Blasco de Garay

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Blasco de Garay (1500-1552) was a Spanish sailor and inventor, captain of the Spanish Navy, who belongs, in his own right, to the list of scientists of the 16th century who contributed their science and ingenuity to the Crown of Spain in the courts of Charles I and Philip II.

During the first half of the s. XVI he devised, enunciated and proposed to execute seven important devices for the Spanish Navy and, by extension, for universal navigation. The archivist of Simancas, Tomás González Hernández, attributed to him in 1825 the carrying out of certain experiments with steam engines applied to navigation.

Biography

We do not know that anyone has tried to investigate his country and family or the background of his life, until he appears as a mechanic or machinist (a physicist). Around this time there were several of the surname Garay who distinguished themselves in letters or in arms, and who, it seems, came from the noble class and from a family living in Toledo. The form of his brother's name 'Diego de Alarcón', mentioned in his memorial, suggests a Castilian origin.

Blasco de Garay, hypothetically, perhaps served in the army, and perhaps in the navy, because he is given the title of Sea Captain. It is most likely that he received a certain literary education, which is highlighted in his letters, and that, being poor and noble, he dedicated himself to the study of science, as he himself says, becoming fond of mechanics and inventions or devices.

King Charles I approved Garay's projects in a decree of March 22, 1539, granting that he begin financing his projects and sending him to the Shipyards of the Port of Malaga, assigning suppliers.

Garay's machines would be intended to equip the low and high board warships (galleys and naos) of the Imperial Spanish Navy.

The state of the art in Garay's time (context)

The main idea of the Blasco de Garay Memorial

The most relevant of the ideas contained in the Memorial, the one that gave him the greatest notoriety, a certain fortune and notable personal and public promotion, was the invention of a drive-wheel machine that could be used as a naval engine.

Garay predicted that these wheels would be capable of moving different tonnage, except in cases of storm or rough seas.

Summary of the Garay memorial: a hypothesis, two machines and conclusions from the experiences

Description of a hypothesis of the memorial machine

The following diagram of the assembly or power plant represents a hypothesis of the cryptic mechanism that the inventor proposed to the King and that he predicted would be able to move a ship with just four men:

Manufacturing

The components of the machine would be manufactured in the different wood and iron workshops of the Atarazana:

A rack with a minimum of three gears, four ChipsTwo. semi-ex, two helmet bearings as support of the ends of the semi-ex and two motor wheels equipped with hydrodynamic design blades.

Initial assembly

Everything, except the wheels, would be boarded by hatches and cargo hammers.
La bankruptcy would be installed in longitudinal sense regarding the hull of the ship, equidistant to the sides, the gears mounted on the rack and adjusted the whole set.
Two openings would be practiced in the helmet for the passage of the semi-ex supported by some system of bearings, from the inside of the ship the motor semieges which would stand slightly on both sides of the outside of the hull.
Once installed each axle or transmission tree would be coupled from the outside of the ship Two blade wheels, one for every side.

Movement

Them motor axles would be rotated directly by the gear reducer and this for both of us. gears pine nuts, less diameter to obtain an adequate transmission ratio.
Each gear Pinion would be triggered by a couple of "cigoñuelas" (storm or crank) connected to your axis, on both sides of this, that would rotate the crew (human traction).
Theoretical traction hypothesis: 2 men for each Tracking Pinion, 4 men.

Description of the first machine (prototype)

The scheme represents the set of three independent machines mounted in a central location and longitudinally to the ship that Blasco de Garay tested for the first time in Malaga, introducing a first modification on the machine stated in the succinct memorial by incorporating a third power pinion and a floorboard for its operation. This power plant moved a ship of 250 barrels using eighteen men:

Traction with the prototype machines:
- 6 semi-ex transmission,
- 6 wheels of pallets,
- 9 Gears pine nuts,
- 6 men per machine, total 18 men.

Description of the second machine (modified prototype)

Traction in the modified machine:
- 2 independent machines, all assembled in a lateral location and longitudinal to the ship,
- 2 short axles transmission,
- 2 wheels of pallets,
- 3 Gears pine nuts,
- 3 men assigned to each machine, total 6 men.

Hypothesis development of Garay's prospective calculations to move Naos with the 2nd machine

Description of Garay's third machine for moving ships exhibited in Barcelona 1543

Archive:Rotated 3.a machine (4).jpg

Third machine.

News, qualities and prospects

The universal novelties that would evolve both the State of Naval Technique of the 20th century. XVI in general and the Art of Naval Warfare in particular would be:

Machine qualities

Composed of three conceptual parts, three simple main elements: a dismultiplication box, a rotor shaft and two pallet wheels It would be easy. mobile.
Reversible movement.
Economic construction and capable of manufacturing in series.
With the single variation of the length of the motorIt would be aparejable at any longitudinal point of the ship, bow, stern or logs.
The same ship could be equipped simultaneously with several identical machines, increasing the maximum traction power theoretically installed on a ship.
It would mean, in the opinion of Blasco de Garay, the elimination of the oars galleys replacing them definitely with the wheels.
Add and alternate with the candle Naos, would allow navigation against "marine routes" or "with prow wind" or "with calm sea" for both types of ships, provided the adverse weather conditions were moderate.

Innovative applications in the field of naval warfare

It would decrease time for ciaboga manoeuvre (round turning crucial to quickly orient cannon batteries) both in open sea and in port and that with this wit could be done with and without wind.
It would increase the speed of the ships during a short but decisive space of time in the combat manoeuvres "hunt and run away".
Optionally, if any, it would enable the timely collaboration of the military troops transported (Tertia) in the impulse of ships.
I'd increase the galley artillery by deleting the rowing benches Could be more cannons.

From the field of political and war economy

The cost of training and maintenance of the various Armed Forces and of an eventual Great Navy for the Emperor Carlos V, (almostly one of these economies is deduced: the adoption of the new propulsive ingenuity would allow all Wales to be recycled to an operational, offensive and defensive level closer to that of the Naos without the need to build new ships).
The number and specialization of crews would drastically decrease, allowing the sailor "Ruda" together with the "Diestra" on the same boat.
Avoid the retention of galloping crews, of those who were "payments," and I know They were waiting for forced in the ports for the return journey.
Facilitate levas of galloping crews by claiming less physical effort, would also improve the quality of life of the weeds.

