
the royal _Audiencia_ of Mexico, the chief provisions of which here
follow. Before the royal officials of this expedition, namely, "Guido
de Labezaris, treasurer, Andres Cauchela, accountant, and Andres de
Mirandaola, factor," he will take possession of the vessels and their
equipment. The flagship will be the "Sant Felipe," in which Legazpi
will embark; the "Sant Andres" will carry the commander of the fleet;
[44] Captain Juan de la Isla and Captain Hernán Sanchez Muñon will
command the _pataches_, the "Sant Juan de Letran" and the "Sant
Lucas," respectively. Legazpi's first duty is to appoint pilots,
masters, boatswains, notaries, artillery officers, and all other
necessary officials. Inventories of the equipment of the fleet, and
of the merchandise, etc., carried, are to be made and signed by him;
and a copy of the same shall be given to the officials of the royal
_hacienda_ [treasury]. He shall apportion the cargo, provisions,
etc., among the different vessels, as he judge best. Martin de
Goiti is to have entire charge of all the artillery, ammunition,
etc., "as he is a person to be trusted," and he shall be given a
memorandum of all such things. The men embarking in the fleet shall
pass a general review; their names, age, parentage, occupation in
the fleet, and pay, shall be enrolled in a book; and they shall
be apportioned to the various vessels of the fleet. In Legazpi's
ship will embark Captain Mateo del Saz, appointed master-of-camp,
two officials of the royal _hacienda_, and those "gentlemen to whom
has been given the preference for attendance on you and the standard,
and the other necessary persons;" the royal standard and the ensign
shall be carried on his vessel. "In the admiral's ship you shall
appoint as captain thereof, and as admiral of the whole fleet,
the man who is, in your judgment, most suitable." This vessel must
carry one of the royal officers. The soldiers and sailors must see
that the arquebuses delivered to them are kept in good order. Great
care must be exercised in regard to the provisions, and they must be
apportioned in set quantities, "as the voyage is of long duration." To
this end no useless person shall be taken, and no Indians or negroes
(male or female)--beyond a dozen of the latter for servants--or women
(married or single) shall accompany the fleet. When the fleet is upon
the point of embarking, the Augustinian religious shall be taken on
board, who go "to bring the natives of those regions to a knowledge
of our holy Catholic faith." They are to have good quarters and to
receive good treatment. Before setting sail "you shall have care that
all the people have confessed and received communion." The general
must perform homage and take oath to "perform well and faithfully
the said office and duties of governor and captain-general." Also
the oath of obedience and faithfulness to Legazpi shall be taken by
all embarking in the fleet, "that they will not mutiny, or rebel,
and will follow the course marked out by you, and your banner." The
general must guard carefully the morals of his men, and shall punish
"blasphemy and public sins with all severity." The property of
the dead shall be kept for their heirs, persons being appointed to
administer it. The admiral, captains, pilots, and masters shall be
given ample instructions concerning the course before setting sail,
which they must follow to the letter. The men are to be divided
into watches, no one being excused, except for sickness. The fleet,
setting sail, shall proceed "in search of and to discover the Western
Islands situated toward the Malucos, but you shall not in any way or
manner enter the islands of the said Malucos, ... but you shall enter
other islands contiguous to them, as for instance the Filipinas, and
others outside the said treaty, and within his majesty's demarcation,
and which are reported also to contain spice." They are to labor for
the evangelization of the natives, to ascertain the products of the
islands, and to discover the return route to New Spain. The route
to be taken on the westward journey will be by way of the "island
Nublada, discovered by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos" and Roca Partida;
then to the islands Los Reyes, the Coral Islands--"where you may
procure water,"--and thence to the Philippines; passing perhaps the
islands of Matalotes and Arrecifes, in which event they shall try to
enter into communication with the natives. "When you have arrived at
the said Filipinas Islands, and other islands contiguous to them and
the Malucos, without however entering the latter, ... you shall try to
discover and examine their ports, and to ascertain and learn minutely
the settlements therein and their wealth; the nature and mode of life
of the natives; the trade and barter among them, and with what nations;
