brother D'jem, who being a man is liable to death, and who is now in the
hands of your Highness, should quit this world as soon as possible,
seeing that his departure, a real good to him in his position, would be
of great use to your Highness, and very conducive to your peace, while at
the same time it would be very agreeable to us, your friend. If this
proposition is favourably received, as we hope, by your Highness, in your
desire to be friendly towards us, it would be advisable both in the
interests of your Highness and for our own satisfaction that it should
occur rather sooner than later, and by the surest means you might be
pleased to employ; so that our said brother D'jem might pass from the
pains of this world into a better and more peaceful life, where at last
he may find repose. If your Highness should adapt this plan and send us
the body of our brother, We, the above-named Sultan Bajazet, pledge
ourselves to send to your Highness, wheresoever and by whatsoever hands
you please, the sum of 300,000 ducats, With which sum you could purchase
some fair domain for your children. In order to facilitate this
purchase, we would be willing, while awaiting the issue, to place the
300,000 ducats in the hands of a third party, so that your Highness might
be quite certain of receiving the money on an appointed day, in return
for the despatch of our brother's body. Moreover, we promise your
Highness herewith, for your greater satisfaction, that never, so long as
you shall remain on the pontifical throne, shall there be any hurt done
to the Christians, neither by us, nor by our servants, nor by any of our
compatriots, of whatsoever kind or condition they may be, neither on sea
nor on land. And for the still further satisfaction of your Highness,
and in order that no doubt whatever may remain concerning the fulfilment
of our promises, we have sworn and affirmed in the presence of Bucciarda,
your envoy, by the true God whom we adore and by our holy Gospels, that
they shall be faithfully kept from the first point unto the last. And
now for the final and complete assurance of your Highness, in order that