The experimental implementation was carried out on the hulls of three test vessels (at least).

Chronology of experiences

After consulting the Council, to whose High Body Blasco's memorial was passed, on March 22 of the aforementioned year 1539, and after the procedures, reports and instructions required in such cases, Garay made a total of five experiences in Malaga and a demonstration in Barcelona:

Synopsis of the chronology of the experiences in Malaga

In the port of Malaga on October 4, 1539. About a 250-tone nao.
The day of 1540. In a 100-tone nao.
On 2 July 1540. In a half-nine of 100?
June 1542.
The 11th of July 1542.

Synopsis of the chronology of the exhibition in Barcelona

In the port of Barcelona on 17 June 1543. About the S^Ma Trinidad, which was a ship of 200 tones from the port of Colliure. Al No. assist Carlos I, Este and Prince Philip, (your son) commissioned:

D. Enrique de Toledo y Ayala (General Treasurer of the Crown of Aragon etc.), to D. Pedro de Cardona (Governor of Barcelona etc.), to D. Francisco de Gralla (Rational Master of Catalonia etc.) and D. Alonso de Rávago (Head of this commission, Treasurer of the Royal Treasury and of all the Navy of the Empire etc.), among others.

Exhibition expectations in Naples

Co-protagonists of the vicissitudes of Garay between 1539 and 1543

Co-star synopsis

Regency

D. Charles of Austria, or Habsburg, Emperor and king, Charles V of the Holy Roman German Empire and I of Spain.
D. Philip of Austria, or Habsburg, His son, Prince and future King Philip II.

Councils of State

D. Fernando Alvarez de Toledo and Pimentel, member of Councils of State and War, III Duke of Alba.

Secretaries of State

D. Francisco de Ledesma, Secretary of the War Council.
D. Francisco de Eraso, Secretary, one of the most outstanding of the Emperor.
D. Francisco de los Cobos y Molina, - Casa de los Cobos - Secretary and Commander.
D. Juan Vázquez de Molina, Secretary.

Observing rulers

D. Pedro de Cardona, - Casa de Cardona - Governor of Barcelona. Captain General of Catalonia?.
D. Enrique de Toledo and Ayala, - Casa de Mancera - Senior Leon dealer.
D. Gracian de Aguirre y Noblezia, Commissioner to attend the trials of Malaga.

Expert sailors

D. Alvaro de Bazan - called the Old- Admiral of Castile, Captain General of the Galeras of Spain.
D. Bernardino de Mendoza, - Casa de Mendoza - Captain General of the Galeras de Malaga, Commissioner in Malaga. Also in Barcelona?.
D. Luis Hurtado de Mendoza y Pacheco, Captain General of the Costa de Granada, II Marquis de Mondéjar.

Naval industries

D. Juan Díaz de Aguirre, - Casa de Aguirre - de Deva, here were several important naval activities: naval construction, large-scale production of iron bars and manufactures, freights of transatlantic ships, school of captains and sea pilots and many others.

Treasury and suppliers

D. Alonso de Rávago, Treasurer of the Royal Treasury, the Cathedral of Zaragoza and all the Armed of the Emperor, Confessor Real, Proveedor, Head of the Commission of Barcelona.
D. Francisco de Gralla, - Casa de Gralla - Intendent or Rational Master of Catalonia. Vice Chancellor?
D. Diego de Cazalla, Spanish Army Paid in Malaga.
D. Francisco Verdugo, Supplier of the Navy?

Miscellaneous

Tratadistas: historians and chroniclers of the Garay sugar mills of the 19th-20th centuries

Synopsis of the treatise writers

During the 19th century
- D. Martin Fernández de Navarrete. In 1825: Collection of the trips and discoveries made by sea by the Spaniards since the end of the 15th century.
- D. Joaquín Rubió i Ors. In June 26, 1849: Blasco de Garay; Memory of his invention; read in The Academy of Good Letters of Barcelona.
- D. José March i Labores. In 1854: History of the Spanish Royal Navy, Volume 2.
- D. Modesto Lafuente and Zamalloa. In 1855: (Volume 15) of his General History of Spain.
- D. Antonio Ferrer del Rio. In 1857: Article in No. 4 of the magazine: La América.
- D. José Ferrer de Couto. On March 15, 1858: The Universal Museum: a newspaper of science, literature, arts, industry and useful knowledge.
- D. Felipe Picatoste and Rodriguez. In 1868: Notes for a Spanish Scientific Library of the 16th Century.
During the 20th century
- D. Manuel de Saraleguí and Medina. In 1913: I am very sorry: Considerations and documents relating to the famous wit of the gang BLASCO DE GARAY.

Archive of Simancas during the French occupation according to historian Toreno

...The Regency of the kingdom, aided by the enlightened zeal of the Royal Academy of San Fernando, did not cease from the first evacuation of the French from Madrid in 1812 to provide measures to avoid loss as much as possible. or concealment of paintings taken from churches, convents or other public establishments by the French by order of the intruding government.

There are antecedents in the archive of the aforementioned Academy:

The dispossession of the Simancas archive began in 1811, in which year the empire's archivist J. Guite went there to collect papers to take to France. Here is a literal copy of the documents that prove it:

Royal archive of Simancas:

= I, commissioner of the French government, undersigned: I declare that I have taken from the royal archive of Simancas to bring to France by virtue of the order of His Excellency the Minister of the Interior, communicated to the governor of the sixth government, the following papers:

(Of the 13 items that are related, the last one says...)

13.º.- The papers of the State letter with the corresponding inventories. Of which papers and inventories, which are placed in one hundred and seventy-two drawers, Mr. Don Manuel de Ayala y Rosales, secretary of said archive, is legitimately downloaded. Done in Simancas on May 28, 1811.