the value and price of spices among them, the different varieties of
the same, and the equivalent for each in the merchandise and articles
for exchange that you take from this land; and what other things may
be advantageous. You shall labor diligently to make and establish
sound friendship and peace with the natives, and you shall deliver to
their seigniors and chiefs, as may seem best to you, the letters from
his majesty that you carry with you for them.... You must represent
to them his majesty's affection and love for them, giving them a few
presents ... and treating them well. And you may exchange the articles
of barter and the merchandise that you carry for spice, drugs, gold,
and other articles of value and esteem.... And if, in your judgment,
the land is so rich and of such quality that you should colonize
therein, you shall establish a colony in that part and district that
appears suitable to you, and where the firmest friendship shall have
been made with you; and you shall affirm and observe inviolably this
friendship. After you have made this settlement, if you should deem
it advantageous to the service of God, our Lord, and of his majesty,
to remain in those districts where you have thus settled, together
with some of your people and religious, until you have given advice
of it to his majesty and this royal _Audiencia_ in his name, you
shall send immediately to this Nueva España, one or more trustworthy
persons ... with the news and relation of what you have accomplished,
and where you have halted. What you shall have obtained in trade shall
be brought back. This you shall do in such manner that with all the
haste, caution, and diligence possible, they shall return to this land,
in order that the return route hither may be known and learned; for
this latter is the chief thing attempted, since already it is known
that the journey thither can be made in a brief time. If you determine
to make the return in person to this land, you shall leave there,
where you have settled, persons in your stead and some people and
religious, but making sure that the commander left by you with such
people and religious is a thoroughly trustworthy man, and that he is
amply provided with the necessary supplies until aid can arrive. To
this man you shall give orders that he preserve with your friends
the friendship that you shall have established, without offending
or ill-treating them in any way; and that he be ever prepared and
watchful, so that no harm may come through his negligence." News
of any Spaniards left among these islands from the expedition
of Villalobos is to be earnestly sought; and Spaniards and their
children are to be ransomed when found, and brought back to Spanish
territory. Information is to be sought concerning the natives of the
Philippines. The Spaniards must ascertain whether the Portuguese have
built forts or made settlements in these islands since the treaty was
made, or since Villalobos arrived there. The exploration in Spain's
démarcation is to be as thorough as possible. Any land colonized
must be well chosen, regard being had to its easy defense. As much
treasure as possible must be sent back with the ship or ships that
return with news of the expedition. Further emphasis is laid on the
good treatment of the natives, "who, as we are informed, are men
of keen intellect, of much worth, and as white as ourselves." "In
whatever port, island, or land" they shall make explorations, they
are to gather information "of the customs, conditions, mode of life,
and trade of their inhabitants; their religion and cult, what beings
they adore, and their sacrifices and manner of worship. Information
must be obtained of their method of rule and government; whether
they have kings, and, if so, whether that office is elective, or by
right of inheritance; or whether they are governed like republics, or
by nobles; what rents or tributes they pay, and of what kind and to
whom; the products of their land most valued among them; what other
things valued by them are brought from other regions. And you shall
ascertain what articles taken by you from here are held in highest
estimation among them." Possession, in the king's name, shall be
taken of all the lands or islands discovered. The pilots shall make
careful logs. The powerful rulers of these districts are to be told
that the proposed destination of the fleet was not to their islands,
but the exigencies of the weather rendered a stay there imperative,
in order that they may not say "that you carry very little merchandise
to go a-trading in lands so distant" They shall request friendship
and alliance and trade; and presents shall be given these rulers from
the most valuable articles in the cargo. Legazpi must be watchful of
