diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'earliest_v2.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | earliest_v2.txt | 2068 |
1 files changed, 2068 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/earliest_v2.txt b/earliest_v2.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..81f1db6 --- /dev/null +++ b/earliest_v2.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2068 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77632 *** + + + + + =UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS + AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY= + + Vol. 4 No. 1 + + + THE EARLIEST HISTORICAL RELATIONS + BETWEEN MEXICO AND JAPAN + + FROM ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS PRESERVED IN SPAIN + AND JAPAN + + BY + ZELIA NUTTALL + + BERKELEY + THE UNIVERSITY PRESS + APRIL, 1906 + + + + + =UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS + + AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY= + + =VOL. 4= =NO. 1= + + + + + THE EARLIEST HISTORICAL RELATIONS + BETWEEN MEXICO AND JAPAN + + (FROM ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS PRESERVED IN SPAIN AND JAPAN.) + + BY + ZELIA NUTTALL. + + PUBLISHED BY THE CROOKER FUND FOR RESEARCH IN MEXICO. + + +It is strange but true, that whereas for many years past much has +been said and written about the hypothetical transmission of Asiatic +influences to Mexico and Central America by means of the ship-wrecked +crews of Japanese junks, the precise date when official relations +were first established between Japan and Mexico has only just been +ascertained. + +It is Señor C. A. Lera, the actual Mexican Envoy Extraordinary and +Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan and China, who deserves the credit +of having instituted researches in archives and annals of Japan +and succeeded in finding therein the documentary evidence which a +countryman of his, Angel Nuñez Ortega, had vainly endeavored to find +in the national archives of Mexico. + +With the coöperation of Father Steichen, a learned missionary +residing in Japan, who is known as the author of a History of +Japanese Commerce, Señor Lera obtained translations of important +original documents, and incorporated them in a report to the Mexican +Minister of Foreign Affairs, which was privately printed in Tokio in +pamphlet form a few months ago, under the title of “First Official +Relations Between Japan and Spain With Respect to Mexico.” + +On reading Señor Lera’s valuable contribution I found evidences that +he was unacquainted with the scholarly monograph privately published +in Mexico in 1879, by the distinguished scholar and diplomat, Señor +Ortega, under the title “Historical Note on the Political and +Commercial Relations Between Mexico and Japan in the XVIIth Century.” +I found moreover that although Señor Lera refers to it, neither of +the above writers had ever read that most valuable document, the +detailed report of his embassy submitted to Viceroy Mendoza, by the +first ambassador ever sent from New Spain to Japan. This is contained +in Vol. VIII of that monumental work published in Madrid: Collection +of unedited documents relating to the discovery and conquest and +organization of ancient Spanish possessions in America and Oceania. + +Finding myself deeply interested in the facts preserved in the above +disconnected monographs, it occurred to me that I could not send +to the San Francisco meeting of the Anthropological Association +a more acceptable communication than a compilation of all three +publications, with translations of the original documents contained +therein. In preparing this I found it necessary, in order to fill +certain gaps, to refer to a number of works on Japan, and also to +incorporate certain data contained in a newspaper article recently +published in the City of Mexico by the erudite Father V. de P. +Andrade. I venture to believe that the data collectively presented +here, for the first time in English, will be of interest and value, +not only to historians and ethnologists, but also to the general +public. + +To them it will doubtless be a matter of surprise, as it was to me, +to learn that it was no less a personage than Tokugawa Iyeyasu, +surnamed “The Illustrious,” who, in 1598, took the first steps +towards establishing official relations with Mexico. Iyeyasu is known +to have inaugurated the policy of exclusion and isolation, which was +perfected by his grandson, Iyemitsu, and to have organized the form +of government which secured to Japan a peace of two hundred years. + +At the time, however, when he conceived the desire to enter into +direct communication with New Spain, he was at the beginning of +his remarkable career. Only two years had passed since Taikun +Hideyoshi had bestowed upon him, as a reward for his services as a +general, the eight provinces, which were designated “The Kwanto,” and +ordered him to take up his residence at the then unimportant town +of Yedo, the present Tokio. Considering that since 1542, when the +first Portuguese trading vessels visited Japan, the Portuguese had +been enjoying the monopoly of a system of trade by barter, it was +certainly a new departure for General Iyeyasu to attempt to establish +direct communication between his new domain and Mexico. It was his +idea that this result might be obtained if he could but induce the +merchant vessels which plied between the Philippines and Mexico +to touch at one of the ports of “The Kwanto.” With this object in +view, he sought the advice and aid of the learned Franciscan friar, +Geronimo de Jesús, who wrote for him a Spanish letter to the governor +of the Philippines, in which, as an opening to future negotiations, +Iyeyasu courteously invited the Spanish merchant vessels to seek +shelter in any of the ports situated in his domain, if ever overtaken +by the dangerous storms so prevalent in these regions. This letter, +which was written in the same year in which the second expedition to +Corea came to an end and a number of Coreans were brought from that +country to Japan, was not sent when written, for the negotiations +were suspended by the stirring events which culminated in the famous +battle of Sekigakara, which, in 1600, established Iyeyasu’s supremacy +in Japan. It was not until 1601 that Iyeyasu found leisure to revert +to his plan, and sent Shinkiro, a wealthy merchant of the City of +Sakai, as bearer of the above letter and some costly presents to the +governor of the Philippines. The latter, deeply involved at that time +in the war which Spain was carrying on in Cambodia against Siam, +responded by saying that Iyeyasu’s proposal pleased him extremely, +and that he would accept it as soon as he was free and able to do so. +Meanwhile he begged him to accept certain gifts in return for those +which he had received with much gratitude through the Japanese envoy +Shinkiro. + +In the month of May of the following year, a new governor, Don Pedro +Bravo de Acuña, was appointed for the Philippines. In September of +the same year Iyeyasu dispatched Shinkiro again with another letter, +also written in Spanish by the Franciscan friar, Geronimo. The +original draft of this interesting document, which is preserved in +Japan, is in Japanese, from which language it was translated into +French for Señor Lera, so that he, in turn, could translate it into +Spanish, from which language I have made the following literal +translation. + +I venture to suggest that it would be an interesting experiment for +some scholar to translate my version back into Japanese, and to +compare his translation with the original document and verify the +changes which must have been produced by its passing through the +crucible of three European languages. + + “Minamoto Iyeyasu of Japan, to his Lordship the Governor of + Luzon:-- + + “After a long voyage your envoy has arrived at last with your + letter. He has spoken to me of the mode of government and the + flourishing condition of your country, and, at the same time, + delivered to me the five objects which you have deigned to + send me as presents. + + “Although I have never had the honor to see or listen to you, + your amiable behavior makes me realize how all men are members + of a single family; which reflection has moved me deeply. + + “Nothing would satisfy my desires so much as to see merchant + vessels establishing frequent communication between my country + and New Spain. In formulating this wish, it was not only the + interests of Japan which moved me, but also, in equal measure, + your own advantage. Many of your people have assured me that + it would be a considerable advantage to them to be able to + count upon a port in the Kwanto as a shelter for their ships + during tempests. They have also manifested to me the pleasure + with which they would see Japanese vessels making voyages + between the Kwanto and New Spain. + + “I shall await your answer with eager anticipation. + + “If you render me this service, I, in turn, will severely + prohibit piracy even in the most remote islands of Japan, and, + if you so desire, I will condemn all pirates to death. You, in + turn, can execute all Japanese who in the Philippines violate + your laws. If any of the merchants who with my authorization + visit your country, prove to be rebellious to your authority, + I will, upon being informed of their names, prohibit their + embarking again. + + “Although unworthy of you, deign to accept as a sign of + friendship the Japanese suit of armor, which I send you. + + “My ambassador will tell you all that I have failed to express + in this letter.” + +It is related that Iyeyasu’s assurances did not disarm the +suspicions of the Spaniards, nor convince them that he would or +could keep his promise. Indeed the Spaniards’ fear to send their +galleons to Japan was not unfounded, for, but eight years previously +in 1596, Hideyoshi, since surnamed the “Napoleon of Japan,” had +confiscated without provocation the Spanish vessel named “San +Felipe,” and a month before the date of Iyeyasu’s above letter +another galleon, the “Espirito Santo,” almost incurred the same +fate. It was sailing with contrary winds from Manila to New Spain, +and touched the coast of Tosa in August, 1602. It was immediately +attacked by the natives of this province, and its captain, Lope +de Ulloa, had to resort to arms in order to defend it against its +assailants. As soon as the news of this singularly inopportune +episode reached Iyeyasu, in October, he hastened to write to the +governor of the Philippines, protesting that what had occurred had +been without his knowledge and consent. He laid stress upon the +amicable relations then existing between both countries--adding that +they might almost be regarded as an alliance. Refusing to admit that +his subjects were in fault, he adroitly suggests that it was probably +only the fear of a repetition of the “San Felipe” episode, which had +caused the Spaniards to take alarm and precipitate their departure +from the Japanese coast. He adds: “Henceforth, in case of any kind of +accidents, let your people not hesitate to take refuge in the ports +of my domain, for I have sent to all quarters severe orders relating +to this matter. Through your merchants I have learned that the eight +galleons which leave Luzon every year for New Spain desire to obtain +a license permitting them to take refuge in the ports of my country. +Full of compassion for these foreigners I have had eight licenses +written and sealed. These will preserve them from the rapacity of the +people, and thanks to them they will without fear be able not only to +take refuge in the ports and islands, but also to land and penetrate +into all villages and towns throughout Japan, without incurring the +risk of being treated as spies, even should they devote themselves to +studying the usages and customs of the land.” + +While nothing could exceed the courtesy and good will expressed in +this letter, it utterly failed to reassure the governor of the +Philippines, who could but bear in mind several recent disastrous +losses of Spanish galleons, laden with the much coveted riches from +the Spanish possessions in Asia. But fifteen years had elapsed since +Francis Drake had lain in wait at Cape St. Lucas for the galleon +expected from the Philippines, and after robbing it of its treasures, +abandoned its crew on the arid shores of the Peninsula of California. +This disaster had produced a profound commotion throughout the +Spanish colonies, and brought infinite trouble upon the viceroy +of Mexico, who was obliged to send out a maritime expedition with +orders to pursue and punish the English corsairs. The seizure of +another galleon by a Japanese potentate had taken place but six years +previously, and now, at the very time that Iyeyasu was offering +hospitality to Spanish merchantmen, came the news of the real or +imaginary danger incurred by the vessel which had taken refuge in a +Japanese port. Considering that besides all this the memory of the +persecution and martyrdom of Roman Catholic missionaries in 1597 was +still