The undersigned commissioner of the French government, in charge of the recognition and transportation of the papers existing in the royal archive of Simancas, certified that he had extracted from the aforementioned royal archive the files containing the following matters:

(Of the 5 items that are related, the 2nd and 3rd say...)

2nd. The books and records of the chancellery of the Council that was in Aragon.

3rd. The papers of the secretariat of the negotiation of Catalonia, except those entitled Letters.

Which papers with their corresponding inventories have been taken by me as a result of the order of the Most Excellent Minister of the Interior to be taken to France.

And for the defense of Mr. Don Mamuel de Ayala, main archivist of the aforementioned royal archive of Simancas, I give you this certification that in any case should serve as a receipt and receipt, signed by my hand, and dated in Simancas on June 6, one thousand eight hundred and eleven. J. Guito.

These papers were returned to Simancas in 1816, except for several important documents that were extracted in France from the same files, the complete diplomatic correspondence with the court of Paris; and also the treaties and agreements made with his government, with others that we indicate in the text, and were extracted from the archive then or later...

Extract from the book: History of the uprising, war and revolution of Spain, Volume 4; Madrid 1847; Written by José María Queipo de Llano y Ruiz de Saravia Toreno (VII Count of Toreno).

The attribution of a steam engine test to a boat carried out by Blasco de Garay in the port of Barcelona is based on the communication from the director of the Simancas Archive, Tomás González Hernández, to the illustrious historian Martín Fernández de Navarrete stating that in In that file there is documentation that supports a navigation test carried out on July 17, 1543 by the Sea Captain of Charles V's fleet of a navigation system without sails or oars that contained a large kettle of boiling water.

The letter from González to Martín Fernández is the following:

Blasco de Garay, captain of the sea, proposed in the year 1543 to the emperor and king Charles V an ingenuity to make the naos and boats larger, even in time of calm, without the need for rowing or sailing. Despite the obstacles and contradictions experienced by this project, the emperor agreed to rehearse, as was actually verified in the port of Barcelona on 17 June of the year 1543.
Garay never wanted to manifest the ingenuity uncovered, but it was seen at the time of the rehearsal that consisted of a large boiling water boiler and in a complicated motion wheels to one and another band of the boat.
The experience was made in a 200-tone nao, coming from Colibre to download wheat in Barcelona, called the Trinity, whose captain was Pedro de Scarza.
By commission of Cárlos V and Prince Philip II, his son, intervened in this business Don Enrique de Toledo, the governor Don Pedro de Cardona, the Treasurer Rávago, the vice-chancellor, the rational master of Catalonia Don Francisco Gralla, and many other subjects of category, Castilians and Catalans, among them several sea captains who witnessed the operation in the nao and others from the marina.
In the parts that gave the king and the prince, they all generally applauded the ingenuity, especially the speed with which they turned the nao. The Treasurer Rávago, the enemy of the project, says he would walk two leagues every three hours: it was very complicated and costly, and that there was a lot of exposure that the boiler would explode frequently. The other commissioners ensure that the nao made ciaboga two so many more presto than a galera served by the regular method, and that he walked to league for the hour at least.
Completed the essay, he collected all the ingenuity he had armed in the nao, and having deposited the woods in the atarazanas of Barcelona kept for himself the rest.
Despite the difficulties and contradictions proposed by Rávago, Garay's thought was appreciated, and if the expedition in which Carlos V was then pawned, he would certainly have encouraged and favored him.
With all this the author promoted to a further degree, gave him a cost aid of 200,000 maravedises for once, ordered to pay him for general treasury all expenses, and made him other mercedes.
This is the result of the original records and records that are kept in the Royal Archive of Simancas, between the documents of the State of the negotiator of Catalonia and those of the Secretary of War, part of sea and land, in the year 1543.
Simancas, August 27, 1825, Tomás González.

The fact that no matching documents, nor plans or drawings were found to support said letter gave rise to a controversy between French and Spanish scholars.

The theme became so popular and controversial that Honoré Balzac wrote a play, a five-act comedy, with the theme as a plot titled Les Ressources de Quinola that premiered in Paris on December 19. March 1842 and in which the Spanish thesis was confirmed.

We record that in SALAZAR Y HONTIVEROS, Mr. Juan Joseph. "Glories of Spain, plausible in all centuries up to the present, which are demonstrated to a Modern, with several historical Points, and various poems, heroic, and Sacred." Madrid, Printing Office of the Widow of Juan de Ariztia, 1736. On the front endpaper and in old ink there is a handwritten note: “The inventor of steamships was a high-ranking Spanish Captain named Blasco de Garay and the first trial of this ingenious invention was in the port of Barcelona on June 15, 1543, before or in the presence of Emperor Charles V, and a son Felipe were witnesses of the event. Henrique de Toledo, the Governor Don Pedro Cardona, the treasurer Rabago, the vice-chancellor D. Francisco Granvita and many other people of distinction, both Castilian and Catalan, these facts are taken from original documents that are preserved in the Simancas Archive among those belonging to the principality. of Catalonia and this discovery has been appropriated by the Americans saying that the inventor was Fulton."

The history of these inventions according to historian Modesto Lafuente (19th century)

... When Emperor Carlos V. was in Toledo at the beginning of 1539, Blasco de Garay addressed him a memorial:

This memorial was passed to the Council, and after hearing his opinion, the Emperor, in a document dated March 22 of the same year 1539, promised him a reward proportionate to his service if he carried out what was offered in the memorial, and at the same time He gave orders to Francisco Verdugo and Diego de Cazalla, one supplier and the other payer of the Spanish fleet in Malaga, to provide him with carpenter and blacksmith officers, with the corresponding materials so that he could rehearse project number I.

In his virtue, Garay passed to Málaga with the meager aid of 10 ducats, and from there he wrote to the secretaries Juan Vázquez de Molina and Francisco Eraso, telling them that he had advanced his ingenuity, and that he had had to pawn his sword and his cloak to be able to survive, for which he begged that they send him aid and give him a ship to place his ingenuity.

As a result of this, a new document was issued (August 10) ordering that a galleon of 200 barrels and two decks be provided, and another 40 ducats be given to him for his entertainment.

