The answer he received was that both sovereigns were grieved at his hardships, and that he was not to be troubled, as they would furnish him with what was necessary; that the emperor was about to visit his son at Yedo, and that, while there, both would discuss what was to be done. As soon as the general heard that the emperor had reached Yedo, he went thither to see him and solicit the loan he had asked for. He spent five whole months making extraordinary efforts, by means of presents and petitions, to attain his end. He underwent many hardships and suffered from exposure to cold--even waiting for hours by the roadside and in the places where he expected the emperor to pass when out hunting, but he never succeeded in speaking to him, nor did his petitions ever reach their destination, being intercepted by the secretaries and counsellors. All this did not correspond with what had been promised him, and it was but natural he should abuse the Japanese, and accuse them of bad faith, etc. Later on he learned the cause of the treatment he had received and exonerated the emperor’s counsellors from blame. It seems that a friar, whose name and whose order Viscaino withholds, had sent a communication to the emperor, stating that he had heard that the general was soliciting a loan of six thousand dollars, to be repaid in New Spain. He warned the emperor and his counsellors to be careful, because Viscaino carried no authorization from the viceroy or from the King of Spain to make a loan there, that he had no means of repaying it, and that none of the friars would be responsible for the debt. Naturally the emperor withheld the loan, but kept Viscaino waiting in uncertainty for five months. Meanwhile the latter received an offer from certain Spaniards to loan him the sum he needed, the capital and interest to be payable in New Spain. This offer was joyfully accepted, and Viscaino drew up a mortgage of his and the king’s property to give as security. But the friars warned the Spaniards also, stating that they had their grave doubts as to whether the loan would ever be repaid, and other things which, Viscaino says, could not bear repetition. In his dire necessity he called together his men, who were suffering from hunger, explained the situation and told them that nothing remained but for him to try to sell in Yedo at auction all he possessed--not only his negro slave and the mattresses from his own bed, but also the merchandise he had bought on commission for several noblemen of Mexico. He appealed to them to follow his example, and to sell all their personal belongings, so that they would be able to pay what they owed, repair their vessel and sail for New Spain. He thought that even if they had to live on rice and water alone during the whole voyage, it would be better than “to remain in the heathenish country they were in.” When on the next day he endeavored to collect the clothing, etc., in