The Constable of Castile—­that he has nothing to add to the report of the Council of War of the Indias since the importance of the matter shows how proper it is that the Marques de Montesclaros should give prompt assistance to Don Pedro de Acuna, and that it should be ordered exactly so.  He thinks that it is very well that the archbishop and the Audiencia should not be mixed up in matters of war, since they do not understand them.  In regard to what concerns Portugal, he supposes that your Majesty probably has had notice sent to that Council; and if not, that it would be well to do so.

The Conde de Olivares agreed to all that has been said; and he thinks it well that the ship which the report mentions should be sent at once to Nueva Espana, informing the Marques de Montesclaros of the importance of the expedition, and ordering him to supply Don Pedro de Cuniga [sic] with all that he needs for the proper execution of it, in such manner that he shall have no excuse for evading such requisition.  He also would command the archbishop and the Audiencia not to meddle in matters of war, and to order Don Pedro to keep the friendship and good understanding which he has with the king of Japon, and to hang all the rebels that he shall capture.  Your Majesty will ordain, in all matters, what shall be most to your service.

Decree Establishing a Way-Station for Philippine Vessels on the California Coast

The King:  To Don Pedro de Acuna, knight of the Order of St. John, my governor and captain-general of the Filipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein:  You have already heard that Don Luis de Velasco, former viceroy of Nueva Espana—­in view of the long navigation from the port of Acapulco to those islands, and the great hardship and danger of navigation in that voyage because of having no station wherein to repair the ships, and to supply them with water, wood, masts, and other requisite and necessary things—­determined to explore and mark out the ports of the coasts from the said Nueva Espana to those islands.  He ordered that this effort should be made by a vessel called “San Agustin;” but, as that vessel was lost, the said exploration was not then effected.  You know that afterward the Conde de Monterrei, who succeeded him in that government, finding the same inconveniences in the said navigation, and thinking it advantageous to remedy them by making anew the exploration that Don Luis de Velasco had attempted, wrote me in regard to it.  He said that, in his opinion, it could be made by small vessels sailing from the port of Acapulco; and that the reconnoitering of the coasts and ports of the bay of the Californias might be included in it, as well as the fisheries.  In reply I ordered, on the twenty-seventh of September of five hundred and ninety-nine, that letters be written to him in my name that I considered the demarcation and exploration of that coast and its ports very desirable, and that