The joy received in Manila at the news of the island of Hermosa was exuberant. At that time Don Juan Nino came to govern. He was unable to send them help at the right season [for sailing]; consequently, after it had sailed, the ship put back and was detained for more than four months in a port of this island. It sailed again, and again took refuge at Macan, whence they tried to make the voyage for the third time. They had so severe a storm that they lost their rudder, and reached the coast of China. After great danger and opposition from the Chinese of that region, they refitted, and finally made our port in the island of Hermosa, where they arrived April 29, 1627, and were received with the joy that can be imagined. They left there the supplies they had brought, and returned to Manila. The governor sent to Macan to ask for a mestizo, Salvator Diaz, who was in the fort of the Dutch and who escaped from them. He has also prohibited vessels from sailing to China which pass near the establishment of the Dutch on the island of Hermosa. It is inferred from that that he is thinking of attacking the fort of the Dutch. The persecution of the missionaries in Japon has daily been assuming greater fury, and the doors are daily being shut more closely on the religious. It has been ordered under penalty of death, and of being burned with their merchandise and ships, that no ship sail from Manila to Japon. Accordingly, one ship which sailed last year and which they had not notified of the edict, they notified and ordered to return immediately to Manila, without allowing anyone to disembark, or to buy or sell anything--keeping them, on the contrary, shut up on the ship and guarded. The Japanese made a law that no Japanese could leave or enter the kingdom unless he first forswore our holy faith, etc. LETTER FROM FELIPE IV TO TAVORA The King. To Don Juan Nino de Tavora, my governor and captain-general of the Filipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia there: Six letters which you wrote me--five on the twentieth of the month of July, and the other on the twenty-second of the same month last year (1626)--dealing with the wars, have been received and considered in my Council of War for the Indias, and you will be satisfied on all points. You say that Pedro de Heredia wrote to you that he had not fortified the island of Manados [32] and the straits of Santa Margarita, because it seemed to him of little use. Afterward, however, seeing that many tributarios might be acquired; that, being pagans, missionaries were needed; and that the expenses of these strongholds might be lightened by the rice which they furnished--he sent to you asking for fifty men to occupy the fort which he was to build there. Seeing that he had orders for it and that it was so advantageous for the service of God and myself, you sent them to him. It is well, and I order you, as having the affair under your present direction, to provide everything which is necessary thereto.