The king of France and the duke of Burgundf were very aftive in their endeavours to abridge the captivity of their friends in Turkey, and dicte paiîçd not a day without their having fome coo-vcrfaiipn • on the fubjeft. Sir Dinde Defponde was «f all their confutations, and faid the Vene-tian orGçQoefe merchants could alone affifl: them $ for by means of merchandife, whkh governs every thing, and their connections with other merchants, they could pafs every. where, and . learn the temper of the infidel fultans. They had great weight, particuarly in Cairo, Alexandria, Damafcus and Antioch, where they had fa&ories, and the Saracens" and Chriftians mutually inter-changed their mcrchandifes. The king and the duke, therefore, made as many friends among thefe merchants as they could, and gave up all in-tentions of making war on the duke of Milan from the friendfhip they learnt Bajazet bore him. On the other hand, "king James of Cyprus knew well, that if he could any how foftcn the anger of the fultan, and prevail on him to accept of reafonable terms for the ranfom of the French lords, he ihould grcady oblige the king of France, the duk# ç£ Burgundy and the whole of the nation. To accomplifb this, the king of Cyprus had a IMp made of gold, curioufly wrought, that might be worth ten thoufand ducats, whkh he fent by his knights as a prefent to the fultan Bajazet. It was hcaurifully worked, and was gracioufly accepted by the fultan, who replied he would return him double its value in courtefy and affedion. This anfwer, brought -967