enty to do on this expedition, your Majesty, having been
advised in the meantime, will be able to order and declare the best
method to be pursued in this matter. To Captain Esteban Rodriguez
have been given troops, artillery, ammunition, and other supplies
on his account; and he will depart on his expedition within three
months, more or less, God willing. Besides this, report is due to your
Majesty of the despatch of letters and certain articles for the king
of Canboja by means of Diego Veloso. The former sent this man on an
embassy to my father when the latter was on his way in the expedition
to Maluco. When about to enter the harbor of Canboja, he [Veloso]
met the army and part of the fleet of the king of Sian who had begun
hostilities against the king of Canboja. The king of Sian inflicted
great damage upon the people and country of the king of Canboja,
causing him to withdraw to the mountains, as has been reported. Thus
Diego Veloso, and the others with him, had been captured and carried
away. But afterward God was minded to move the said king of Sian to
free him, and to send him with a ship and two elephants (male and
female), and a large tusk of another elephant, which were brought to
me. The king wrote me through a father of the Order of St. Francis,
[29] who was a captive there in Canboja with others, a letter, a copy
of which accompanies the present, and to which I will not refer,
in order not to make this letter longer. Occasion was offered by
this for the same ambassador, despatched now by the king of Sian,
and formerly by the king of Canboja, again to negotiate and ask for
help from me for the king of Canboja, for he had heard that the king
of Sian had repeated the past injuries; and as I did not acquiesce,
he gave me many causes and reasons which I shall not mention here,
but God willing, will state in a letter by way of Nueva Espana. As
the affair seemed urgent to me and very important, serious, and of
weighty consideration and promise, and one fitting to bring about
great things in the noble service of the divine majesty of God our
Lord, and of your Majesty, I discussed this matter, and considered
whether it would not be a better plan to make an expedition to Chanpa,
[30] as this is a very important passage and post. It is occupied by
a cruel and pernicious tyrant who commits and causes iniquities,
cruelties, and unheard-of treacheries. In the opinion of certain
persons who have been there, the capture of