must be ever kept in mind that he is “to go to the said Filipinas Islands, and other islands contiguous thereto, ... and to discover the return route to this Nueva Espana with the greatest despatch possible, bringing or sending spices and other valuable articles of those regions.”  Urdaneta must return with the ship or ships sent back to discover the return route, because of his experience.  No person shall be restricted from sending letters, in the return ship or ships, to the king or the royal Audiencia.  The commander of the return ship shall deliver all the letters to the Audiencia, and they, after reading their own shall despatch the others.  This person shall be most emphatically charged to communicate with no one until the Audiencia has been advised of everything that has happened since the fleet left New Spain.  Legazpi is enjoined in strong terms to seek advice among the religious “especially father Fray Andres de Urdaneta,” and the officers of the fleet, on all important matters.  In case of Legazpi’s death the person succeeding to his office is to keep these instructions faithfully.  A small box, carefully fastened, is given into Legazpi’s keeping, containing a sealed paper in which is written the name of the person who is to succeed to his command in case of his death, but this person is not to be known until such a casualty.  Another similar box, sealed and fastened as the other casket, contains the name of the person who shall receive the command in case Legazpi’s successor dies also.  At the end of the instructions proper is Legazpi’s oath to observe with care the commands enjoined upon him therein. (Tomo ii, no. xxi, pp. 145-200.)

Mejico, September 12, 1564.  A letter from the royal Audiencia to the king informs the latter of the changes which they have made in the instructions given to Legazpi by Luis de Velasco, who has died.  The general and other officers have left for the port of departure, and the fleet will sail some time in October.  The first instructions, which were in accordance with Urdaneta’s opinion, were to sail toward New Guinea and coast along its shores in order to discover its products and other things.  “It seemed to this royal Audiencia, discussing and communicating in this regard with persons of experience, who have been in those regions, that, although it be true that the discovery of New Guinea would be important, especially if the riches asserted should be found there, it is not fitting that the voyage thither be made now—­both because, as it is new, it has not hitherto been navigated; and because, doing so now, it would be necessary to deviate widely from the course to reach the Western Islands, and the return voyage would be delayed; and it would be running a great risk to navigate in an unknown course.”  The king’s letter of September 24, 1559, is cited in support of the Audiencia’s change in route, and they “determined to order the general to sail straightway in search of the Filipinas Islands, and the other islands contiguous thereto, by the same route taken by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos.”  The Audiencia do not agree with Urdaneta (see above, p. 81) that the Philippines are in Portugal’s demarcation. (Tomo ii, no. xxi, pp. 200-205.)