Letter from Antonio de Morga to Felipe II


Sire:

At the end of April of the current year I sent your Majesty an account
of the state of affairs in these islands, a duplicate whereof is
enclosed. I have only to add that some days after I returned to this
city, the ship "San Felipe" which left this city in July, 96, was
carried by several storms to the coast of Japan, entered the port
of Hurando, and was lost there; and the emperor of that country,
Taycosama, covetous of the treasure with which it was laden, took
it all. The men of the ship and the passengers have come in other
vessels. At the same time the said tyrant caused to be crucified
in Nangasaqui six barefoot friars of the Order of St. Francis,
of the number of those who were there from these islands [1]. He
has also crucified eighteen native Japanese Christians of their
following. Fuller accounts of the matter will be sent your Majesty
by the reports thereon to be written by the governor. So far as I can
learn, the said king of Japan is a proud and covetous barbarian, who
does not keep his word or observe the peace that he promises. As for
the Portuguese present in those islands, they desire to see us ousted
from there, and have done us no kindness in the affair of the said
ship. The religious had as little assistance in what was done to them;
and a little before had received great injuries from the religious of
the Society who were there and from their bishop, whose purpose was