When the friars offered their gifts, they were spoken to with great friendliness by the emperor, who asked them many questions. A message was sent to the ambassador, who was waiting outside, telling him that the emperor had been pleased to see him, that he was to go back to his lodgings, and that the emperor would speak to him later on--a promise which was never fulfilled. The following days were spent in an interchange of visits with court officials. One of the ladies of the imperial palace, a devout Christian convert named Julia, went to visit the ambassador and hear mass at his residence. Her example was followed by a number of Christian Japanese, who were received with much affection by the Franciscan friars. Many other Japanese also came and expressed their desire to be taught the Catholic religion and to be baptized. Meanwhile General Viscaino was preparing petitions to the emperor, which were worded as follows:-- “Sebastian Viscaino, Captain General of Phillip, King of Spain, says:-- “That he carries an order from his king and the viceroy of New Spain to make a survey of all the ports of this kingdom from Nagasaki to its northernmost limits, providing your Imperial Majesty grants the permission to do so. He is to make charts and take soundings, so that if obliged to take shelter from storms, Spanish vessels on their way from Luzon to New Spain may know which are the best ports to enter, and may not be wrecked and lost as heretofore. Viscaino begs, as mercy, that a Japanese official be sent to accompany him, and to obtain ships and provisions for him everywhere at moderate prices. He ends with the promise that when the survey map is made, he will send one copy to the emperor and another to his lord and king.” In a second petition Viscaino requests permission to build a ship, so that when he returns to New Spain in the vessel in which he came, he could fill the new one with Japanese products, which he wished to take home as presents. He begs that the emperor will aid him by issuing an order that wood, carpenters, blacksmiths and other necessary workmen be supplied to him at reasonable rates such as are paid by his Imperial Majesty. He also asks that a Japanese official be placed in charge of the building of the vessel, and adds that he would gratefully receive this favor in the name of his king, for whom the ship was intended, and that he would return in it to Japan in the following year, with a view to promoting the friendship and commercial treaty already existing.