Japanese chiefs asked the emperor's permission to go to
subjugate the Philipinas, and make him lord of them, without any cost
to him. The latter replied that he would have nothing to do with it,
until he saw your Majesty's response. It is quite necessary that your
Majesty should send an order to the bishop of Great China at Macan, and
the fathers of the Society of Jesus, to the effect that all the ships
should leave there and go to Japon. These should investigate, and look
to it that they carry no people who have not a good understanding of
Christianity and fidelity; because that emperor is desirous of meeting
people who will teach him to construct ships and artillery in our
manner. All this will be of considerable harm and inconvenience; for,
although he has artillery and ships, they are less effective than ours.

They tell me that on this coast is father Fray Miguel de Venavides,
[22] of the order of St. Dominic, by whom your Majesty can be very
well informed of all these matters, because he has dealt with some
Japanese, and has gone through Great China.

_Pedro Gonzalez de Carbajal_

Formation of New Dioceses

The King: To my cousin, the Duke. My zeal and desire have always
been, and are, to procure and provide throughout all the provinces,
divisions, and localities of the Western Indias, whether already
discovered or to be discovered hereafter, the propagation and
extension of our holy Catholic faith and Christian religion; and
for that purpose I endeavor to provide the necessary prelates and
ministers, through whose agency the natives of those parts, blinded
by their hideous idolatry, may come into knowledge of the true faith;
and, together with those already converted, may be enlightened and
instructed so that they may enjoy salvation, partaking of the copious
fruit of our redemption. Hence at my supplication, archbishoprics
have been established in those districts and places where it seemed
necessary. For, in spite of the fact that a bishopric was founded in
the city of Manila in the island of Luzon in the Philipinas, situated
in the great archipelago of China, very near the mainland of that
country--yet, inasmuch as that district is very large, and contains
numerous islands with a large native population--a single prelate
cannot easily and under ordinary circumstances visit his diocese as
he should, fulfil the pontifical decrees, and provide for spiritual
affairs with the necessary despatch. It has b