The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 2]

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THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 2

vision the ships would not be in violation of the
treaty made with Portugal. In case the ships should
depart before the king's answer is received, the viceroy will order them to act in accordance with the
above-mentioned relation. The vessels of the expedition will consist of two galleys of two hundred and
one hundred and seventy or one hundred and eighty
tons respectively, and a patache.3 Wood, already
fitted, is to be sent in the galleys, with which to make
small boats for use among the islands. "The man
in charge of the work, writes me that the cables and
rigging necessary for these vessels will be all ready,
by the spring of sixty-one, at Nicaraugua and Realexo, ports in the province of Guatimala where I have
ordered these articles made, because they can be made
better there than in all the coast of the Southern Sea;
and because they can be brought easily from those
ports to Puerto de la Navidad, where the ships must
take the sea." The artillery and other articles sent
from Spain for the vessels have arrived. The letters
written by the king to Urdaneta and the Augustinian
provincial were delivered, and both have conformed
to the contents thereof. " It is most fitting that Fray
Andres go on this expedition, because of his experience and knowledge of these islands, and because
no one in those kingdoms or in these understands so
thoroughly the necessary course as he; moreover, he
is prudent and discreet in all branches of business,
and is of excellent judgment." He assures the king
that the return voyage to Spain will be made as
quickly as possible. In a postscript he adds that all
due secrecy has been observed in regard to the pur34 A small vessel used as a tender, to carry messages between
larger vessels, etc.