as
in the same manner that the gospel was introduced into the realms of
Xapon by the Theatin friars, who went there with the merchants. This
is his answer.
[Captain Pedro Sarmiento testified that the Chinese desire
commerce with the Spaniards; for when the witness was there, by
order of Governor Guido de Lavezaris, the said Chinese assigned
the Spaniards a definite site on the mainland for settlement and
a trading-place. Joan Sordo testified that he believed the Chinese
would welcome the Spaniards, and quoted a Sangley as saying to him:
"Castilians, when will the day come for your entry into China? for
these mandarins oppress us so that we long for the day."]
_Petition of Diego Hernandez Vitoria_
In the city of Manila, on the twenty-first day of June, one thousand
five hundred and ninety-one, Diego Hernandez Vitoria, a regidor of
this city, appeared before me, the notary, and before the undersigned
witnesses, in his capacity of attorney-general, and declared that
he would give, as he in fact did give, the power which he holds from
the cabildo and regidors of this city, to Melchor de Vaeca, attorney
at law; and that he would approve and ratify all the pleas which the
said Melchor de Vaeca might make in this suit in the name of the said
city, and as attorney of the same. He signed his name in the presence
of the witnesses, Hernando Diaz, Miguel de Solarte, and Adrian Perez.
_Diego Hernandez Vitoria_
Before me:
_Gaspar de Azevo_
I, Diego Hernandez Vitoria, citizen and regidor of this city and
attorney-general of the same, declare that, in order to show by
the above investigation the little harm which the Portuguese suffer
from our going to Macan, I need a copy from the government books,
of the decrees which Pedro Brito took to Macan. Therefore, I beg
and beseech your Lordship to order that the said copy be given me. I
offer this plea.
_Diego Hernandez Vitoria_
On the seventeenth of July, one thousand five hundred and ninety-one,
in the city of Manila, the person mentioned in the petition presented
it to Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, governor and captain-general for the
king, our lord, in these islands; and his Lordship ordered that the
copy which he asks be given him, attested in the form prescribed.
_Gaspar de Azevo_
In fulfilment of this, I, the said Gaspar de Azevo, notary-in-chief
of the government of the Philipinas Islands, caused to be made and
did make, out of the government books which are
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