fresh, it is not surprising that the Spanish governor took no +notice of Iyeyasu’s overtures, and broke off negotiations. + +In the native history of Japanese Commerce (Nihon Shogyoshi) and +Kottenhamp’s “History of the Colonization of America,” this rupture +and the subsequent failures to establish the desired commercial +relations are attributed, no doubt justly, chiefly to the powerful +merchant princes of Seville, who violently opposed any encroachment +on their monopoly of Asiatic trade. Six years later, however, in +1608, the situation suddenly changed. A new governor, Don Rodrigo de +Vivero, came to the Philippines, where, at that period, there existed +a colony of about fifteen thousand Japanese. The principal Japanese +merchants residing in Manila petitioned him to resume the interrupted +negotiations, and an ambassador sent by Iyeyasu insisted, at the same +time, upon the advantages that would accrue to Spanish interests by a +friendly treaty with Japan. + +Iyeyasu’s ambassador, in this case, was the Englishman William Adams, +a native of Gillingham, Kent, who shares, with his companion Timothy +Shotten, the distinction of being the first Englishmen who went to +Japan. Both served as pilots on a Dutch ship, the “De Liefde,” +which had sailed from Texel at the mouth of the Zuyder Zee in 1598 +with four other vessels and was wrecked at Bunzo, in Japan, on April +19, 1600. Adams ingratiated himself with the Japanese, volunteered +to instruct them in the art of ship-building, and won the Emperor’s +notice by offering to teach him geography and geometry. Received at +court, he rapidly rose in favor. The title “Hatamoto,” or Noble, was +conferred upon him, and he became not only Iyeyasu’s influential +adviser, but was employed, as in this case, as the emperor’s envoy in +establishing commercial relations with foreign countries. + +Won over by William Adams’ representations, backed by the petition +presented by the Japanese residents of Manila, Governor Vivero agreed +to renew negotiations at once, and commissioned the leaders of the +Japanese colony to write two letters for him in their language. These +and some gifts were entrusted to William Adams, who was likewise +placed in command of the next Spanish vessel which was sent to +Japan. In the first letter, addressed to Iyeyasu, the interruption +of negotiations and its cause were wisely ignored, and great stress +was laid upon “the amiable sympathy which from olden times had bound +one nation to the other,” and assurances were given that “far from +wishing to abandon it or allowing it to become lukewarm, it would be +his aim diligently to tighten the bonds of their long friendship.” He +states, immediately afterwards, that a number of turbulent characters +having promoted sedition and made disturbance in the Japanese colony +at Manila, he had adopted the course of sending them back to Japan. +According to Father Steichen not less than two hundred Japanese +were thus expelled from Manila. Governor Vivero adds that their +troublesome behavior would certainly not prevent him from receiving +any peaceful Japanese merchants who might come to the Philippines. +With respect to such nothing had changed. He continues: That he was +sending a vessel to Japan, and had given orders to William Adams +to take shelter by preference in a port in the “Kwanto.” In case, +however, that contrary winds should impede the vessel’s course, +he had no objection to any other port being entered, now that the +whole of Japan was under Iyeyasu’s Lordship. He did not doubt that +his captain and his people would meet with a good reception, and +he begged, at the same time, that the Catholic friars residing in +Japan should be well treated. In the second letter, addressed to +the shogun, Hidetada, Iyeyasu’s son, in whose favor the latter had +resigned in 1605, Vivero announced the sending of a galleon, and +states that he would be obliged if the shogun would send Japanese +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. + +Three months subsequently, Hidedata, who vied with his father in +liberality and affability, renewed the privilege granted to Spanish +vessels to enter all Japanese ports indiscriminately, and sent their +captains copies of an official permission, dated November 2, 1609, +which reads as follows:-- + + “The vessels sailing from Luzon to New Spain may freely enter + all ports in Japan and take shelter therein in stormy weather.” + +In this same year a strange combination of circumstances occurred, +which afforded the Japanese rulers an unexpected opportunity not +only of demonstrating their good will towards the Spaniards, but +of giving a proof of their good faith and generosity. Don Rodrigo +de Vivero, the retiring governor of the Philippines, sailed from +Luzon for New Spain on the 25th of July, in a vessel named the “San +Francisco,” escorted by two galleons. Overtaken by a storm, the “San +Francisco” and one of the galleons were wrecked on the shores of +Japan. As soon as the Japanese learned that the ship-wrecked crews +were Spaniards, and that among them was the former friendly governor +of the Philippines, they hastened to offer them shelter and food. +Vivero dispatched two messengers to the Japanese court to inform the +emperor and the shogun of his misfortunes. Whereupon they not only +invited him and his companions to the capital, but with spontaneous +liberality promised a restitution of all the merchandise, etc., which +could be saved from both wrecks. Iyeyasu generously offered to part +with one of the best vessels, which had been constructed for him +by William Adams, and likewise to lend him four thousand ducats, +with which to man and provision the ship, which was named “San +Buenaventura.” Vivero was also loaded with presents for the King of +Spain and Viceroy of Mexico, and was requested to exert his influence +towards the sending of a Spanish ambassador to Japan. + +It appears that Vivero took advantage of his sojourn in Japan to +prejudice the Japanese rulers against the Portuguese, who had +hitherto enjoyed the sole privilege of exporting gold from Japan. +He likewise attempted to have this privilege transferred to the +Spaniards. + +An interesting fact connected with this visit, and to which I will +revert, is that Iyeyasu requested that as many as fifty expert miners +be sent to Japan from Mexico in order to teach the Japanese the most +advantageous methods of working their gold mines, the principal one +of which was situated in the Island of Sado. + +Governor Vivero, having consented to take with him to New Spain a +certain number of Japanese merchants, so that they might learn the +way, and also study commercial conditions, stipulated that the price +of the vessel ceded to him might be payable in Spanish merchandise. + +On the first of August, 1610, after having enjoyed Japanese +hospitality for over a year, Vivero and his countrymen embarked for +New Spain with twenty-three Japanese merchants, who were under the +leadership of two noblemen named Tanaka Shosake and Shuya Ryusai. + +In Mexico City, where they arrived towards the end of the year, the +Japanese were presented by Vivero to the viceroy, Don Luis de Velasco +the Second, who received them well and stood sponsor at the baptism +of at least one of the two Japanese noblemen, who returned to Japan +bearing the Christian name Francisco and the viceroy’s family name, +Velasco. + +The singularly noble conduct of the Japanese towards the ship-wrecked +sailors at a time when all nations accepted the principle of “_jus +littoris_” could but make a particularly deep impression upon the +viceroy, who in the year 1600, for instance, had granted a concession +to the inhabitants of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, which legally +authorized them to appropriate all ship-wrecked goods. Moved by +gratitude, or as Father Caro prefers to state, by his ardent desire +for the aggrandizement of New Spain, the viceroy determined to +exert a prerogative usually confined to sovereigns, and to send an +ambassador to Japan, entrusted with a letter in which he expressed +to the Japanese rulers his gratitude and appreciation of the great +charity and liberality towards his ship-wrecked countrymen. + +Mexican historians have differed as to the name of the ambassador +appointed, but an original document preserved in the archives of +the Indies proves, beyond a doubt, that it was General Sebastian +Viscaino, who in this document is twice mentioned as being a son of +the viceroy.[1] + + FOOTNOTE: + + [1] It has already been mentioned that the contents of this + valuable document have not been discussed by Señor Ortega, + Father Andrade or Señor Lera, who erroneously states in a + footnote on page 23 of his monograph that the texts of the + two letters from the Japanese sovereigns are contained in + Vol. VIII of the collection of unedited documents; whereas + this contains only the texts of Spanish letters addressed + by General Viscaino to the emperor and shogun. + +The memory of Don Sebastian Viscaino is intimately associated with +California, for, in 1596, he was commissioned by the King of Spain +to make a voyage of discovery to California, and, as is well known, +sailed from the Port of Acapulco with three vessels and reached the +Port of La Paz, where he established himself, built a church and +dispatched a series of expeditions westward. This expedition ended +somewhat disastrously on account of the discontent of the soldiers +under his command, but in 1602 he was appointed Captain General of an +expedition sent by order of Phillip III and fitted out by the Count +of Monterey, viceroy of Mexico. During this voyage, which lasted +nine months, the whole coast of Southern California was carefully +surveyed. After reaching Cape Mendocino, they proceeded as far north +as 45 degrees north latitude, but he was forced to return to Acapulco +on account of illness and mortality amongst his men. + +The account of his embassy to Japan, evidently written under his +dictation by the secretary of the expedition, is divided into twelve +chapters, and fills ninety-seven printed pages in the collection of +unedited documents to which I have already referred. This document, +which is full of interesting and valuable information concerning +the avowed and secret aims of his mission, gives a detailed account +of its history. It enables one clearly to recognize moreover the +manifold causes and events which within a few years wrought so +complete a change in Iyeyasu’s views, and which culminated in the +banishment of foreigners, the extirpation of Christianity, and the +complete isolation of Japan for centuries. + +On the 22nd of March, 1611, Viscaino sailed in a vessel named the +“San Francisco” from Vera Cruz, accompanied by the Japanese nobleman +now known as Don Francisco de Velasco, twenty-two Japanese merchants, +a commissary and six friars of the Franciscan order, a captain named +Palacios and a crew of fifty-two. + +Before launching into Viscaino’s report, of which I shall give a +literal translation, excepting where abbreviations and commentaries +are necessary, let us read the Japanese records of the foregoing +events, which were indirectly communicated by the well-known scholar, +Mr. Ernest Satow, to Señor Nuñez Ortega, in 1879. They demonstrate +that in the 17th century, as now, the official records of Japan were +written with a brevity and reticence which causes so many modern +Japanese war dispatches to read more like our weather reports:-- + + “The Sairan Igen of Arai Haku Seki (B. 1657, D. 1725) says: + In the 15th year of Keycho (1600) a merchant vessel belonging + to New Spain was driven by a storm on the east coast of Japan + and considerably damaged. The government ordered that it + should be repaired, and provisions having been supplied it was + started to depart. In the summer of the 17th year (1612), an + ambassador came from that country on a complimentary mission, + to return thanks. Amongst the presents was a self-sounding + bell (clock), and our manufacture of this article commenced + from this date.”