d believe that he had been reared
to their observance all the days of his life, so forgetful was he of
what he had seen in the world, as if he had never lived in it. But
when he seemed to be enjoying the greatest quiet and repose, God drew
him from his cell, and placed him in charge of new navigations...."]

Chapters II and III

[Upon the receipt of the king's letters, the viceroy of New Spain,
"with the concurrence of the Audiencia, summoned father Fray
Andres de Urdaneta, and after having delivered into his own hands
the letter that had come for him from his Majesty, intimated to him
the importance of the expedition and the great spiritual advantages
that would accrue from it." When urged to accept the trust, Urdaneta
responded that he must first communicate with "his superior, who
stood to him in place of God." The consent and order of the latter
was readily obtained, and Urdaneta accepted the expedition "with
so great joy and gladness, that the fire that glowed in his heart
was well shown by his eagerness." In continuation of the project,
"the viceroy took measures to establish a shipyard in Puerto de la
Navidad--one hundred and twenty leguas from the city of Mexico, and
situated in nineteen and one-half degrees north latitude--so that three
or four ships of different burden might be made;" for this expedition
was not only to discover routes, but to colonize and take possession
of the islands. By the advice of Urdaneta, "Miguel Lopez de Legazpi,
an illustrious gentleman, and one of great prudence and valor, and
above all, an excellent Christian," was chosen as commander of the
expedition, the viceroy carefully consulting the friar so that a good
choice might be made. [13] In discussing the voyage, Urdaneta "proposed
that they should first go to discover Nueva Guinea. He expressed the
great advantages that would arise from this, the chief being that it
could be the stepping-place to the whole world. Nueva Guinea is near
the equator, and stretches east three hundred leguas and north live
or six degrees. On this account it has been doubted whether it is
mainland, because it extends so far toward the Salomon Islands [14]
or the Straits of Magallanes. However, now that the opposite coast
of Magallanes has been navigated the doubt has been destroyed, and it
has been discovered that it is not a continuation of that land, but an
island surrounded by the water of the South Sea. Father Urdaneta had
discovered this