Fernando Riquel.)

(This is the copy of certain clauses of [the instructions given by] the royal Audiencia of Mexico, which the very illustrious Miguel Lopez de Leguaspi sent to Goncalo Pereira, captain-general in the regions of the south for the king our sovereign—­which document was copied at the request of the said Miguel Lopez de Leguaspi.

I, Fernando Riquel, notary-in-chief of the royal fleet for the discovery and administration of the islands of the West, for his majesty, King Don Felipe, our sovereign, testify and affirm to all persons, who may see the present:  that in a set of instructions and regulations, signed by Don Luis de Velasco, former viceroy of Nueva Espana; the licentiate Valderrama, visiador-general and member of the council of his majesty; Doctor Ceynos, Doctor Villalobos, Doctor Horozco, Doctor Vasco de Puga, and Doctor Villanueva—­all auditors of the said Royal Audiencia of Nueva Espana, resident in the City of Mexico—­and countersigned by Antonio de Turcios, secretary of the Audiencia, is contained, among many other clauses, the following:)

“The course of conduct which you, Miguel Lopez de Leguaspi, appointed as governor and general on his majesty’s behalf, for the discovery of the islands of the West, by the very illustrious viceroy Don Luis de Velasco, late governor and captain-general of this Nueva Espana, and president of the royal Audiencia resident therein, are to adhere to in the voyage and expedition which with the aid of God, our lord, you are about to undertake for the discovery aforesaid, with the ships which have been constructed for that purpose by his majesty’s orders and are now at Puerto de la Navidad in this Nueva Espana, on the coast of the South Sea is as follows:” 

[See ante, p. 89 ff., for synopsis of these instructions.]

[The clauses sent thus by Legazpi relate in general to the course to be pursued in the expedition in regard to the Portuguese and their possessions in the eastern seas—­assuming, however, that the Philippines fell within Spain’s demarcation, wherein Legazpi was ordered to effect a settlement.  The document continues:]

(I took the above clauses from the said instructions and regulations.  They were signed by the above-mentioned viceroy [Antonio de Mendoza], the visitador, and the auditors, as is sufficiently apparent; and to that document I refer, by order of the most illustrious governor Miguel Lopez de Leguaspi.  The same are well and faithfully copied, and the comparison and collation thereof took place before Christoval Ponze, notary of this camp, and Juan de Gamboa.  And they are well and faithfully copied.  Given in the island of Cubu, on the twentieth day of October, in the year one thousand five hundred and sixty-eight.  Therefore, I, the said Fernando Riquel, affix hereunto my signature and accustomed flourish, in attestation of truth. Fernando Riquel.)