A Jesuit letter from Manila (August 20, 1634) gives interesting
news from Japan. The persecution there is still very cruel, and many
missionaries have been arrested lately; but the emperor is becoming
for the time more lenient, through the influence of certain omens
and of his cure from an illness through the prayers of the captive
missionaries. The writer hopes, therefore, that Iyemidzu "may be the
Constantine of the church" in Japan.

The annual report of Governor Cerezo for 1634 begins with affairs of
the revenue. The treasury officials refuse to obey the orders left
for them by Rojas; the governor therefore arrests them, which soon
brings them to terms. Nevertheless, he excuses their disobedience
to some extent, on account of the rigorous and difficult nature
of Rojas's orders; he instances some of these which embarrass both
himself and the royal officials. The king has ordered an additional
duty to be levied on goods exported to Nueva España; the citizens
object to paying this, and finally the matter is temporarily settled
by a council of the authorities, both civil and religious, until the
home government can take action. The governor reports that the royal
visitor Rojas did not really accomplish much for the treasury; but
exaggerated his own services. He also reminds the king of his former
suggestion for checking the illegal despatch of money to Filipinas.

As for affairs of government, there is the usual conflict between
the Audiencia and the governor, which hinders the latter in the
discharge of his duties. They interfere with his authority, try to
secure the trial of the Chinese lawsuits, acquit delinquents, and
meddle in municipal affairs; and he intimates his desire that they
be despatched to other branches of his Majesty's service. Cerezo