, as it was late in the season, and the ship was Chinese,
they put into port again, and thus I do not know if the voyage can be
made and the reply received in time to advise your Majesty thereof by
the ships which leave here in June, if perchance it can be made at
all. Because I am so forced by necessity, I beseech your Majesty to
please order the payment of the expenses of the voyage and the cost
of the presents. The latter should not be charged to this treasury,
which I fear could not meet the payment, thus forcing me to pay it,
God knows with what or how. As a servant desirous that God be known
and served in so great a kingdom as China, I venture to say that, if
your Majesty would send this king some curiosities, that act might,
according to the posture and condition in which God has now placed
matters, be of great importance, benefit, and profit for the service of
His Divine Majesty, the merit of your Majesty, and the good of so many
souls as are lost and condemned there. I bear well in mind past events,
Sire, from which if appears that there is neither merit nor room for
this favor and present; but, King and Sire, the blood of Christ and
the conversion of so many souls is of most importance. Much harm might
also be suffered by this new state without traffic with this nation,
this being its nerve and support. Even though it should be desired to
treat of past events, and it should be considered best for the service
of your Majesty to deal severely with this king, it would not be a
bad idea to offer friendship at the same time. With this excuse,
a present might be well received and be of considerable use. If,
perchance, God should move your Majesty to this, I may say that,
in my opinion, the presents which in years gone by your Majesty was
pleased to have taken to this king, were and would be very appropriate
and sufficient. Although it is true that he is a great, rich, and
powerful monarch, the curiosity, novelty, and different fashion of the
things that we use are greatly admired by those people. The velvets,
however, have lost the value they had formerly, for many of them are
manufactured in China. A good Flemish tapestry wrought with stories and
figures, would be, I think, of particular novelty for them. Besides it
would also be advantageous with the king's relatives, who also have
influence in this kingdom. There should also be good and excellent
paintings, and two suits of splendid armor. In this, Sire, I well
se