'The Master Admiral de Fonte had hired, with his Vessel and Mariners, who had informed the Admiral that, 200 Leagues North from Cape St. Lucas, a Flood from the North met the South Flood, and that he was sure it must be an Island, and Don Diego Pennelossa undertook to discover whether it was an Island or not, with his Ship and the four Shallops they bought at Raleo, and the Master and Mariners they hired at Zuelagua.'
Here the Thread of the Letter is broke, and the Translator proceeds as with a common Narrative of a Voyage. The Master might be easily deceived as to the Tide, as Time hath shewn in many Instances as to other Persons having been deceived in like Manner in other Parts. That we have no Account of what was the Event of this Expedition Pennelossa, who had undertaken the Charge, being no more to join de Fonte, as it was unnecessary and to no Purpose, Pennelossa would return first and send his Account to Court. De Fonte could in this Case do no further than shew he had sent him on this Service, it must be supposed, agreeable to his Instructions. Which, from the Boats brought from Realejo, (and must be of a particular Constructure, the like of which were not to be any where else on the Coast) and the Master and Mariners hired here, it is evident, was before proposed, that Pennelossa should go on this Part of the Expedition, not on the Master's declaring that there was a Tide from the Northward, and so California an Island. This was only mentioned by de Fonte, to shew what Intelligence he had got in this Affair.
The Account given of Pennelossa could be evidently no Part of the Letter. What is said as to his Descent, his being a Nobleman, his Address to Cosmography, and the Undertaking of this Discovery, must evidence as already said, whoever inserted the Account was satisfied as to their being such a Person so accomplished, and who aspired to undertake this Part of the Expedition. A Discovery of these Parts would carry, at this Time particularly, great Reputation and Honour with it, and by this Opportunity to intercept Persons on a Design so prejudicial to the Interests of the Court of Spain in those Parts, as it was then thought, had Pennelossa succeeded; he would have had no small Share of Merit; or if he did not succeed, the Merit of the Attempt would be accounted of, and not unjustly, it would be a Means of his Promotion through the Connections he had, as they would urge he did not pursue those Sciences for Speculation only, but to carry them into Practice for the Service of his Country. And according to the Regulations Don Olivarez had made, there was no Preferment but what was in consequence of Service.
Sister's Son of Don Lewis de Haro, and a young Nobleman, expresses as of the Time present, when the Copy was taken from which we have the Publication; and Don Haro, Prime Minister of Spain, was a Gloss added by another Hand. Neither is Don Luis de Haro the Person here meant, for he does not seem to have been of an Age to have had a Sister who could be Mother to Don Pennelossa; but Don Lopez de Haro is the Person meant, Marquis de Carpio, the Father of Don Luis, who was at that Time Gentleman of the Chamber to the King, and afterwards Prime Minister, and must be understood the Son of his Wife's Sister, who was a Daughter of Olivarez, married to the Marquis de Valderiabano.
'But Admiral de Fonte, with the other three Ships, sailed from them within the Islands of Chamilly the 10th May 1640, and having the Length of Cape Abel on the W. S. W. Side of California, in 26 Degrees of N. Latitude, 160 Leagues N. W. and W. from the Isles Chamilly; the Wind sprung up at S. S. E. a steady Gale, that from the 26th of May to the 14th of June he had sailed to the River Los Reys, in 53 Degrees of North Latitude, not having Occasion to lower a Topsail, in sailing 866 Leagues N. N. W. 410 Leagues from Port Abel to Cape Blanco, 456 Leagues to Rio los Reyes, all the Time most pleasant Weather, and sailed about 260 Leagues in crooked Channels, amongst Islands named the Archipelagus de St. Lazarus; where his Ships Boats always sailed a Mile a-head, sounding to see what Water, Rocks, and Sands, there was.'
De Fonte and Pennelossa both put out to Sea together; but as their Courses were various, one to the Westward of California, and the other to enter the Gulf. They parted within the Shoals of Chiametla the tenth of May 1640; and de Fonte attaining the Length of Cape Abel in Latitude 26, one Hundred and sixty Leagues North North-west and West from the Isles of Chiametla, he then meets with a fair Wind from South South-east. By the Latitude of Cape Abel, and the Distance run, it is apparent that the Islands Chiametla mentioned, are the Islands here meant.
De Fonte, after running one Hundred and sixty Leagues from the Isles of Chiametla, in Lat. 22 Deg. 10 Min. and Long. 114 Deg. 29 Min. attaining the Length of Cape Abel in Latitude 26, his Course could not be North-west and West, but North-west by West westerly, or 61° 22´. and, instead of, by, may be supposed an Error of the Press.
Dr. Heylin mentions a convenient Haven named St. Abad, who wrote near these Times. But it is Christabel, or Christeval, the Name of a Cape the Extremity of the Land, which forms a Harbour or Port of the same Name Christabel. Prieto mentions no Place on the main Land but the three Islands of Casonas, which lie off at Sea, so more to Westward than this Cape. They are in Lat. 26 Deg. Long. 122 Deg. 24 Min. the Longitude of Cape Abel I make in 122 Deg. 11 Min. and he lays down the Point of Madelena in 26 Deg. 30 Min. and the Long. 123 Deg. 24 Min. which seems to be the northermost Land of such Harbour. By de Fonte mentioning the Latitude of this Cape, and not any other, he may be supposed to take from hence a new Departure, as was usual with the Spaniards when they came to this Length in these Seas, so Prieto mentions Las Bajas de los Abraja, Primier Meridiano. Lat. 25° 15´. Long. 121 Deg. 54 Min. from Lima.
De Fonte in his Run from Chiametla met with contrary Winds; but when the Length of Cape Abel, he had Wind and Weather rather unexpected in those Parts; and the Spring not being much advanced, he rather expected to have been, at Times, under his Courses, which is meant by the Expression afterwards used, that he never had occasion to lower a Topsail, and is conformable with its being a steady Gale, or did not overblow. As the Run to Los Reys terminated the fourteenth of June, de Fonte, for the whole eight Hundred and sixty Leagues, sailed after the Rate of forty-five Leagues in twenty-four Hours, which is consistent with and agreeable to the Seamens common Experience, when favoured with such Wind and Weather. Amongst the Islands would have the Assistance of the Floods, and Wind enough to stem the Ebbs.
The Computation of the eight Hundred and sixty-six Leagues is four Hundred and ten Leagues to Cape Blanquial, to which there is a Course assigned North North-west; and as to four Hundred and fifty-six Leagues to Rio los Reys, no Courses are added, which we may assign to the Courses being originally in the Margin, when one was introduced into the Copy the other was neglected. And we have just Reason to suspect the Carelessness here, as it is first called Cape Abel, then Port Abel, and the River Los Reys in 53 Degrees, and afterwards Rio los Reys, as tho' they were distinct and separate. With the N. N. W. Course Rio los Reys could not be in the Latitude de Fonte mentions.