Legazpi: Final Instructions Given by the Royal Audiencia of Mexico, Dated 1 September 1564
Levesque, Rodrigue (1992). "Legazpi: Final Instructions Given by the Royal Audiencia of Mexico, Dated 1 September 1564". History of Micronesia: A Collection of Source Documents. Volume 2, Prelude to Conquest, 1561-1595. Gatineau, Quebec: Éditions Lévesque. pp. 49–70. ISBN 0-920201-02-4.
- Has attachment: File:238ZN2IK.pdf
Abstract: Outlines the final instructions issued by the Royal Audiencia of Mexico to Miguel López de Legazpi on September 1, 1564, before the departure of his expedition. The orders require a full inventory of artillery, weapons, supplies, and provisions to ensure accountability, along with careful distribution of men and resources across the fleet. Captains are instructed to maintain arms in good condition and to preserve food and drink by limiting rations and entrusting them to reliable officers. To conserve supplies, the number of participants is capped at between 300 and 350.
The document directs the expedition to uphold religious observance. All men are to confess and receive communion before embarking, and a Mass of the Holy Ghost is to be celebrated on the day of departure if possible. Throughout the voyage, the men are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with Christian values. The instructions also address diplomacy, urging peaceful and respectful dealings with indigenous populations, the exchange of gifts, and the pursuit of cooperative relations.
Additional provisions emphasize readiness for potential conflict and the collection of useful information. The fleet is ordered to keep artillery prepared in case of encounters with hostile vessels. Legazpi and his captains are also charged with gathering intelligence on the customs, governance, and economy of the lands visited, and with sending regular reports back to the Royal Audiencia. The instructions serve as a comprehensive guide to ensuring discipline, religious conformity, careful diplomacy, and systematic documentation of the voyage.
