Copyright 2000 - 2003 - Janine M. Bork
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Union County, OR AGHP
CHAPTER II
(1556 - 1603.)
Spain Conquers the Philippine Islands - Unlaneta's Return Voyages Eastward from Manilla to Acapulco - Commercial Voyages Between Manilla and Mexico - Voyages of Francisco de Gaili - Cruise of Sir Francis Drake - Takes Possession, Calling the Coast New Albion - Voyages of Thomas Cavendish - Voyages of Vizcaino - Cruise of Martin De Aguilar - Change of Maritime Policy of Spain.
PHILIP II., soon after his ascension of the Spanish throne, ordered Don Luis de Velasco, Viceroy of Mexico, to conquer the Philippine Island and establish thereon Spanish settlements. Andreas Urdaneta, an Austin friar, whose reputation as a cosmographer stood very high (who in 1527, then a mariner, had sailed with Saavedra on the voyage to relieve Loaisa), was urged to accompany the expedition. Disqualified by the voyage to relieve Loaisa), was urged to accompany the expedition. Disqualified by his priesthood for a command, he was authorized to name the commanding officer. His choice fell upon Miguel Gomez de Legaspi, upon whom was conferred the title of Governor, with the fullest powers. On the 21st of November, 1564, the expedition, consisting of five vessels and numbering about four hundred men, sailed from Natividad. On the 13th of February, 1565, Legaspi arrived at the Philippines. The islanders resisted, but, after a trifling loss, submitted to the invaders. In April, 1565, he took possession in the name of the Crown of Spain, founded the city of Manilla, on the Island Luzon, and became first Governor of the Philippine Islands. A return voyage eastward from the Indies to the American coast had never yet been made. The belief had existed that, in consequence of the direction of the prevailing winds, it could not be successfully accomplished. Urdaneta had submitted his theories as to the possibility of accomplishing such return voyage before he had been selected to accompany the expedition. The time had arrived to test the correctness of his theories, - to put them into practice.
The San Pedro, in which Urdaneta and Father Aquirre, a brother priest, were companion shipmates, with a sixteen-year-old nephew of Legaspi, as nominal captain, left Zebu June 1, 1565, for Acapulco. The vessel sailed east to the Ladrones, thence north to latitude forty-three degrees north, from whence the trade winds bore her safely to Acapulco, at which port she arrived on the 3d of October. The sailing directions and charts of the first return voyage from India to Mexico, prepared by Urdaneta, were followed for many years by the Spanish galleons. The track pursued, long the route from Manilla to Acapulco, was designated Urdaneta's passage. Manilla became the Spanish metropolis of the East Indies; and an important commerce was established. Large vessels sailed at regular intervals from Acapulco for Manilla and Macao, laden with European goods and the products of Mexico. returning with silks and spices for Mexico and Spain. In one of those voyages (on July 4, 1574), as stated in the Hakluyt collection of voyages (purporting to give Gali's own narrative translated from the Spanish), Francisco de Gali "made the coast of New Spain, under seven and thirty degrees and a half." The introduction to the Journal of Galiano Valdez substituted fifty-seven degrees thirty minutes for thirty-seven degrees thirty minutes, upon the authority of a French translation of the Gali narrative from
Hakluyt. Through that erroneous substitution, the Gali voyage became notable. The controversy as to the coast having been settled, the Spanish title by discover ceased to be a theme of international dispute, - no necessity remained to adhere to the French substitution. So the Hakluyt narrative fixing thirty-seven degrees thirty minutes is now universally accepted.
