na and for its trade and commerce with
these islands. Likewise the king ought to be informed that no ships
or merchants have gone or are going to Goa or other ports of Yndia to
trade or traffic, or to take away their [i.e., the Portuguese] shares,
bargains, and profits; and how they could pursue their business in
the said port of Macan, and at Canton, without there being felt any
scarcity, or enhancement of prices; but, on the contrary, a great
excess of goods would remain at Macao--all that arises from the trade
which they are about to begin with Goa, Chave, and other regions
that maintain trade with Macan. All this would result in the great
increase and prosperity of these islands, from which it appears that
the said commerce, which does no harm, should not be hindered.

I beseech and beg your Lordship to give orders that the said report
be accepted, and that the witnesses whom I shall put forward testify
according to these questions. Your Lordship will please make a decision
concerning the matter. I offer my plea to that effect.

I also beseech your Lordship to give orders that that section in the
instructions which your Lordship received from the king our lord be
added to this inquiry, so that I may be able to send word to the said
city of Macan. I present the claim, etc.

[_Interrogatory_]

_Item_: Let them testify whether they know that the Portuguese
inhabiting Macan, Malaca, and other places in India trade and hold
business intercourse with the Castilians who inhabit this city and
these islands; and whether the said Portuguese have derived or are
deriving from it much gain, profit, and advantage, without incurring
any loss or harm. The witnesses know about this, because they have
been in Macan, Malaca, and other regions of Yndia, and have seen it
with their own eyes; if it were otherwise, the witnesses would know,
and it would not be of less importance, because they have seen it
all themselves, as above stated, and are Portuguese; etc.

2. _Item_: Let them testify whether they know that a greater number
of ships and much more money than in any previous year have gone to
the city of Macan from the city of Goa and other places in India,
to purchase Chinese goods. There was and is plenty of cloth and
merchandise for all, and no scarcity is produced by the exportation
which is made to India; etc.

3. _Item_: Let them testify whether they know that not only the
Portuguese meet with no loss, as stated in the pr