Either this was not facilitated, or it should not have been of any use to him, since on January 1, 1540 he wrote complaining about the paralysis in which he was, and undoubtedly as a result of this complaint the first test was made in July of that year in a large boat with the help of six wheels, which stumbled and got in the way, to the point that Garay was forced to reduce them to two; and on the advice of Verdugo the device was placed on another ship of 1000 barrels, where the second test was made, which produced the effect that the author desired, traveling about a league per hour, and making cia-boga with ease and promptness. /i>

Garay reported these two tests to the emperor in Madrid (September 10), and at his hearing His Majesty ordered him to return to Malaga to test it on another ship of 300 to 350 barrels, paying him 100 ducats. and by an imperial decree (November 16) it was prohibited to copy or remove models from the machine under the penalty of sixty thousand maravedis.

But in all this it is known that progress was made slowly, not on the part of Blasco, who while they provided him with resources he was busy building a hand mill in Malaga, until orders were issued ordering him to give him the ship, accommodation and operators, with more than 200 ducats, with the artillery steward taking charge of guarding the machine.

And yet still on September 25 (1541) Garay wrote to the emperor and to the secretary Francisco de Ledesma stating that he was stationary and did not have a ship, and since the expedition from Algiers had left and the workers of the shipyard had left. were unoccupied, it seemed to be the perfect opportunity to carry out the work.

The company must have had little fortune at that time, when on March 7, 1542, Blasco de Garay returned to urge that he be given another ship on which to place his machine, because the one he was using did not seem appropriate to him. proposed Diego de Cazalla, and hurried for help to survive; And from these and other negotiations that he made with the Marquis of Mondejar, captain general of Granada, it turned out that the emperor ordered 500 ducats for the experience and 50 for Garay.

The experience (which was already the third) took place before Don Bernardino de Mendoza, (June, 1542), and according to the letters of the Marquis of Mondejar, of Mendoza, and Garay himself, it offered the inconvenience The wheel blades were very long and many in number, and had too much lead, so that the boat had made a very good start, but then the workers could not handle the work.

Therefore, on July 11, another test was carried out (and it is the fourth), shortening the blades by half a yard and reducing them to six, walking an hour and a half round trip with two boats and a skiff at the bow, inferring that there were six wheels, and not two as in the second test, since it says that the men who handled them were thirty-six and six in each one without relief by means of storks.

The ship moved at the rate of three-quarters of a league per hour, and was compared with the galley Renegada, with four benches per side, and twenty-four oarsmen, having made cia-boga twice while the galley once. He finally says that she had noticed defects that she would correct, and that she would go to Granada to give more explanations.

On July 18 (1542) the Malaga supplier Francisco Verdugo wrote to Secretary Vázquez and the Emperor, reporting unfavorably on the evidence, and on the 25th he conveyed the report of Gracian de Aguirre, an expert, to the Marquis of Mondejar. in things of the sea, whom he had commissioned to see the experience.

Aguirre said in his report that the front or bow wheels were very difficult to raise the ship and set sail; those for mooring and hunting the middle ones, and all for the use of artillery between decks and for taking the boat on board; that in a skirmish the artifice would be endangered because the blades would be easy to break; that the ship had traveled a quarter of a league an hour, and that the work of the people seemed unbearable to him; that if these inconveniences were overcome, the device could be used to take a port and leave it, to double a point, to join ships that have strayed from each other, to anchor themselves and other things: which did not seem useful to him for taking ships in tow, and that no more money should be spent on it, leaving to write after speaking with Garay, whom he was waiting for.

He did so in effect; and on August 7 he stated that Garay had offered him the remedy for all the problems, and that the ship would run further, for which he did not dare to be guarantor; but notwithstanding this, he considered him an ingenious man and of whom he should take advantage of in other things, ending by proposing that he be entertained in the artillery.

The emperor answered these letters on August 26, and based on what was reported by Gracian de Aguirre, he warned not to spend more on it, and that he would provide for the rest. Blasco de Garay expressed his complaints about the informants, and asked that the test be carried out with adequate means, purchasing a 300-tonne vessel and carrying out the test in the presence of His Majesty to be the judge, otherwise there would be as many opinions as heads; that he promised to correct the faults noted, wanting to go out with the company, not out of self-interest, but for the service of His Majesty.

A six-year gap is noted in the Council's registry books of the aforementioned archive, in which no copies of documents are found. It should be noted, however, that as a result of this claim by Garay, orders were issued for new tests to be carried out, since the results of the fifth test carried out in those seas appear in letters from Blasco de Garay to the emperor and to the secretary Vázquez de Molina from Barcelona. on June 17, 1543, in the presence of several people and authorities, using the help of only two wheels, one for each side of the ship, and the force of fifty men, with whose means the ship traveled, according to Garay, to ratio of league per hour despite not being palmed.

The ship was called the Trinidad, with a capacity of 200 barrels: its captain Pedro Scarza. The commander-in-chief of León, Don Enrique de Toledo, wrote about this test (June 17), telling him that the ingenuity had turned out so well that everyone was amazed, because walking, doing cia-boga, etc. a galley wouldn't do better. Also the treasurer Rábago, who was in the hull, reported that he could travel three leagues in two hours, although with work, since fifty men were needed, with almost the same fatigue as if they were rowing; but that it was very convenient for a battle, since it turned twice while the galley turned, and that the defects it had would be corrected with time.

Such is the extract of the documents so far examined and searched with the most thorough care. In them, as the reader will observe, not a single word is spoken of boilers, nor is steam mentioned, neither with this name, nor with any other that could mean this admirable engine, but completely of wheels moved by men and arranged with a certain artifice..

We regret not having found a plan or trace of this device, which from one of Blasco Garay's Letters appears to have been sent to the emperor...

The inheritance of the sugar mills: a son named Blasco de Garay applies for a patent

... In 1552 a son of Blasco de Garay, of the same name as his father, wrote to the emperor, after his death, saying that he was perfectly aware of his mills, and asking for one hundred ducats for the construction of another like that of Barcelona. But we have not found the result that this request would have...

