difficult to determine. Spanish authority had been asserted by
Salcedo along the west coast about as far as lat. 18 deg. N., but in 1591
the north coast was only known to Europeans geographically. So far,
the natives there had not made the acquaintance of their new masters.

A large Spanish galley cruising in these waters met a Japanese vessel
off Cape Bojeador (N.W. point), and fired a shot which carried away the
stranger's mainmast, obliging him to heave-to. Then the galley-men,
intending to board the stranger, made fast the sterns, whilst the
Spaniards rushed to the bows; but the Japanese came first, boarded
the galley, and drove the Spaniards aft, where they would have all
perished had they not cut away the mizzenmast and let it fall with all
sail set. Behind this barricade they had time to load their arquebuses
and drive back the Japanese, over whom they gained a victory. The
Spaniards then entered the Rio Grande de Cagayan, where they met a
Japanese fleet, between which they passed peacefully. On shore they
formed trenches and mounted cannons on earthworks, but the Japanese
scaled the fortifications and pulled down the cannons by the mouths.

These were recovered, and the Spanish captain had the cannon mouths
greased, so that the Japanese tactics should not be repeated. A
battle was fought and the defeated Japanese set sail, whilst the
Spaniards remained to obtain the submission of the natives by force
or by persuasion.

The Japanese had also come to Manila to trade, and were located in
the neighbouring village of Dilao, [29] where the Franciscan friars
undertook their conversion to Christianity, whilst the Dominican Order
considered the spiritual care of the Chinese their especial charge.

The Portuguese had been in possession of Macao since the year 1557,
and traded with various Chinese ports, whilst in the Japanese town
of Nagasaki there was a small colony of Portuguese merchants. These
were the indirect sources whence the Emperor of Japan learnt that
Europeans had founded a colony in Luzon Island; and in 1593 he sent
a message to the Governor of the Philippines calling upon him to
surrender and become his vassal, threatening invasion in the event of
refusal. The Spanish colonies at that date were hardly in a position
to treat with haughty scorn the menaces of the Japanese potentate,
for they were simultaneously threatened with troubles with the Dutch
in the Moluccas, for which they were preparing an armame