_ 449 _ Red Sea to Cairo and through the Sea of Ormuz to Basra is very great. One can well conclude from the course of events that this trade will increase rather than diminish. Your Highness’s expenses on the affairs of India are very high, and if a solution is not found, they will become ever higher. Therefore, peace with the Turk is to our advantage, as no one can reasonably deny. More expense will be incurred in bringing about a situation advantageous to Your Highness, but large, and honourable, enterprises yielding substantial profits could be formed in India in a time of such a peace agreement. I am certain that everyone would admit this fact. Not to speak out as Cardinal Montepulciano does (in a different situation I would say nothing), if ways and means were found to make an honest agreement with the Turk, which is tolerable and with no undue disadvantage in it, the person seeking and concluding this would appear to be rendering a great service to Your Highness. But I see the power and reputation of the Turk increasing greatly in these parts. It is for this reason that he is so insolent and arrogant. I gravely doubt that he will wish to listen to these proposals. When I imagine possible conversations with him, I am almost certain that he will not consent to talk about this. At the same time, I can see no harm nor ill in trying what I suggest above, without mentioning Your Highness’s name. If an opening and a
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