According to Cavo, the emperor, surprised at the Spanish ambassador’s over-bearing threats and demands, asked William Adams, his friend and adviser, whether such was the style of European nations. The answer was an emphatic denial, followed by a warning to the emperor “to be on his guard against the Spaniards, because it was their desire to dominate the whole world. For this purpose, they sent out as precursors the Jesuits, who, under the pretext of teaching the Christian religion, incited the people to rise in rebellion against their sovereigns. By this method they had made themselves masters of immense possessions in Asia and America. It was because they knew all this that the Dutch had cast off the yoke of their rule, and that the English and Germans were in warfare against them.” It was evidently immediately after his interview with Viscaino, in which Adams had ascertained the Spaniards’ antagonism towards the Dutch and more besides, that he returned to the emperor’s court, and informed his Majesty that they knew for a certainty that the principal aim of the Spanish ambassador’s visit was to discover certain islands of gold and silver. Adams and the merchants then took the liberty of asking the emperor how he could possibly have given the Spanish general permission to make a survey of the entire coast and of all the ports of his realm. The Spaniards, they said, were bellicose and skilled in the use of arms, and might come with a great armada to conquer Japan. In England and Holland no such permission would have been given to the Spaniards.