dge of God, and we desire all that said power, means,
and gateway which His Divine Majesty has left and placed for this
attainment in these districts and region, choosing and selecting your
Majesty as the instrument for blessings and grandeurs, such as, with
His grace, can be attained, and appointing this port and garrison as
the gateway, staircase, and entrance for it. Therefore these and other
considerations give occasion for recommending earnestly and signifying
to your Majesty the importance thereof, in order that your Majesty
may send such a person as this matter requires and demands, who shall
attempt zealously and strive to see the name of God our Lord, and His
glory and honor, much amplified and increased, and your Majesty well
served, since there is so great opportunity and occasion therefor. Were
your Majesty eager and desirous of furthering your own particular
advantage and interests, you would have also plenty of opportunity
for it, as this place is exceedingly well fitted therefor. I beseech
your Majesty to pardon my prolixity and daring, to which I am forced
by the great importance of these matters, and by the obligation,
love, and desire that I owe the service of God and of your Majesty;
and by my having so few opportunities to write, and those so far apart.

In regard to Chinese affairs, I wrote your Majesty this year, that I
was thinking of sending my cousin, Don Ffernando de Castro, with the
father prior of the convent of San Domingo, with some presents and
letters to the king. This I thought fitting because of the condition
in which the father prior (or, to say better, God) had left matters
there; and under cover of this cause and pretext, I hoped they might
try, at this time, to see the king, if such a thing were possible,
and to offer to him certain presents together with the letter. This
was written with much affection, respect, consideration, and vigor,
and in it I bore in mind, as far as possible, your Majesty's holy zeal,
aim, and desire for the conversion of this great kingdom. In the last
part of it I referred to past events, so that in turn both matters
might be discussed. The attempt was made accordingly. I purchased and
collected some articles--namely, two swords well and curiously wrought
and beautifully adorned in gold and silver; some articles of gold
and precious stones; and some plate, although but a little. These,
together with other things that we could find, approximated about
eight