At this time, Don Fernando de Silva, who came as sargento-mayor of the present governor, [26] has always given proofs of so great [ability as] a captain that he was sent as commander of two hundred Spaniards who went to aid the city of Macam, which the Portuguese have in China.  A Dutch fleet arrived at the city of Macam on this occasion and besieged it, landing four hundred men.  But the inhabitants of Macam issued forth in their orderly array and concert, and attacked the Dutch so courageously that they destroyed all the four hundred in their camp.  Then the Portuguese, ascertaining that the Dutch were gathering force once more to avenge that injury, begged for aid from the governor of Manila.  On that so honorable occasion Captain Don Fernando de Silva went out with his two hundred chosen Spaniards.  There were very welcome to the Portuguese, and he was always highly esteemed by them because of his gracious manner.  The Portuguese delivered to him a ship laden with merchandise, the profits to be shared by all.  He took it to the kingdom of Siam and ascended the river for thirty leguas, unladed his goods, and disposed of them as well as possible, for they were injured by the water.  The Japanese, many of whom live there, tried, in their greed, to attack the Spaniards; but Don Fernando de Silva understood them, and resisted them with his infantry.  The Dutch, who have their factory there, notified others near there to come to their aid, in order to attack the ship with its three hundred persons, which is supplied with arms and force sufficiently abundant for its defense.  Some evil outcome is feared, for the ship cannot leave the bar without unlading its goods.

The persecution in Japon is even more bloody, for they returned his present to the ambassador from Macan, and ordered him to return home.  A governor was sent down with orders to kill the Christians and the captive religious whom he should find.  In short, the order has gone forth to suppress trade with Macan and Filipinas, and that no ships be received from, or leave Japon for, these regions.

It has been learned by way of Macan that the Chinese seized from the Dutch their almiranta.

With the severe persecution of Japon, we are advised that four hundred Catholics have been slain for the faith.  While two cavaliers were present at the martyrdom irruit spiritus Domini, [27] and they went forth in public, crying out:  “Surely this is a good faith that teaches so lofty things.  Salvation cometh only by it, as is proven by so many dying in order not to abandon it.”  Thus crying out and acting, they went running into the fire, where they were burned, leaving the bystanders amazed, and all the world marveling at so wonderful an example.

It is rumored that beyond doubt the emperor of Japon will order Nangazaqui to be razed, and all the Europeans driven out and exiled—­commanding that they depart with their children and wives; but that, if the wives are Japanese, they as well as their daughters must be given up, and the sons be taken away.