ty, adding what we have learned
since the aforesaid report was sent, from letters from the governor
and Audiencia, and investigations made before the aforesaid Audiencia
and the archbishop of Manila, and other trustworthy papers which
came from the Philipinas and Japon. The emperor of Japon sent to the
governor of the islands, asking him very earnestly to send religious
to settle in the land of Quanto; and some were therefore sent, and
they were very kindly received. Land was given them for houses and
hospitals; so they have founded two residences, where they are making
great headway in the conversion of the Japanese, and the religious are
very well treated. As the emperor himself has for three years desired
and insisted upon the commerce of the Philipinas with his realms,
a ship has accordingly been sent each year from the islands to those
of Quanto, with merchandise from China, and various articles of which
they have more than enough in the aforesaid [Philippine] islands;
and it brought back in return much silver (with which the land of
Japon abounds), wheaten flour, dried beef, hemp for cordage, iron,
steel, powder, and hafted weapons and other things of great value for
the provision and preservation of the aforesaid Philipinas Islands. In
those islands it appears of the greatest importance that this commerce
be introduced and preserved; because, besides the provision of the
aforesaid goods, it is well to keep the king of Japon friendly by
this means. For if he were not so he would be the greatest enemy that
could be feared, on account of the number and size of his realms,
and the valor of the people therein, who are, beyond comparison,
the bravest in all India--as has been experienced in the aforesaid
islands sometimes, with pirates who have overrun those coasts, doing
great harm and hindering the commerce of the other nations. Japon is
so anxious to assure and facilitate friendly relations with the said
islands that, the king having heard that some Japanese were molesting
them with their vessels, he ordered them all to be crucified; and he
gave chapas, or decrees, to some religious, in order that with these
the ships which went from the islands to Japon might be safe.

Also it was understood that when the bishop of Japon (who belongs
to the Society) desired to make known to the religious who were in
those lands the last brief of his Holiness, in order for them to
depart from the country in fulfilment of it, it was