QUIROS 155 



" So the Duke sent for him to his house to ask him con- 

 cerning curious things relating to his art, and entertained 

 him there for near seventeen months." Further, he called 

 a meeting of the best pilots and mathematicians to be 

 found in Rome, who examined papers and charts, and made 

 a report favourable both to the scheme and to the man. 

 " All were persuaded, by the proofs and reasonings he sub- 

 mitted to them, that there could not fail to be either a 

 continental land or a number of islands, from the Straits 

 of Magellan to New Guinea and Java and the other islands 

 of that great archipelago." This unknown land in the 

 torrid and temperate zones must be a very good and rich 

 land, and they were of opinion that it was " very desirable 

 to lose no time in discovering that Southern region, un- 

 known till now, which will be a great service to God." 

 Of Quiros the mathematicians testified " that there are 

 few pilots who know as much as he does ; that he is expert 

 in making globes and charts for navigating ; that he well 

 understands the use of instruments necessary for navi- 

 gation " ; and they highly commended two of his inven- 

 tions. So the Lord Duke arranged an interview with 

 His Holiness, Clement VIII., who, says Quiros, " heard Approved 

 me very attentively, saw all the papers I showed him, y Pope 

 approved of my zeal and veracity, encouraged me to per- 

 severe in my laudable intentions, conceded many graces 

 and indulgences for the time when I should begin the 

 voyage, gave me letters of recommendation to the Majesty 

 of the King our Lord," and also " some rosaries that had 

 been blessed, and a piece of the wood of the Cross. About 

 this there was great difficulty." He urged the King of 

 Spain to assist the intent of Quiros, even were it only for 

 " the salvation of one single soul " in " that Austral In- 

 cognita part." 



Recommended by Lord Duke, by mathematicians and 

 by Pope, Quiros went to the Spanish court. Here there 

 were many voices. Some, says Quiros, " thought little and King, 

 of the enterprise, or of me, thinking that I promised 

 more than I could perform, and that for the perform- 

 ance of so great a deed a person of more parts and 



