through devotion to the king's service, without receiving any reward
therefor. (Tomo iii, no. xlvi, pp. 330-370.)



Warrant of the Augustinian Authorities in Mexico Establishing the
First Branch of Their Brotherhood in the Philippines--1564


Fray Pedro de Herrera, vicar-general of the Order of Hermits of our
holy Father Augustine in the regions of the Indies, with Fray Diego
de Vertavillo, provincial of the same order in this Nueva España, and
Frays Antonio de Aguilar, Nicolás de Perea, Francisco de Villafuerte,
and Juan de Medina, _definitors_ [80]--to our very dear Brethren in
Christ, Andrés de Urdaneta, prior, Diego de Herrera, Andrés de Aguirre,
Lorenzo de San Esteban, Martin de Rada, priests, and Fray Diego de
Torres, to you, all and singular, everlasting greeting in the Lord.

Very beloved sons: You are aware how Felipe, by the grace of God
king of the Spains and the Indies, and our lord, has been greatly
pleased with the news that some brethren of our order are to go with
the expedition now being equipped by his very illustrious viceroy and
captain-general, Don Luis de Velasco, in this Nueva España, which is to
rail through the Western Sea of this kingdom toward the continent and
certain of the islands that lie between the equator and the Arctic and
Antarctic poles, and below the region of the torrid zone itself--to the
end that according to right reason and the benign counsels of Christian
piety, both at home and abroad as will best seem consonant with the
purpose of his royal majesty, you may control the fleet and troops
of the Spanish army. Especially too that the most brilliant light of