Describes the celebration of the feast of the eve and the day of
Pentecost, and the taking possession in the names of the Catholic
Church, and of His Majesty.
On that night all three vessels displayed many lights, and they sent
off many rockets and fire-wheels. All the artillery was fired off;
and when the natives heard the noise and the echoes resounding over
hills and valleys, they raised great shouts. We sounded drums, rang
the bells, had music and dancing, and had other forms of rejoicing,
in which the men showed great pleasure. The Captain said to all:
"Gentlemen, this is the eve of my long-desired day, for which there
should be no empty hand nor person for whom the appointed good things
are not welcome, and as much more as the part he takes may deserve."
It was not quite dawn when the Camp Master and ministers, taking with
them an armed party in the two boats, went on shore. They landed near
the launch with four small pieces to be used in a fort. Presently,
with joyous diligence a booth made of branches was set up on the beach,
surrounded by stakes, to serve as a fort in case of necessity. Within,
the monks arranged a clean and well-ordered altar under a canopy. This
was the first church, and was named by the Captain "Our Lady of
Loreto." Everything having been arranged as well as the time would
allow, it was reported to the Captain, and presently he left the ship
with the rest of the people. All the three companies were drawn up in
good order on the beach. The officers and soldiers looked so active and
honourable, with the crosses on their breasts, that I believe, if His
Majesty could see them, with such sharpened resolves to finish what
they had commenced, and to begin much greater things, that he would
estimate their value at what it was worth, and increase his bounties.
The Royal Ensign came forth with the standard in his hands. The
banners, which were fluttering and brightening the whole
scene, received their tribute from discharges of muskets and
arquebuses. Presently the Captain came out and went down on his knees,
saying: "To God alone be the honour and the glory." Then, putting
his hand on the ground, he kissed it, and said: "O Land! sought for
so long, intended to be found by many, and so desired by me!"
Then the Admiral came out with a cross made of the orange wood of
the country, which the Captain had caused to be made. Our Father
Commissary, with his five monks, all bare-footed, kneeling on the
beach, received it in their arms, saying with great tenderness:
"I adore thee, O Holy Cross, for the Author of our life, made
flesh, died on thee for me, so great a sinner, and for the whole
human race." Raising it and singing the "Lignum," with the people
in procession, we arrived at the door of the church; and there,
on a pedestal which had been placed for the purpose, the Captain
planted our cross, and ordered that the people should come round,
and that the secretary should read, as in a loud voice he did read,
the following documents:--
Raising of the Cross.
Be witnesses the heavens and the earth, and the sea with all its
inhabitants, and those who are present, that I, the Captain Pedro
Fernandez de Quiros, in these parts which up to the present time
have been unknown, raise and plant in the name of Jesus Christ,
Son of the eternal Father, and of the Holy Virgin Mary, true
God and man, this sign of the Holy Cross, on which His most holy
body was crucified, and where He gave His life as a ransom for
the whole human race.
In the same place, and at the same time, the six following possessions
were read, which our people heard with joy and gladness, the eyes of
many filling with tears.
Possession in the name of the most Holy Trinity.
In these parts of the South, until now unknown, where I am, and
have come with authority from the Supreme Roman Pontiff, Clement
VIII., and by order of the King, Don Philip III., King of Spain,
despatched by his Council of State, I, Captain Pedro Fernandez
de Quiros, in the name of the most Holy Trinity, take possession
of all the islands and lands that I have newly discovered, and
desire to discover, as far as the South Pole.
Possession in the name of the Catholic Church.
I take possession of all these, the said lands, in the name of
Jesus Christ, saviour of all men, how unknown soever they may
be, and in the name of His mother the most Holy Virgin Mother
of Loreto, and in the name of St. Peter and St. Paul, and of all
the holy apostles and disciples, and in the name of the universal
Vicar of Christ, the Roman Pontiff, and in the name of the whole
Catholic Church, and of all those pious, just, and holy things
that have a right in such possession; which I do with joy and to
the end that to all the natives, in all the said lands, the holy
and sacred evangel may be preached zealously and openly.
Possession in the name of St. Francis and his Order.
I take possession of all the said lands in the name of my father,
St. Francis, and of all his religion and professors of it, and
being present, in the name of the Father Commissary, Friar Martin
de Monilla, Friar Mateo de Vascones, Friar Antonio Quintero, and
Friar Juan de Marlo, all four priests; and in the names of Fray
Juan de Santa Maria and Fray Francisco Lopez, both lay brethren,
come here, all six, at my request by order of His Holiness and of
His Majesty, and of their Commissary General and Provincial of
the province of the Twelve Apostles of Peru; from whose order I
desire that all the workers sent to tend this vineyard may come,
and the labourers who have to show His holy word and doctrine,
and to gather in the fruits.
Possession in the name of John of God and his Order.
I take possession of all the said lands in the name of John of God,
and of all the professed brothers of his Order, and, being present,
in the name of Lazaro de Santa Maria, who came here in compliance
with a brief of His Holiness, given to me for that end, that the
same Brotherhood might found, administer, and maintain by their
professed charity all the hospitals there may be in those parts,
so necessary that the natives may learn all our methods, and hold
us in the love and veneration which the sight of our curing the
native sick, and giving them other benefits, deserve.
Possession in the name of the Order of the Holy Ghost.
I take possession of all these lands, by the right that His
Holiness and His Majesty granted, to make just divisions of the
lands and of the people on them; for all the Knights that are
in these parts of the Order of the Holy Ghost as discoverers,
settlers, defenders, and preservers, and no other, obliged without
pay to serve in all the royal and public employments, with every
human and divine office as regards the natives as their defenders,
and with profession of all the rest that is in their constitution.
Possession in the name of His Majesty.
Finally, I take possession of this bay, named the Bay of St. Philip
and St. James, and of its port named Santa Cruz, and of the site on
which is to be founded the city of New Jerusalem, in latitude 15°
10', and of all the lands which I sighted and am going to sight,
and of all this region of the south as far as the Pole, which
from this time shall be called Australia del Espiritu Santo,
with all its dependencies and belongings; and this for ever,
and so long as right exists, in the name of the King, Don Philip,
third of that name King of Spain, and of the eastern and western
Indies, my King and natural Lord, whose is the cost and expense
of this fleet, and from whose will and power came its mission,
with the government, spiritual and temporal, of these lands and
people, in whose royal name are displayed there his three banners,
and I hereby hoist his royal standard.
The reading being finished, all cried with loud voices: "Long live
the King of Spain, Don Philip III., our Lord!" Then we entered the
church to give due thanks to God.
They said three Masses, and the fourth, which was sung, was by
our Father Commissary. All the people took the sacrament very
fervently. This done, the three Ensigns, who now held the banners
in their hands, inclined them to the ground in front of the altar,
the Royal Ensign holding the royal standard. The Commissary blessed
them with great solemnity; and, at a certain signal that was given
to the ships, whose mast-head banners displayed the royal arms, and
at the sides the two columns and the plus ultra, with the streamers
fluttering, fired off all their guns with full charges; the soldiers
discharged muskets and arquebuses, and the gunners sent off rockets and
fire-wheels. In the middle of all this noise, all shouted with almost
infinite joy, and many times: "Long live the Faith of Christ!" And
with this the celebration of the festival came to an end.