tended only
for the purpose above mentioned. From the realm of Xapon, province
of Chaxuma, at the port of Cuxi, November 4, 1592.

_Fray Juan Cobo_

Addressed to Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, knight of the order of Santiago,
and governor and captain-general of the Filipinas Islands.

_Decree_

In the city of Manila, on the twenty-fourth day of the month of May,
one thousand five hundred and ninety-three, I, Gomez Perez Dasmarinas,
knight of the Order of Santiago, and captain-general of these islands,
declare in the name of the king, our lord, that whereas last year
some letters and an ambassador claiming to come from the king of
Xapon were received here, and, moved by suspicion and fearing war,
I sent the father Fray Juan Cobos with letters for the emperor;
and whereas it is over a year since the said father left here, and,
notwithstanding I have received letters from him meanwhile, making
known his safe arrival and the prompt execution of his mission, I
am anxious because he does not return; three Xaponese vessels having
arrived, and in one of them a man by the name of Faranda, a Xaponese
who claims to be the ambassador; and as I wish to be informed what
sort of a man this Faranda is, and to learn whether Father Cobos
arrived there and how he was received and sent away, and the purpose
that Faranda has in coming, and what are the intentions and objects of
the said emperor, and whatever else it is expedient to ask in order to
disperse and clear away the prevalent uncertainties, and know whether
we are to have safety and peace with that king: I hereby order that
the following investigation be made, the proceedings of which shall
be attached to the original letters sent by father Fray Juan Cobo
and to the memorial submitted by Faranda; and I sign it with my name.

_Gomez Perez Dasmarinas_

Before me: _Juan de Cuellar_

[_Testimony_]

In [6] the city of Manila, on the twenty-fourth day of the month of
May, one thousand five hundred and ninety-three, the said governor
and captain-general, Gomez Perez Das Marinas, summoned Captain
Joan de Solis to his presence, in order to make the above-mentioned
investigation. He took the oath before God and on the sign of the
cross, in due form, and promised to answer truthfully the questions
asked him. The tenor of the questions having been read to him, he said
that, as one who had just come from the kingdoms of Xapon, and reached
this port and bay but yesterday, and who was in