and besides I have to give account both for myself and my father.  My present declaration is not artifice, subterfuge, or a change of purpose from what I have previously expressed to your Majesty, as to my king and sovereign, but the truth and my earnest desire to see myself free from this burden and obligation of debt; and is intended that your Majesty might know that this least of your servants has these obligations and so little to pay them, in a country so distant and remote from his own.  But leaving this in the hands of God and your Majesty, I say, Sire, that Don Ffernando set sail with the father prior upon the voyage; but, as it was late in the season, and the ship was Chinese, they put into port again, and thus I do not know if the voyage can be made and the reply received in time to advise your Majesty thereof by the ships which leave here in June, if perchance it can be made at all.  Because I am so forced by necessity, I beseech your Majesty to please order the payment of the expenses of the voyage and the cost of the presents.  The latter should not be charged to this treasury, which I fear could not meet the payment, thus forcing me to pay it, God knows with what or how.  As a servant desirous that God be known and served in so great a kingdom as China, I venture to say that, if your Majesty would send this king some curiosities, that act might, according to the posture and condition in which God has now placed matters, be of great importance, benefit, and profit for the service of His Divine Majesty, the merit of your Majesty, and the good of so many souls as are lost and condemned there.  I bear well in mind past events, Sire, from which if appears that there is neither merit nor room for this favor and present; but, King and Sire, the blood of Christ and the conversion of so many souls is of most importance.  Much harm might also be suffered by this new state without traffic with this nation, this being its nerve and support.  Even though it should be desired to treat of past events, and it should be considered best for the service of your Majesty to deal severely with this king, it would not be a bad idea to offer friendship at the same time.  With this excuse, a present might be well received and be of considerable use.  If, perchance, God should move your Majesty to this, I may say that, in my opinion, the presents which in years gone by your Majesty was pleased to have taken to this king, were and would be very appropriate and sufficient.  Although it is true that he is a great, rich, and powerful monarch, the curiosity, novelty, and different fashion of the things that we use are greatly admired by those people.  The velvets, however, have lost the value they had formerly, for many of them are manufactured in China.  A good Flemish tapestry wrought with stories and figures, would be, I think, of particular novelty for them.  Besides it would also be advantageous with the king’s relatives, who also have influence in this kingdom.