You shall try to ascertain whether there is any cinnamon in the river of Mindanao.  If so, you shall try to bring some of it.  You shall try to find out how to treat it, so that it may be of as good quality as that in Castilla; for his Majesty has had us notified that that sent from these districts has not been good.  On your way to Cubu, you shall send some one to pacify the tingues [hill-people] of Butuan and to examine the towns reported by Juan Gutierres Cortes, in order to discover the people and ascertain their number and their location.  You shall send a cautious man for this, who shall investigate such matters as are necessary.  When you leave Cubu, you shall order Pedro Navarro to send to this city all his Majesty’s ships in that place, and the artillery taken there by Captain Esteban Rodriguez, as well as whatever else he has there in his keeping, in charge, of a careful man.  This must be accomplished by the bonancas of April, for the artillery can be brought more securely then.  If any soldier or any one else should die, you shall make an inventory of his possessions, and keep the same.  You shall note his name and his birthplace, so that there may be a good account and relation of everything.

Given at Manila, January fifteen, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine.

Doctor Francisco de Sande

Before me: 

Alonso Beltran, his Majesty’s notary

In the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, in the Filipinas islands of the West, on the eighteenth day of the month of February, one thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, the illustrious captain Grabiel de Rivera—­a person who by order and authorization of the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, of his Majesty’s council, auditor of his royal Audiencia established in the City of Mexico, and his governor and captain-general in these islands, is about to go to pacify and explore the river and island of Mindanao—­said that, inasmuch as it is necessary to appoint a notary for the said expedition, in order that he may handle and despatch the business that will arise during it; and inasmuch as Diego Lopez Carreno is a skilful man and qualified to take charge of this:  therefore he appointed, and he did appoint, him as notary of the fleet and expedition.  He authorized him fully, in so far as he himself is authorized by his Lordship, to enjoy and exercise this power.  He ordered him to take the oath and execute the formalities required by law, for the exercise of this power.  Then the said Diego Lopez Carreno, who was present, accepted it, according to the order of the said captain.  He took the oath before God and the blessed Mary, and on a sign of the cross, upon which he placed his right hand, to exercise the office well and faithfully to the best of his knowledge and understanding, and to commit no fraud, equivocation, or deceit; and, if he did thus, may God so reward him; but if not, then may he be proceeded against.