Arizona republican., 1894-11-16
A RARE OLD MISSAL.
Romantic History of an Ancient
 Volume Now in California.
It Was Brought Over the Ocean by Co., Iumbus and Again by Cortez-A Treasured Relic of the Late
 Gov. Pic Pico.

Under lock and key, in the state li- brarian's office at Sacramento is vol ume worth more than twice it's weight in gold, says the San Francisco Chroni- ,cle.
 Six centuries have rolled by since the pious Fra Ambrosius sat in his monastic studio and mixed the watery blue, the pale green and startling crimson hues with which he illuminated this ancient missal. He devoted one year to the labor of copying, with microscopic ex- actness, the Latin prayers, the calen- dar of the saints and hymns of praise on selected parchment leaves. In the introduction he wrote in Latin: Il have entered upon this work with consciousness of my shortcomings and sinful impulses, which render me un- worthy of so honorable task, but after much fasting and prayer l have been guided by an inner voice which bids me to write"
 The history of this missal is full of romantic interest. The monastery in which Fra Ambrosius worked was broken up, and the book over which he had spent so many weary days passed into the possession of sailor named Rodrigo de Triana, who shipped on the Santa Maria when Christopher Colum- bus started on his voyage of discovery to the new world. Returning with the great admiral on his second voyage, De Triana married a native woman, and endeavored to carry the message of the cross to the people whom he had adopt ed as his kindred His success as a mis- sionary is problematical The missal, however, was kept by his children, and when the Spanish padres began to flock to the heather shores that Co., lumbus had given to Castile, priest bought the volume and made in it note of the fact and the date. The discovery of such a work in the hands of the natives made strong impress sion on the missionary, and he investi- gated it's history, making report to the head of his order in Barcelona, at the same time forwarding the missal.
 The little volume, with it's check cred history, reposed among the ar chives of the Barcelona convent until Cortez fitted out his expedition to the land of the Montezumas, taking as his chaplain the pious Father Olmedo. Be fore Olmedo set out on the dangerous voyage the bishop of Barcelona gave him his blessing, some good advice and this missal. So armed, the chap lain sailed away to the overturning of the dread deity Quetzalcoatl whom the dwellers of Anahuac worshiped.
 The bloody wars of the conquest placed the banner of the cross over the ruins of the teocallis and made Cor tez the governor of New Spain. Father Olmedo soon after presented to Cortez the now historic missal, as a founda- tion for library by the conqueror, and in his diary made mention of the travels and adventures through which he had passed. Cortez afterwards took up his residence in Cayoacan, one of the suburbs of the present City of Mexico, and carefully preserved the book for a number of years. When this Cayoacan tablishment was broken up, the conqueror gave the missal to the Franciscan Brothers, who were then waxing rich and strong in the new world. One of their number brought it to San Francisco in the early days of the gold excitement, and it passed into the possession of the late Gov. Pic Pico.
 When the state library became an established fact Gov. Pico gave the book to the institution, where it now remains.
 The missal is a fine specimen of il- lumination. It contains one hundred and seventy pages of carefully painted contents. The gold letters are made of gold leaf firmly gummed to the parchment. The frontispiece is gem of medieval art. It represents the crucifxion, with Mary and Martha (who are given slightly Japanese cast of features) standing at the foot of the cross. In the background a river flows, on the other side of which are seen several edifces that are archi- tectural curiosities.
 This interesting volume is valued at two thousand dollars.
 Water for Live Stock.