thousand ducats[1] would be gained in two ships going from Nueba España to those regions. When this is done, your Majesty's domains will extend as far as Maluco, according to what was told me by the Augustinian friar, by name Fray Martin de Herrada, a native of Navarra, who was prior at the time when I left the Western Islands. He is a great arithmetician, geometrician, and astrologer [—one of the very greatest in the world]. He has measured this, and told me so. He has also written a book on navigation and the measurement of the earth and the sea, east and west. I believe that he will send the book by Fray Diego de Herrera, prior of the aforesaid islands of your Majesty. Then we shall be able to trade in spices with the whole world; for as I have said before, cloves cannot be found save in the five islands of Maluco.
I have written all that can be said on this subject; and I say this because I have seen other accounts both in print and in manuscript, which depart very much from the truth. In order that your Majesty may not be deceived, I sign this account with my name.
If your Majesty should desire to know especial details about that land, I will, at your command, give oral information.
[Endorsed on Sevilla MS: "Superb! Excellent! Relation of the route to the Western Islands." And in a more modern hand: "By Captain Juan de la Ysla. Islands of the West."]
- ↑ See the Treaty of Zaragoza, vol. 1, pp. 222-239.