About the experience of mills and other inventions

... The experience of the mills came out more happily for Blasco de Garay, since he says in his letters that it spread instantly and he asked for the privilege of invention. Regarding the other projects included in his first memorial, we have no news that they went ahead, even the one that had the objective of making sea water drinkable...

... Because although the Spaniards, besieged in 1560 at the fort on the island of Gelbes, seem to have managed to partially make up for the lack of drinking water with desalinated sea water using an alembic, this invention of alembic sea water to desalinate it was attributed to a Sicilian belonging to the Spanish navy...

Extract from the book: General History of Spain, Volume 15; Madrid 1869; Written by Modesto Lafuente.

Transcripts of the memorial, letters from Garay and others

(Compiled from various authors.)

According to Mr. Modesto Lafuente, the court in Toledo was at the beginning of the year 1539, when the following curious memorial was presented to Emperor Charles I:

Memorial from Garay to the King and which he transfers to his War Council to hear it

S. G C. M.

It is common for the poor to be ingenious: I say this, because I am a poor gentleman from this city of Toledo, called Blasco de Garay, and I often think about how I can serve Your Majesty. as some of my lineage have done, especially an older brother of mine, called Diego de Alarcón, who in the service of V.M. lost his life, captain in the army of Italy; With the same warmth of serving Your Majesty, desiring to find something that exceeds the baseness of my person, I offer myself for the continuous care and study of Philosophy and other sciences in which I have been raised, and experience, an invention of being able to support a large army to V.M. without cost of the Royal revenues or damage to his people , which I have considered for a long time, it seems to me, if I am not mistaken, to be something that could be carried out.

I will give the form of this in writings when V.M. I will command, and if, for example, a defect is found in it, in my will to desire the service of Your Majesty. will not be found.

Naval drive wheel machine

1st.- Likewise, for this navy, if as I say it would have an effect if not for anyone other than V.M. rig, I will give an easy instrument with which all the oarsmen will be able to excuse themselves in the galleys, and that four men can make greater movement than they all do, and so much greater movement that they could almost do without sails, and that this same instrument can be put in any high-board ship with little difficulty, and there will be no need for a low-board ship or oars ever.

Machines and devices for underwater operations

2nd.- I will give very natural and easy means with which you can remove any ship from under the water, even if it is more than a hundred fathoms deep, and even if it is a ratchet, and even if it is not There would be more than two men to get her out.

3.º.- I will give art with which any man can be under water as long as he wants, as restfully as above.

4.º.- In a shallow depth, I will give instruments with which you can see from above the water what was there on the ground, even if the water is very cloudy.

Water purification plants

5.º.- I will give an instrument that, having firewood, can with it, from any brackish water, make fresh water in such quantity that the water runs in a thread.

6.º.- I will give a warning that there can be water in many ways, carrying the said instrument and having firewood, although not in as much abundance as there being brackish water or any other bad water.

Ingenuities on various types of mills

7.º.- I will provide a mill on a ship, of great effect, that a settled man can bring, or art with which they can grind without more wheels of the stones that make flour, and in this grinding I will do many unseen ingenuities.

(In the folder of this document, the following is written: Málaga- Blasco de Garay- about the mills that he says he will make. -To the War Council.)

Garay's report to the Emperor from Madrid after the first three experiences in Malaga

S.C.C.M.

The first experience on a 250-tonne ship with the first prototype machine

I Blasco de Garay went by mandate of V. M. to Malaga to understand in a certain ingenuity to make the ships walk in time of calm, and to 4 October 1539 Years I made the first experience in a ship of two hundred and fifty tones, old and very heavy, and I walked the bliss with ten and eight men who brought the ingenuity, almost one league per hour; and because in this experience they broke some things and others seemed to be pregnant a lot of the ship inside, I said that I would amend them all and so agreed the suppliers of S. M. that they were carrying only two wheels.

The second experience on a 100-tonne ship with the second machine (modification of the first machine)

I prepared the two wheels, and the inside that was heavy for the reason of a few long beams with which it moved, collected in so little space that it is almost nothing the place that it occupies; for I removed the beams and followed another way of motion, and put it in a nao of one hundred toneles loaded with wheat, and at each wheel I put three men that rolled it, which for all was six. Then they stumbled over the sea from one side to another, and stumbled into the gate of the Atarazanas, almost as close to the land as the galleys arrive; and he made many times more of a heap than a hen.

The third experience on a half-ship (100 barrels?) with the second machine

This experience was made to 2 July 1540They went inside the V.M. suppliers as they wrote, and they put with them more than one hundred men, captains of the naos, pilots, sailors and other skilled people to give their vote, among which they went especially Gracián of Aguirre and Noblezia, men experienced in the things of the martial, without many other bats of people who went to the round of the ship to see, V.M.'s providers think they send the information out of all this.

I send V.M. a trace of this last experience, which is a half-ship with only two wheels at the bow; I don't know if anything will be understood from them; and because the said suppliers do not want to testify about more than what they saw, they leave the rest to me, including what I plan to do at the mill itself, adding some things that can help, such as the account and reason for what I think. that the ships that are thicker than the one in which they saw the experience will sail; and to calculate this account Your Majesty must assume that for just this purpose of moving the ships six men could be enough, as was seen in this last experience and four as I offered in the request that I made to Your Majesty here in Toledo; and if there were not more than two men, I believe they would shake it in a calm; But to travel something of a quantity that could be used in navigation, more people are needed, and as many more, as there is more to travel.

Prospective calculations to move the second machine installed in naos

That is why I will give here to V.M. two sorts of ships, which any of them is profitable, and you can with them navigate a long navigation in time of calm; and since adding the people and the wheels could be added in the walk, let me see that by the pregnancy of the ships it is not necessary to add in the wits or in the people, if it is not reasonable to do the following; for

Firstly, for a ship to travel more than a league per hour and for this more to be a known advantage, the following people are necessary:

For a 100-tone nao, 12 men.
For a nao of 150 tones, 16 men.
For a 200-tone nao, 20 men.
For a 250-tone nao, 24 men.
For a nao of 300 toneles, 28 men.
For a nose of 350 toneles, 32 men.
For a nao of 400 toneles, 36 men.

