the islands.

On April 22, 1594, a council of war is held at Manila, to agree
upon the reply which shall be made to an arrogant despatch from the
Japanese emperor, ostensibly peaceful, but containing covert threats
and accepting certain gifts as tokens of vassalage. He then reads a
draft of reply, which is criticized as likely to cause unnecessary
offense by some expressions therein; an amended reply is read and
adopted by the council, a few days later.

Luis Perez Dasmarinas asks (June 15, 1594) from Felipe II aid for
two charitable institutions in Manila--the girls' seminary of Sancta
Potenciana, and the Confraternity of La Misericordia; also for the
establishment and support of a temporary lodging-house for colonists,
and of a hospital for the servants of Spaniards. In another letter
(June 22) the governor commends to Felipe's favor Carbajal, the
captain who had gone to Japan; the latter is now sent to Spain with
Hideyoshi's letter. On the next day, Dasmarinas advises the king of
further news and despatches from Japan, sent by the envoy Fray Pedro
Baptista. The Japanese emperor professes friendship, but Dasmarinas
does not trust him, and has done all in his power to fortify Manila.

Carbajal, the captain who conveyed the Franciscans to Japan,
writes (1595?) to the king, to inform him of the prosperity and
importance of that country, and the attitude of its ruler toward the
Spaniards. The emperor has treated the Franciscans kindly. Carbajal
recommends that the Spanish trade in China should be diverted to
Japan. In 1595 the diocese of Manila is elevated to an archdiocese,
and three new bishoprics are created--those of Cebu, Nueva Caceres,
and Nueva Segovia. The king of Spain, in the decree (June 17) making
provision for this, also appoints incumbents for these posts.

Dr. Antonio de Morga, sent to the Philippines in place of Rojas,
reports to Felipe II (June 25, 1595) his arrival and inauguration as
lieutenant-governor, and urges the necessity of an investigation (which
was accordingly decreed) of the royal treasury of the islands. He
encloses the various official papers establishing his appointment and
inauguration in due form. In August of that year, Luis Dasmarinas is
persuaded to send aid to the king of Camboja against the Siamese. This
is requested in his behalf by Diego Veloso, a Portuguese adventurer
who has spent ten years in that country, and who states that its
ruler has protected the Christian missionari