with armed men. But the envoys were
accompanied by a favourite of the sultan's bearing a private letter to
Alexander VI, in which Bajazet offered on certain conditions to help him
with money. Although, as we see, the messengers had been stopped on the
way, the Turkish envoy had all the same found a means of getting his
despatch sent to the pope: we give it here in all its naivete.

"Bajazet the Sultan, son of the Sultan Mahomet II, by the grace of God
Emperor of Asia and Europe, to the Father and Lord of all the Christians,
Alexander VI, Roman pontiff and pope by the will of heavenly Providence,
first, greetings that we owe him and bestow with all our heart. We make
known to your Highness, by the envoy of your Mightiness, Giorgio
Bucciarda, that we have been apprised of your convalescence, and received
the news thereof with great joy and comfort. Among other matters, the
said Bucciarda has brought us word that the King of France, now marching
against your Highness, has shown a desire to take under his protection
our brother D'jem, who is now under yours--a thing which is not only
against our will, but which would also be the cause of great injury to
your Highness and to all Christendom. In turning the matter over with
your envoy Giorgio we have devised a scheme most conducive to peace and
most advantageous and honourable for your Highness; at the same time
satisfactory to ourselves personally; it would be well if our aforesaid
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