But to come to the business of my embassy: it was to thank the Venetians for their civil answers which they had given to two of our king’s ambassadors who had been sent to them before; by which answers he was encouraged to proceed boldly in his enterprise; and all this passed before his majesty left Asti.[381] I gave them a large discourse of the old alliances between the kings of France and their republic, and offered them Brindisi and Otranto, upon condition they would engage to restore them, when my master should deliver them two better towns in Greece. They spoke very honourably both of the king and his affairs; for they did not imagine he would proceed very far. As to the offer which I made them, they replied that they were his friends and servants, and would not permit him to purchase their alliance (for our king had not yet these towns in his power); and that they were not altogether unprovided for war, if they thought fit to engage in it; but they were resolved not to do it, though the Neapolitan ambassadors solicited them daily, and offered them very advantageous terms. And King Alphonso (who then reigned) confessed he had behaved himself very ill towards them, and laid before them the ill consequences which would accrue to them if our master succeeded in his designs. The Turk, on the other hand, sent an ambassador immediately to them (and I saw him several times), who, at the Pope’s request, threatened them heavily if they did not declare war against our king. They gave fair answers to all the ambassadors; for they had no apprehension of us at that time, and did but laugh at our expedition. For indeed the Duke of Milan had told them, by his ambassador, that they need not concern themselves in this affair, for he knew how to send our king back again, without having got any footing in Italy; and he sent the same message to Peter de Medicis, who told me of it afterwards. But when they and the Duke of Milan saw the king had got those towns of the Florentines in his possession, and especially Pisa, they began to grow afraid of his designs, and to contrive how they might hinder him from advancing farther; but their consultations were tedious, and in the meantime his majesty’s affairs went prosperously on. However, messengers passed constantly from one to the other, and the King of Spain began to be afraid for his isles of Sicily and Sardinia. The King of the Romans began also to be jealous of the imperial crown, upon which he was persuaded by some persons that our king had a design, and that he had requested it of the Pope; but this was not true.