of Uni Nudino, governor of Nangasaqui, and of the
tono of Arima, called Asimadoro or Bungodon--were received with the
pomp and courtesy which such an embassy demanded. On that occasion
much caution was displayed by this colony through its chief, who is
governor and captain-general of these islands. For, on the one hand,
he exhibited before those ambassadors the strength of this [_word
illegible_] with its officers and infantry, which was drawn up in
martial array along the streets--almost all the way from the street
nearest the beach where the Japanese disembarked, up to the palace;
and, on the other, he paid them honor with a splendid and friendly
reception. He also offered them presents and entertainments as if
they were envoys sent by Christian princes and our best friends. This
has been cordially remembered, to judge from what has since then been
learned of their designs--at least, that of one of those lords, the
ruler of Arima. This was, that the envoys should carefully ascertain
what were the forces in Manila, in order to see whether the former
plans were adequate. [Our transcriber in Madrid here adds: "This letter
(dated March 30, 1632) goes on to describe the martyrdoms, and ends
thus: 'After these torments, we were again conveyed to the prison
from which they had taken us, where we now are. There are five of us
religious, besides other servants of God who are also prisoners for
His sake. I think that this autumn, when the governor comes, he will
pronounce final sentence upon us.'" It is most probable that this is
part of the letter by Father Antonio Yxida, mentioned in the text.]

LETTER FROM THE ECCLESIASTICAL CABILDO TO FELIPE IV

In all the most opulent kingdoms, provinces, and cities of the Catholic
monarchy of your Majesty, the most remote, the most separated, and
the most distant from the royal presence of its king and sovereign
is the metropolitan cathedral church of this archipelago of islands
without number. Consequently, its cabildo is poorer, more needy,
and more liable to be forgotten than any other; for in order to
set forth its afflictions and poverty, it even has neither feet,
whereby it may go to cast itself at the feet of your Majesty,
nor hands for the solicitude and works that the demand alone would
require. One effort only we can make easily, and that has been made
for many years; that is, to write, petitioning, importuning, urging,
and informing your Majesty of the most important