vessels, but not more than four a year, to the Philippines, and he requests that he view with benevolence the friars and priests who were living in Japan. By the time that these letters reached their destination, eight years had elapsed since Iyeyasu had made his first attempt to open negotiations. Vivero, the enterprising and enlightened governor of the Philippines, henceforth became his ally, and, as we shall see, conducted the first Japanese embassy to Mexico. The credit of having established amicable relations should be given to William Adams, whose influence over Iyeyasu finally opened to the Spaniards the Port of Uraga, the most commodious and flourishing port of Japan, situated in the Province of Sagami, a day’s journey from Yedo. An imperial decree, dated 1608, was posted at the entrance of this port, threatening severe penalties to all who might molest the merchantmen from Luzon. The answers to Governor Vivero’s letters, which were soon sent, express Iyeyasu’s and his son’s pleasure at the realization of their desire. With regard to the Japanese who had been forcibly expelled from Manila, Iyeyasu simply remarks:-- “In your country the government and the people live in harmony, the inhabitants treat each other with good will and courtesy, and extend even to foreigners the same general benevolence. In Japan we also have just laws, and all are governed with equity. Consequently we have no thieves nor malefactors. Therefore, if the Japanese who are in the Philippines commit injustices, pray condemn them to death.” In a letter dated October 2, 1608, Hidetada reiterates his father’s assurances that Spanish vessels might visit Japan without fear, and expressed the desire that future communications should be more frequent between both countries. Perfect harmony having thus been established, friendship increased between the Japanese and Spaniards, and the galleon which navigated between Manila and Acapulco regularly touched at Uraga. In the following year a change of governor took place in the Philippines, and Don Juan de Silva, the new governor, hastened to announce to Iyeyasu his arrival in Luzon, and his intention to continue to send vessels to Japan. He seized this opportunity, however, to inform the emperor that a number of Japanese residents in the Philippines were fomenting revolt and disturbing the peace. In answer to the latter complaint, Iyeyasu sent the governor a copy of the severe laws applied to criminals in Japan, directing him to apply these laws in punishing the seditious Japanese in the Philippines. He ends with the assurance that the friars in Japan were being treated with sympathy and good will. Considering that, in 1597, twenty-six Christians and foreign friars, among them a native of Mexico, San Felipe de Jesús, were crucified at Nagasaki, the imperial assurances that he viewed the friars with benevolence and good will must have been extremely welcome to Governor Vivero.