75.  The war with this nation is most just, for it gives freedom to poor, wretched people who are killed, whose children are ravished by strangers, and whom judges, rulers, and king treat with unheard-of tyranny.  Each speaks ill of his neighbor; and almost all of them are pirates, when any occasion arises, so that none are faithful to their king.  Moreover, a war could be waged against them because they prohibit people from entering their country.  Besides, I do not know, nor have I heard of, any wickedness that they do not practice; for they are idolators, sodomites, robbers, and pirates, both by land and sea.  And in fact the sea, which ought to be free according to the law of nations, is not so, as far as the Chinese are concerned; for whosoever navigates within their reach is killed and robbed, if they can do it.  One day I called Captain Omocon, telling him in confidence that I wished to send a ship to trade with China, and he told me in friendship and all sincerity not to send that galley until I had ten more well equipped to accompany it; for the Chinese were so evilly inclined that, they would under some pretext try to attack and capture it, in order to rob it of its goods, and make slaves of the crew.  It is safe to say that, no matter what good we might do them, they will always give us daily a thousand causes for a just war.  Now my opinion is, may it please your Majesty, that it would be an advantage to have a sufficient force of soldiers, so that, under any circumstance whatsoever, they may find us ready.

76.  Moreover, we live so near them that in five days they can come hither in their ships, while we in two days can sail in ours from one coast to the other; and, as we have seen, they are wont to commit depredations (as was the case in this city).  Therefore, this course of action will quite prevent the execution of their plans, which I know—­namely, that if they are able they will kill me, and are seeking occasion for it.

77.  I offer myself to serve your Majesty in this expedition, which I desire so much that I cannot overrate it.  If for this reason your Majesty is inclined to put less trust in me as a loyal vassal and servant, let some one else to your liking take charge of this expedition, even if I do not go on it, provided it is undertaken at your Majesty’s command.  Since I shall have been your Majesty’s impelling motive, I shall remain satisfied; and it will be a sufficient reward for my poor services to have recommended it so earnestly in this manner.  If it had pleased God to endow me with great wealth, I would not hesitate to spend on this expedition my entire patrimony whenever your Majesty should so command.  In beginning a battle, the business would be finished, for there is not a man in that whole kingdom who has an income of one hundred ducats or a palm’s length of land; nor is there one who considers it a disgrace to be given two hundred lashes.  They are a mercenary horde, accustomed to serve foreigners.