bring cows, horses, mares, provisions, military supplies, copper,
and all kinds of metal and gunpowder, each in great abundance, and at
a low cost--a thing much to the profit of this land, as may readily be
seen. Articles sent from Espana to Nueva Espana would keep their value;
and the gold and silver paid for them would remain in your own realm.

If there were no trade with China, the citizens of these islands would
be richer; for the natives, if they had not so many tostons, would
pay their tributes in the articles which they produce, and which are
current--that is, cloths, _lampotes_, cotton, and gold, all of which
have great value in Nueva Espana. These they cease to produce because
of the abundance of silver; and what is worse, and entails more loss
upon your Majesty, is that they do not, as formerly, work the mines
and take out gold. If they did so, it would be of great importance
to your Majesty and the whole country; and if this alone formed the
merchandise sent to Nueva Espana from these islands, the gold and
silver would remain here, and in the hands of the Spaniards themselves.

Carrying on commerce as they do, all the Spaniards are absorbed in
it, to such a degree that there are not even enough to aid in the
expeditions and military operations. Thus they will not remember
that they are soldiers, and living among so many enemies, and do
not realize that they are carrying arms; nor do they work for what
your Majesty claims of them, the conversion and pacification of the
natives. The Spaniards have become effeminate in spirit by their
trading, and on various occasions have greatly lost their repute,
for they are not as they used to be--having given themselves over
to vices, luxuries, fine clothes, eating, and drinking; consequently
they have not had their wonted success on several of the expeditions,
and have come back without accomplishing what they set out to do,
and the friendly Indians are making war, and going out to fight.

If your Majesty would prohibit trading, except perhaps in the products
of the islands, three hundred men would be of as much use here as a
thousand are today; for they would realize that they must gain their
livelihood by their arms, and not by traffic. Otherwise they only
await a chance to go hence as soon as possible, and so take no heed
of the affairs of this country, and do not engage in stock-raising
and agriculture, or in building, for each one does as suits him best;
and the