_ 185 _ substance of this so that you can give an account of it on my behalf to the Holy Father. He will see and consider with what reason I must deal with the proximity of such powerful enemies, who so much covet and desire to enter those territories where they are wanted, and in some cases requested, by their Kings and Lords. For the enemies, and such enemies, it is easy to strike and retire, and they can quickly reform if the need arises, especially since they have the fortress of Basra in the strait of Ormuz and the fortress and city of Aden in the other strait. For me support, favour and assistance are remote and uncertain, and it is not possible to be less than one year distant. When considering whether it is possible to do anything not only must the uncertainty be considered, but the expense of doing so is double. The continuous proximity of such enemies, the ease with which they can come and the suspense of whether and when they will come is the most effective kind of warfare they can make. It is also reasonable to reflect that this new should come at all, when on the one hand I am constrained, by what I owe to God and my soul, to pay my debts, on which I pay very heay interest every year, and on the other hand by
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy