lve monasteries
beside the ones already there--in all, forty-three; he has visited
the province and executed your Majesty's commands. And now lastly,
in the service of God and your Majesty, by the advice and consent
of the governor of those islands, under the persuasion and with the
sanction of the religious of that province, he comes again the third
time, bowed down with years and labors, and with thought for the
future, but disdaining the perils of this long and dangerous voyage,
to inform your Majesty of what is advisable for your royal service,
and for the welfare, increase, and conservation of that country. His
declaration follows:

1. That it will be very advisable for the service of God our Lord,
the merit of your Majesty, the welfare and relief of the natives of
those islands, the establishment and increase of the country, and the
relief of your Majesty's royal conscience that you have a large number
of religious provided for the conversion of those to be baptized,
and the maintenance in the faith of those already Christians; for,
because of lack of ministers, many fail to receive baptism, and to
acquire a knowledge of God our Lord. Further, for temporal welfare and
increase, they [the religious] are those who are of most importance;
for, wherever they are, the people are orderly and quiet, even if
not all converted, and there is a constant tendency for wealth to
increase. But where there are none, things tend toward waste and
the dissipation of wealth, which fact ample experience attests in
all parts of the Yndias. It is quite sure and certain that a hundred
ministers of the gospel effect more temporal and spiritual good than
a thousand soldiers.

2. That it would be very advantageous for the service of God our Lord,
and that of your Majesty, and for the welfare and relief of so infinite
a number of people as there are in the great kingdom of China, that
you order the continuation of that which you ordered twelve years ago,
and the execution of which was begun, although the effect attempted
was not followed up nor attained because of the hidden judgment
of God. This was for your Majesty to write to the king of China,
sending him, in token of affection and friendship, certain articles
of the products of this kingdom, which that kingdom does not have,
with a request for him to give audience to the ministers of God,
whom your Majesty should send him; to give license or permission
for ministers of the gospel to