ncalo Garcia_
_Fray Geronimo Vazquez_
_Fray Andres del Spiritu Santo_

[_Statement by Faranda_]

Last year, one thousand five hundred and ninety-two, Conbacondon,
the emperor of the realm of Xapon, commanded me to come to these
islands to negotiate for peace and amity with your Excellency and
the Spaniards residing here, your Excellency having agreed to it as
the representative here of his Majesty King Don Philipe. In order
to carry out my emperor's orders I went as far as the province of
Sanchuma, [2] to a seaport, whence I was to sail; but while making
preparations for my departure, I was attacked by sickness. Then, in
order not to lose the opportunity or to disobey said orders on account
of my illness, I decided to send in my place my vassal Gaspar, whom I
greatly esteem, believing that he would execute the commission well,
as he is a man experienced in all matters pertaining to these Islands,
having been in them before; and in consequence I sent him, giving
him the letter from the emperor my lord. He came and delivered it;
but, as there was no interpreter, it was not understood, and he was
discredited because of the little authority he had, as he was not an
ambassador. For that reason your Excellency decided to send father Fray
Juan Cobos and Captain Lope de Llano, who were to visit the kingdom
of Xapon and ascertain the truth concerning the embassy which my said
subject brought. When Fray Juan Cobos arrived in Satisma he wrote two
letters, one to the emperor, my lord, and another to me as the person
to whom the embassy sent to these islands had been entrusted. The said
two letters were tied together, and I received them in the town of
Mengoya, where the court of my lord the emperor is established. [3]
For the sake of courtesy, I did not separate mine, but took both
and delivered them to the emperor my lord, who read his and gave me
mine--ordering a captain and myself, one by land and the other by sea,
to go to meet father Fray Juan Cobos. We departed at once, I going by
sea; and I met him at Geto, a place between Firando and Mangasatte,
[4] where I received him with great pleasure, and brought him to the
court where my lord the emperor then was. Upon being notified of his
arrival, the emperor ordered one of his nobles to give him hospitality
in his own home, so that Father Juan Cobos could rest there until
a house could be adorned with gold, to shelter him with more pomp,
because he was the envoy of so great a