e affairs, and the
part played by the Augustinians in the first Spanish embassy sent
to China; their return; and the ill-success of the second embassy to
that country.]

[At length the attempts of the Augustinians to go to China bear fruit,
and on June 21, 1575, Martin de Rada and Jeronimo Marin set sail for
the great empire. The opportunity comes through the defeat and siege
of the pirate Limahon. The Chinese captain Dumon braves the laws
forbidding the entrance of foreigners into China, and conveys the
missionaries to that country--whither they go rather in the light
of emissaries of the government than as religious workers; for the
governor, Guido de Lavezares, gave them three letters, one for the
Chinese emperor, another for the viceroy of the province of Fo-Kien,
and the third for the governor of Chin-Cheu. They are well received and
borne through a portion of the land in state. They receive audience,
and later a banquet, from the governor of the city of Chin-Cheu,
to whom they deliver the letter from the Spanish governor.] [89]

[At Oc-Kin, the viceroy grants the fathers cordial and dignified
audience. At the request of the former the fathers present him
with a paper in which they state their object and desire, namely,
the preaching of the gospel. The viceroy requests a book of the
Christian law, whereupon he is presented with a breviary, as the
fathers have no other book with them. After hearing an exposition
of the Christian doctrine, the viceroy dismisses the Augustinians,
loading them with rich presents. Three captains are ordered to see
them safely to Manila. To the letter of the Spanish governor, the
viceroy replied as follows:]

_Letter from the kingdom of Tangbin in the province of Oc-Kin, from
the royal house_

I received a letter, to which this is the reply, from the governor
in the fort of Manila. To thee, who art born of heaven. Although
we differ among ourselves, we are children of one father and of one
mother. Therefore we love and regard you as friends and brothers. And
likewise have we friendship with the Loquios, a foreign people, who
come as friends to this province of Oc-Kin every three years. They,
in token of friendship, bring us some products of their country,
which this country does not produce. Here we present to them other
things unknown to their own country. Therefore shalt thou know that
we protect and esteem greatly the foreigners who come hither.

We have ordered the fathers