redound to much peace to the universal happiness of the world, and to the glory of omnipotent God, the King of kings.  Inasmuch as certain presents have been sent me but lately from Japon, which are of great value, I would wish to have some rare and valuable products of our Espana to send in return; but, since weapons are the articles most esteemed among soldiers, I am sending you with this a dozen of swords and daggers.  They are the finest that we have, and you will receive them from me as from a private person who desires your well-being and greatness, with the good will with which they are offered, and as a token of affection. [I send only these, too,] because the bearer of this letter is going only for the purpose of assuring me of what I have stated above, so that we may have the information here that is desired.  May our Lord preserve your royal person with great prosperity.  Manila, June xi, 1592 years since the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

[Endorsed: “Copy of the letter, from the king of Japon—­I mean, to the king.”]

Three Letters from Governor Dasmarinas to Felipe II

Sire: 

Last year I wrote to your Majesty that I had arrived in this city of Manila, on the first of June of the year ninety, having been nine months on the way, counting the time I spent in Mexico recruiting troops; the total of these was two hundred and seventy soldiers, including those I brought from Spain.  On my arrival here, I ordered the soldiers whom I had brought, inasmuch as they were drawing pay from your Majesty, to mount guard and do sentry duty, posting sentinels at the forts, and excusing those whom I found here, and the townspeople, from acting as sentinels.  Although I understood that they were very grateful to me, and that they kissed your Majesty’s hands, for this; and as there was, on other accounts, no reason why they should fail to do their duty; still, some ungrateful rogues counseled the soldiers that they should resist authority, and that they should not perform their guard duty, or carry their muskets—­all of which, they said, was only to make trouble for them.  Besides, they did other things well worthy of punishment.  Along with this fiction, they instantly bombarded me with memorials and importunities for rewards for services.  I assure your Majesty truthfully that, even if you had here three hundred encomiendas and a like number of offices, you could not recompense them for their services, which they exaggerate and overestimate beyond what they have actually performed for your Majesty.  The most deserving of them merits very little, unless it be a reward for having conducted himself with great freedom, and for having destroyed the property committed to his charge.  I do not in conscience feel that your Majesty is under any obligation in this country, beyond that of rendering justice for past excesses.  I could easily give your Majesty a detailed account; but, not to be prolix, I shall leave it until the especial thing that demands reform here has been somewhat remedied—­and this is in regard to the soldiers of this land.  For in their begging for favor they are all in need of reform; for it is through many sicknesses, and through being dependents of the members of the Audiencia, and in like manner, that they have been deprived of their gains.