ot unaware that Castilians
and Portuguese are vassals of one and the same king. Neither have
the Dutch failed to publish (as they did in Japon), that it is the
custom of the king of Espana to conquer kingdoms under pretext of
religion. That report, according to the religious of Japon themselves,
has been one of the chief causes for the instigation of so terrible
a persecution against Christians. Very true is it that the success in
conversion in which his Majesty has so disinterested and holy an end,
can neither be assured nor guided only by human reason. Consequently,
what I judge to be an unsuitable thing might be the best method to
attain it. In this argument one ought also to consider the heathen
natives themselves in the island of Hermosa; but, admitting this,
even for them at present I conclude that his Majesty is under no
obligations whatever, because he has in the Filipinas not a few
Indians who pay tribute, but who do not have sufficient ministers
to instruct them. Also there are many heathen, who, because their
country is not yet conquered, are without any knowledge at all of the
holy gospel. But I shall not go into greater detail on this point,
for it may, perhaps, seem to be outside the question.

Neither do I imagine that all that has occurred to me concerning this
matter, and much more, has been left unconsidered by Don Fernando
de Silva, governor of Filipinas, at whose order a site was occupied
on Hermosa Island; for he is a very prudent gentleman and a gallant
soldier, and one who will not have permitted the desire for glory
and honor, of which the discoverers and conquerors of new lands are
justly worthy, to carry him away. Yet I do not, on that account, regard
myself as under no obligations to advise you of my opinion. Madrid,
December 20, 1627.

_Doctor Don Juan Cevicos_

DOCUMENTS OF 1628-1629

Relation of 1627-28. [Unsigned]; July, 1628.
Report of appointments made by the governor. Juan Nino de
Tavora; August 2, 1628.
Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Nino de Tavora; August 4, 1628.
Economic reasons for suppressing the silk trade of China
in Spain and its colonies. Juan Velazquez Madrco; October
7, 1628.
Decrees regarding the Chinese. Felipe IV; June, 1628-March,
1629.
Relations of 1628-29. Hernando Estrado, and others; 1628-29.

_Sources_: Most of these documents are from MSS. in the Archivo
general de Indias, Sevilla, The first one is fr