Here V.M. should note. that I do not give more people to move these ships than is usually necessary for the boats of the same ships.

Well, for these ships to travel more than a league and a half per hour and for this to be a known advantage, the following people are needed:

For a 100-tone nao, 18 men.
For a 150-tone nao, 24 men.
For a 200-tone nao, 30 men.
For a 250-tone nao, 36 men.
For a nao of 300 toneles, 42 men.
For a nose of 350 toneles, 48 men.
For a nao of 400 toneles, 54 men.

Here you must consider V.M. that although the number of men has grown more than in ships of more than a league, the growth is not so much that in any ship there are no people for it, only sailors and cabin boys that the said ships need to only sail; The more so that there are always other people on the ships, who will be happy to help in time of need, as they help the pump and the capstan, because for this device there is no need for men skilled as for rowing; And if there is an abundance of men, these ships will be able to travel much further than what I have placed here.

And likewise if the necessary men were lacking, with few or many, those who existed would sail more or less, according to the number of men; It is no small comfort that there are many men who can all serve in a need, which cannot be done in rowing ships, especially in the galley, since there is no room for more rowers than those who are going, and those have to be very right-handed as I have said.

This is how V.M. must understand. That what I have said that these ships will sail with the men that I have assigned to each one, will be the people working at full fury, as when the people of a galley are hunting for a riding crop:

and because this work will not be possible except in a squeeze of two or three hours to walk in this way, or it will be necessary to have people in remuda, or to rest as the galleys do; but wanting to work as much as is reasonable, and those who can suffer all day, will not walk as much as I have stated above, although I believe they will walk well; and this will be according to whether they want to work a little, or a lot, as in all other jobs, because in this mill they can work as much or as little as they want, because it does not require them to always put in a lot of strength like those who gain weight; Well, in this case it's like rowing.

Likewise, what I have said that these ships will sail, must be understood in calm and without sea current; because since they can sail against the current as has already been experienced, they still lose their navigation, due to the current more or less, depending on the current; although V.M. must know. that these ships resist the current better than the contrary wind; the opposite of the galley that resists the contrary wind better, if it is not much, than the current; because the galley has more under the water than above it, and the ship has more volume above the water than below it, because it has a high edge and stern and bow, where the wind is very strong, although if the wind is not much, it will still they proege against him; and those that travel more than a league and a half will be more successful than those that travel more than one.

Prospectives with the second machine installed in galleys

So, left aside this from the ships on high board and coming to the galleys, which are long ships and more willing to walk the water than the ships, to which I reached for the experiences made so public, as others that I have made particulars, that in good reason they cannot fail, can be done in them the following:

A galley of those currently rowed by twenty-four benches per side, which requires one hundred and forty-four men to row, will otherwise require only a quarter, that of thirty-six men, and earn all this:

I do. firstthat of a galley are made four;

I do. Secondthat the galley that will carry this ingenuity will go more than any other to the oar, which is of great importance, because she will reach others and the others not to her;

I do. third, this galley will be able to carry means cannons through the bands and many more soldiers that he takes and more free to fight, because he will not carry banks or cursía, which is great pregnancy, but a beautiful uncovered square, disembarked from popa to proa much more than the present is, which I do not think will be little relief for a need;

I do. RoomThe prick of this galley will be able to say goodbye made the journey and it will not be necessary to winter with it, for the most rude man to take, he will know to bring this ingenuity as well as the most right, for it is only to bring a plum to the round, and to save V.M. the winter expenses of the galleys and anomas that are there, against justice, not to know.

I do. FifthThat is what we said above in the ships, that the soldiers there may help to bring the said ingenuity so that it may go much more, which can take much advantage of a need against a reluctant wind and against a common slain and against many other sea disasters and to reach other ships; and this is not to have in little when such a case is offered, which cannot be done by going to rest.

And because here someone may say that these thirty-six men will not be enough to raise the tenna, I will give ingenuity to raise it even if they were less; The more so there are many other people in the galley who could help when they wanted to take it up to hands like they are taking it up now.

Prospective conclusions equipping naval ships with this second machine

And because all this is as great as V.M. can see, because having V.M. wits paired for three or four sorts of ships, can when it is served, take the ships that must be and send them to put the wits, that they put slightly, and put everything to the point and made the people of war that is to go in them, can V.M. send the last of all, A high-flying ship armed, artillery that suffice to sink the world, without the galleys that can carry the runners of the field, that they do not escape anything that goes out by the sea; and when the soldiers are fired, they will fire the moveers of the ingenuity, so that another return will come joyfully to the command of V.M.; and this will be excused many expenses, Lord and V. a great service and to me an unbearable job, as I am experienced, because new things are done with great difficulty and care, as well as with admiration and almost unbelief,

Plea for Mercedes and subtle suggestion of invention privileges

I beg V.M. That so that I may go with more courage through such intolerable fatigue and fear less the blows of the envious and of those who contaminate the fortunes of those whom God favors, that Your Majesty. Please point out to me the favors that he will do to me when I have fulfilled the above, and they will be in this way:

that V.M. take one of the ships posted above, like V.M. please, either those from more than a league away, or those from more than a league and a half, and I promise with the people that I assigned to each one above, to make what I have said work, and likewise to do in a galley what I have said:

and that I not fulfilling what I said, V.M. He is not obliged to do me any favors for it; but I am fulfilling the said ship that V.M. I will take and in a galley everything that I have said, and of such art that there is no lack where it should be stopped using it, V.M. be obliged to do me later the favors that he promised me for it; And I do not ask this because I will later fail to understand the ingenuities of other ships that I have mentioned above, but because in these first two, both in the ship and in the galley, I understand to discover many more beauty than the fear of men who go out to steal other people's inventions for disguises and flames of his, I have remained silent until now; and likewise from the fear of envious people, who, seeing that they have everything in power, do not allow anyone to prosper for them; and of these, both one and the other, I have found a great copy every time I have discovered something of my poor ingenuity and that is why I beg Your Majesty. It is good that I know my reward, and what I have to serve, because in this way Your Majesty will be much better served. and better.

And I will understand in all these other types of ships, and as much as V.M. I will command, after this is done, as a man who will no longer fear what the envious and mean people can do, so that I do not have more than one concern to serve Your Majesty, not only with this, but with many other things that our Lord has given me to understand, fortunately for Your Majesty, that I want everything for your service; and I beg your Majesty, that in the favors that you will show me, you do the same with respect to my children and descendants as to me; and that it be an honorable thing, since the fact has to be mentioned by everyone, of whom I hope in God that Your Majesty It will be soon Lord, let the favor and honor that V.M. He gave to the one who invented it in his service, which will be no small glory to Your Majesty; and if I beg this, it is because this thing is now beyond doubt; and when what I promise does not come out, what will come out will be very little less, although in truth I think that it will come out sooner rather than less, as the experiences made promise me; and if it didn't come out so much, V.M. He will be without obligation and if he gives me any favors they will be called pure grace.

Urge to continue the experiences and to be re-supplied

So, this aside, it is necessary for V.M. to use this ingenuity quickly, before the invention can be extended by the enemies, although I think that it is of quality that not so easily can be understood, because it takes a lot of reason and counts; but by itself or by no, it cannot damage the brevity, and if it wants V.M. It is necessary that I be provided in Malaga in the same way as I will give for a memorial, when it is to be understood in it:

Because otherwise things will go so far in the long run that V.M. cannot be well served; And perchance my life may fail, as I am a delicate and somewhat ill man, and such a great secret remain to be carried out; since with only what was done there would be officers who in some way served Your Majesty, although compared to what remains, everything done is little, and even less what without me they would know how to do.

Farewell

I don't want to tire V.M. with more reasons, but that all this awaits the commandment of V.M. whose Imperial Person and Lordship Our Lord preserves and increases in the holy service of him:

from Madrid on September 10, 1540.— Humble vassal, that the Royal feet of V.M. kiss — Blasco de Garay.

Letter from Garay (probably addressed to Secretary Juan Vázquez) about mills

Very illustrious Lord:
Because your exodus honor that wanted me to talk about the mill business, and I think that with other better occupations it has not taken place, it seemed to me to inform V.S. on this paper, because speaking of word it is still necessary more time to read it in writing.
I have seen the mill of the Doctor of the Tower and Salazar's hermit, very better, and I have seen many other inventions and traces of moler, because it is many years that with thought and even with the work I go after this negotiation; and of all that so far I have seen of mills that are brought with beast, I find that they respond to the common tahonas.
In this way that if a common tahona dies with a beast of sun to sun three wheat or three and a half swine, which is what usually happens, not killing the beast, I say that a detachment of mills, if it is to grind two so much that a tahona, has to need two beasts, and if it is to grind three so many, three beasts, and four so many, four beasts
because it is a general rule in this art that as long as there is no more ingenuity to multiply the movement of the stone, so much as it multiplies, so much the moveer or beast that will bring it; and this is the most true rule that is in this art, but that not those who understand in these inventions, I say by means of multiplication of wheels with their points, that by another way we have already been able to find other inventions of more profit.
Finally, you have V.S. by the way that the Doctor of the Tower and Salazar's mill, and anyone else that went that way, no advantage makes the common tahonas, before you would have the tahonas for better, because they are better because they are easier, than any carpenter knows to do and any grinder to govern; and they are more durable, not being the movement so violent.
So, you know what a common tahona rents, out of all coasts, as you will know in Seville, where they are used, you will clearly know what they will rent moler inventions by multiplication of wheels, because as I say everything goes out to an account, that it is only to put together two or three tahonas on one with all their coast and profit, as if they were each one by itself; and who believed otherwise,
This is my opinion about this mill business and I escape from giving me your writing so that V.S. can cope with what happens and see if I say truth or not.
If anything else is closer to this you want to be informed by word or in writing I will do so according to the commandment of V.S.
Which very illustrious hands kisses his servant.
Blasco de Garay.

It is not known to whom it is addressed because it does not have an envelope; but it must be Mr. Juan Vázquez.

It is from the year 1541 in the folder.

Letter from Garay to Francisco de los Cobos from Malaga (transcription of autograph letter)

(graving formula)
Well, I think I'd like to open up two letters of mine that I warned of what happened to the nao's wit and what I've been doing.
And as the present was commanded by the supplier Francisco Verdugo, repairing certain faults that in the first sample came out, that to return to make the experience with all its fulfillment, as I hope in God that at present it will come out, because nothing came out of a perfect blow.
Assymmus I decreed V.S. of a portable molyn that I did here for the armed and exercites of his majesty, and not at his expense, because in my request he had been offered.
On which he begged and turned to beg V.S. for a privilege, so that no one could do or have done without my license, and this so that he that had him could only grind bread from his house, and not publicly because he did not offend the large mills that have offered his majesty.
Because otherwise they do not in Malaga the blacksmiths and carpenters but this mill.
And it is fair that I as the first inventor have some right over them, for it is so much reason to favor the first inventors for their work and for others to strive to take profitable things in light.
I also advise V.S. of my need, because it is so much that I cannot sustain myself here, because as V.S. knows from the holy week that I received four ducats to come here, only other quarenta I have received afterwards.
And as the earth is so expensive I have spent more than a hundred ducats from my bag and the living fief present, if V.S. commands that I am here to end this, well you will see that without eating I cannot do it.
I thought I'd have this Easter ready to settle in giving me the nao.
And in the end lies of officers have mocked me, even though with the help of God everything is very close, and I think if they help me, that in this month of January I will put it aside if in the ship there is no delay, and can be judged the greatness of this movement and everything else that (ilgible) does not have fault, even as some for not understanding it are put, and this also to my judgment that I must best understand it.
(farewell formula)
The one who the most illustrious hands of V.S. kisses.
From Malaga New Year's Day. (1 January 1543)

Letter from Garay to Francisco de los Cobos after the exhibition in Barcelona

To the most illustrious lord the Major Compromner and my Lord.
At 17th of the present was the proof of the craft's ingenuity, and it pleased Our Lord that the new one was as good as His Majesty's bliss, because the ship was almost a league for an hour, and if the ship was clean, it was left to make it better than a galley, and the best thing is that it did this effect with only two wheels, one by band.
So the ship goes very little steep, because the ingenuity goes much more accurate than the others I have done, and much easier to remove and put, and very beautiful in sight, and no less bravo to fear the enemies; and this I say, you will be able to know to be that of all those in all Barcelona who saw it, without discrepating man of this opinion, as I think they should write Lord D. Enrique de Toledo and the Treasurer Rávago; this is a thing that every day is to grow and not diminish, like all the other ingenuities, and that is why I want to now take much:
It is true that for the experience forty and so many men of people who go to earn the bread and if these were men of hands and hands of some days in the thing, it became more effective, or the same with less number of them; finally, that this is right and it was no other fault but not to see His Majesty or Your Honor or the Duke of Alba, my Lord, although I wait in God for you to keep it so long,
From Barcelona and 20 June 1543. Kiss the most illustrious hands of your honor - Blasco de Garay.

Letter from Rávago to the Duke of Alba after the exhibition in Barcelona

Garay did his experience, I entered the same ship sailing, it seems that he will travel three leagues with that device in two hours, it is difficult because he needs fifty men who bring him with almost the same effort as those who row.

But for a naval battle or to send an armada with more security, a useful thing is because the ship goes around the Redonda twice as quickly to the part they want as the galley once, and demonstrates that ingenuity that could be to perfect it in strong hazelle so that it was not lacking and even to make more trips it seemed that with experience one could find beauty every day, Mr. D. Enrique saw the movement from the outside and I think he will also write what he thinks of V. S. the Wheels and supplies of this device that had been made at the expense of his majesty have been delivered in the tarazana to the artillery steward for safekeeping.

I beseech V.S. Remember to send me your highness's letters for what is offered here and some from V.S. in the same substance, N.S. the people and states that V.S. Save and increase as you wish.

From Barcelona to XXII (22) June 1543.

From V.S.

Servant and servant who kisses his hands - Rávago (Rubrica).

Letter from Enrique de Toledo to Francisco de los Cobos after the exhibition in Barcelona

Very Illustrious Sir:

The ingenuity of the ship that Garay made was tested and came out so good that I and everyone who was there marveled at it, because in my opinion the walking and doing ciaboga and everything he did could not be done a galley more casually; and because the treasurer Rávago was found inside the ship and will give a fuller account to V.S. All I can say is that it seemed very good to everyone without any disagreeing.

Garay himself also writes to V.S. Through his letter V.S. know the rest.

Ntro. Mr. the very Illustrious person of V.S. save with as great an increase in status as I wish.

From Barcelona to June 22, 1543 = Server of V.S. D. Enrique

Garay's last letter to the Emperor from Barcelona

To the Emperor's S.C.M., our lord, in his War Council.
S.C.C.M.
For Your Majesty know that I have not lost time, as for what touches the ingenuity of walking the ships in time of calm: Your Majesty will know that on 17 June the experience was made that I put to the point for the presence of Your Majesty, and that it was a ship that came from Colibre to unload some wheat, and that the Trinity was said; it was a ship of 200 tones, and its captain was called Peter of Scarza, inconvenient.
They made such an effect that those who did not see it, with difficulty will be able to believe it, because I walked so much that some bats and ships that went after it to see the ingenuity, they were left by a stern league per hour; others with much diligence had with it.
We made ciaboga two so many more presto than a galley; in the end, it was found that he was almost a league an hour, and that to be demolished the ship was more of a league. Inside was the governor Don Pedro de Cardona and the Treasurer Rávago, and many honored men of this city, who have been captains of ships, but many other Masters of ships and sailors who were at the time inside. From the navy they went out to see the Vice Chancellor and D. Enrique de Toledo, and the National Master and many other knights of this land, who did not soon marvel at seeing this effect. To all, both within and outside, it seemed very useful and very necessary, so to your Majesty's armed forces as to the Indies, and to infinite other things that Your Majesty will be understood.
There is another thing in this ingenuity, and it is to be expected that every day will be better, because all the artificial things will be improved and grow with the time, and the ships that after this will be used will be made more of the purpose, and there will be people left to bring it, that not long ago the case, since for this ingenuity it is not necessary for the people to be very far-fetched because in two days they are made.
Let me see that this thing is already very clear to all who have seen it, as I think Your Majesty will be warned of these gentlemen that I have said, and that you would waste time not to attend to cutting woods and to prepare some wits for the ships that Your Majesty commands, because with 25 men for 100 toneles I prefer to walk any ship despalmada up to 350 tones of porte, so much as this See Your Majesty about what is most served, because as I have said, from here on it would be a waste of time not to understand in this. Our Lord Jesus Christ the imperial person and state of Your Majesty guarding and growing for His holy service.
From Barcelona to 6 July 1543.
Kiss the imperial hands of Your Caesarean Majesty—Blasco de Garay.

Other activities in Garay

He also collaborated with Diego de Salazar and Diego López de Ayala in the translation of Jacopo Sannazaro's Arcadia in 1549.

Public recognitions

In 1845 he was baptized in his honor a wheel vapor for the Navy called Blasco de Garay, second class with 350 cv.
One of Solá's latest projects, to be sculpted in marble around 1850. The sculpture could have been commissioned for a monument to Blasco de Garay that wanted to be erected in the Duke of Medinaceli of Barcelona, never realized. The portrait is supported on a plinth where a manuscript has been deployed with the inscription "BARCELONA / BARCELONA / 1543" and the drawing of a boat with a shovel wheel. He was at the Museum of Fine Arts in Asturias (Oviedo). It is currently at the Museo del Prado, not exhibited.
Another bronzed statue in Madrid.
Something in Malaga.→"indigenous".
A play of theatre: comedy in five acts of Honoré de Balzac entitled: Les Ressources de Quinóla.
A street in Madrid.
A street in Tarrasa.
A street in Sabadell.
A street in Barcelona (Poble Sec).
A street in Sanlúcar la Mayor, (Sevilla).
A square in Seville