[2] + + FOOTNOTE: + [2] This clock is still preserved in the temple of Kino-San, + near Shizouka, Province of Suraga. An inscription records + its history, and a small metal plate, fastened to it, + records that it was made in Madrid. + +The same annals preserve the following report, made to their +government by the Japanese merchants on their return from New Spain:-- + + “Some of our sailing merchants departed in company with this + embassy. They (the merchants) returned in the following + year, and stated that the country visited was populous and + productive. They also reported that the foreigners had thanked + them, saying: ‘Our countries are far apart and navigation is + difficult. Pray do not come again.’” + +It is, of course, evident that this blunt intimation that their +presence was not desired in New Spain emanated from the same +monopolists who had caused the rupture of negotiations in 1602, and +who, later on, obtained a royal decree, limiting the traffic between +Mexico and Japan to one galleon a year, and putting restrictions upon +the value of the cargo it carried. + +From Viscaino’s report we learn that the relations between the +Japanese merchants and the Spanish crew of the “San Francisco” +were decidedly strained. He relates that, at the beginning of the +voyage, the Japanese gave trouble on account of their haughtiness +and rudeness to the sailors--especially “concerning matters of the +kitchen,” and by their high-handedness. The general put an end to +this state of affairs by ordering that no Spaniard was to interfere +with a Japanese, nor lay hands on him, nor give occasion for dispute, +under penalty of death. The same threat was made to the Japanese, +and they were enjoined to be civil, and to come to him whenever any +difficulty presented itself, and to avoid all disputes and quarrels +with the sailors. Viscaino likewise threatened that if any Japanese +were insolent, he would have him hanged from the yardarm, and would +report him to the Japanese emperor, of whom it was known that he +did not like his vassals to be insolent--especially when they were +being treated to such a good voyage. Whereupon, it is recorded, the +Japanese were so filled with fear that they “restrained their pride +and haughtiness, became more docile than lambs,” and gave no cause +for complaint during the remainder of the voyage. Their leader was +the first to set an example of changed behavior. Viscaino invited him +to his table, considering it expedient, as he says, to please and +satisfy him, in view of the fact that upon his report to the emperor +would depend the manner of reception accorded to the Spaniards by +his Imperial Majesty, and the dispatch with which permission would be +obtained to set out from said Empire of Japan for the discovery of +said islands of gold and silver, which constituted the principal aim +of this expedition. + +It is interesting to note that in the letters which General Viscaino +sent by messengers to the emperor and his son, on his arrival in +Japan after a voyage of eighty days, he emphasized how much respect +and honor had been accorded to the Japanese merchants during the +voyage, but refrained from all mention of the islands of gold and +silver, which it was his main object to discover. + +General Viscaino’s letter to Iyeyasu reads as follows:-- + + “Most Serene Emperor of the kingdoms and provinces of Japan:-- + + “Sebastian Viscaino, General and Ambassador of his Majesty + the King of Spain, Phillip III, and also of the Marquis of + Salinas, Viceroy of New Spain and the King’s Lieutenant, as + well as the Friar, Peter Baptist, of the Order of St. Francis, + make known unto your Majesty that, to-day, Saturday, the 10th + of June, 1611, we have reached this Port of Uraga in a vessel + in which we sailed from the Port of Acapulco, in New Spain, on + the 22nd of March of this year. We have come to this kingdom + directly for the sole purpose of bringing you the news that + said Marquis received the embassy and presents which you sent + through Friar Alonzo Munoz, and also to bring to this realm + Josquendono and your other vassals who went last year with Don + Rodrigo de Vivero to New Spain, as well as to return the money + which by your order was lent to Don Vivero and the value of + the ship ‘San Buenaventura,’ which said Marquis purchased in + the name of my lord and king. It was not considered expedient + to return here in said vessel for reasons of which Josquendono + and the other Japanese will inform you. They will tell you at + the same time how, during their voyage to and from New Spain, + they were respected and honored and given presents on account + of their being your servants and vassals. While the said + Marquis could have sent them back by the Islands of Luzon, + he did not do so, considering that voyage would be long and + dangerous, not only on account of difficult navigation but + because they, the money and the value of the ship which we are + bringing to your Majesty, in the name of my lord and king, + might have been endangered on account of the number of Dutch + pirates, whose vessels are in the vicinity of the Islands, and + who are going about robbing and in revolt against my lord and + king.” + +Viscaino closes his letter by humbly begging permission to go to +court in order to “kiss the emperor’s hands,” and by an allusion to +the existing relations of peace and good understanding which it is +his mission to promote. + +Notwithstanding these relations, the general found it necessary, +before landing his Spanish crew, to confer with the governor of the +port and the commander of the Japanese fleet of junks as to the best +method of avoiding quarrels and disputes between the Spaniards and +Japanese. He issued orders that, under penalty of death, no Spaniard +was to draw his sword or any other arm against the Japanese--nor +use violence against Japanese women, nor take anything from any one +against his will. + +A great number of Japanese visited the Spanish vessel, among them +many noblemen. These were received with honors by Viscaino, who +“offered them chairs and gave them sweets, which they soaked in +sherry, which they liked extremely.” + +He records complacently that the Japanese merchants and their leader, +Josquendono, departed at once for the court of the emperor, in order +to give him an account of their voyage, in which they expressed +the excellent treatment they had received from the Spaniards. But +since we know the nature of the official report of their voyage, +made by some of these same merchants, who must also have harbored +resentment at the threats employed by Viscaino on ship-board, we may +be prompted to doubt whether all accounts were as favorable as that +of Josquendono, who had been won over by Viscaino. An insight into an +existing undercurrent of ill will towards the Spaniards is afforded +by Viscaino’s remark, “that it was indeed well that they had come +directly to Japan, for their arrival with the Japanese merchants +contradicted the rumors which had been rife, and which had spread the +belief that the Spaniards had deceived the emperor; that the money +lent to Vivero would never be returned, and that the Japanese who +went to New Spain were enslaved and made to serve the Spaniards.” + +In a few days Viscaino received a gracious communication, signed by +several court officials, informing him that the shogun, Hidedata, had +received his letter with great pleasure, and granted him permission +and all facilities to visit him immediately at his court. In the five +junks placed at his disposal Viscaino at once embarked with an escort +of thirty Spaniards, armed with muskets and arquebusses, and with the +friars and a few of the Japanese whom he had brought from New Spain. + +At the mouth of the river Yedo he was met by the commander of +the junks, who made great demonstrations of joy and offered him +a Japanese collation. The Spaniards responded by a salutation of +musketry and arquebusses and by the beating of the drum. On the main +mast of the ambassador’s junk they flew the royal standard, and at +the stern floated another royal standard, made of Castilian silk, +along with an infantry flag with its streamers, all of which, it is +related, gave great pleasure to the Japanese beholders who crowded +the banks of the river that was filled with innumerable junks. + +On landing, the Spaniards were hospitably entertained at the house +of the commander, and were assigned a fine residence, whither a +nobleman, followed by a numerous suite, came with a message from the +shogun. The general went out to meet him at the door, his escort +being drawn up in line. The Japanese nobleman was most polite, bowing +to the ground, according to native usage. The ambassador followed the +Spanish mode, and made a great display of politeness--particularly +at the door, where there was much discussion as to who should enter +first. + +The nobleman expressed the shogun’s hope that the Spaniards were +resting and contented in his domain. He informed them that his +messenger had orders to provide amply for the general and his escort, +and that they would be given six meals a day, for the expenses of +which he was sending gold and silver instead of the customary rice, +which was used in barter. On the following day he sent two cooks, +many servants and an abundance of game and fish. Two kitchens were +set up in which meals were respectively prepared in Spanish and +Japanese styles. The shogun’s messenger returned to investigate +whether all was being attended to, and was invited to dine by the +ambassador, who found that his guest cared less for his meat than +for his sherry, but was unwilling or unable to respond when his host +drank his health for the second time. + +On the next day, Tuesday, another messenger was sent by the shogun, +announcing that on Wednesday, if the weather were fine, Viscaino +would be permitted to deliver his embassy. This message was +communicated by two noblemen, who then inquired whether Viscaino had +it in mind to adapt himself to the ancient court etiquette of the +rulers of Japan, which required that, in the imperial presence, he +would have to kneel on both knees and remain with his hands and head +on the floor until the shogun gave the sign for him to rise. The +Spanish ambassador promptly answered that he did not intend to do +any such thing, but would adhere to Spanish court etiquette, would +make the bows and render homage to the emperor in the same way as he +would to his own lord, the King of Spain. He also announced that he +would refuse to lay aside his sword and dagger, or remove his boots, +and that the chamberlain would have to assign him a seat near enough +to the shogun to be able to hear what the latter said. This answer +caused much consternation and discussion and an exchange of messages. +Finally the general threatened that if he were not allowed to deliver +his embassy according to Spanish etiquette, he would return to New +Spain without delivering the viceroy’s letter or presents, and would +merely report that he had brought back the Japanese merchants, and +returned the money lent to Vivero. Upon this the shogun’s counsellors +courteously reminded him that, when received at the Japanese court, +Don Rodrigo Vivero, who was not only a cavalier and relative of the +viceroy, but had also been governor of Luzon, had made no objections, +and had entered the presence of the shogun in the way that was +required of him. Ambassador Viscaino replied that all this was +perfectly true in the case of Don Vivero, who personally was worthy +of the highest consideration, but the latter had come to this court +because he had been ship-wrecked and lost, and because necessity +compelled him to seek aid and means to proceed to New Spain. He was +then in such dire necessity that he was not to blame for any act of +submission he may have made, since he came to implore succor and +naturally was grateful to the ruler of this country who afforded +him aid. It was in consideration of all this that the viceroy had +dispatched the present embassy to escort the Japanese merchants home +and to express the good will of their Catholic majesties. He added, +what was not quite true, that he had not come to ask for anything, +nor to bring merchandise, nor to reap gain or profits, but solely for +the purpose of delivering his embassy. He repeated, however, that he +would sooner depart without delivering it than allow the authority of +king and viceroy to be lowered one fraction of its grandeur, for his +king was the greatest lord on earth. Viscaino’s arrogant utterances +naturally gave offense to the shogun’s messengers; they returned to +the palace greatly nonplussed, and affairs came to a standstill. + +It was then that the shogun wisely summoned a meeting of the +presidents of the councils of state and government, and other high +officials, who, after lengthy debates, finally formulated the +decree that the Spanish ambassador was to be permitted to fulfill +his “mission according to his own usage as best he could.” It was +moreover decided that it was only when he spoke in the name of his +king that he was to be permitted to occupy the same platform as the +shogun who, seated, would receive the viceroy’s letter and presents. +Having delivered these, the ambassador was to descend a step, and +there deliver his present to the shogun, after which he was to seat +himself. The decree concluded with the resolution that as much honor +and mercy as possible was to be conceded to the first ambassador from +New Spain. All difficulties having thus been overcome by the good +will and courtesy of the Japanese, the audience took place on the +following morning. + +The shogun sent four thousand soldiers of his guard to escort the +Spaniards to his palace. The latter formed a group and proceeded in +solemn procession, headed by the captain and pilot of the Spanish +vessel, followed by members of its crew, and a sergeant, who bore +the banner with three streamers, each held by a man. The standard +came next, with its three streamers, the ambassador holding it