with Xapon, the merchandise which must go to España will come from
that country, is a statement without foundation. For if this argument
were worth anything, it must have the same force, in preventing what
is today carried from México; since trade with Xapon from Manila is
open and permitted to all who wish it.

The consulate is trying also to strengthen its proposition with the
improvements that it pretends to find in the voyage, if it were to be
made by the cape of Buena-Esperanza. But, discussing that point by what
I have been able to learn of it, I find that the emperor and king our
sovereign, of glorious memory, your Majesty's grandfather, having been
persuaded that the discovery and conquest of the Spice Islands--the
name then given to those islands today included in the name of
Philipinas or Malucas--pertained to the crown of Castilla, inasmuch
as they were within the line drawn by his Holiness, Alexander VI, for
the division of the world, ardently desired, and made extraordinary
efforts, so that his vassals might make that voyage without touching
at the ports and lands of the kingdom of Portugal. For that purpose
he made an agreement with Fernando de Magallanes to discover [such
a route]. The latter discovered and gave name to the strait in
this region at the south. Although by the result [of Magallanes's
expedition] one could recognize the great difficulty and danger of
the voyage, his Majesty would not desist from the undertaking. On the
contrary, he immediately sent, in the year 25, two other fleets by
that way while, at the same time, he sent a ship under command of an
intelligent man to find a new entrance by the coast of Labrador and
the Bacallaos. [62] Following up the attempt, he ordered Don Fernando
Cortés, conqueror of Nueva-España, to attempt this expedition from
Nueva-España. He would not have ceased like means until attaining it,
had not he made that contract or agreement concerning those islands