and if any necessity should arise, I would advise those kingdoms,
so that they could effect their good desire, and your Majesty would
be served thereby. I also said that, as so powerful a sovereign, your
Majesty would reward them as is your custom with other friendly kings;
and told him of the great advantage that would accrue to the seigniors
of those islands in recognizing and serving your Majesty. He was well
satisfied at this, and I more so, at seeing a people, so important
for the service of your Majesty, imbued with so great desire to serve
you--so that should your Majesty order an expedition to be made to
China, or to any other part of this new world, you could make use of
them. This is a warlike race, feared among all the natives, and most
by the Chinese, who tremble at their very name, because of the many
damages they have inflicted, and the experience that the latter have
of their courage and valor. I have kept this conference secret, and
ordered it kept so, in order that the Chinese might not hear of it,
as they are a very suspicious and timorous race. I have made much of
these Japanese, and am treating them with especial hospitality. I am
writing to the king of Firando in your Majesty's name, in generous
terms, thanking him for his offer. The devotion and Christian zeal
of this race is remarkable, and puts us to confusion. May God direct
it all, so that a great gateway may be opened to your Majesty for
whatever you may be pleased to do.

Your Majesty had Jaime Joan, a cosmographer, sent to this country. He
had scarcely entered upon his duties, when he died of the fever, before
he was able to complete any of the matters ordered by your Majesty.

On the twenty-third of last March, at half-past six in the afternoon,
a total eclipse of the moon was seen, which lasted until a quarter
past nine at night. Nothing else has happened this year, of which
to inform your Majesty. May God preserve your Majesty's Catholic
person. Manila, June 26, 1587.

The licentiate _Santiago de Vera_

Letter from the Manila Audiencia to Felipe II

Sire:

The two letters enclosed herewith are duplicates of those sent
last year (87) by this royal Audiencia--one on June 24, carried by
the vessel "Sancta Ana," which left these islands for Nueva Spana;
and the other dated November first, sent via Malaca, in Portuguese
Yndia. It being understood that the letter carried by the "Sancta
Ana" was lost, we beg your Majesty to give o