with +his right hand. Friar Luis Sotelo, the commissary of the Franciscan +order, walked at one side with General Viscaino, and two Franciscan +friars at the other, this group being preceded by the commander of +the junks and another Japanese nobleman. + +The rear-guard was formed by the secretary of the expedition, a +sergeant, and the general’s negro drummer, whose appearance and +drumming made a great commotion, and attracted a numerous crowd. A +detachment of the Japanese guard marched in front of the Spaniards +and another behind. At the fifth door of the palace they were met by +the chamberlain and other officials and were led into a waiting room, +where the ambassador sat for a little while. Thence they were ushered +through an inner, richly decorated hall, into a great court-yard, +where stood more than a thousand royal princes and knights, each one +wearing a helmet on which his insignia of rank was displayed. To them +the ambassador made the courtesies and bows which he considered they +were entitled to, beginning with the highest in rank. He records that +they responded by folding their hands and bowing until their heads +touched the ground. Passing on to another square, the ambassador +came into the presence of the shogun, seated in his royal robes on +cushions and rich carpets. To his right, at a distance, sat his nine +counsellors, and, at a lower level, his steward, chamberlain, and +secretary. A sign was made to the ambassador to approach, and he +did so, all present observing him in profound silence. First of all +he made three bows, which were not very deep, and lowered the staff +he carried until it nearly touched the ground. He then advanced six +paces to a lower platform and made three bows, which were slightly +lower than the preceding ones. The next three bows he made, while +standing on the lowest platform, were still more profound. Then he +placed on his head the viceroy’s letter, and, after making three +more bows, deposited it on the platform. During all this time the +shogun and his counsellors were observing the ambassador and his +extraordinary performances with unconcealed merriment, which the +Spanish attributed entirely to the fact that before this the Japanese +had never seen a full dress Spanish costume. Viscaino’s raiment is +described as being very fine. His cap was adorned with feathers and a +gold band. His sword and dagger were gilt, his boots were white with +buttons, and his frill was of the finest lace. + +Showing evidence of being pleased, the shogun beckoned to his +secretary, and gave him an order to lead the ambassador to the +seat prepared for him, also to tell him that the shogun was glad to +have seen him--especially after all the hardships of the long sea +voyage. The thought of not seeing land for eighty-one days seemed +to the shogun to be truly dreadful. The ambassador replied, through +the interpreter, that he kissed his Highness’ hands for the great +condescension that he was showing him, and that, as far as the +hardships were concerned, which he had undergone and was yet to +undergo on the return voyage, he had come to regard them as gifts +ever since he had come into the presence of such a prince. When +this speech was translated by the secretary, the prince bowed his +head several times towards the ambassador to express his thanks. +Viscaino then arose, and after a very profound obeisance presented +the viceroy’s gifts. Up to the present the Spanish ambassador had +had everything his own way, but now occurred an episode which was +probably unexpected. After a moment’s silence, the prince waved +his hand with great majesty, and two chamberlains approached the +ambassador and led him out of the audience chamber. After a little +while, during which the shogun examined the vice-regal presents, +Viscaino was again led into the hall, which he entered as he had made +his exit, performing the same series of triple bows. This time, it is +related, these bows were more profound, a sign that the ambassador +had been impressed with great respect for the shogun’s authority. +The latter informed him, through his chief counsellors, that he much +esteemed the gifts, and that, if the general would like the Spanish +soldiers and servants to see him, they would be permitted to enter +the audience room. The ambassador then made another bowing exit, and +returned with his men, who were, as he takes pains to record, “booted +and armed.” The shogun examined them with evident curiosity. The +friars were then presented, and offered him their gifts themselves, +two of them being excellent interpreters. + +Each time that the friars addressed a word to the ambassador, he, +although in the presence of the shogun, arose and made them an humble +and respectful bow, thus demonstrating his reverence for their +priesthood, an observance which, he says, impressed the shogun and +his counsellors. At the end of a quarter of an hour, during which +the prince contemplated the Spaniards, he made a sign to two of his +chief counsellors, who again went to the ambassador and led him out +of the hall. He was then requested to allow the shogun to view the +portraits of the King and Queen of Spain, which were intended for +the emperor. When these were sent for and brought before the shogun, +he arose and dismissed every one from the audience room and sent a +message to the ambassador, telling him that he was to return to his +lodgings, and that the portraits would be sent back to him later. +It is recorded that he and his consort and the ladies of the palace +particularly enjoyed seeing the portrait of the Spanish queen, on +account of her beauty and rich costume, which to them seemed very +strange. + +On receiving his dismissal, the ambassador set out as he had come, +but received the injunction that no volleys of musketry were to be +fired as long as he was inside the palace precincts. Once outside, to +the great delight of the Japanese, the Spanish soldiers began to fire +loud volleys of musketry, with such rapidity that in an hour they had +used a whole barrel of powder. + +The following days were spent in making visits and presents to the +court officials, and on St. John’s day the ambassador and his men +went in state to mass, at the Convent of San Francisco, in order, +as is stated, to honor the feast of the Saint, and also to give an +example to the Japanese to go to church and respect the priests. + +At mass they offered a thanksgiving for the mercy that during their +stay in the city there had been no accident or bloodshed such as +might have been expected. At the Elevation of the Host, volleys were +fired and the royal standard and banner were lowered to the base of +the altar. On their way to the convent the Spaniards were met by +Masumane, the mighty Lord of the Province of Oxo, who was awaiting +them on horseback, accompanied by two thousand soldiers and many +mounted horsemen. This noble prince, who was to become the friend and +protector of the Spaniards and all Christians, is described as so +powerful that, in case of warfare, he could command the services of +eighty thousand men. As soon as he saw the ambassador he dismounted +and sent him a message, asking him as a favor to order the Spanish +soldiers to discharge their firearms, because he wanted to see and +hear them do so. Acceding to this request, they discharged two such +loud volleys that he put his hands to his ears in alarm. Frightened +by the noise a number of horses threw their riders, or rolled on +the ground. Viscaino relates that the prince and his suite were so +amused at this that they nearly died of laughter. When order was +restored, the prince approached the ambassador, and bowing to the +ground, offered him thanks and his services, and passed on with such +demonstrations of politeness and courtesy that the Spanish ambassador +was led to state that the Japanese nobility excelled in politeness +all of the nations of the world. + +The return journey to the Port of Uraga was made at the expense of +the shogun and with a large escort of people. About a week later +the embassy set out for the court of the emperor, Iyeyasu, at +Shizuoka, in the Province of Suraga. On their way the Spaniards met +nothing but hospitality, and on arriving at “Corunga,” were lodged +in houses adjacent to the palace. On the following day the emperor +sent a gracious message, expressing the hope that the ambassador +was sufficiently rested to come to the palace. If not, he would be +granted an audience whenever it suited him best. Viscaino, who, it +is said, was always ready to guard his dignity and impose his will, +sent answer that he was ready to deliver his embassy, but that he +first desired to know how the ceremony was expected to be. He, for +his part, refused to remove his sword, dagger and boots, nor would +he kneel upon the floor; what is more, it was his wish and intention +to be accompanied by his armed men bearing the insignia of war, the +standard, banner and drum. The answer was that the emperor graciously +permitted him to deliver his embassy according to his own usage, but +that on no account would he be permitted to fire volleys of musketry +in the imperial court. Possibly as a means of giving the emperor an +opportunity of expressing his displeasure at the arrogance of the +Spanish ambassador, it was decided that he was to enter and leave the +audience chamber twice,--the first time as the ambassador of the king +and viceroy, the second time in his capacity of captain general. + +On arriving at the palace, Viscaino was notified of this arrangement, +and when he made his first entrance the emperor bowed his head in +silent acknowledgment of the series of bows with which he advanced +and presented the letter and viceregal gifts.[3] + + FOOTNOTE: + + [3] These gifts consisted, in the first case, of the clock, + manufactured in Madrid, which the Japanese described as + a “self-sounding bell,” and copied with such success that + Japanese clocks subsequently became famous as articles of + commerce. + + Besides this, the viceregal gifts consisted of the royal + portraits already mentioned; of a water-proof coat, two + saddles, a roll of paper, two barrels of Spanish wine, two + sets of the implements used in falconry, and a roll of + ribbon with gold braid, such as was used in Spain to adorn + gala shoes. + +When Viscaino entered the second time, he was received on a lower +platform, and the emperor with what is described as “greater +severity” bowed his head only at the captain general’s entrance and +exit, being apparently absorbed in examining the royal portraits just +received. + +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. + +In the third remarkable petition Viscaino makes the false assertion +that he had come to Japan for the sole purpose of bringing thither +the Japanese vassals of his Imperial Majesty, and of returning the +money lent to Rodrigo de Vivero. He claims that he had no other +interests or merchandise, but admits that he has some stuffs and +cloths, which he was obliged to sell in Japan in order to provide +food for his men and to build the ship mentioned in the previous +petition. He complains that when he attempted to sell the stuffs in +the Port of Uraga, he was prevented from doing so by some Japanese +courtiers, who stated that his Majesty needed said stuffs for his +personal use. If this is the case, he says, “the whole ship’s cargo +and its men are at the emperor’s disposal. If not, then will his +Majesty please send an order, so that now, and whenever he may +return to this land from New Spain or Luzon, General Viscaino can +sell such stuffs free from duty or taxation.” It would be well, he +adds, to settle once and for all time what was to be done, so that +one could know whether to return another time to Japan and whether +peace and amity are to continue. Viscaino closes his note by stating +“that in New Spain the Japanese merchants were allowed to sell their +merchandise without paying duties or taxes of any kind.” + +The imperial message brought to Viscaino, after four days, stated +that the orders had been given, and that he would be permitted to +build a ship wherever he chose to do so--that the material and +workmen would be furnished him at very moderate prices, and that the +concessions to survey the ports and to sell stuffs free of taxation +would be granted him. Not satisfied with this, Viscaino sent his +expression of thanks, somewhat contradictorily adding, “that he +wished to inform the emperor that the principal business for which he +had come to Japan was to find out whether his Majesty intended to be +friends with the Dutch and allow them to enter his realm. If so, the +Spanish king would not like his vassals to come to Japan to trade, +and the peace begun could not be continued, for many reasons which he +would explain, if permitted to do so, to his Majesty and the council.” + +On the next day at the house of the emperor’s secretary, the latter +and the president of the council listened attentively to Viscaino’s +representations. He asked them, in the first place, for a written +acknowledgment that he had faithfully brought back the Japanese +who had gone to New Spain, and that they themselves had testified +that they had been well treated during their voyage. He added that +if any one had any complaint to make, he would certainly give him +satisfaction. He also wished a written acknowledgment of his having +paid all that was lent to Don Rodrigo de Vivero, and the proceeds of +the sale at Acapulco of the Japanese ship in which Vivero had made +the voyage to New Spain. He here volunteered to pay any debt that +might be found remaining due, and then asked for a return of the +bonds or bills which Vivero had left as guarantees for the payment of +the debt. The Japanese officials told him that they considered his +requests just ones, and that both of them would immediately report +to the emperor on the subject. After having thus emphasized the +faithfulness and honesty with which he had performed his mission, +Viscaino made an attack upon the Dutch, which was to cost him and +his countrymen dear. He accused certain Dutch traders who had made +a mercantile contract with the emperor a year previous, of being +pirates, who, after committing many robberies, had been pursued +and chastised by the governor of the Philippines. He affirmed that +they certainly would not be able to fulfill their contract with +the emperor, and asked “what friendship could the latter have with +people who were not only thieves, but were disobedient and in revolt +against their lord, the King of Spain!” He requested his auditors +to reflect upon what he had already written on this subject to the +emperor, and also requested an answer as to whether the Japanese +intended to tolerate Dutch trade or not. He expressed a wish not to +have to leave Japan without knowing the result of his embassy, so as +to report it to the King of Spain. Viscaino’s listeners expressed +great surprise at his accusations against the Dutch traders and +withdrew. On the following day they sent a message, saying that they +had reported all he had told them to the emperor; that as they knew +he intended to spend some time in Japan, an answer would be sent +him before his departure for New Spain; that he was to go in God’s +name to the Port of Uraga. On his return to that port, he found +that the emperor had cut off the free supply of food and lodgings +which had heretofore been given to Viscaino. Viscaino interprets +this act as a token of the displeasure the emperor was said to have +felt at the Spanish embassy having visited the court of his son, the +shogun, before his. He also accuses the emperor of an avarice which +was increasing with advancing years, and makes other derogatory +remarks concerning the aged monarch. A few days later the Spaniards +entered the domain of the shogun, who sought to make amends for his +father’s abrupt action, and attributed it to the influence of his +counsellors. Notwithstanding Viscaino’s report against the emperor, +he boasts further on of his embassy not having cost his king one +hundred pesos, or dollars--a fact, however, which he attributes to +the shogun’s generosity and to his own practical wisdom and industry, +which enabled him, as he said, “to make a quarter of a dollar of his +Majesty’s treasury appear like a million.” + +A series of disappointments awaited the Spaniards at Uraga. Their +sale of stuffs did not yield as much as they expected, for being +unknown to them, the Japanese did not appreciate the real value of +the finest woolen cloths and friezes, and would not buy them. Then, +when the cost of building a vessel was estimated, it was found to +exceed by far the means at their command; so it was determined to +repair and strengthen the vessel they had come in, and to make the +survey of the ports in it alone. It was found necessary before +starting to apply to the shogun not only for credentials to the lords +and princes who resided in the north of Japan and were not on good +terms with the emperor, but also for the escort of a high official, +who, in the name of the shogun, was to oblige people to furnish the +necessary provisions and all assistance needed in making the survey. +The shogun, who was under the influence of Friar Luis Sotelo, and +showed a decided leaning towards Christianity, sent kindly messages +to Viscaino, and expressed the wish to see and speak with him at +length on his return concerning the friendly relations between his +country and the Spanish nation. He also sent word, through the +commander of the junks, that he had heard that Viscaino had given up +building the vessel for lack of means, and he deplored his father’s +parsimoniousness. He expressed the desire that the emperor’s license +to build the vessel be transferred to him, as he would like to carry +out the plan himself. Viscaino states that he gave him the imperial +permit on account of being under obligations to him, and as it was +important not to offend him on account of his friendliness towards +Christians. Viscaino caused, however, a document to be drawn, in +which he ventured to impose the following conditions upon the +shogun:-- + + “The ship was not to carry more than one hundred tons. It was + to be placed under his entire command; only two Japanese were + to go as stewards of the ship and of its cargo. Not a cent was + to be spent on the vessel by the Spaniards, but, on arrival + at Vera Cruz, if the viceroy desired to buy the ship, it was + to be given him at a moderate price. If not wanted, it was to + sail for Manila, or wherever the viceroy might command.” + +It is needless to state that these conditions, which Viscaino +attempted to impose upon the Japanese ruler who was to defray the +entire expense of the building, were never fulfilled. What happened +will be told later on. While at Uraga, Viscaino had a memorable +interview with William Adams, the staunch partisan of his former +employers, the Dutch, for whom, in 1611, he had obtained permission +to establish a ship-building factory at Firando. Two Dutchmen had +arrived at Uraga while Viscaino was there, carrying many presents for +the emperor, who through William Adams’ influence received them very +well, and gave them all the permits and grants they asked for. In +their name Adams went to see the Spanish general, and demanded from +him an explanation as to “why he had told the emperor that the Dutch +were a bad people, who were disobedient and in revolt against their +king, and who went about robbing and creating trouble.” Viscaino’s +characteristic answer, which is verbally given, was, “that it was +perfectly true that he had said all that to the emperor, and much +more besides, and that he had fallen short of the truth in describing +what the Dutch were. He ended by stating that he was ready to give +them any satisfaction they desired.” He adds, “that it was agreed +that the Dutchmen were to meet him, but that they did not dare to +do so and adopted the alternative of leaving Uraga at night without +seeing him.” + +Viscaino little imagined when he wrote thus disparagingly of the +Hollanders, that these same men were about to secure a monopoly of +Japanese trade which was to last for as many centuries as the dynasty +of the Tokugawas. + +The above encounter, in which William Adams called Viscaino to +account, is of special interest, for it was to him that Friar Cavo +attributes the total failure of Viscaino’s embassy, and the fresh +persecution of the Catholics which began at about this time. + +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. + +The old emperor evidently resented the criticism of his action--even +from his friends, for he loftily answered, “that if the English +and Dutch would not grant such a permission, they must indeed be +cowardly, since they admitted fear of another nation.” He said that +“he had certainly not understood that the Spaniards had any such evil +intentions, but that even if they had, he would have given them as +ample a permission as he had done. He would have no fear even if the +whole of Spain came against him, for he had enough men to defend him, +so that this matter did not cause him the slightest anxiety. As to +the islands that were to be discovered in his realm, he would like to +know where they were--what report had been made about them and what +their riches were reputed to be. If they belonged to his crown, he +would know how to defend them, and if not, he wished the Spaniards +good luck in discovering them, and he hoped that they would find +them situated at a convenient distance, so that he could enter into +mercantile relations with them, this being what he cared for most.” +The Dutchmen then told him that the rumor of the existence of these +islands was attributable to some Portuguese, who, being lost at sea, +had come across them. They had spent several days on them, saw that +they were inhabited, and that the land was fertile and produced gold +and silver, but they could not tell in what latitude, nor at how +many leagues from Japan the islands were situated. + +The emperor somewhat sarcastically rejoined that “it would certainly +require great good fortune for any one to discover anything so vague.” + +Although the Dutchmen were dissatisfied at the way in which the +emperor had received their communications, they evidently bore fruit. +Soon after, a Portuguese frigate arrived, with Don Nuño de Sotomayor, +the Admiral of the Fleet of the Indies, as ambassador to Iyeyasu and +the shogun. With the presents he offered, he made a request that the +Portuguese be allowed to return to trade in Japan, stating that they +would like to do so under certain conditions, the principal one being +the removal of the governor of Nagasaki, against whom they had made +some complaint. The emperor received them coolly and simply said that +“if they desired to come to his country, they might do so, but that +it was not for them to ask him to reform things therein, and that he +did not wish to grant their request.” The Portuguese left without +obtaining more than this rebuff, and “with evil disposition towards +the Japanese.” + +Doubtless the enemies of the Spaniards likewise brought to Iyeyasu’s +notice a disagreeable little episode which occurred at about that +time, and cited it as an example of Spanish commercial dishonesty. +It seems that no less a personage than a son of the commander of +the junks had entrusted a member of Don Rodrigo Vivero’s suite with +a quantity of valuable merchandise, which was taken to Mexico and +sold there. From the proceeds the Spaniards were to buy certain +woolen stuffs and fine cloths for the Japanese nobleman’s household. +The latter learned, on Viscaino’s arrival, that the Japanese goods +had been sold in Mexico, and also that Vivero’s follower had +sent him nothing in return. It seems that it was with difficulty +that the ambassador pacified the incensed creditor, and tried to +exonerate Vivero from all blame, stating that he doubtless knew +nothing about his follower’s affairs. In order to hush the matter +up, however, Viscaino and the Franciscan friars jointly compensated +the Japanese lord with woolen stuffs of the value of seven hundred +dollars. Commenting on this, Viscaino expresses himself as follows, +unconsciously rendering a tribute to Japanese commercial honesty, at +that period:-- + + “This transaction was wrong and deserving of + punishment--especially with people like these, who are so + punctual and exact, and are unacquainted with such dealings.” + +Unfortunately, about this period, a high official in the house +of the aged emperor was found guilty of an unprecedented act of +deceitfulness and treachery, and, on being tortured, confessed that +not only he but his wife and other fellow servants had been converted +to Christianity by the Spanish friars. All were arrested and +threatened with punishment and the confiscation of their property if +they did not abjure their new faith. Many remained firm and incurred +disgrace and loss of property, among them the lady Julia, who was +expelled from the palace with shorn head and exiled to an island. + +Shortly afterwards, under pretext of having to extend the boundaries +of the town, the Franciscan monastery at Yedo was destroyed, and +throughout the country the Christian churches and monasteries were +razed to the ground. An ill-timed speech delivered by Viscaino +during his visit to a Japanese lord was also doubtless reported to +the emperor, and must have prejudiced him still more against the +Spanish influence. Viscaino had assured his Japanese host “that the +latter could not give greater satisfaction to the King of Spain +than by allowing the friars to enter his domain and preach to his +vassals--thus establishing permanent peace. For the King of Spain,” +he said, “did not care about trade with Japan, nor any temporal +interests, for God had given him many kingdoms and dominions. The +only inducement that his Christian Majesty had (to enter into +relations with Japan) was a pious desire that all nations should be +taught the holy Catholic faith, and thus be saved.” + +While the emperor, under the influence of his English