_ 450 _ way can be found giving hope of progress towards a favourable outcome, we can proceed. If the Turk does not accept the petition and objects to this procedure, Your Highness will have risked nothing from which you will lose. On the other hand, from what could be gained, Your Highness would be very happy to be the only King of Christendom to resist the power of the Turk and achieving great victories against his forces. In such an undertaking, you would gain such repute and be such an example to other princes, that any expense, any effort, and risk is well undertaken. Our Lord will come to your aid. What cannot be gained from your enemies by an honest peace, for which so many have prayed, Our Lord will give you through a good, just war. This can be hoped for from Our Lord’s past mercies when Your Highness undertakes such works and enterprises. While Cardinal Montepulchano believes that the profit from the spices coming through the Red Sea will persuade the Turk to make peace, I hold that, that route and the one through Basra are so favorable to Your Highness’s interests, that although the Turk has not requested it, we should offer it to him. There are many reasons for this, and if nothing goes seriously amiss, these reasons will still stand when the right moment comes.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy