ship there laden with money,
and knowing that it could not return empty, they may raise the prices
at their pleasure. As the profits of the Portuguese are not so great
that they can afford to suffer this, they must therefore give up that
trade, and abandon that town, which has no other means of support,
thus leaving the Christian Chinese to return to their idolatries and
mingle again with the heathen.

From this great and evident wrong, follow others even greater;
for whatever of Christianity there is in Japon, and the beginning
which your Majesty has there is supported solely by the traffic of
the Portuguese of Macan with Japon. When Macan is lost, Japon is
destroyed. The other parts of India which have traffic in Chinese
goods, and in goods which are carried to Espana--such as porcelains,
silks, and chests--must lose very materially. The royal income of
your Majesty must be greatly diminished, because all the duties from
Chinese merchandise are collected in India. Then in conveying them to
Portogal and from thence to Castilla you must also lose, for all these
affairs are moved by but one wheel, namely, Macan. Not the slightest
doubt can be entertained of the destruction of Macan, if ships from
the Philipinas go to that port or to any other of China, unless it be
very far away from Macan. Even in the latter case, Macan must receive
serious damage. It will also be necessary for the Portuguese to fit
out ships and try to capture what vessel or vessels go there from
the Philipinas. That there will be war between us is not doubtful,
but certain.

If the Portuguese must receive these serious damages, greater injuries
must be suffered by the Philipinas and the unfortunate Castilians
who have settled them, sustained them with their blood, maintained
in them the faith of Jesus Christ, and fulfilled their duty to your
Majesty by means of the continual labors of themselves and their
descendants. If this is continued, the governor, the auditors, and
their followers will send their property to China, and have the ship
brought back full of merchandise for themselves alone; and consequently
will supply the cargoes for the ships which sail hence to Mexico. Thus
the poor vassals of your Majesty, who have nothing whereby to support
themselves or their poor children except in this traffic with Mexico,
must be left like poor Indians, only because the devilish avarice
of those persons sent by your Majesty to govern and care for this
la