away with any further occasion for vessels to go there from Nueva Espana.  From this last has resulted great injury to your Majesty’s vassals in these regions, to the royal exchequer, and religion itself.  Peradventure the Castilians were the cause of again closing the door to the preaching of the gospel, being moved by indiscreet eagerness or too much solicitude.  They are so unrestrained in this particular, that, by trading in China without your Majesty’s permission, they are the first who broke your decrees, under pretense of religion itself.  No easier remedy can be applied than preventing them from entering this trade, which your Majesty should have for the advantage of your own service.

We might describe here the great inconveniences and hindrances to your Majesty from a longer continuance of this navigation.  But since this letter will, be despatched by land, and the viceroy Don Duarte has described these matters so fully, I refrain from doing so here.  I say only that, even if there were no other reason than not opening the way to the English and other nations to resort to those regions (as they did last year and this) that alone would be sufficient reason to stop this intercourse entirely.  The Englishman Don Thomas, who came to these regions lately, has caused us much anxiety here.  For this reason the people of India are very confident that your Majesty will order assistance in this case and apply the fitting remedy, for the common good of these states and that of your service.

Don Thomas, the Englishman, sailed from England with three ships in the year 87.  Entering the straits of Magallanes, he sailed to the South Seas.  Having made some prizes of large and small vessels, he loaded two of his own vessels and sent them to that kingdom [England] by the same route.  Nearing the Philipinas, he took his course to Java, and entered the port of Balambuao in Java itself.  At that time two Portuguese were at that port, who came immediately to the ship thinking it was from India.  The Englishman received them well, and gave them some church ornaments and other valuable articles, together with a letter for the bishop of Malaca and another for the captain, the substance of which was, that he had come to explore those regions.  From the questions asked these men by the auditor of Malaca, it was ascertained that the purpose of their coming was none other than trade, exploration, and prizes.  He asked particularly about Achen, the straits of Meca and Malaca, and their fortifications.  It is thought that this Englishman came especially to explore the channels of Bale, whence these men said that he would sail in March of this year to the island of Sant Lorenzo, from which place he would lay his course to the island of Santa Helena, following the course taken by the Portuguese vessels.  Pray God he come not hither again, as an example for the daring of others—­although the interest they have in doing so is so great, that I fear this navigation cannot be stopped without much trouble, and the prohibition of navigation by Castilians and Portuguese to Nueva Espana.  A blockade will be established again, so that foreign nations will not undertake this navigation.  On this account alone, it seems to me that this navigation should always be rigorously prohibited.