re sending this year, namely, forty
ships, which have left Olanda--whence can be inferred the importance
to them of making themselves masters of those regions, since they
are so persistent in their efforts, and incur so heavy expenses--he
[_i.e._, Los Rios] advises you for the discharge of his conscience,
and his obligation, and his duty as a good vassal of your Majesty,
that there is urgent need that, notwithstanding the relief that your
Council of the Indias is about to despatch by way of the straits,
other help be furnished from Nueva Espana and Piru; of both men and
money, and to employ this [aid from Espana] with as great care as the
gravity of the matter requires, and to realize the fact that, were it
lost, both Eastern and Western India would be endangered. They would
be in great danger, as would also these kingdoms; for it would mean
to permit the enemy to become so powerful and so rich as all know
who are aware of the wealth of those regions. Besides, it would mean
the extinction of whatever Christian element is there, and would shut
the doors to the preaching of the gospel, which your Majesty and your
ancestors have procured with so great glory and so many expenses. [That
relief of Nueva Espana and Piru should be prepared] also, for if the
relief [from Espana] should suffer an equal disaster with the last,
and that country could not be succored, it would all be lost.

I petition your Majesty to order that this matter be considered,
as a matter of so great importance; and that your president of the
Indias call a conference of those most experienced in the Indias,
so that they may discuss what measures can be taken most fitting for
the relief of that country, and as speedily as possible, where he
[_i.e._, Los Rios] will also declare the measures that occur to him.

[_Endorsed_: "To the president of the Indias. Examined, in the meeting
of April 7, 620."]

Treatise on the navigation of Filipinas, reduced to four chapters

Sire:

Your Majesty orders me to declare my opinion in regard to the
navigation from Espana to the Philipinas and Malucas Islands, from
them to Espana, the mutual navigation between those island groups; and
the seasons suitable for such navigation. In obedience to your royal
order, I declare, Sire, that the propositions cover four principal
points, each of which I shall explain in order. [The original document
contains a marginal abstract of each of the four points that follow;
but thes