hat, having examined the said letter, they could give their
opinion. If they approved of it, it would be sent; but should they,
for any reasons or considerations, desire it to be otherwise, they
should give signed statements of their opinions, with the reasons
therefor, and this opinion, together with his letter, and a copy
of the letters from Japon and the reply which they think suitable,
will be sent to his Majesty for the protection of the governor in the
future, as in this matter he would not do anything but what might be
resolved upon, and decided to be most beneficial to the service of God
and of the king our lord, and to the good name of the Spanish nation.

Then the licentiate Pedro de Rojas, lieutenant-governor, said that
the substance of the reply to the king of Xapon's letter, as read,
was very prudent and discreet, and that its warmth and spirit were
proper in view of the arrogant words written by the emperor in his
letter; but that in his opinion, it would be well to follow the
reserved and dignified style generally used among such personages,
and to leave out some words, especially in that part referring
to the falsity of the prophecies, where other arguments could be
advanced. The master-of-camp and other captains present were of the
same opinion. The decision of the question was, therefore, postponed
until the next day, when an amended reply would be presented. This
resolution was signed, by the licentiate Pedro de Rojas, Diego
Ronquillo, Juan Xuarez Gallinato, Gomez de Machuca, Pedro de Chaves,
Don Juan Ronquillo, Diego de Castillo, Pedro de Arceo Cuevasruvias,
Juan Esquerra, Hernando Munoz de Poyatos, Don Francisco de Poca,
Francisco de Mercado Andrade, Christoval de Azqueta, Juan de Alcega,
Don Diego Jordano, Antonio Decanedo, Gaspar Perez.

Before me:

_Juan de Cuellar_

In the city of Manila, on the twenty-eighth day of April, one thousand
five hundred and ninety-four, the master-of-camp and captains who
attended the preceding council of war met a second time at the royal
house by order of and in the presence of Don Luis Perez Dasmarinas,
governor and captain-general, to decide concerning the reply to be sent
to the letter of Cuambaco, the emperor of Xapon, as had been agreed
upon the day before. It had then been decided to omit from the said
reply some of the arguments, and to substitute others, briefer and
less likely to provoke or annoy him, leaving in it only such things
as are required for