4to, (202 x 138 mm). 8 ff., 324 pp. Contemporary vellum, evidence of two fore-edge ties, light stains. Dampstains, occasional small stains including partial handprint on 2K4, neat marginal tear in quires P to T, contemporary marginal annotations in a uniform hand, inconsequential foxing spots.

The Hechos provides an account of Alvaro de Mendaña’s first and second voyages to explore the Pacific: the first, in 1568 (pp.228-237) which saw the discovery of the Salomon islands; and the second expedition to the Solomon Islands in 1595 (pp. 238-290) which sailed from in 1595 from Peru aiming to colonize and further explore the Pacific, this second trip was unsuccessful, however during this voyage an important group of islands in the Polynesia were discovered, the Marquesas Islands, point of departure for Quiros’ 1605 expedition.

The Hechos was the second substantial printed source on the voyage of exploration, only preceded by Morga’s Sucesos (Mexico, 1609) in which the Quiros Relacion to Antonio de Morga is reproduced. As Morga, Suarez de Figueroa also bases his information on the expedition on Quiros’ report. It was during Mendaña’s second expedition to colonize the Solomon Islands and explore the Southern Continent that he died; it was in fact his chief pilot, Fernandez de Quiros, who finally guided the survivors to safety in the Philippines. The work is divided into 7 books: the first 3 deal with the campaign in Chile, and the rest deal with his reign in Peru, the rebellion of Quito, Hawkins piracy in the Pacific and Mendana’s expeditions.

On p.327-328 contemporary or near-contemporary annotations on Mendaña’s expedition “Las Islas que descubrio Mendaña en el primer viage que hizo ano 1567 fueron 33, en un manchon[?], a las quales llamo Islas de Salomon. Asi lo dice Quiros en un Memorial…”, our contemporary reader evidently is aware of Quiros’ Memorials, and continues on the same subject “Parece fue a su costa este 2 viaje, pues Quiros en el Memorial…”.

The work is a biography of Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza (1535 – 1609), Governor of Chile and later Viceroy of Peru from 1590-1596; his deeds during the early colonization of South America were documented in Ercilla y Zuñiga’s famous poem La Araucana, where he is consistently attacked by its author about his treatment of the natives of Chile and the brutality incurred in the conquering of the region. This work aims to rehabilitate his memory by giving an account of what transpired during his stay in America. Hurtado de Mendoza’s family had a firm position in the Spanish colonial administration, his father was also Viceroy from 1556-1561. It was in fact due to his father’s appointment as Viceroy of Peru that he began his career in South America. He sailed to Chile along with Jeronimo de Alderete, who was to be the next Governor of Chile, however he sickened and perished during the course of the journey leaving the position vacant. A subsequent period of unrest in regards as for who would be appointed as Governor of Chile was thus originated. As imaginable, two bands swiftly emerged each with their own candidate; the Viceroy of Peru decided in favor of none, appointing his son as Governor.

As Governor, Hurtado de Mendoza conquered a considerable part of the region from the fierce Mapuche Indians; this was one of the most savage of all wars of Chile during the colony and the theme of Ercilla’s Araucana. He was so dedicated to the victory that during his entire period as Governor he did not set foot in the Capital city. Few works are so rich in details on these wars. It was also during his term that several cities were founded and some re-founded. The biography continues with his period as Viceroy, his most prolific one.

Further, the work narrates the encounters with the English pirates Drake, Cavendish and Hawkins. Hawkins sailed from Plymouth in 1593 on board the Dainty, after raiding ports in Brazil he passed through the Strait of Magellan, only to encounter the naval forces lead by Castro y de la Cueva. During the battle Hawkins was wounded and taken prisoner under the condition of having safe-conduct back to his country; the condition agreed upon was not entirely honored, and he remained in prison first in Lima and then in Madrid until 1602. This is a contemporaneous account and important for being one of the very few from a Spanish point of view.

Very rare, a second edition with an engraved title was printed in 1616, also rare. Alexander Dalrymple states in his Historical Collection that he had “not been able to procure a copy of Figueroa” until, when his first volume was in the press in 1769, he acquired a copy “from Spain” and was able to add the final section to his book.

Provenance: contemporary manuscript annotations; Collegii Paris. Soc. Jesu, contemporary inscription on title-page; Charles Étienne Brasseur de Bourbourg (1814–1874), his bookplate; Alphonse Pinart (1852–1911), his bookplate on front pastedown.

Palau, 323905; Sabin, 93312; Alden, 616/111; Medina, Chile 41; European Americana, 616/111; Kelly The Narrative of Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, 1960.