And in order that this might be evident, I give the present, signed
with my name and the usual flourishes. Given in Manila, June four,
one thousand five hundred and ninety-one.
_Juan de Cuellar_, notary of registers.
Sire:
In another letter I have informed your Majesty of my fears of Japanese
enemies. After that letter and packet were closed, and the ships about
to leave, it happened that the ambassadors of whom we had advices
came here in a ship that made port on the twenty-ninth of May, On
the thirty-first, they delivered to me the letter from that king,
enclosed in a box of wood one and one-half varas in length and painted
white. Inside this was another box of the same proportions, excellently
painted, varnished, and polished in black, with some medium-sized
gilded iron rings and some large cords of red silk. Within this box
was another one painted in various colors--yellow and gold--with its
large iron rings and cords of white and violet silk, both covered with
damask. In this third box, wrapped in a stout, wide paper, painted and
gilded, was the letter, written with Chinese characters in the Japanese
language, on stout paper, illumined and gilded with great neatness. The
letter is even larger than the sealed bulls from Rroma, on parchment,
and is sealed with two painted seals stamped in red. I am not sending
the originals, because you have no one who can translate them there;
while they will be needed here, perchance, for what must be done to
affirm the embassy, and even for objects and matters of importance
that we might be able to discuss, by virtue of these letters, with
the king of China. Therefore I enclose only one copy of the letter,
in accordance with the best and most exact translation that could
be made here; and another copy made for me by the emperor himself,
by means of an interpreter. Although these two copies differ somewhat,
they agree in their essential point, namely, the demand for recognition
and obedience, made with the arrogance and barbaric haughtiness that
your Majesty will find in them. They also brought, resting in small
boxes, a letter from the king's chamberlain (one of the grandees of
that kingdom), another from their captain-general and another from
the king of Firando; and at other times letters have been written
to the governors here. I am also sending the translated copies of
these letters, from which your Majesty will see the determination and
resolution of that king; and that we are not harboring suspicions, but
veritably expect him here by October of this year or the beginning of
next. I have assembled the orders, as is due to the respect and name
of religion--giving them all needed information, and asking them only
whether they thought that it was fitting to answer to this tyrant,
and in what form. I did the same with the captains and war-officers
of these islands--those of the best judgment--in whom I place the
greatest confidence. To these I communicated the matter in all its
details; and, after discussing it thoroughly with them, and after
they had all consulted together, it was decided that this letter of
which I am sending your Majesty a copy, should be written. The said
persons affixed their signatures thereto, in token of approbation;
and it is in my possession. My purpose in sending a person to Japon,
and in answering his letter, is, as your Majesty will see plainly,
only to divert his attention and put him off, until the repairs and
fortifications and the reenforcements that I am expecting are well
assured; and to prevent him from being informed by his ambassador
of matters here, so quickly as the latter could inform him. I also
plan that, by means of the envoy going from here, I may know and be
advised of affairs there, by one way or another. Therefore, when he
comes, we shall know it, and be forewarned. Even now this place is in
a reasonable state of defense; and I even trust that, God helping,
the enemy will find more resistance than his barbarous confidence
promises him. I beseech your Majesty to be pleased to provide in
this what is most advisable for your Majesty's service. And for
the future--and because it may arrive late for this emergency, as
is expected expected--will your Majesty ordain that Mexico shall
furnish what pertains to its part. For, if I ask for troops, they
send me twenty men, who die before they arrive here; and none are
born here. And if I ask for ammunition, they laugh at me, censure me,
and say that I ask impossible things. They retain there the freight
money and the duties; and if they should send to this state what is
yours, your Majesty would have to spend but little from your royal
patrimony. And, just as they forget us in everything, I fear that they
will do so in this. Surely it is advisable to send troops here, and
to have this matter attended to, well and continuously, from Mexico;
for, as long as this state of affairs continues and the fortification
goes on, the inhabitants are being punished by greater anxiety;
as they cannot see that this is taken as a matter of general course
and in earnest, and the fortifications are being continued--which is,
I believe, the chief reason why Japon is moved to try to obstruct it
Your Majesty will ordain what is most to your service. May our Lord
preserve your Majesty many long years, as Christendom requires. Manila,
June 11, 1592." [37]
_Gomez Perez Dasmarinas_
[_Endorsed_: "Manila. To his Majesty. 1592. Gomez Perez
Dasmarinas. June 11."]