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4to. 79 pp. Contemporary manuscript. Paper watermarked with hand and star motif (Briquet, Les Filigranes 10772) dating it to ca. 1507 and from Konstanz, to the southwest of Worms. Contemporary limp vellum with remains of ribbon ties; reddened edges. Stored in custom-made blue half morocco solander box with gilt spine. Exceptional manuscript by Hernando Colón (Fernando Columbus), one of the first people to travel to America as early as 1502, and son of the most famous explorer of all times. - The present "Aviso de la Orden y Mareaje" was composed by Hernan Colón (1488-1539), one of the first Europeans to travel and explore the coasts of America, a renowned bibliophile and the son of Christopher Columbus, to provide the recently crowned Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, with a set of guidelines for travelling by sea from Flanders to Spain in 1522. Hernando Colón formed part of Charles s retinue and accompanied him on this 1522 voyage. He based his advice on his own extensive knowledge of sea travel that dated from his sailing as a 13-year-old boy on Christopher Columbus's fourth and most dangerous voyage to the Americas (1502-04) when father and son, in the course of exploring the American mainland coast between Honduras and Panama, had been shipwrecked on Jamaica for almost a full year. - In this treatise, Hernando, who had been a member of the Spanish royal court from a young age, is surprisingly frank with Charles V about the practical measures he recommends for a safe journey. He notes that the dangers at sea "usually come from one of four reasons. The first is due to too much tempest. The second, lack of some necessary rigging [in this context, probably equipment]. The third, due to shoals, banks and reefs. The last, as a result of the opposition of enemies" ("suelen venir por una de quatro causas. La pr[i]mera por demasiada tormenta. La segu[n]da por falta de algun aparejo. La tercera por razon d[e] baxos y bancos y arracifes. La ultima por contrariedad d[e] enemigos", ff. 5v-6). Hernando then proceeds to explain the measures by which these dangers can best be offset, thereby discussing the numbers, types and sizes of ships which should compose the emperor's fleet; the manner in which each of these vessels is to be selected and inspected to ensure their seaworthiness; and the way in which each of these was to be fitted out, armed, manned and governed. - Hernando's advice is comprehensive when it comes to the organization of such a journey but even extends to the management of the emperor himself, including details of where on the "nao" Charles should have his quarters, his daily routine, the number of attendants he should have, and even on what he should eat. Here, Hernando notes that "it is also commonly held that anything sour, for being cold, is harmful, for which reason it is considered better to have meals such as stews, not phlegm-inducing foods, and warm preserves such as nutmegs and ginger, as well as good, sweet-smelling wines and those seasoned with spices such as hippocras or spiced white wine. Fruits, cheese and onions should be avoided. Above all, one should be well wrapped up, especially the stomach and the feet, and one should not occupy the mind with business or writing but only in leisure, going out to take fresh air regularly without looking too much at the sea. Some consider it very welcome to purge oneself lightly even before going on board and eating during the first days with some moderation" ("Tanbien [!] es comun opinion qu[e] toda cosa agria por ser fria es nociva por lo qual tienen por meior manjares exutos y asados y no flemosos y conservas calientes y oderiferas como nuezes moscadas y gengibre y buenos vinos odoriferos y algunos dellos adobados con especicas [!] como el hypocras, y la clarea, y devêse evitar las frutas, y el q[ue]so y las cebollas y sobre todo andar bien arropado especialmente el estomago y los pies y no ocupar el sentido mucho en negocios ni escrituras salvo en tomar plazer y sali.
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