ere something with which to serve your Majesty in Europa.

I wrote about affairs pertaining to Japon last year, by way of
India. In this despatch I enclose a copy of it in the first mail. May
God bear it in safety; for, judging by what the fleets of the Northern
Sea encounter, we are always in fear. This year those of Japon have
come with their ships; and the governor of Nangasaqui says in answer
to my letters that the trade may be considered as open, and that the
ships from both sides may go and come, and that they will be well
received. In regard to the passport [_chapa_] of the emperor, which
is the license that they usually give for trade with their kingdoms,
he says that he will arrange that. They send one hundred and thirty
lepers in these ships, who were exiled for the faith. We believe,
through the assurance that we have of the bad disposition of that
race, that this action has been a sort of vengeance or contempt;
but it is quite certain that, although they may have done it for that
purpose, it has resulted very well for us; for we have exercised an
act of charity, which I hope, God helping, will confound them. For we
received the lepers with great pomp and display of charity; and this
city, aided by the religious orders, is striving to collect liberal
alms for them. Those ships have brought a quantity of bronze for the
founding of artillery, besides an abundance of flour. Since they are
doing this, and we are not for the present going there securely,
the matter is to be considered as more evil-intentioned than they
may regard it. I shall endeavor, as heretofore, to promote peace and
cordial intercourse, and that they may obtain all satisfaction for
the affair in Sian. If they come to ask for it rightly, satisfaction
will be given them, and the guilt of the commander who had charge of
the galleons will be settled.

The viceroy of Nueva Espana asks me to cast him some artillery,
of the calibers ordered, and it will be sent him promptly.

I wrote your Majesty, in the year that Don Geronimo de Silva died
here, how superfluous was the post of general of artillery; for he
does not take the field, nor is there any artillery train [to be
transported], or more than a few artillerymen scattered through the
ordinary presidios. For as many as there are, it would be sufficient
to have one captain of artillery; for it requires nothing else than
to order a ship to be equipped, and that is done with the order
of the captai