family as was
his uncle, or even better. I have often conversed with him, and know
much about him that is good. I know that he is a very moderate man,
and has much fear of God; and he is well inclined to take advice when
occasion arises. These islands and the king's exchequer would also
gain much if this man were governor. He likewise has much experience
on these lands and seas, as he has been several times commander on
the voyage to Mexico, and went to China on the occasion of the death
of his uncle, Gomez Perez.

I do not care to write concerning Don Francisco Tello, as when this
arrives another will already have been appointed, and he will go to
his home; may God guide him, and give him good fortune and penitence
for his misdeeds. What I write concerning the great evil of having a
ship go to China from these islands to trade--at any rate near where
the Portuguese are, and even in all parts of China--is at present so
true that, if this evil be not remedied, these islands must be ruined,
and the Portuguese will be destroyed. The Catholic faith must lose
much; and I hold it certain that there will be a war between us and
the Portuguese, for they have sought to take up arms with less cause
than this, or even have taken them up, against the Castilians there
in Macan. In short, they will not allow themselves to be ruined, and
that so evidently for merely the interest of the Castilians; but it
is not for the interest of the Castilians, but that of the governor
and auditors, and their retainers. The Portuguese know well, and so
do we all, that this is not the will of the king nor of the Council.

I write also that it is necessary to correct the freedom, ignorance,
and boldness of certain religious. I am still of the opinion which
we all had at that time, that the brief which Father Alonso Sanchez
secured from Gregory XIV, giving the bishop power to make visitations,
in person or by any clergyman, of the religious and their mission
villages, is certainly a most damaging one. Although no doubt some
superiors of the religious orders deserve to have this put in execution
at times, yet the religious orders are the walls of the church, and it
is not well to treat them thus. But likewise it is necessary that the
pope establish some order in the irregularity which your Grace will see
described in my letter for the Council. Let the bishop keep his place,
and the religious theirs; and let this divine work of preaching the
gospel be