command of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. After touching at several points along the coast and passing through the Santa Bárbara Channel, he died, and his successor, Ferelo, advanced in March 1543 past snowcapped mountains to what he called latitude 44°, but found the cold so excessive that he turned back.[1]
During Cabrillo's absence two ships and three smaller craft, also remnants of Alvarado's fleet, were despatched by order of Mendoza from the western coast, probably from Navidad. These vessels, sailing in November 1542[2] in command of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, carried three hundred and seventy men, including several Austin friars destined for the islands of the Pacific.[3]
The original object of the expedition seems to have been to found a colony on Zebú, and Villalobos was particularly enjomed not to touch at the islands whereof the Portuguese held possession. This command, however, was disregarded, either from necessity on account of stress of weather, or by miscalculations of the course, after many other islands had been sighted or touched. The expedition is but a continuous record of troubles in which the Spaniards became involved, largely by their own fault, with each other, with the natives, and especially with the Portuguese. It was at this time that the Philippines were named,[4] and more than one effort was made to send a vessel
- ↑ For full particulars of this expedition, see Hist. North Mex. States, i., and Hist. Cal., i., this series.
- ↑ Juan Fernandez de Ladrillero declared in 1574 that he and a company were in California until called back to join the expedition of Villalobos. Sutil y Mex., Viage, pp. xlii.-iv. This, if not pure invention, may allude vaguely to Ulloa or Alarcon.
- ↑ With details of the route followed and the discoveries made on this expedition I have little to do, and therefore make but a slight mention in the text. The original authorities on the matter are vague and confusing. The best authorities are Grijalua, Cron. S. August., 51-60: Gaetan, Relatione, in Ramusio, i. 416 et seq.; Galvano's Discov., 231-9; Herrera, dec. vii. lib. v. The best English authority is Burney's Hist. Discov. South Sea, i, 226-43. Two original reports of the expedition, more or less full, but everywhere conflicting, are Villalobos, Viaje, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., v. 118 et seq., and Santisteban, Carta, in Id., xiv. 151-65. Other authorities are Ternaux-Compans, Voy., série i. tom. x. 259-65; Gomara, Hist. Ind., 1353 Torquemada, i. 608; Cavo, Tres Siglos, i. 135.
- ↑ In honor of the prince of Asturias. Cavo, Tres Siglos, i. 135.