and Dutch +protestant advisers, daily took more active measures to expel the +Roman catholicism introduced by the Spaniards and Portuguese, +Viscaino was sailing northward, surveying ports and thickly populated +islands, and bestowing upon them the names of his patron saints! He +little thought, as he took his soundings, and in the absence of a +Spanish cosmographer, superintended the drawing of his charts by a +Japanese artist, that he had become the unconscious educator of the +Japanese, and that they, and never the Spaniards, were to make sole +use of the results of his trained skill. + +His charts, of which he duly sent the promised copies to the +emperor and shogun, were examined with great interest by more than +one Japanese nobleman. One lord, the coast of whose domain he had +surveyed, sent him presents and a message, saying “that he much +esteemed the trouble Viscaino was taking in discovering towns of his +dominion, that he was delighted to hear that there were good ports in +his land, and that he would much like to see the map of demarcation +and the paintings which had been made.” + +Everywhere Viscaino and his companions were well received and +generously entertained. Friar Luis Sotelo accompanied him for part +of the time, and was with him when he visited Masumane, the powerful +Lord of Oxo, who had displayed such interest in Spanish musketry at +Yedo. This prince welcomed the Spanish general, and particularly +Friar Sotelo, with utmost affection, respect and reverence, and +insisted upon serving food and drink to them with his own hands. As a +pledge of a friendship which he faithfully kept, he changed his sword +for Viscaino’s dagger, and, on receiving this, kissed its crossed +handle, and placed it on his head. He displayed his socialistic +tendencies and esteem for Christians by bestowing a title on one of +his own servants, who was a convert, and by inviting him to dine with +him and his Spanish Christian friends. Thereupon, naturally enough, +many other members of Prince Masumane’s household crowded around the +friar, kissed the hem of his robe, and announced their intention +to frequent the Franciscan monastery and study the Christian +religion. Masumane from the first exhibited the greatest interest and +inclination towards the Catholic faith, proved himself a true friend +and protector of the Christians, and ultimately became a convert with +all of his family, and a large number of his vassals. + +At the beginning of December, General Viscaino had reached 40 degrees +north latitude. On interrogating the natives he found that they knew +the use of the compass, and was told that there was a distance of +about sixty leagues from the extremity of Japan to Corea, and that +before reaching Tartary, in the channel lay a great island called +Yeso, which was inhabited by people like savages who were so covered +by hair that only their eyes were visible, and who habitually visited +Japan in the months of July and August for trading purposes. Intense +cold set in, and as Viscaino concluded that ports situated on the +northwestern and southeastern shores of Japan would be of little use +to vessels trading from the Philippines, he decided to return to +Uraga, where he arrived on the 4th of January and met the members of +his crew who had remained behind. He lingered at Uraga until the end +of May selling his woolen stuffs at Yedo, “with difficulty and poor +profits,” and then started on a survey of the coast lying between +Uraga and Nagasaki. + +He first went to Ito, however, where, as agreed upon, the ship was +being built by Japanese workmen under the patronage of the shogun. +He found that beyond the preparing of the timber nothing had been +done to advance its construction, and was struck by the lukewarmness +and slowness with which the work was progressing. The general gave +instructions to the shipbuilders by word and by letter, and then +proceeded on his journey. On returning to Miaco on July 2, he had +four copies made of his survey charts, or as he calls them his +“Discovery of Japanese Ports,” these being intended for Iyeyasu, the +shogun, the King of Spain and himself. From Corunga, a week later, +he sent a message to the emperor, asking permission to start on his +homeward voyage. It is evident that the emperor understood that +Viscaino intended to sail directly to New Spain, for he sent word +that Viscaino was to go on to Uraga, whither his answer would reach +him, and there the emperor sent him a gift and a letter for the +Viceroy of Mexico. The fact of his not sending any letter or gift to +the King of Spain by Viscaino proved that he, probably enlightened by +William Adams, had not taken very seriously Viscaino’s pretence to be +the ambassador of the king as well as of the viceroy. Viscaino, who +had been informed that the emperor was so incensed at the Christians, +on account of the treachery in his household, that no Christian dared +approach him, complains that the emperor’s answer to the viceroy was +very different from what had been promised, since in it his Majesty +wrote “that he did not like” the Christian religion. + +The complete text of this remarkable letter has just been published +by Señor Lera, who wrongly states, however, on page 23, that Spanish +translations of both letters are contained on page 185, Vol. VIII, +of the “Documentos Ineditos,” and on page 22, that the first galleon +which sailed from Uraga for Acapulco carried six letters to the +viceroy. + +In Iyeyasu’s letter, dated July 18, 1612, which closes the +official correspondence between him and the viceroy of New Spain, +he courteously thanks the viceroy for his presents and letter, +and “expresses the hope that Heaven will permit that their mutual +relations will be as close as those which result from familiar +intercourse between neighboring countries.” He remarks “that the +interchange of merchandise could but be of mutual advantage”; and +then expounds the elements of the Japanese religion, explaining that +“in Japan, in making solemn compacts or agreements, it was customary +to appeal to the gods to act as witnesses of their sincerity. These +gods infallibly reward those who are faithful to their promises, and +punish those who violate them.” Iyeyasu next asks, “whether the path +of all virtue is not to be found in the practice of the five virtues: +Humanity, Justice, Courtesy, Prudence, and Fidelity?” + +He then makes a statement which reveals too well what unfortunate +experiences he had had in his dealings with the very people whose +intercourse he had cordially desired for many years, and what +erroneous ideas concerning the Christian religion had reached him in +his seclusion within his palace walls, for he says:-- + + “The doctrine followed in your country differs entirely from + ours, therefore, I am persuaded it would not suit us.” + +“In the Buddhist writings it says that it is difficult to convert +those who are not disposed towards being converted. It is best, +therefore, to put an end to the preaching of your doctrine on our +soil. + +“On the other hand, you can multiply the voyages of merchant ships, +and thus promote mutual interests and relations. Your ships can +enter Japanese ports without exception. I have given strict orders +to this effect.” The presents sent with this letter are said to have +been “five pairs of gilt screens and a map of Japan.” + +The shogun’s letter was brief and reserved, but entirely friendly. +He gives thanks for the viceroy’s letter and presents, states “that +intercourse and inclination, mocking at distance, have brought them +together as neighbors,” and adds “that he would await with impatience +the merchant vessel, which, once a year, was to bring him news of the +viceroy and his nation.” + +In conclusion he mentions three breast-plates and other pieces of +Japanese armor, which he begs the viceroy “to accept as a proof of +his devotion.” + +At the time this letter was written, the shogun, who did not share +his father’s views, and was under the influence of Friar Luis Sotelo, +was preparing to send an embassy to New Spain on his own account, +with a view of counteracting his father’s severity and establishing +direct relations between New Spain and his own domain. + +The first step towards the execution of his plan had been his request +to Viscaino to transfer to him the emperor’s license to build a +vessel, and it would seem as though the whole affair had been kept a +profound secret from his father and from General Viscaino. As soon as +the latter had departed, presumably for New Spain, the rigging and +fitting up of the vessel, which seems to have been purposely delayed, +were rapidly completed. Five weeks after Viscaino’s departure, Friar +Sotelo sailed from Uraga for New Spain with credentials appointing, +him the shogun’s ambassador, and with a numerous suite of Japanese. +They had barely reached the open sea, however, when they were +overtaken by a storm which drove their ship upon the rocky coast and +completely wrecked it. The fact that when building it the dimensions +planned by Viscaino had been altered and the probability that the +Japanese were as yet unskilled in the navigation of similar vessels +may in part account for the loss of the vessel. The shogun, who, for +unknown reasons, cast the entire responsibility and blame for the +disaster upon Friar Sotelo, had him cast into prison and sentenced +to death. He released and pardoned him, however, at the instance of +Masumane, who took Friar Sotelo to his court and made him his chief +counsellor. + +While all this was occurring at Uraga, General Viscaino was cruising +about in search of the two islands, for it had never been his +intention to sail for New Spain until he had accomplished what he +and his father, the viceroy, had decided to be the principal aim of +his voyage, namely, the discovery of the islands described by the +Portuguese mariners. To his chagrin, he had had to give up setting +out with the second ship, as he had planned from the beginning, for +it had been built of a greater capacity, and although he had seen it +actually afloat at Uraga, it could not be finished before he left. + +On the 16th of September, Viscaino, with a reduced crew, and short +of many necessary provisions, sailed from Uraga. On the 25th, +after covering more than two hundred leagues, he found himself in +the latitude in which, according to certain charts, the islands +were supposed to lie. Finding no sign of these, the general held a +consultation with the pilots on board as to what would be the best +method to pursue in searching for them. All agreed to sail southward +to 32 degrees of latitude, and did so, coming across many signs of +a proximity to land, such as floating pieces of pumice stone, ducks +and turtles. But they did not find the islands. The general, who it +is recorded would not allow himself to think of returning to Acapulco +until he had ascertained whether the islands existed or not, gave +orders to retrace the ship’s course. They continued their search with +extraordinary diligence until October 12th, when some of the sailors +became disheartened. The pilot then declared that, to his belief, +the islands did not exist, and that he had exceeded his obligations +and the viceroy’s orders. Some of the crew mutinied, and, as he had +no armed men to back him, the general, to avoid being killed, was +obliged to pacify them with good words. On the 14th a violent storm +overtook them, followed on the 18th by a hurricane which obliged them +to cut down the mainmast. For eleven days they were in great peril, +and suffered from lack of water and food, all cooking utensils having +been washed overboard. Giving themselves up as lost, and realizing +the importance of continuing their voyage to New Spain, they held a +consultation and decided that there was nothing to do but return to +Japan, obtain a loan from the emperor, which their king would approve +of, and make preparations to go back to New Spain in the following +year. With a vessel which owed its escape from foundering to the +lining which had been given it in Uraga, they reached this port, +where further trials and deceptions awaited them. + +The first news learned by Viscaino, on reaching the harbor of Uraga, +was the history of the shogun’s attempt to send an embassy and the +loss of his vessel. The following is his characteristic comment on +this disaster:-- + + “We found on reaching Uraga that the ship ‘San Sebastian’ had + sailed and had run aground about a league from port, because + the Japanese had insisted on carrying out their will, and had + loaded it without permission from the Spaniards. The Japanese + recognized their mistake.” + +On landing, Viscaino at once sent messages to Iyeyasu and the shogun, +announcing his return and explaining his misfortunes and the absolute +necessity there was for him to obtain means to fit himself out for +his return journey to Mexico in the following year. + +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 +order to take all to Yedo for sale, the majority of his men excused +themselves, some hid