The idea that the Portuguese explorer in the service of Spain, Fernández de Quirós claimed Australia for the Holy Spirit, backed up by a claim of a prophecy by the Pentecostal Preacher Smith Wigglesworth, was debunked in a recent column with thanks to the Hillsong Accountability group, and Pentecostal historian Barry Chant.
One reader, Eric Love, raised the question: Was de Quirós seeking to save the great Southland from Protestants? “I have some memory, but can’t confirm, that in de Quirós’ hopeful benediction of our great south land, he also said something like that if those blasted protestants get hold of it, all will be lost.” he wrote.
The Other Cheek has found some evidence for Eric Love’s memory in an account of his voyage, ” THE VOYAGES OF PEDRO FERNANDEZ DE QUIROS, 1595 TO 1606,” published in 1824.
The full account of de Quirós’ declaration taking possession reveals it was in the name of the Catholic Church and King Phillip. He plants flags and a cross and issues a proclamation. The full text from pages 250, 251:
“Possession in the name of the most Holy Trinity.
“In these parts of the South, until now unknown, where I am, and have come with authority from the Supreme Roman Pontiff, Clement VIII., and by order of the King, Don Philip III., King
of Spain, dispatched by his Council of State, I, Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, in the name of the most Holy Trinity, take possession of all the islands and lands that I have newly discovered, and desire to discover, as far as the South Pole.
“Possession in the name of the Catholic Church.
“I take possession of all these, the said lands, in the name of Jesus Christ, saviour of all men, how unknown soever they may be, and in the name of His mother, the most Holy Virgin Mother of Loreto, and in the name of St. Peter and St. Paul, and of all the holy apostles and disciples, and in the name of the universal Vicar of Christ, the Roman Pontiff, and in the name of the whole Catholic Church, and of all those pious, just, and holy things that have a right in such possession; which I do with joy and to the end that to all the natives, in all the said lands, the holy and sacred evangel may be preached zealously and
openly.
“Possession in the name of St. Francis and his Order.
“I take possession of all the said lands in the name of my father, St. Francis, and of all his religion and professors of it, and being present, in the name of the Father Commissary, Friar Martin de Monilla, Friar Mateo de Vascones, Friar Antonio Quintero, and Friar Juan de Mario, all four priests; and in the
names of Fray Juan de Santa Maria and Fray Francisco Lopez, both lay brethren, come here, all six, at my request by order of His Holiness and of His Majesty, and of their Commissary General and Provincial of the province of the Twelve Apostles of Peru; from whose order I desire that all the workers sent to tend this vineyard may come, and the labourers who have to show His holy word and doctrine, and to gather in the fruits.
“Possession in the name of John of God and his Order.
“I take possession of all the said lands in the name of John of God, and of all the professed brothers of his Order, and, being present, in the name of Lazaro de Santa Maria, who came here in compliance with a brief of His Holiness, given to me for that end, that the same Brotherhood might found, administer, and maintain by their professed charity all the hospitals there may be in those parts, so necessary that the natives may learn all our methods, and hold us in the love and veneration which the sight of our curing the native sick, and giving them other benefits, deserve.
“Possession in the name of the Order of the Holy Ghost.
“I take possession of all these lands, by the right that His Holiness and His Majesty granted, to make just divisions of the lands and of the people on them; for all the Knights that are in these parts of the Order of the Holy Ghost as discoverers, settlers, defenders, and preservers, and no other, obliged without pay to serve in all the royal and public employments, with every human and divine office as regards the natives as their defenders, and with profession of all the rest that is in their constitution.
“Possession in the name of His Majesty.
“Finally, I take possession of this bay, named the Bay of St. Philip and St. James, and of its port named Santa Cruz, and of the site on which is to be founded the city of New Jerusalem, in latitude 15° 10′, and of all the lands which I sighted and am going to sight, and of all this region of the south as far as the Pole,
which from this time shall be called Australia del Espiritu Santo, with all its dependencies and belongings; and this for ever, and so long as right exists, in the name of the King, Don Philip, third of that name King of Spain, and of the eastern and western Indies, my King and natural Lord, whose is the cost and expense of this fleet, and from whose will and power came its mission, with the government, spiritual and temporal, of these lands and people, in whose royal name are displayed there his three banners, and I hereby hoist his royal standard.”
Not those English or Dutch
On page 318 de Quirós recounts asking for money from the King of Spain for a return voyage to Vanuatu (not the Australian mainland) , “I again renewed my representations to the Council of State that they might be conceded to me, and sent in several memorials with this object, and others to represent the harm done to the enterprise by the delay ; that now the English and Dutch would hear of it, and that if we did not occupy first, they might get those lands and seas into their power.”
The Royal Order under which de Quirós set out included “He stated that the land he had discovered was pleasant, temperate, and yielding many different kinds of fruits ; the people domestic and disposed
to receive our Holy Faith ; and that what was left to be seen and discovered is much more beyond comparison. With great per- severance he has prayed and supplicated me to consider the
importance of this discovery and settlement, and the great service it will be to our Lord that this land should be settled and the Faith planted in it, bringing to the bosom of the Church and to a knowledge of the truth such an infinite number of souls as there are in that new world, where he has taken possession in a good port, and celebrated Mass; as well as the usefulness and aggran- dizement that will result to my crown, and to all my kingdoms.
His object and intention is no more than to perform this service to our Lord, and to follow that cause which he had served for so many years, suffering shipwrecks and hardships ; it is now ordered
that he be provided with all things necessary again to make that voyage and form a settlement ; for which it is necessary that he should have a thousand men of this kingdom, of which twelve to
be monks of the Order of St. Francis, or Capuchins, who must be learned, with the necessary powers, and provided with requisites and ornaments ; also six Brothers of St. John of God, medical man,
surgeon, barbers, and medicines ; and that in these provinces he be given ships, artillery, muskets, arquebuses, and other weapons and stores that may be necessary ; also a quantity of things for
bartering with natives, a good store of iron in sheets, and tools to cultivate the land and work mines.”1″ (Page 314)
Image: Pedro Fernández de Quirós, statue in Canberra. Image Credit: Estevoaei / Wikimedia