The value and increasing importance of Spanish commerce were regarded with jealous eye by other European powers. Exaggerated accounts of the wealth of conquered cities and provinces on the Pacific coast were extensively circulated; and adventurous spirits of other nations determined to share in its wealth. Spain relied upon the grant of the sovereign Pontiff to secure to her the unmolested occupancy of her American possessions. England had thrown off allegiance to Rome. Queen Elizabeth "repudiated any title in the Spaniards by donation of the Bishop of Rome to places of which they were not in actual possession; and she did not understand why either her subjects or those of any European prince should be debarred from traffic in the Indies." Francis Drake, a young man, had already distinguished himself in predatory voyages to the West Indies. he had crossed the Isthmus of Darien, looked upon the Pacific, and had made the resolution to sail upon that mighty sea. He proposed to the Queen a voyage into the South Sea, through the Strait of Magellan. No Englishman had yet made such a voyage. Queen Elizabeth favored the project and furnished the outfit. Drake's vessel, named the Pelican, 100 tons, the Elizabeth, 80 tons, the Marigold, 30 tons, with two pinnaces and 166 men, constituted the expedition which sailed December 13, 1577, from Plymouth. The two pinnaces were broken up before reaching the Strait of Magellan, which was entered on the 20th of August, 1578. Before passing through he changed the name of his vessel to the Golden Hind. On the 6th of September the Marigold parted company and was never heard of afterwards. The Elizabeth did not pass through the strait, but deserted Drake and returned to England. Alone in the Golden Hind, Drake, on the 25th of September, sailed out of the strait into the open Pacific, and, heading northward, pursued his voyage along the Spanish-American coasts from Chile to Mexico, seizing and sacking defenseless ships and towns. His vessel filled with booty, to avoid encountering Spanish cruisers liable to be met should he return by the Strait of Magellan, Drake sought a northern passage into the Atlantic Ocean. He sailed northward to forty-three degrees north, where, as detailed in the narratives of the voyage, "the men being thus speedily come out of the extreme heat, found the air so cold, that, being pinched with the same, they complained of the extremity thereof." He then steered east, made the coast, and sailed southward in search of a harbor, until the 7th of June, "when it pleased God to send him into a fair and good bay, within thirty degrees toward the line." In this bay (1) Drake remained five weeks, refitted his vessel, and took possession of the country in the name of Queen Elizabeth, called it new Albion. He then sailed for England by way of the Cape of Good Hope, and arrived at Plymouth on the 27th of September, 1560.
(1) Is this
the Bay of San Francisco? Humboldt places Drake's Bay in thirty-eight degrees,
ten minutes - the Puerto de Bodega of Spanish maps. Later authorities fixed
his port under the lee of Point Reyes, thirty-seven degrees, fifty-nine
minutes, five seconds. The adjacent cliffs being white, resembling the
coasts of England in the neighborhood of Dover, suggested the name, New
Albion. The latitude of San Francisco Bay, thirty-seven degrees, fifty-nine
mutes, Drake's continuing in the bay thirty-six days, the white appearance
of highlands, warrant the opinion that Drake found that "fair and good
bay" inside the Golden Gate. Its entrance was first seen by Ferrello March
3, 1543, who, running down the coast before a strong north wind, saw what
he supposed to be the mouth of a great river. Governor Gaspar de Portola,
in 1769, made land discovery of the bay. Prof. Davidson, of the U.S. Survey,
the best authority says: "Drake's Bay is the Port Francisco of the Spaniards
of about 1595. It was certainly known before the time of Vizcaino, who,
having separated from his tender, sought her in Port Francisco; and, according
to Venaga's account, to see if anything was to be found of the San Augustine,
which, in the year 1595, had, by order of his Majesty and the Viceroy,
been sent from the Philippines by the Governor to survey the coast of California,
under the direction of Sebastian Roderiquez Cermanon, a pilot of known
abilities, but was driven ashore in this harbor by the violence of the
wind; and among others on board the San Augustine was the pilot Francisco
Valanos, who was also chief pilot of the squadron. This pilot recognized
the bay as being that where he was wrecked." (Coast Pilot, P. 77.)
Two narratives were published of this voyage, viz." "The Famous Voyage of Sir Francis Drake, by Francis Pretty, one of the crew of Drake's vessel, written at the request of and published by Hakluyt, in 1589," and "The World Encompassed, by Sir Francis Drake, collect out of the notes of Mr. Francis Fletcher, preacher in his employment, and compared with divers others' notes that went in the same voyage." According to the "Famous Voyage," the northern point of the American continent seen by Drake was the forty-three degrees north. In "The World Encompassed," forty-eight degrees north is claimed. On this discrepancy very much argument has been caused. Upon its proper settlement very much was thought to depend in the protracted negotiations between Great Britain and the United States as to their respective claims to Oregon Territory. The treaty of June 15, 1846, which recognized the title of the United States to the territory south of forty-nine degrees north, divested the matter of any significance in the political or international view. The contention is very ably maintained by Messrs. Greenhow and Twiss, in their treatises on the Oregon question. Were the expression of an opinion necessary, it would be that the weight of probability and authority establishes that Sir Francis Drake never saw the coast of Northwest America north of forty-three degrees north latitude.
Drake's successful piratical cruise is noteworthy as the second circumnavigation of the globe, the first by an Englishman. It occupied two years and ten months. The Queen long hesitated to recognize the achievements of this renowned freebooter, fearing such recognition might lead to complications with Spain. Finally she honored Drake with knighthood, proclaimed her entire and hearty approval of his every act, and direct the preservation of his cruiser, Golden Hind, "that it might remain a monument of his own and his country's glory."
