convicts in the said galleys, this demand requires much consideration,
on account of the condition of the faith and of the realm, whether
this commonwealth must be forced to break with so powerful an enemy
and enemies as he would be. He brings forward his arguments with much
reason and consideration; by one of his demands--which of itself is
not very important, although more so when, arriving at the question of
justice--he brings up another doubt as to whether it is just for the
said Chinese to be condemned to the galleys. This is questionable,
in the first place, because they are not vassals of his Majesty,
and therefore were not traitors; and likewise whether they should, on
account of the hostilities which the Chinese were generally committing,
immediately be condemned, without recourse, to the galleys, without
being heard individually or their exceptions being received--especially
as no one doubts that the said uprising and rebellion was not voluntary
on the part of all the Chinese, but was contrary to the will of many;
and it may be that some, and even a considerable number, of those who
are on the galleys were not captured in war, but while hidden in the
country districts and on the mountains. To say that the said Chinese
are necessary to work the galleys which your governor must take on
a certain expedition, which it is said he must make, does not affect
the proposition; for the said expedition is not made by the will of
his Majesty, but in his very exact instructions he neither requires
nor permits the said expedition to Huaca [_sic; sc._ Maluco] with the
said Chinese. Moreover, they are so cunning and shrewd that perhaps
they will again do what they did to Gomez Perez, and even worse; and
they may be the cause not only of the disastrous ending of the said
expedition, but even of our complete ruin. There can be no doubt from
the relation sent, as to the attitude of the king of China; for the
three greatest magistrates whom he has in the province and dominion
of Oquen (to which belongs the province of Chiencho)--that is, the