ainted on the poop. She
is a staunch ship, carrying one hundred and twenty men, Chinese and
Xaponese. It carries as a signal a red pennant at the stern. Given
at Cuxi, a port of Xapon, on October 29, 1592.

_Fray Juan Cobos_

[_Addressed_: "To Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, governor and captain-general
of the Filipinas Islands, at Manila."]

Because of the uncertainty of the ocean, I send this note by another
vessel which sails together with ours from this port, so that in
case it reaches your Excellency before us you will not be alarmed on
our account. Our trip has been very prosperous, and, should the Lord
preserve our health, we shall, as soon as we find ourselves in Manila,
report to your Excellency how well we were received by the emperor and
how well attended, thus honoring our lord the king, your Excellency,
and our nation. Nothing more at present, as I am writing these lines
only in case our ship should prove less speedy. From Xapon, province
of China, [5] port of Cuxi, November 4. Captain Lope Llanos kisses
your Excellency's hands; he is very ill with quartan ague.

_Fray Juan Cobos_

[_Addressed_: "To Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, knight of the Order of
Santiago, governor and captain-general of the Felipinas Islands."]

The bearer is Antonio Lopez, a Chinese, who sails on the vessel of
the Japanese Faranda as a token of peace, and to protect the vessel,
so that no harm may be done to it.

_Fray Juan Cobo_

May Jesus be always with your Excellency. It was found necessary that
Antonio Lopez, the Chinese, depart in the vessel of Faranda Quiemo,
who is the master of the Faranda who carries these letters and was
the source of all these messages. Although I leave the port in Xapon
before him, the fortunes of the ocean are various, and he may arrive
there first. Glory be to God that our voyage has been very prosperous,
as your Excellency will learn. As this letter is only intended as a
safe-conduct for its bearers (for which we are hostages), and as a
permit to Antonio Lopez, I say nothing more except that I recommend
your Excellency, in case he shall arrive before I do, to give them a
kind reception, because we were well received by the emperor. It is
worth while for your Excellency to send here for copper and hemp, on
the king's account, as I shall report to you at my arrival. Captain
Lope de Llanos kisses your Lordship's hands; he is very ill with
quartan ague. He is not writing, because this letter is in