may be able to receive satisfaction, and regard as more certain all that I shall say to you, for I thus affirm and certify it in the name of this great and powerful lord.  And since we are so near neighbors, and can communicate with each other in a few days, I shall be much honored, if you will inform me of all the things of which you wish to be advised, for I know all this will be greatly to his majesty’s service.  And over and above his good will, I shall be most gratified thereat and shall write you my thanks; and the emperor our lord will be much pleased if you will deliver to this captain any of the Spaniards who are still alive in your prison.  If you wish a ransom for it, he shall give it you at your pleasure and to your satisfaction; and in addition you will receive favors from his majesty, and reciprocal favors from me, since, if you wish it so, we shall have for many days much intercourse and friendship together.  May twenty-eight, one thousand five hundred and twenty-seven.

Hernando Cortes.

(No. xxxiv, pp. 461-462.)

A relation of the voyage was written by Saavedra and set down in the book of the secretary of the fleet.  The two ships and one brig set sail in October, 1527, from the port of “Zaguatenejo, which is in New Spain, in the province of Zacatala,” on the western coast.  When out but a short distance his surgeon dies and is buried at sea.  Soon after this one of the ships begins to take water, and so rapidly that it is necessary to bring men from the other vessels to keep her afloat.  On December 29 the Ladrones are sighted; and soon afterward they anchor at an island (not of this group), whose inhabitants show previous contact with Castilians by crying as a signal “Castilla, Castilla!” He relates the finding of one of the three men at the island of Vizaya.  This man relates that after a year’s captivity his master had taken him to Cebu, where he learned from the natives that they had sold to the Chinese the eight companions of Magalhaes who were left on that island.  The natives of Cebu “are idolaters, who at certain times sacrifice human beings to their god, whom they call Amito, and offer him to eat and to drink.  They dwell near the coast and they often voyage upon the sea in their canoes, going to many islands for plunder and trade.  They are like the Arabs, changing their towns from one place to another.  There are many fine hogs in this island, and it has gold.  They say that people from China come hither, and that they trade among these islands.”  Another relation of this voyage was presented by Vicente de Napoles in 1634, in an investigation at Madrid.  Early in the voyage the ships become separated, and Saavedra’s vessel never again sees its companions. [14] He tells of seeing “an island which is called Mondana, and which the Portuguese call Mindanao.”  The finding of the three Castilians is narrated, also the meeting with the survivors of Loaisa’s expedition; their negotiations with the Portuguese; and their final return to Europe in a Portuguese vessel are recounted. [15] (No. xxxvii, pp. 476-486.)