his own safety, carrying on negotiations with the natives through his
officers, thus guarding against treachery. The person transacting such
business shall be accompanied by armed men, and the negotiations must
be carried on in sight of the vessels. Hostages must be procured when
possible. No soldiers or sailors shall go ashore without being ordered
to do so. Sleepless vigilance must be exercised to see that the natives
do not cut the anchor-cables, and thus send the ship adrift. To guard
against treason and poison, invitations to festivities or banquets
must not be accepted, nor shall any food be eaten unless the natives
partake of it first. If no settlement can be made because of the
unwillingness of the natives, or because of the scarcity of men, then
the expedition--the entire fleet, if Legazpi deem best--shall return,
after having first made peace and friendship, trying to bring enough
treasure, etc., to pay the expenses of the expedition. It is advisable
to leave some of the priests in any event, "to preserve the friendship
and peace that you shall have made." If any Portuguese are met among
the islands of Japan, part of which lie in Spain's demarcation, any
hostile encounter must be avoided, and the Spaniards must labor for
peace and friendship. In case they obtain such peace and friendship,
then they must try to see the charts carried by the Portuguese. Whether
the latter are found or not in these Japanese islands, Legazpi must
try to ascertain whether any Theatins [45] have been sent thither to
convert the natives. Finding these latter, information as to those
regions and the actions of the Portuguese therein must be sought. In
case the Spaniards and Portuguese come to blows, and the victory
remain to the former, a few Portuguese prisoners shall be sent to
New Spain. If the Portuguese have unlawfully entered the limits of
Spain, Legazpi shall, with the advice of his captains and the royal
officials, take what course seems, best. If vessels are encountered
in the Japanese archipelago or in districts contiguous thereto,
Legazpi must try to effect peace and friendship, declaring that he was
compelled to enter those districts because of contrary winds; he must
gather all the information possible from them, concerning themselves
and the Portuguese. Should these vessels thus encountered prove to be
armed fleets or pirates, any conflict with them must be avoided. In
case of a fight, let him depend on his artillery rather than on
grappling. Any prisoners must be well treated, "and after having gained
information of everything that seems best to you, you shall allow them
to go freely, giving them to understand the greatness of the king,
... and that he wishes his vassals to harm no one." Pirates are to
be dealt with as shall be deemed best. All trading must be at the
lowest possible price, and fixed figures shall be established. Native
weights must be used. The royal officials are to have entire charge
of all trading, of whatever nature, and no individual shall presume,
under severe penalties, to trade for himself, for in that case prices
will be raised by the natives. These officials shall trade first,
merchandise to the value of fifty thousand pesos of gold dust [46]
for the king, and then ten thousand pesos for private individuals;
then another fifty thousand for the king, and so on; but all drugs,
spices, and some other articles are the king's alone, and no one may
trade for them without his express permission. Careful entries of
all trading must be made, and the king shall receive one-twentieth
of all the return cargo of individuals in the fleet. Any merchandise
belonging to private individuals who do not embark in the fleet shall
be traded last, and seven per cent of its returns shall be paid to
the king. Slaves may be bought, for use as interpreters, but good
treatment is to be accorded them. No Indian shall be captured, nor
shall any soldier buy any slave during the time of the voyage; but
when a settlement is made they may do so, unless the king order the
contrary. Several of them shall be sent to New Spain, however, that
"they may be seen here, and from them may be ascertained the products
of their lands." In the fortress of any settlement made, two houses
shall be constructed, one for Legazpi, and the other for the safe
keeping of the artillery and stores; and a ditch and drawbridge are to
be made at the entrance to it. The people of the settlement shall live
outside the fortress, but in one place. Careful watch must be kept;
and the soldiers must take good care of their weapons, having them
always in readiness. The soldiers and others are to be prohibited
from "going to the villages of the natives of those regions without
leave, from entering their houses, from seizing by force anything
