Francis Zeimoro, and Antony Pexoto, directing their course to the citie of Liampo, standing in 30. and odde degrees of latitude.
Iapan discouered by chance. There fell vpon their sterne such a storme, that it set them off the land, and in a fewe daies they sawe an Island towards the east standing in 32. degrees, which they do name Iapan, which seemeth to be the Isle of Zipangri, whereof Paulus Venetus maketh mention, and of the riches thereof. And this Island of Iapan hath gold, siluer, and other riches.
In this yeere 1542. Don Antonio de Mendoça Viceroy of Nueua Spagna, sent his captaines and pilots to discouer the coast of Cape del Enganno, where a fleete of Cortez had been before. They sailed till they came to a place called Sierras Neuadas, or The snowie mountaines, standing in 40. degrees towards the north, where they saw ships with marchandises, which carried on their stems the images of certaine birdes called Alcatrarzi, and had the yards of their sailes gilded, and their prowesse laid ouer with siluer.[1] They seemed to be of the Isles of Iapan, or of China; for they said that it was not aboue thirtie daies sailing vnto their countrey.
In the same yeere 1542. Don Antony de Mendoça sent vnto the Islands of Mindanao a fleete of sixe ships with fower hundred soldiers, and as many Indians of the countrey, the generall whereof was one Rui Lopez de villa Lobos, being his brother in law and a man in great estimation.[2] They set saile from the hauen of Natiuidad standing in 20. degrees towards the north, vpon All Saints eeue, and shaped their course towards the west.
Saint Thomas. They had sight of the Island of S. Thomas, which Hernando de Grijalua had discouered, and beyond in 17. degrees they had sight of another Island which they named La Nublada, that is, The cloudie Island. From thence they went to another Island named Roca partida, that is, The clouen Rocke. The 3. of December they found certaine Baxos or flates of sixe or seuen fathoms deepe.
Los Reyes. The 15. of the same moneth they had sight of the Islands, which Diego de Roca, and Gomez de Sequeira, and Aluaro de Saauedra had discouered, and named them Los Reyes, because they came vnto them on Twelfe day. And beyond them they found other Islands in 10. degrees all standing round, and in the midst of
