That would also be a matter of
importance for the welfare of the kingdom of Portugal, since that
country gains so much in having a quantity of silver sent to Spana
from the Indias, because of the large amount of it that oozes from
the latter country into Portugal; and just so much more would flow
thither as less is drawn off from Spain to other parts. Portugal
does not enjoy one single maravedi of the fruits of the trade of
that town, all of which are consumed in it and in China, where it is
situated. Besides for the maintenance of Portugal's state of Yndia,
the helpful proximity of the Philipinas is of much more importance to
it than one or two towns of that state, for it has been very evident,
for some years past, how important are the forces of the Philipinas
to cope with the common enemy of both states, namely, the Dutch. Those
forces have been sufficient to defeat the Dutch more than once. Since
money is what enables war to be carried on, it is advisable for both
states that Philipinas have considerable of it, at so little expense
to the state of Yndia as the possession of a town--at least, one of
the importance and advantage which we have mentioned--and also at
little expense to the treasury of his Majesty and of his kingdoms.
Only two objections can be opposed to this, but they are only apparent
objections. The first is that two ships are wont to ply between Goa
and China every year for cargoes of silk, which are afterward consumed
in India.
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