or as soon as may be possible--so that having their arms in one fleet,
aid may be thus given where and how it is considered most advisable to
your royal service. To that I shall attend with what forces I shall
have, whether many or few, as will be shown by their deeds--to which
I refer, without promising more than the fulfilment of my obligations,
with God's help. In order to do thus, I have represented all the above,
concluding with what is of most importance to this government, which is
reduced, in my opinion, to three points: namely, the commerce of China
and Nueva España; the protection and preservation of the natives; and
having the sword in the hand, so that one may achieve what is needed
and make all things clear. Taking this last point as a basis, Don Juan
de Silva, my predecessor, must have built that fleet, for which he
contrived some ships that he would not have built had it not been so
necessary, as experience proved. For until his death, the enemy did not
resolve to display the audaciousness that they have since shown here,
nor even to conduct their commerce, except with great caution. If
I could construct another fleet like it, I would imitate him; but
he impoverished the wealth of these loyal vassals of your Majesty,
the Spaniards, and of the wretched natives, to such an extent that
many are now in the most dire need. Besides, the royal treasury is
deep in debt, so that nothing can be extracted from it or from them,
which may be worth considering in the present needs. This and the
lack of iron and other materials oblige me to reduce the building
force for five ships, that, I found, had been ordered to be built,
to three, so that I should not run out of the necessary materials,
and all of them be left unfinished. Then, in case that I have enough,
those men could also build the other two. Besides, that is also
important in order that those ships which are to sail to Nueva España
in the coming year may be finished and equipped promptly. I would be
very glad were that work further advanced, in order to hasten work