ed.

In the letter touching military matters, I write at length of what
has occurred in the forts of Terrenate, and I refer you to that
letter. This is where we can now give the greatest care.

As for the kingdoms of Japon, I am informed that the persecution of
Christians was greater than ever last year, and that more than twenty
religious from all the orders were martyred, and that even those most
carefully concealed were betrayed by their confidants for the reward of
one thousand taes which was promised by edict for each religious. Later
they write here, but with little foundation, that that fury had ceased,
and that the king was proving more humane; but the fact is that it is
advisable to prohibit (so that what the provincials for the present
are applying as the suitable remedy may have the desired effect)
all religious from passing to the said kingdom. For, besides the
little or no result that they obtain, that trade is shut to these
islands for that reason; and that is what we ought most to desire,
and what is of greatest importance to your Majesty's service and to
the conversion of Japon itself.

By virtue of your Majesty's decree in which you are pleased to
grant authority to those governors to take the residencia of their
predecessors, because of the inconvenience experienced in their
going away without giving it, the decree was presented to me in
behalf of Governor Don Juan Nino de Tabora, deceased. By virtue of
it I have taken his residencia, and send the same to your Majesty. I
have not discovered that there is any charge to make against him,
as he has lived honorably, and in the praiseworthy manner that his
obligations demanded.

The Sangleys celebrate their festival, according to their custom,
every year in the month of March, in their Parian. They are very fond
of gambling, and, by the advice of all the orders, they are permitted
to play during their pastimes. The money given by the winners has been
distributed among the servants of the governors, because they do not
have any means of livelihood, and because the obligation of the charge
is so great that the pay is scarcely able to support them decently. But
I have distributed this money among the retired captains, the poor, the
widows, and worthy men who suffer necessity. The Order of St. Dominic
is the only one that dissents from the opinions of the orders.

When the Audiencia was governing, there was a change in the method of
collecting the license