to us. As they are merchants,
it would not be surprising that they should do so. Does not your
Majesty think that it would be well to hasten this expedition, and
to do so at once? For, in truth, it is the most important thing that
could happen for the service of God and of your Majesty. We are told
that there are millions of men, and that their tribute to their king
is thirty millions or more.

71. The equipments necessary for this expedition are four or six
thousand men, armed with lances and arquebuses, and the ships,
artillery, and necessary munitions.

72. With two or three thousand men one can take whatever province he
pleases, and through its ports and fleet render himself the most
powerful on the sea. This will be very easy. In conquering one
province, the conquest of all is made.

73. The people would revolt immediately, for they are very badly
treated. They are infidels, and poor; and, finally, the kind treatment,
the evidences of power, and the religion which we shall show to them
will hold them firmly to us.

74. There is enough wood in these islands, and enough men to make a
great fleet of galleys. In all the islands a great many corsairs live,
from whom also we could obtain help for this expedition, as also from
the Japanese, who are the mortal enemies of the Chinese. All would
gladly take part in it. Some native corsairs would also join us,
and introduce us into the country.

75. The war with this nation is most just, for it gives freedom to
poor, wretched people who are killed, whose children are ravished by
strangers, and whom judges, rulers, and king treat with unheard-of
tyranny. Each speaks ill of his neighbor; and almost all of them
are pirates, when any occasion arises, so that none are faithful to
their king. Moreover, a war could be waged against them because they
prohibit people from entering their country. Besides, I do not know,
nor have I heard of, any wickedness that they do not practice; for
they are idolators, sodomites, robbers, and pirates, both by land
and sea. And in fact the sea, which ought to be free according to
the law of nations, is not so, as far as the Chinese are concerned;
for whosoever navigates within their reach is killed and robbed,
if they can do it. One day I called Captain Omocon, telling him in
confidence that I wished to send a ship to trade with China, and he
told me in friendship and all sincerity not to send that galley until
I had ten more well equipped to