The fleet consisted of four ships, and lay at Navidad, in Colima, ready for sea, when the viceroy fell ill, which caused further delay. Finally on the 21st of November, 1564, the squadron sailed, and after a prosperous voyage reached Luzon, where Legazpi founded the city of Manila, which in after years became one of the great emporiums of the east.[1] The audiencia's orders required that as soon as a settlement was effected the commander should try to discover a practicable route back to America. Wherefore the flag-ship San Pedro, Captain Salcedo, sailed from Zebú, June 1, 1565, having on board fathers Urdaneta and Aguirre. After going eastward to the Ladrones the course was north to Japan, and still northward to latitude 38°, whence the prevailing winds bore her across to New Spain. The voyage was a long and severe one. She had started short of men; the master and pilot died early in the voyage, and fourteen others before it ended. Urdaneta and his companion had to sail the ship, to look after the sick, and to prepare a chart. On their arrival at Acapulco they had not men enough to cast anchor.
Captain Alonso de Arellano with the San Lúcas had deserted, and sailed from the Philippines to the latitude of Cape Mendocino, arriving at Acapulco three months before Urdaneta. The two men met at court in Spain. Arellano had reported the rest of the fleet as lost, and was claiming the reward offered for the shortest route; but instead of receiving it he was sent back to Mexico to be subjected to a court-martial for his desertion. Urdaneta's chart was used by the Manila galleons for many years. The route was tedious in one part and cold in another, but without great
- ↑ According to Visitador Valderrama 300,000 pesos were expended in Mexico on the Philippines expeditions during the last six years, besides the expenditure at Seville for arms. Writing before the sailing, in 1564, he thought if it were not to cost above 100,000 pesos more it would be well. He strongly objected to the selection for maestre de campo of Saúz or Saz, whom he called a pardoned traitor. Cartas, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, Col. Doc., iv. 363. 'Fué muy costosa.' Mendoza, Hist. China, 132-3. See, also, Medina, Chrón. S. Diego, Mex., 8-10; Vetancvrt, Trat. Mex., 9; Mofras, Explor., i. 97.
