_I The King_

Countersigned by Don Luis de Salazar and approved by the Council.




Reply to the Japanese Emperor's Letter


In the city of Manila, on the twenty-second day of April, one
thousand five hundred and ninety-four, Don Luis Perez Dasmariñas,
knight of the order of Alcantara, governor and captain-general
of the Philipinas Islands, ordered a council of war, held in his
presence in the royal houses and attended by Licentiate Pedro de
Rojas, lieutenant-governor; the Master-of-camp Diego Ronquillo;
Captain Gomez de Machuca, factor and treasurer; Captain Don Juan
Ronquillo; Captain Pedro de Chaves; Captain and Sargento-mayor Juan
Xuares Gallinato; Captain Joan de Villegas; Captain Pedro de Arceo
Cuevasruvias; Captain Jhoan de Laxara; Captain Francisco de Mercado
Andrade; Captain Juan Esquerra; Captain Christoval de Axqueta; Captain
Hernando Muñoz de Poyatos; Captain Pedro Sarmiento; Captain Diego de
Castillo; Captain Antonio de Canedo; Captain Augustin de Urdiales;
Captain Antonio Rodriguez Chacon; Captain Don Francisco de Mendoza;
and Captain Gaspar Perez. The said governor communicated to them that
Governor Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, his late father (who is in heaven),
sent to Japon father Fray Pedro Bauptista and other Franciscan fathers,
together with Pedro Gonçalez. The latter returned from that kingdom
of Xapon a few days ago, and brought for the said governor a letter
from the king, which was shown to them, and its contents read, after