Page 201
An.1685
The Spanish Fleets Sailing Orders.
The day for sailing being come, go forth to the West South West; from that to West till you are forty leagues off at Sea; then keep at the same distance to the N. W. till you come under the Line: from whence the Pilot must shape his Course for Moro de Porco, and for the Coast of La- velia and Natta: where you may speak with the people, and according to the information they give you may keep the same Course for Otoque, from thence to Tabago, and so to Panama: this is what offers as to the Course.
The Letter is obscure: but the Reader must make what he can of it. The Directions in the other Letter were to this Effect.
T HE surest Course to be observed going forth from Malabrigo, is thus: you must sail W. by S. that you may avoid the sight of the Islands of Lobos; and if you should chance to see them, by reason of the Breezes, and should fall to Leeward of the Lat. of Malabrigo, keep on a Wind as near as you can, and if necessary, go about, and stand in for the shore: then tack and stand off, and be sure keep your Latitude; and when you are 40 leagues to the Westward of the Islands Lobos, keep that distance, till you come under the Line; and then, if the general Wind follows you farther, you must sail N. N. E. till you come into 3 degrees North. And if in this Lat. you should find the breezes, make it your business to keep the Coast, and so sail for Panama. If in your course you should come in sight of the Land before you are abreast of Cape St. Francisco, be sure to stretch off again out of sight of Land, that you may not be discovered by the Ene- my.
The last Letter supposes the Fleet's setting out from Malabrigo, in about 8 deg. South Lat. (as the other doth its going immediately from Lima, 4 deg. further South) and from hence is that caution given of avoiding Lobos, as near Malabrigo in their usual