On the 31st of July, 1586, Thomas Cavendish, with three small vessels, sailed from England. He passed through the Strait of Magellan, cruising along the coasts of Chile, Peru and Mexico, burnt and sunk nineteen ships, the last of which was the Santa Ana, off Cape San Lucas. He returned to England by way of Cape of Good Hope, arriving September 9, 1588, having made the circumnavigation of the globe in two years and fifty days. It is chronicled that his sailors were clothed in silks, his sails were damask, and his topmast covered with clot of gold. This cruise was the third circumnavigation; its only contribution to geographic knowledge was the discovery and naming of Port Desire, on the east coast of Patagonia.
The increasing commerce between
Mexico and the Philippine Islands demanded a port of refuge on the California
coast, in a higher northern latitude. Correct charts for vessels engaged
in voyages between Mexico and the Est Indies had become a necessity, and
required accuracy of knowledge. In 1595, Philip II. ordered Count de Monterey,
Viceroy of Mexico, to explore and seize California, and to make an extended
and minute survey of the coast from Acapulco to Cape Mendocino. Sebastian
Vizcaino was selected for the service. In the spring of 1596, three vessels
under his command sailed from Acapulco, crossed the Gulf of California,
and attempted to establish a settlement to which Vizcaino gave the name
of La Paz in compliment to the natives for their peaceable reception of
the expedition. Within the year La Paz was abandoned and Vizcaino returned
to Acapulco. When Philip III., who ascended the Spanish throne in 1598,
had learned of this result, eh issued peremptory commands on the 27th of
September, 1599, for the survey of the coast on the ocean-side of the peninsula
of California. With the greatest zeal the Viceroy entered upon the duty.
The preparations were upon a grander scale than had been previously
made in Mexico. All the requisites for the accomplishment of the enterprise were liberally supplied. Pilots, priests, draftsmen, soldiers, were engaged in addition to full crews of selected seamen. Friar Antonio, chaplain to the Admiral and journalist of the expedition, pronounced it the most enlightened corps ever raised in New Spain. To Vixcaino was assigned the command, and upon him was conferred the title and office of Captain-General of California. The fleet consisted of three large ships, the San Diego, San Tomas and Tres Reyes. To Admiral Toribbeo Gomez de Corvan was intrusted the navigation. The fleet, which set sail from Acapulco June 2, 1602, commenced the survey of the coast at Cape San Lucas. On the 10th of November, San Diego, was surveyed. On the 16th of December was discovered and named the Bay of Monterey, in honor of the Viceroy. From Monterey, one of the ships was sent back to Acapulco; eighteen days later the other two vessels sailed north. Twelve days after leaving Monterey, the San Diego passed Port Francisco; but the smaller vessel having separated, the ship returned to that port to await the arrival of her consort. On the 12th of January, 1603, the ships reached Mendocino. Scurvy had made sad havoc with the crews. There were but six able to be on deck. On the 19th a high headland and snowcapped mountain, in latitude forty-two degrees north, were discovered. It being the eve of St. Sebastian, Vizcaino gave to this cape the name Blanco de San Sebastian (1), the northernmost point reached by Vizcaino's ship. He turned southward, coasted inshore, observing the land, and arrived at Acapulco March 21, 1603.
The smallest vessel, commanded by Antonio Flores, Martin de Aquilar, pilot, doubled Cape Mendocino, and continued north to the mouth of a river forty-three degrees north. north than Monterey's instructions had warranted, with a crew hopelessly disabled by scurvy, Flores turned southward for Acapulco.
After his return to Mexico, Vizcaino endeavored to induce the Viceroy to establish colonies. Failing in his efforts, he went to Spain and obtained from Philip III, a grant of these regions, with privilege to establish colonies. His death in 1609 defeated the colonization project.
With the Vizcaino expedition, Spanish exploration of the North Pacific was for the time discontinued. This was a natural result of the condition of affairs rather than attributable to change of policy. New Spain or Mexico was in direct communication with the Spanish East Indies. By the isolation of Mexico, Spain was more likely to remain in the uninterrupted and unmolested enjoyment of her East India trade. If a northwest passage should be discovered, it would but open the door and encourage the entry of piratical cruisers, to pray upon the Spanish commerce of the Pacific. Drake and Cavendish had passed through the Strait of Magellan; other pirates could follow. How infinitely worse for Spanish-Pacific interests and her East India commerce would be a direct channel from the North Atlantic to the Pacific, than the tedious, long and dangerous voyage through the Strait of Magellan. To Spain, the discovery of the northwest passage had at this time ceased to be a desideratum as a promotive of Pacific commerce.
(1) The Cape Orford of Vancouver.