He
promised the Japanese king to write about it for him, and to aid the
accomplishment of so just a desire. But he warned him that it would
be necessary to wait more than three years for the furtherance and
resolution of the matter, because of the distance and accidents of
so long voyages. It was ordered that the same Fray Geronymo himself
should deliver all this message to Dayfusama. Geronymo de Jesus was
written to in secret, instructing and reproving him. He was ordered
to tell the Japanese monarch that the governor esteemed his good will
exhibited toward the commerce and friendship of the Spaniards, and his
own great desire for them. He was to encourage him to keep the peace,
which the governor himself would keep without any infringement. But
he was ordered subtly to divert the king's mind from similar desires
and propositions, and not to facilitate any of them; for although
perhaps there were no hidden deceit in the then reigning monarch,
or any interest greater than that of friendship, it might cause great
harm in times of a less well-intentioned successor, who might abuse
the navigation, and turn it against those who taught it to them.
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