their belongings and others sold them secretly +and deserted. Being powerless, as he says, to “exercise the power of +royal justice,” Viscaino confesses that he thought it best “to be +silent and dissimulate.” So he collected all he possessed and went to +Yedo to dispose of it, with the intention of paying his debts, and +then meeting the expenses of his return voyage by taking freight and +Spanish and Japanese passengers on his vessel. + +The Spaniards agreed to this and some Japanese were inclined to +do so, when another friar of the same order crossed Viscaino’s +plans--not only hindering the sale of his effects and the realization +of his project, but also preventing Japanese merchants from even +visiting the general’s lodgings. + +After making certain accusations against the friar, who seems to have +been no other than Luis Sotelo, Viscaino describes how he became so +discouraged that he actually fell ill. He was rapidly growing worse +when a new vista suddenly opened out before him. Agents sent by Lord +Masumane arrived, and offered to employ him and his men to build a +vessel and to navigate it, when ready, to New Spain. Viscaino, who +had had to relinquish all hope of ever being able to return in his +own ship, which had become unseaworthy, only too gladly drew up a +contract, the terms of which were, as he states, most favorable to +his Majesty, the King of Spain. Masumane’s agents undertook not only +to give the remainder of the Spanish crew, consisting of twenty-six +pilots, carpenters and other workmen, the same salary they had +been receiving from the crown, but also to advance them good wages +and free transportation for themselves and their belongings to the +prince’s domain. + +General Viscaino, the royal constable, the surgeon and three or four +other officers were to remain in the pay of the Spanish crown, but +were to have free board and lodgings from the time they embarked +until they reached Acapulco. Over and above these terms of agreement, +which were faithfully kept by the Japanese, Viscaino imposed upon the +agents two conditions which Masumane did not subsequently recognize. +The first of these was that all employees, whether Japanese or +Spaniards, were to be exclusively under the general’s orders. The +second was that, if, previous to sailing, no permission was received +from the viceroy of Mexico for Japanese to go to New Spain, only a +few Japanese were to be allowed to fill menial positions on board, +and only in case they were needed. This clause, similar to that +introduced by Viscaino in his previous contract, absolutely confirms +the statement of the Japanese merchants who returned from New Spain +and reported that they had been asked not to return, and shows that +the vice-regal government of Mexico had received orders from Spain +to follow a policy of exclusion in order to protect Spanish-Asiatic +trade. + +It was not until the 26th of October, 1613, that the vessel was ready +for the voyage. Viscaino complains of having had great trouble with +the Japanese, and of suffering much from the constant interference of +“a friar who had persuaded the Japanese to help him to further a plan +he had in mind.” At the last moment, Viscaino relates, “the friar +took entire command of everything, embarked as many Japanese as he +wanted, and constituted himself Governor and Captain General of the +vessel.” The friar was no less a personage than Friar Luis Sotelo, +whose previous expedition as the shogun’s ambassador had ended so +disastrously. This time he and a Japanese nobleman, named Hasekura +Rokuyemon, set out as co-ambassadors for Masumane, the Lord of Oxo, +with a suite of one hundred and eighty Japanese, including sixty +Samurai and several merchants. They were provided with letters not +only to the viceroy of Mexico, but also to the King of Spain and to +Pope Paul V. + +Viscaino pathetically records that he protested in vain, and finally, +in order to avert a great disaster, was forced “to dissimulate and to +embark as a mere passenger” upon the ship he and his men had built. +He adds that the humor of the Japanese was such that they actually +would have killed him had he attempted to do otherwise. + +It would seem as though Viscaino left the vessel at the first Mexican +port which was touched, for it is from Zacatula, north of Acapulco, +that Viscaino dispatched, on January 22, 1614, his report to his +father, Don Luis de Velasco, then living in Spain, and whom he +probably soon joined. He seems to have ended his days in obscurity, +for the date of his death was unknown to his Mexican biographer, +Beristian. + +The somewhat lengthy superscription of Viscaino’s report conclusively +reveals the true aim of his embassy, which he took such pains to +conceal from the Japanese, but of which they were informed by William +Adams and his Dutch friends. It reads as follows:-- + + “Account of the voyage made for the discovery of the Islands + named ‘The Rich in Gold and Silver,’ situated in Japan, Don + Luis de Velasco being Viceroy of New Spain, and his son, + Sebastian Viscaino, the General of the Expedition.” + +Here ends the history of the first and last Spanish vice-regal +ambassador to Japan. + +Friar Sotelo’s arrival in Mexico as the ambassador of the Protector +of Christianity in Japan, and with a flock of would-be converts, +was regarded as a triumph of the church and particularly of the +deservedly much loved Franciscan order. At Acapulco, the town +officials determined to honor the members of an embassy to the +viceroy, the king and the pope with extraordinary honors, and greeted +it with salutes of artillery. Its members were escorted with music to +luxuriously appointed lodgings, and the festivities were crowned by +a gala bull-fight. The viceroy sent orders that provisions for the +journey to the capital were to be provided, and a large mounted and +armed escort was to accompany the embassy on its long and somewhat +perilous journey. In all villages, towns and cities along their route +the travelers were received with military music and triumphal arches. +Carpets strewn with pieces of gold were spread on their pathway, and +they were lodged and lavishly entertained at the royal houses. In +the capital, where they were anxiously expected, they were lodged in +a palace near the Convent of San Francisco, where they were at once +visited by the archbishop, the judges and officers of the inquisition +and the high nobility and gentlemen of Mexico. + +Having opportunely arrived in Holy Week, the Japanese were able to +witness the solemn processions and impressive religious ceremonies +held in the cathedral and churches of Mexico, the interiors of which +were beautifully decorated with flowers. They were so impressed with +what they saw that seventy-eight members of the Japanese ambassador’s +suite expressed their desire to be baptized. This sacrament was +performed in the Church of San Francisco with great solemnity and +the sanction of the archbishop’s presence, members of the highest +nobility acting as sponsors. Subsequently the Japanese ambassador +expressed his desire to be baptized, but after consultation the +archbishop and the commissary-general of the Franciscan order advised +him to defer this ceremony until his arrival at the Spanish court. + +It is recorded that on the day the Japanese ambassador went to “kiss +the hand” of the viceroy, he distributed new liveries to his servants +and went in state to the palace, with a mounted escort. + +The viceroy, Don Diego Fernandez de Cordova, Marquis of Guadalcazár, +who received him with great delight and courtesy, expressed his +satisfaction at the embassy’s having been sent from Japan. He +consented to give the Japanese passports allowing them to go to +Spain, but informed them that it would be necessary for them to +obtain from the King of Spain permission to return to Mexico; a +detail which again reveals the existence of an established policy of +exclusion. + +On account of the difficulties of transporting so many persons, +it was decided that the majority of the ambassador’s suite was to +remain in Mexico. The baptized converts were sent back to Acapulco, +and the few merchants who had accompanied the embassy remained in +the country, doubtless studying its products and manufactories. The +mercantile relations with Mexico, which are said in the “Japanese +History of Commerce” to have been kept up until 1636, when they +entirely ceased, were probably established by these merchants and +limited to Masumane’s domain. + +Friar Sotelo, Masumane’s ambassador, his relatives and the sixty +Samurai departed for Vera Cruz, visiting Puebla, where bull-fights +and tournaments were held in their honor, and where they were lodged +in the Franciscan monastery. + +On the 10th of June, after spending four and a half months in Mexico, +the embassy embarked in one of the best Spanish vessels and, escorted +by the fleet commanded by General Antonio de Oquendo, reached Havana +a fortnight later, and finally landed in Spain on the 5th of October, +1614. + +The embassy was received with honors in Madrid, where the baptism of +the ambassador was celebrated. He was given the name of the king, who +probably acted as his sponsor, and that of Francis, the founder of +Friar Sotelo’s order. + +Friar Cavo states that “this embassy did not succeed in establishing +commercial relations between Spain and Japan on account of the +persecution of Christians going on in the latter country.” It is +obvious, however, that no diplomatic negotiations could possibly +have been entered into by the King of Spain with ambassadors who were +sent by one of the feudal lords and not by the emperor of the country +whence they came. + +After a very short stay in Madrid, during which, however, the King +of Spain appointed Friar Sotelo his court preacher, the embassy +went to Rome, where the friars and Hasekura Phillip Francis were +received in audience by the Pope on the 3rd of November, 1615. It is +recorded that after being presented to his Holiness they read him, +probably with a view of obtaining his support, Latin translations +of Masumane’s letters, in which the prince cordially invited +Franciscan friars to his domain, promised to protect all converts +to the Catholic faith, expressed his desire to hold friendship with +his Catholic Majesty, the King of Spain, and to enter into direct +commercial relations with Mexico. + +The Franciscan friar, Gregorio Petrocha, then made an address, +and a Monsignor answered for the Pope, expressing his joy at the +embassy, his benevolent acceptance of the homage and reverence paid +to the Apostolic See by the “King,” Masumane, who, he hoped, would +soon follow his pious inclination and be baptized. The embassy was +dismissed with presents and a letter for Masumane. + +Beristian states that a painting from life of Friar Sotelo and +Hasekura is preserved in the Quirinal Palace, in the ante-chamber of +the chapel. + +Señor Lera’s publication contains the only statement I have been able +to find concerning the date of the return of Masumane’s embassy to +Japan. He says that after an absence of six years it reached Nagasaki +in 1620. This prolonged absence seems to indicate that it would have +been dangerous for them to have returned sooner on account of the +emperor’s persecution of the Christians, and the proscription of +their religion. It is not impossible that some of these converted +Japanese remained permanently in Mexico. + +Three years after the return of the embassy Iyeyasu died under tragic +circumstances, and was succeeded by his grandson, Iyemitsu, who, in +1624, issued an edict ordering away all foreigners and interdicting +Christianity. + +In the following year Friar Sotelo, with several companions, was +burned alive at Bomura, thus realizing, as is quaintly said, “the +desire with which he had come to Japan, to win a martyr’s crown.” + +In 1636 all commercial relations with New Spain ceased, and in 1638 +the Portuguese were expelled from Japan, and all ports were closed +to foreign traffic. The Dutch alone were tolerated as traders and +settlers, but the latter were virtually imprisoned on the peninsula +of Dashima, where they had a factory. + +Iyemitsu completed the system inaugurated by his predecessor, and +put an end to Japanese trade and intercourse with foreign countries +by issuing an edict forbidding his subjects to leave their country, +under pain of capital punishment. He also ordered the destruction of +all vessels of European pattern belonging to Japan. From that time to +1854, when Commander Perry made a treaty with the shogunate at Uraga, +Japan “maintained a most rigid policy of isolation.” + +The foregoing history of the events which followed Iyeyasu’s attempt +to establish commercial relations with New Spain, based on original +documents only and here presented for the first time, explains +some of the reasons why, later on, the same emperor decided that +intercourse with European nations positively endangered the integrity +and future of Japan. + +All had been simple at first when the Portuguese, regularly meeting +Japanese