in the camp or in their village, or contrary to their will, and from
leaving their [the soldiers'] quarters. Especially shall you prohibit
them and order them that they have no communication with the women
of those regions." Legazpi is to remain aboard his vessel until the
fortress is completed. After its completion some small boats shall
be made. A church shall be built near the fort, as well as a house
for the religious, in order that the latter may minister to the
colonists and the natives. "And you shall have especial care that,
in all your negotiations with the natives of those regions, some of
the religious accompanying you be present, both in order to avail
yourself of their good counsel and advice, and so that the natives
may see and understand your high estimation of them; for seeing this,
and the great reverence of the soldiers toward them, they themselves
will hold the religious in great respect. This will be of great
moment, so that, when the religious shall understand their language,
or have interpreters through whom they may make them understand our
holy Catholic faith, the Indians shall put entire faith in them;
since you are aware that the chief thing sought after by his majesty
is the increase of our holy Catholic faith, and the salvation of the
souls of those infidels." To this end all help must be given to these
ministers of God. The Indian interpreters carried in the fleet must
be well treated. In case it shall be necessary, changes may be made
in these instructions, but with the advice of the other officers; but
it must be ever kept in mind that he is "to go to the said Filipinas
Islands, and other islands contiguous thereto, ... and to discover
the return route to this Nueva España with the greatest despatch
possible, bringing or sending spices and other valuable articles of
those regions." Urdaneta must return with the ship or ships sent
back to discover the return route, because of his experience. No
person shall be restricted from sending letters, in the return ship
or ships, to the king or the royal _Audiencia_. The commander of
the return ship shall deliver all the letters to the _Audiencia_,
and they, after reading their own shall despatch the others. This
person shall be most emphatically charged to communicate with no one
until the _Audiencia_ has been advised of everything that has happened
since the fleet left New Spain. Legazpi is enjoined in strong terms
to seek advice among the religious "especially father Fray Andres de
Urdaneta," and the officers of the fleet, on all important matters. In
case of Legazpi's death the person succeeding to his office is to
keep these instructions faithfully. A small box, carefully fastened,
is given into Legazpi's keeping, containing a sealed paper in which
is written the name of the person who is to succeed to his command
in case of his death, but this person is not to be known until such
a casualty. Another similar box, sealed and fastened as the other
casket, contains the name of the person who shall receive the command
in case Legazpi's successor dies also. At the end of the instructions
proper is Legazpi's oath to observe with care the commands enjoined
upon him therein. (Tomo ii, no. xxi, pp. 145-200.)
Méjico, September 12, 1564. A letter from the royal _Audiencia_ to the
king informs the latter of the changes which they have made in the
instructions given to Legazpi by Luis de Velasco, who has died. The
general and other officers have left for the port of departure, and
the fleet will sail some time in October. The first instructions,
which were in accordance with Urdaneta's opinion, were to sail
toward New Guinea and coast along its shores in order to discover
its products and other things. "It seemed to this royal _Audiencia_,
discussing and communicating in this regard with persons of experience,
who have been in those regions, that, although it be true that the
discovery of New Guinea would be important, especially if the riches
asserted should be found there, it is not fitting that the voyage
thither be made now--both because, as it is new, it has not hitherto
been navigated; and because, doing so now, it would be necessary to
deviate widely from the course to reach the Western Islands, and the
return voyage would be delayed; and it would be running a great risk
to navigate in an unknown course." The king's letter of September 24,
1559, is cited in support of the _Audiencia's_ change in route, and
they "determined to order the general to sail straightway in search
of the Filipinas Islands, and the other islands contiguous thereto,
by the same route taken by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos." The _Audiencia_
do not agree with Urdaneta (see above, p. 81) that the Philippines
are in Portugal's demarcation. (Tomo ii, no. xxi, pp. 200-205.)
