of the astrolabe, have a copy made and delivered
to Cespedes, that he may examine it and give his opinion in regard
to it. As for the rest, join everything in regard to this matter,
and have all the papers brought in a bundle."]

[_Memoranda at beginning of document_: "Memorial addressed to the king,
dated at Manila on June 27, 1597, by Colonel Hernando de los Rios,
which gives an account of a book which he is engaged in composing,
concerning the approved usage and art of navigation, and of the
importance of taking a port on the mainland of China, and particularly
in the island of Hermosa, of which he gives a very circumstantial
description, accompanying it with his map, and finally a very
valuable discourse on the two routes which are the most expeditious
and direct for navigation from Spana to those kingdoms, that can be
found. The first is through a channel or narrowing of the sea which
enters Nuebo Mexico above Florida at forty-five degrees latitude,
according to the information received from Father Federico of the
Society of Jesus, and from a friar of the order of St. Augustine,
who was very learned in cosmography, and who died in that city. The
other is through the strait called Anian. There is inserted in the
said memorial a relation which was left written by Fray Martin de
Rada, of the order of St. Augustine. It was received from a Vizcayan
named Juanes de Rivas, a native of San Sevastian, wherein he sets
forth that various Portuguese have passed by that way to Yndia and
China, and by way of Ucheo returned to Lisboa in forty-five days of
voyage. He gives a condensed description of the ship's courses, and
the navigation which must be accomplished until they have arrived in
the harbor, either here or in China, etc., etc.

Memorial directed to the king of Espana by Benito Escoto, a Genoese
noble, in the year 1616, giving an account of a certain method which
he had discovered of putting together certain tables of longitudes in
maritime voyages and navigation, etc.; and to find that navigation
which, up to that time, so many serious men and mariners had sought
and had not found--namely, the passage by the northern part of China,
Japon, Malucas, and Philipinas, with a condensed discourse concerning
the advantages which will accrue from the proposed action. And in
continuation a letter from the prior of the convent of Santa Maria,
written to ... in recommendation of the good circumstances and worthy
qualities both o