Biography of Lu´ıs Cabrera y Sotelo OFM, Japan mis- sionary

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Sendai, Date Masamune (1567-1636); with an edict dated 23 November 1611,
the Daimyō permitted the free preaching of the Gospel and saved him from
the starting persecution of Christianity in Japan. In 1610, Date Masamune
sent him as a legate to New Spain (Mexico), Sotelo travelled on board of the
ship “San Buena Ventura”, which had been built by the English adventurer
William Adams (1564?-1620) for the Shōgun, together with 22 Japanese. The
Vice-King of Nueva-España sent him together with the Spanish discoverer
Sebastián Vizcaíno (1548-1625) back to Japan. Vizcaíno and Sotelo arrived
in Japan in 1611, but Vizcaíno behaved quite arrogant against the Japanese.
The Shōgun had built himself a galleon in the Spanish manner, the “San
Juan Bautista” (the ship was completed in only 45 days), to bring Vizcaíno
back to Mexico, Date Masamune was made the leader of the project. The
Japan delegation was led by Hasekura Rokuemon Tsunenaga (1571-1622),
a retainer of Date Masamune, captain was the samurai Yokozawa Shogen,
Sotelo was the European companion. They started on 28 October 1613 together
with 180 persons. The purpose of this delegation was among others to
promote the trade relations between Japan and Spain, to promote missionary
work, whereas Sotelo wanted to found a diocese in Japan, independent from
Portugal and the Jesuits. First they travelled to Mexico, then via Spain to
Rome.
In Madrid, they were received in a very honorable way by king Philipp III,
Hasekura Rakuemon Tsunenaga was baptized in Madrid on 17 February
1617. They travelled via France to Rome, where they were received by pope
Paul V. A second visit in Spain did not result in the desired trade relations,
because the Spanish king had the impression that the delegation was not
sent officially by the Shōgun. The pope appointed Sotelo Bishop of Northern
Honshu, but the Spanish administration refused the necessary recognition because
of the persecution of Christians in Japan, furthermore, Japan belonged
to the sphere of influence of the Portuguese Padroado, which had a diocese
in Funai (Nagasaki). Some of the Japanese remained in Spain, the rest of the
delegation started from Sevilla to Mexico in 1617. In 1618, Sotelo arrived on
the Philippines, whereas Hasekura travelled to Japan. Hias report about Europe
and the Spanish methods of colonialism surely contributed that Japan
stopped the commerce with Spain in 1623, and the diplomatic relations with
Spain, in 1624, too.
Sotelo also failed with his plans, to found a Franciscan custody in Japan independent
from Manila, he even had to abandon the privileges he had gained
in Rome and could not receive the bishop consecration. In 1620, he was sent
back to Mexico. Only in 1622, he succeeded to return secretly from the