Wherever the sun shines, there is Spain.

THE homecoming of the Victoria and the lucra-
tive sale of her cargo roused excited hopes in
Spain and indignant apprehension in Portugal: from
Lisbon came urgent remonstrances against Spanish en-
croachment on the Portuguese delimitation: the Span-
iards denied any encroachment. Finally in 1524 there
met at Badajoz in Spain and at Elvas in Portugal on
alternate days a Commission of geographers and navi-
gators, Portuguese and Spanish. After wrangling for
nearly two months over maps, globes and longitudes,
the Commission dispersed with nothing settled; and
Charles V resolved to secure the Spice Trade for Spain.
A Casa de Contratación de Especería--a 'Board of Trade
for Spicery'--was set up at Corunna, as being the most
convenient port for the merchants of Flanders, Germany
and England who were the chief purchasers of spices.
In order that Corunna might outdo Lisbon an imposing
expedition sailed from Corunna at the end of July 1525,
six ships and a patache commanded by a veteran soldier,
the Comendador Loaisa, who was appointed Com-
mander of the fleet and Governor of the Moluccas:
for the Emperor still firmly held that the Moluccas
lay within the Spanish delimitation, and commanded
Loaisa not to touch land or explore within the delimita-
tion of the King of Portugal.

Loaisa with his seven vessels followed the track of
Magellan. Twice they entered the strait and twice were

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