sustained them.  They added to this argument the example of the Chinese kings and nations, who also had abandoned those islands—­although they are so near and can aid them so easily, that the islands may be reckoned as a part of their mainland.  They said that as Espana was governing them, signal detriment was being received, and there were no hopes that any betterment would be obtained in future; for the amount of silver passing thither from Nueva Espana, both for regular expenses and for merchandise, was immense.  For the same reason, and by the same road, that treasure was being sent by the hands of the Chinese to the center of those kingdoms, which, intractable by the severity of their laws, are debarred by those laws, as by arms and fortifications, from all trade with foreigners.  They asserted that the monarchy, scattered and divided by so many seas, and climes, could scarcely be reduced to one whole; and that human foresight could not bind, by means of ability, provinces separated by nature with so distant boundaries.  These arguments, they said, were born not of the mind, but of experience, a truth manifest to the senses.  All other arguments that could be adduced against this reasoning they declared to be honorable and full of generous sound, but difficult of execution.  It would be more advisable to increase the power of the king in Europe, where the forces could attend to emergencies without the casualties that militate against them in outside seas and dominions.  Each one of these arguments was enforced so minutely by the ministers of the treasury that this proposition merited consideration and examination.  Had God permitted the king to exclude the Filipinas from his monarchy, and leave them exposed to the power of whomsoever should seize them first, the Malucans would have so strengthened the condition of their affairs that it would have been impregnable.

This same resolution has been communicated on other occasions, and in the reign of King Filipo Third, now reigning.  He, conforming to his father’s reply, has ever refused to accept counsel so injurious.  Consequently, that most prudent monarch answered that the Filipinas would be conserved in their present condition, and that the Audiencia would be granted sufficient authority so that justice could be more thoroughly administered; for in the completeness and rigor of justice the king based the duration and energy of the state.  For the same reason, the military force there would be strengthened, and the royal incomes of Nueva Espana, or those of any other of his kingdoms, would be expended for that purpose, for all the treasures, and those still to be discovered in the bosom of the mines, must be applied to the propagation of the gospel.  For what, he asked, would the enemies of the gospel say, if they should see that the Filipinas were deprived of the light, and of the ministers who preach it, because they did not produce metals and wealth as did other rich islands in Assia and America?  He said