merchants at the Island of Hirado, traded by barter and +exported from Japan on an average of over three million dollars +a year in gold. The three Portuguese Jesuit missionaries, St. +Francis Xavier, Torres, and Fernandez, who landed in the Province +of Satsuma in 1549, met with unexpected success in introducing the +Catholic religion. The arrival of certain Spanish Franciscan friars, +sent on a mission to Miaco by the governor of Manila, divided the +Christian foreigners and converts in Japan into two rival parties, +one consisting of the Portuguese Jesuits backed by the merchants of +their own country, the other of the Spanish Franciscans supported by +the Manila merchants, who bitterly resented the Portuguese monopoly +of Japanese trade. The arrival of the Spanish Dominicans caused +still further complications; the dissensions among the members and +followers of the three orders giving direct provocation to the +persecution of Christians by the Japanese government. In order to +establish peace, Pope Gregory XIII in 1585 issued a Bull forbidding +all religious orders but that of the Jesuits to exercise priestly +offices in Japan. + +Vivero, the first Spanish official who landed in Japan, made efforts +to poison the emperor’s mind against the Portuguese, with a view of +securing the monopoly of gold exportation for the Spaniards. Vivero +and the viceroy of Mexico also ignored Iyeyasu’s request for the +expert Mexican miners, whom he had wished to employ to teach the +Japanese the best methods of working their own gold mines. + +Viscaino, the first Spanish ambassador, maligned the Dutch, with +whom a commercial treaty had just been made, and went so far as to +threaten that if the Japanese intended to tolerate the Dutch, the +Spanish king would not allow his subjects to have dealings with +Japan. On the other hand, the protestant Dutch republicans, and their +influential English friend, William Adams, denounced the religion of +the Portuguese and Spaniards, and described the latter’s thirst for +gold and success in conquering many remote countries which yielded +the precious metal. + +The revelation that Viscaino’s secret mission was precisely to +discover an unknown source of gold, presumably belonging to his +dominion, was received by Iyeyasu simultaneously with the reproach +of having unsuspectingly granted permission to survey the Japanese +coast, which would unquestionably facilitate any future invasion of +Japan, whether actually intended or not by the Spaniards. It seems +possible that the existence of Viscaino’s charts may have suggested +to the emperor and his counsellors the idea of closing all Japanese +ports to foreign nations. + +The discoveries that certain converts made by Japanese missionaries +had pledged their allegiance to a foreign power; that in the +emperor’s own household Christians had been guilty of treachery and +duplicity, and the memory that missionaries, in open defiance of the +emperor’s orders, not only had preached in the streets of Miaco, +but had even erected a church, explain, moreover, why the ruling +class in Japan took alarm, and concluded that the Christian religion +“struck at the root of the political and religious systems of Japan,” +and that “Christians formed a dangerous and anti-national class, +whose extirpation was essential to the political system initiated by +Iyeyasu and perfected by Iyemitsu.” + +While it has seemed to me that the foregoing data concerning the +earliest relations between Japan and Mexico were interesting from a +historical point of view, I have also realized that they could but +be of particular value to ethnologists and those who are especially +interested in evidences of Asiatic influences in Mexico and Central +America. To them I venture to recommend the consideration of the +following facts:-- + +More or less frequent indirect intercourse between Japan and Mexico +undoubtedly took place as soon as communication was established +between the Philippine Islands and Acapulco. + +In 1608 there were fifteen thousand Japanese residing in the +Philippines, some of whom were probably employed in the crews of the +galleons, eight of which came to Acapulco each year. In 1610, with +the ex-governor of the Philippines, Vivero, twenty-three Japanese +noblemen and merchants spent five months in Mexico and its capital. + +In 1613, one hundred and eighty Japanese spent four and a half months +in Mexico. The majority remained when the embassy departed for +Europe, seventy-eight returning to Acapulco. The presumption is that +they remained there awaiting the return of the ambassadors, which was +delayed for six years. + +Iyemitsu’s prohibition to Japanese to leave their country, under +penalty of death, indicates that a large number of persecuted +Christians had been going into voluntary exile. In all probability +some of these, and also members of the Japanese colony in the +Philippines, came to Mexico and settled there. What is more, for +over two hundred years Mexico was the highroad over which passed the +merchandise brought from Spain’s Asiatic possessions, and landed at +Acapulco by vessels whose crews frequently were partly Asiatic. + +It is obvious, therefore, that it is the first duty of ethnologists +to assign to the above influx of Japanese into Mexico in historical +times any indications of Asiatic influence that they may detect, and +for anthropologists to consider the more or less limited mingling of +races which doubtless occurred in the 17th century and afterwards. + +I will set an example by attributing to the Japanese who visited +Mexico in the 17th century the introduction of the raincoat made of +grass or palm leaves, which is worn by the Indians inhabiting the +Pacific coast of Mexico, and which is said to be identical with that +used in Japan from time immemorial. + +In this connection it suffices to point out the significant fact that +the members of Masumane’s suite returned to Acapulco from the City of +Mexico in June, precisely at the beginning of the rainy season. It +being absolutely necessary for them to have some protection from the +torrential showers they were exposed to during their long journey, it +seems more than probable that they deftly manufactured from native +grasses or palm leaves such rain-coats as they had been accustomed to +make and wear in their native land. + +The practical lesson thus taught the observant natives and the models +furnished by the rain-coats discarded at the end of the wet season +would surely sufficiently account for the introduction and use to +the present day of these useful and easily manufactured garments, of +which a specimen, bought in the marketplace at Oaxaca, has been sent +by the writer to the Museum of the Department of Anthropology of the +University of California. + + + + + =UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS= + + =DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY= + + +The publications issued from the Department of Anthropology of the +University of California are sent in exchange for the publications +of anthropological societies and museums, for journals devoted +to general anthropology or to archaeology and ethnology, and for +specimens contributed to the museum collections of the Department. +They are also for sale at the prices stated, which include postage or +express charges. They consist of three series of octavo volumes, a +series of quarto memoirs, and occasional special volumes. + + +=AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY.= + + Vol. 1. No. 1. Life and Culture of the Hupa, by Pliny Earle + Goddard. Pages 88, Plates 30, September, 1903 + Price, 1.25 + + No. 2. Hupa Texts, by Pliny Earle Goddard. Pages 290, + March, 1904. Price, 3.00 + + Vol. 2. No. 1. The Exploration of the Potter Creek Cave, by + William J. Sinclair. Pages 27, Plates 14, April, + 1904 Price, .40 + + No. 2. The Languages of the Coast of California South + of San Francisco, by A. L. Kroeber. Pages 72, June, + 1904. Price, .60 + + No. 3. Types of Indian Culture in California, by A. L. + Kroeber. Pages 22, June, 1904. Price, .25 + + No. 4. Basket Designs of the Indians of Northwestern + California, by A. L. Kroeber. Pages 60, Plates 7, + January, 1905. Price, .75 + + No. 5. The Yokuts Language of South Central California, + by A. L. Kroeber (in press). + + Vol. 3. The Morphology of the Hupa Language, by Pliny Earle + Goddard. Pages 344, June, 1905. Price, 3.50 + + Vol. 4. No. 1. The Earliest Historical Relations between Mexico + and Japan, by Zelia Nuttall. Pages 47, April, 1906. + Price, .50 + + No. 2. Contributions to the Physical Anthropology of + California by A. Hrdlicka (in press). + + No. 3. Shoshonean Dialects of California, by A. L. + Kroeber (in press). + + No. 4. Indian Myths from South Central California, by + A. L. Kroeber (in press). + + No. 5. The Geography of the Pomo Indians, by S. A. + Barrett (in preparation). + + Vol. 5. No. 1. The Phonology of the Hupa Language: Part 1, + The Individual Sounds, by Pliny Earle Goddard (in + press). + + No. 2. Navaho Myths, Prayers and Songs with Texts + and Translations, by Washington Matthews, edited + by Pliny Earle Goddard (in press). + + + + + =GRAECO-ROMAN ARCHAEOLOGY.= + + Vol. 1. The Tebtunis Papyri, Part 1. Edited by Bernard P. + Grenfell, Arthur S. Hunt, and J. Gilbart Smyly. + Pages 690, Plates 9, 1903 Price, $16.00 + + Vol. 2. The Tebtunis Papyri, Part 2 (in preparation). + + Vol. 3. The Tebtunis Papyri, Part 3 (in preparation). + + + =EGYPTIAN ARCHAEOLOGY.= + + Vol. 1. The Hearst Medical Papyrus. Edited by G. A. Reisner. + Hieratic text in 17 facsimile plates in collotype, + with introduction and vocabulary. Quarto, pages 48. + Now ready. + + Vol. 2. The Predynastic Cemetery at Naga-ed-Der. The + Archaeological Material, by A. M. Lythgoe (in + preparation). + + Vol. 3. The Predynastic Cemetery at Naga-ed-Der. The + Anatomical Material, by Elliott Smith (in + preparation). + + Vol. 4. The Early Dynastic Cemeteries at Naga-ed-Der. By + G. A. Reisner (in press). + + Vol. 5. The Cemetery of the Second and Third Dynasties at + Naga-ed-Der, by A. C. Mace (in preparation). + + Vol. 6. The Cemetery of the Third and Fourth Dynasties at + Naga-ed-Der, by G. A. Reisner (in preparation). + + Vol. 7. The Coptic Cemeteries of Naga-ed-Der, by A. C. Mace + (in preparation). + + + =ANTHROPOLOGICAL MEMOIRS.= + + Vol. I. Explorations in Peru, by Max Uhle (in preparation). + No. 1. The Ruins of Moche. + No. 2. Huamachuco, Chincha, Ica. + No. 3. The Inca Buildings of the Valley of Pisco. + + + =SPECIAL VOLUMES.= + + The Book of the Life of the Ancient Mexicans, containing an + account of their rites and superstitions; an anonymous + Hispano-American manuscript preserved in the Biblioteca + Nazionale Centrale, Florence, Italy. Reproduced in fac-simile, + with introduction, translation, and commentary, by Zelia + Nuttall. + + Part I. Preface, Introduction, and 80 Fac-simile plates in + colors. 1903. + Part II. Translation and Commentary. (In press). + Price for the two parts $25.00 + + The Department of Anthropology, Its History and Plan, 1905. + + + =ASTRONOMY.=--W. W. Campbell, Editor. + =Publications of the Lick Observatory.=--Volumes I–V + completed. Volume VI (in progress). + + =BOTANY.=--W. A. Setchell, Editor. Price per volume $3.50. + Volume I (pp. 418) completed. Volume II (in progress). + + =EDUCATION.=--Elmer E. Brown, Editor. Price per volume $2.50. + + =GEOLOGY.=--Bulletin of the Department of Geology. Andrew C. + Lawson, Editor. Price per volume $3.50. Volumes I (pp. 428), + II (pp. 450) and III (475), completed. Volume IV (in + progress). + + =PATHOLOGY.=--Alonzo Englebert Taylor, Editor. Price per + volume $2.00. Volume I (in progress). + + =CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY.=--Edward B. Clapp, William A. Merrill, + Herbert C. Nutting, Editors. Price per volume $2.00. + Volume I (in progress). + + =PHILOSOPHY.=--Volume I, completed. Price, $2.00 + + =PHYSIOLOGY.=--Jacques Loeb, Editor. Price per volume $2.00. + Volume I (pp. 217) completed. Volume II (pp. 215) completed. + Volume III (in progress). + + =ZOOLOGY.=--W. E. Ritter, Editor. Price per volume $3.50. + Volume I completed. Volume II completed. Volume III (in + progress). + + =UNIVERSITY CHRONICLE.=--An official record of University + life, issued quarterly, edited by a committee of the + faculty. Price, $1.00 per year. Current volume No. VIII. + + * * * * * + +Address all orders, or requests for information concerning the above +publications (except Astronomy) to =The University Press, Berkeley, +California=. + + + + +Transcriber’s Note: + + +Words and phrases in italics are surrounded by underscores, _like +this_. Those in bold are surrounded by equal signs, =like this=. +The list of University Publications was consolidated at the end of +the book. Footnotes were renumbered sequentially. Obvious printing +errors, such as partially printed letters and punctuation, were +corrected. Words may have inconsistent hyphenation in the text. Three +misspelled words were corrected. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77632 *** |