On the twelfth day of June, in the year sixteen thirty, in this City of the Name of God in China, with the undersigned city officials, Captain-General Dom Hierónimo da Silveira, and court-appointed Judge Lopo de Lagares Passanha present, Councillor Diogo Fernandez Resgoto proposed changing the decision that had been taken by the chamber yesterday, the eleventh day of the month, after some priests had advised them to take care of affairs with Japan, now that the Captain-General had arrived in the city.
So although two citizens had already been chosen to go to Japan, according to the record entered into the first page of this book, the people agreed that the Captain-General should be begged to undertake this service in the name of God, the King and for the universal good of the people, Missions and Christian communities, since there is such a high risk of losing the trade on which the city depends, which would lead to significant losses.
Therefore the people wish the Captain-General to go to Japan, to the Court of the King, and in service to our King use his authority and noble standing to settle the problem of the junk that the Spanish seized in Siam. Knowing the qualities of both parties, and the Captain-General’s great prudence and zeal in serving our King and the Senado, he will likely succeed in this endeavour and gain the release of the ships that have been retained in Japan, and the trade will resume and continue as normal.
Therefore, after informing the Captain-General of their decision, and of the seriousness of this matter, and telling him what a great service he would pay to God and King, the city officials requested him to undertake this endeavour. The gentleman accepted with great willingness, determined to do everything in his power to make this affair successful, prepared to accept a certain risk to himself such was his desire to sacrifice himself to the many risks known to the officials, for he had no wish other than to be of service to the Lord God and his King, for the good of this republic. He understands that without the Japan trade, there are few other options for survival and defense against the enemy. Thus the Councillor asked the Captain-General and court-appointed judge to confirm the decision taken previously by the people.
With regard to sending a ship to Manila in September with such goods as there may be, to raise funds for the costly endeavour of the trip to Japan, the city officials will appoint a wealthy man able to load the ship with goods that will earn sufficient revenue to give to the Captain-General to carry out his endeavour. To approve all that was proposed, said, responded and confirmed for the record, they ordered me, the Scribe of the Council, to write out these Minutes which were signed by all present.
