they carry the
goods that are shipped from these islands and from Eastern India
through all the northern countries, and the kings give them free
passage for their goods and remit duties. They have factories or
correspondents in Olanda, Zelanda, Escocia, Ynglaterra, Yrlanda,
Dinamarca, Norvega, Francia, Alemania, Alta and Baja Germania, Colonia,
Baviera, Austria, Ungria, Boemia, as far as Transilvania, and in our
kingdoms inland from Sevilla. This was stated by the Dutch General
Blancorte [_i.e._, van Caerden], whom we held prisoner here.

From all this, the conclusion of the argument is that, as all the
nations are moved by interest, and as the gains from these islands are
so great, we shall have all the nations here; and indeed we have--not
only the Dutch, but the English, who are a people of more ability
than the Dutch have; and all these seas are open to the French,
and to all other nations.

Who doubts that it costs the king dearly, in course of time, to
reenforce us? For twenty years we have been hoping for the coming of
a fleet and galleons, and none have come save a few small caravels
brought by Ruy Gonzalez de Sequeyra to open up a way for trade
to Sevilla; and eight galleons that were made ready for our aid,
which put into Gibraltar, so that no aid has come for us. In the
mean time the Dutch have new galleons every year, and the islands
are already in the worst of straits. Your Lordship may believe that
the governors--now, it may be, to show themselves better servants of
his Majesty; again, to keep themselves longer in the government--have
promised more than the land could raise. The truth is that the islands
are utterly drained by the wars and the loss of the six galleons
which Don Juan de Silva had built, and with other misfortunes that
have been written to the king our lord at greater length. It is a
marvel that Don Alonso de Faxardo has not died or become grievously
ill with pain at finding these states so weakened, and his honor and
that of the crown of Espana so jeopardized. If any one thinks that
Eastern India can aid us, I have seen, and Don Geronimo de Azevedo,
viceroy of India, assured me, when he gave me four galleons with
five hundred infantry and ninety-two pieces of artillery, that he was
giving all he had to give. And this was true, for he dismantled the
forts to arm the galleons, and the latter were burned by the Dutch
in the year one thousand six hundred and sixteen; so that we depend
upon E