Part 2

First (_Sir_) we erected a Cross, and built a Church in Honour of our Lady of _Loretto_. Then we caused Twenty Masses to be celebrated there, and our Troops made haste thither to gain some Indulgences. We also made a solemn Procession, and observed the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, the which was carry'd in Procession, your Banner being ever displayed, and marching before it thro' a great Circuit of Countries, which were honour'd with the Presence of the same.

In three several Places we set up your Titles, in every one of which we prepared and erected two Columns, with the Arms of your Majesty tricked and garnished thereupon: so that I may with good Right affirm, that since this will challenge to be one of the Parts of the World, the Impress of _Plus ultra_ is accomplished, and because it stretcheth unto the Continent, whether it be forward or behind it skills not, the Bounds of your Dominions are with much Spaciousness enlarged. Now all this which I have performed receiveth its Root from this the faithful Zeal which I bear unto your Majesty, that to all the Titles which you already do possess, you may adjoin this which I represent, and that the Name of TERRA AUSTRALIS INCOGNITA may be blazoned and spread over the Face of the whole World to the Glory of God, who hath revealed this Country, and hath given me the Grace to guide my Course thither, and to return to the Presence of your Majesty, before whom I do present and prostrate my self with the same Affection and Zeal unto this Work which I had before, and which hath grown up with me as it were from my Cradle, and for the Nobleness and Worth thereof, I do still tender and cherish the same with the greatest Love that can be.

I do confidently believe, that your Majesty doth use so much Prudence in your Councils, and are so magnanimous and full of Christian Piety, that you will (with your best Care) embrace all the Conducements which may further the Habitation of these new discovered Countries. And the principal Reason to put a Tye and Obligation upon us not to leave them abandoned, is, in regard that this is the sole ordinary way to establish the Knowledge of God, and Faith among them, and to bring to pass that his Name may be adored and called upon, where the Devil usurpeth so much Reverence and Invocation. And this ought to be embraced with the more Readiness, because it is the Channel to convey and disperse all abundance of Commodities amongst your Subjects. And hereby you shall be eased of many Disturbances and Vexations, which will assuredly be put upon you, in case the Hereticks should enter and nestle there, and should vent their erroneous Doctrines amongst them, whereby they would convert all the Blessings which I have hitherto recounted unto you, into assured Incommodities and Mischiefs, and would arrogate unto themselves the Name of the Lords of the _Indies_, to the utter Ruin and Desolation of those Countries. I make no question but your Majesty well weigheth of what Importance this Danger of which I speak may prove, and what evil Consequence some other Hazards may carry with them, which are either at this time imminent, or may succeed hereafter. And if this should happen, it would cost you innumerable Thousands of Gold and Men, before you shall be able to give a Remedy unto the same. Acquire therefore, _Sir_, while that Occasion is offered you (that one Day you may purchase Heaven unto yourself:) Acquire (I say) with a little Money, which you misplace upon _Peru_, a never-dying Reputation, and this _New World_ with all the Benefits which it reacheth out unto you. And since there is none that craveth a Reward for these good Tidings that is brought you concerning so great and singular a Blessing, which God hath been pleased to lock up until your happy time, I am he, _Sir_, that do demand it, and my humble Request unto you is only this, That you would be of that Graciousness unto me, as to dispatch and give me mine Answer; for the Galleons are ready to hoise Sail, and I have much way to go, and many things must be fitted and disposed for the Voyage. There is no Hour passes, which carrieth not with it an assured Loss both in regard of spiritual and temporal Blessings, the Damage whereof can never be made up or repaired.

If upon a bare Suspicion _Christophorus Columbus_ did pursue his Design with so much Obstinacy, you are not to account it strange in me if the Things which I have beheld with mine Eyes, and touch'd with mine Hands, do put some kind of Constraint upon me to be importunate.

Let it therefore please your Majesty, amongst so many Expedients which you have at hand, to lever and put apart some one for the Accomplishment of this Work, that after all these Languishments, I may at length meet with the Success of my Desires. I do assure you that you will find my Propositions most just, and that I shall be of Sufficiency to give you Satisfaction in all things. This, _Sir_, is a great Work, against which the Devil doth bandy himself with all the Puissance he may; and it is not consonant to Reason, to abandon these Countries to his Tyranny and Power, which do know your Majesty for their Patron and Defender.

_FINIS._

End of Project Gutenberg's Terra Australis Incognita, by Ferdinand de Quir