Expedition of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos—­1541-46

[Resume of contemporaneous documents, 1541-48.]

Translated and synopsized, by James A. Robertson, from Col. doc. ined., as follows:  Ultramar, ii, part i, pp. 1-94; Amer. y Oceania, pp. 117-209, and xiv, pp. 151-165.

The Expedition of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos—­1541-46

[The expedition of Villalobos, [16] although productive of slight immediate result, paved the way for the later and permanent expedition and occupation by Legazpi.  For this reason—­and, still more, because this was the first expedition to the Western Islands (in contradistinction from the Moluccas), which included the Philippine group, and because these latter islands received from Villalobos the name by which history was to know them,—­these documents, which for lack of space cannot be here fully presented, deserve a fuller synopsis than do those pertaining to the preceding expeditions of Magalhaes, Loaisa, and Saavedra.  The documents thus abstracted are to be found in Col. doc. ined.  Ultramar, ii, part 1, pp. 1-94; and in Col. doc. ined.  Amer. y Oceania, v, pp. 117-209, xiv, pp. 151-165.]

Jalisco, March 28, 1541.  The adelantado of Guatemala, Pedro de Alvarado, [17] writes the king, Felipe II, regarding his contract with the viceroy of New Spain, Antonio de Mendoza [18] for expeditions of discovery along the coast and among the Western Islands.  Alvarado with eleven vessels has called at one of the ports of New Spain, “to excuse the differences and scandals that were expected between Don Antonio de Mendoza ... and myself, in regard to the said discovery, because of his having sent Francisco Vasquez to the said provinces [of the West] with a fleet.”  They have agreed to make their discoveries, both by land and sea, in partnership “in the limits and demarcation, contained in the agreement that was made with me, considering it as certain that, because of the many ships and people, and the great supply of provisions at our command, we shall know and discover everything that is to be seen in those regions, and bring it to the knowledge of God our Lord, and to the dominion of your majesty.”  It is determined to divide the fleet into two parts, “one to go to the Western Islands, which should make a hurried trip among them, noting their products; and the other should coast along Tierra-firme.”  Three large ships and a galley, with a crew of three hundred skilled men under command of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, “a man of great experience in matters of the sea,” are destined for the voyage to the Western Islands.  This fleet is to set out within three months to prosecute its discovery, “for all this time has been and is necessary to repair the vessels.”  Alvarado tells the king “that all this has been at great labor and expense; and not only our own possessions, but those of many of