ried
to collect the value of the junk from the Portuguese, who trade with
Japon. They said that, since the Castilians and Portuguese had the
same king, it made no difference which one of them paid. They seized
the goods of the Portuguese from them, and then the latter found their
business quickly despatched. They sent their ambassadors to Manila,
and a most dignified father of the Society came to manage the affair,
namely, Father Moregon--a Castilian, but so changed into a Portuguese
by his long intercourse with them, that he did nothing without
them. Nothing was concluded upon this occasion. Later, in the year
1631, two junks came from Japon, one Portuguese, the other Japanese,
with an embassy. The governor granted them audience in very circumspect
fashion. On that occasion he assembled all the infantry in two columns,
and had them escort the Japanese who acted as ambassadors, to whom he
gave horses and trappings and a fine carriage. In short, they had come,
in behalf of the governor of Nangasaqui, to confer about the junk,
and the means by which trade could be opened. But it was straitly
stipulated that no religious should go, for the Japanese had no
liking for them. Two of our Japanese friars were the translators of
all the matter contained in the letters. The governor satisfied them
in everything, and treated them very well in Manila. The religious
took the greatest pleasure from the embassy, considering the power
of God. For when that gate was, in man's judgment, most tightly
locked, the Lord opened it. For naught is impossible to Him. _Non
erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum._ [81] He who brought the
Magian kings to the feet of One newly-born, by following a star,
that same One brings the other nations to His bosom, when He wills,
and opens the door to them so that they may enter into the bosom of
His Church. The religious had the greatest hope of seeing the doors
of Japon opened widely, so that those harvests might be gathered. The
Lord, then, has been well pleased in those kingdoms with so much
blood as has been shed there by His faithful ones, in testimony of
His holy law. May He act as He shall see best in this matter.

It appears that in the year 1629 the orders were moved to send
religious to Japon at their own cost. These were the Dominican fathers,
the Franciscans, our Recollects, and those of our own order. They
furnished the expenses on shares, built a champan, hired sailors, and
paid a pilot. But th