Nueva España, 1564 (?). The first-appointed admiral of the fleet,
Juan Pablo de Carrión, writes to King Felipe in regard to the
proposed route. He gives a brief outline of Urdaneta's opinion
that they should sail first to New Guinea. This island he declares
"is one that we discovered in the year forty-four." He describes
it as a desolate region, with but scant food, and declares that the
voyage thither is dangerous and arduous. His own opinion is that the
fleet should take the same course as did Saavedra and Villalobos;
"and that the fleet should put in at the Filipinas Islands, which
are friendly islands, with whom we have had trade and friendship,
and where even eight Spaniards of the fleet in which I sailed
remained. They are islands well supplied with all manner of food,
and there is much trade there. They are wealthy and large, and have
the best location of the entire archipelago. Their language is known,
and their ports, and even the names of their principal rulers, with
whom we have contracted friendship.... There are islands among them
with a circuit of three hundred leagues, and so down to fifty. Those
islands that have been seen are eight large ones, without reckoning
the small ones between them. They are within sight of one another,
so that the most distant of them is not more than ten leagues from
another. To the north of them lies the mainland of China, a distance
of about two hundred leagues; at about the same distance to the south
lies Maluco. And since the route from these lands thither is already
known, and we have had experience of it and since it is a land most
abundantly provisioned and has much trade, and is rich, I have been
of the opinion that we should go thither, inasmuch as this navigation
is understood and that we should not seek a new course attended with
so great uncertainty and risk." He recounts that "these islands were
discovered first by Magallanes in the year twenty-one," and afterward
by Villalobos, and their secret discovered. "They are islands that
the Portuguese have never seen, and they are quite out of the way of
their navigation; neither have the latter had any further information
of them beyond our drawing or chart. They have the best situation for
the return voyage, because they are in north latitude." He ascribes
his not being permitted to accompany the expedition to the divergence
of his opinion from that of Urdaneta. The latter has declared that
he will not go on the expedition if it takes Carrión's course;
"and as he who goes as general, ... is of his nation and land, and
his intimate friend, he wishes to please the father in everything;
and as the said general has no experience in these things, nor does he
understand anything of navigation, through not having practiced it,
he is unable to distinguish one thing from another, and embraces the
father's opinion in everything." Carrión, in a very brief résumé of
Urdaneta's life, declares that he is a man of over sixty. (Tomo ii,
no. xxiii, pp. 205-210.)
Puerto de la Navidad, 1564. In a letter to the king November 18,
Legazpi announces that he has taken over "two large ships and two
_pataches_, and one small brigantine," in which are one hundred and
fifty seamen, two hundred soldiers, and six religious of the order of
Saint Augustine, the chief of whom is father Fray Andres de Urdaneta;
in all, the number of souls, counting servants, amounts to three
hundred and eighty. "I shall leave this port, please God, our Lord,
tomorrow ... and will display, on my part, all possible diligence and
care, with the fidelity which I owe, and which I am under obligation
to have." He hopes for a successful voyage. He begs the king to bear
them in mind, and send aid "to us who go before," and to commit this
to one who has care and diligence, "as a matter that concerns greatly
the service of God, our Lord, the increase of his holy Catholic faith,
and the service of your majesty, and the general good of your kingdoms
and seigniories." He asks the king to grant (as in his other letter,
_q.v._ above) the requests he had made to the viceroy, and which
the latter had sent to Spain; for the preparation for the voyage
has taken all his possessions. Two days later (November 20) Urdaneta
writes the king to somewhat the same effect, enumerating the vessels,
men, etc. Besides himself there are four other religious, "and the
other ... God has taken to himself in this port." They will set out
the following day, all being well. He praises Legazpi, and requests
the king to keep him in his remembrance. Urdaneta's nephew, Andrés
de Mirandaola, is the royal factor of the fleet, and the former begs
favor for him. "Also since the religious of the order of our father
Saint Augustine are the first to embark in this undertaking, and to
undergo so many hardships for the service of God and your majesty,
I beg your majesty to grant them favors." (Tomo ii, nos. xxiv and xxv,
pp. 211-215.)
November 25, 1564. Legazpi gives instructions on this day to the
captains and pilots as to the course to be pursued. Hitherto,
since leaving port, a southwest course has been steered; but now,
in accordance with the royal instructions, and in the opinion of the
captains and pilots, it seems advisable to change the direction. They
shall sail first west-southwest to a latitude of nine degrees, and then
take a due course for the Philippines, stopping at the island of Los
Reyes on the way. If by any chance one of the vessels becomes separated
from Legazpi's vessel, the pilots are to return to the above latitude,
stopping at any port that they may find, for eight or ten days, in
hopes of meeting the other vessels. Whether they find the island or
not, and do not find the other vessels, this ship shall continue on
the course toward the Philippines. A token and letter must be left at
any port they may reach. When the island of Los Reyes is reached, the
ship will wait there ten days, after which time they shall continue
their course, stopping likewise at Matalotes and Arrecifes, leaving
tokens at all places, and trying to explore them and discover their
products. (Tomo ii, no. xxvi, pp. 215-217.)