this city there are about
six hundred Christians, natives of Great China, among eleven thousand
heathen, largely merchants who come to trade. It should be a matter
commended to God to be pleased to open the eyes of this people to a
knowledge of Him, as there are so many souls there to be damned--for
(so they say) there are more people in Great China than in half of
all the rest of the world. It has been revealed to a holy nun, and to
one of our friars of rare virtue, that those who are now living will
see the conversion of this people. I can assure you that the labor is
great, and the workers few; for there are missions in these islands
where, on account of the lack of religious, we can have no more than
one; and he has more than two thousand souls in his charge, and four
villages where he says mass every feast-day, with the permission of the
superior, though one village is two leguas or more from another. It
is a matter for wonder that even one religious is left, after all
this labor and service in so hot and enervating a country."

The original of this letter was addressed to the father master Fray
Alonso Tamariz, formerly prior of this convent of Sevilla.

This information has been sent to the most reverend father-general
of the Order of St. Dominic, that his most reverend Paternity may
prepare those under his command to continue this great enterprise,
and go to those regions, whence so great results are hoped and desired
for the increase and propagation of the holy Catholic faith.

With the permission of the lord provisor and of the alcalde Don Pedro
Pantoja de Ayala. In Sevilla: sold by Juan Gomez de Blas, close to
the Correo Mayor, this year of 1633.

LETTERS FROM JUAN CEREZO DE SALAMANCA TO FELIPE IV

_Military affairs_

Sire:

By two letters of the same date as this, I have informed your Majesty
of my arrival in these islands, in accordance with the orders to
the incumbents of vacancies in these governments. Referring to them,
I intend in this letter to give brief information of what concerns
military matters.

The conservation and increase of the islands depends on the trade with
China and Japon, providing that the other provinces shall steadily
maintain a suitable population. This will be secured by maintaining
the reputation of your Majesty's arms and true military discipline;
and by taking heed to preserve what your Majesty holds today, without
attempting new enterprises. For the one y