tensive synopsis made by some government clerk is written
on the back of this letter.

[37] An extensive synopsis of the letter was made by one of the
government clerks.

[38] The conquest of Korea was not accomplished until 1592, although
the preceding year had been spent in vigorous preparations for
the campaign. Hideyoshi evidently made this statement in boastful
anticipation of success. His design was to conquer, at one blow,
both Korea and China.

[39] The device of Hideyoshi was a bundle of gourds.

[40] As explained in the letter of Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, of June 11,
1592. (_q.v._ p. 256, _ante_), two copies of the translation of this
letter into Spanish were sent to Spain. The above, which is the second
in the document we follow, bears title "The same letter translated by
the ambassador, through an interpreter." The other copy was the one
made by order of the governor in Manila. As the governor states in his
letter, they are alike in essentials. The first letter is dated "The
year nineteen of Tienche, in the ninth month, and on the nineteenth
day of the month. The Quanpec of the kingdom of Japon." See another
version (in Spanish) of the second letter, with still other variations,
in Santa Ines's _Cronica_, ii, pp. 545-547; the editor of that work
states that the date of the letter--which, however, is there given as
"the 13th year of Tenjo, 11th month"--corresponds to the year 1591.

[41] This letter, as found in the archives, is written on a separate
sheet and is inserted in the fold of the following letter.

[42] "A corruption of Kuwambaku, the Japanese designation of
a regent appointed by the Mikado. The holder of this office at
the time here referred to was Hideyoshi, one of the most notable
rulers of Japan. Born in 1536, he entered the army when a youth,
and rapidly rose to its head. He was appointed regent in 1586, but
in 1591 abdicated in favor of his adopted son, Hidetsugu--retaining,
however, actual authority until his death in 1598. This embassy to
the Spaniards in the Philippines was but one evidence of Hideyoshi's
insatiate arrogance and ambition; for he planned to subjugate China
and all the other countries within his reach. For the history of
his reign, see J.J. Rein's _Japan_ (London, 1884), pp. 277-294;
David Murray's _Story of Japan_ (N.Y., 1894), pp. 184, 190-226; and
W.E. Griffis's _Mikado's Empire_ (5th ed., N.Y., 1887), pp. 236-243.

[43] The Japanese calendar was based upon the luna