UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES EX L1BRIS GIFT OF Paul M. Powell THE SECOND VOLUME LETTERS Writ by a Who liv'd Five and Forty YEARS Undiicover'd at PARIS: Giving an Impartial ACCOUNT to the Divan at Con/ianiinople^ of the moft Remark- able Tranfadions of Europe: And, Difco- vering feveral Intrigue; a:;d Secrets of the Chrtjlian Courts (efpeciaily of That of France) Continued from the YEAR 1642, to the Year 1682. Written, Originally, in Arabic's, Tranjlated into Ita- lian, and from thence into Englifh, by the ^ran/tutor of the FIRST VOLUME. The THIRTEENTH EDITION. LONDON: Printed by A. WILDE, For 5. and E. Bal/ard, J. Brotbcrton, W. Meadow, ' . Cox, R. Ware, 7'. Clarke* S. Eirt, D. Browne, T. AJlley, J. Skuctturgh, J. Hodges, E. Wickjleed, J. Of Ma U t J. Comyns, C. Eathurft, R. Baldwin, A. Strahe*, and ./. mid:. [1/53.] TO THE READER. THree Tears are now e/afj'd, flnce The Firft Volume of Letters, written by a Spy at Paris, wasfabli/h'd in Englifh. dad it was expeffed y that a Second fhouldhave come out long before this. The Javourable Rcceftion which tfhatfeztnd amongjl all Sorts of Reader -j, 'would bave encouraged a Jpeedy Tran- flation of the Reft, had there been ex- tant any French Edition, of more tb^ti the Firit Part. Bxt, after the ftrrffyf Enqi,iiry y none could be heard of. And^ as for the Italian, our Bookle^kr?' bave not that Correspondence in tbofe Parts, ay they have in the more Neighhounng Countries of France and- Holland. So that it was a Work dtjinti;]^, and In fuC" cefsjul in Selling the ccntinucd Tran- A z flatioa :134 To the READER. lation of thtfe Arabian Epiilles ; *till it was the Fortune 0/~rfEngli{h Gentle- many to trxvd in thofe Parts la ft Sum- mer, and difcover the Flappy News. I ivill not foreflall bis Letter, which is annexed to this Preface, for the Satis- faction of the World \ but only acquaint yoity That upon the Receipt of it, the Per/on to whom it was direct ed^ was Jo well fie afe d with the Propoial, that he made it his immediate Bufinefs^ tofnd . cut the Engliih Tranflator of the Firft Volume, as judging him to be the fittefl Per Jon ; which being done, he immediate- ly gave an Account of his Proceedings to Mr. Saltmarfh, at Arnfterdam, who fent him over Two Tomes of the Turk- ifh Spy m Italian, with Promt ft of ths Reft, when the/e were made Engiifh. One of thefe I here frefent you with, and tke Other willy e'er lon^ be ready for the Preis. I need not fay any Thing of the Ori- ginal Arabick, or of ths Author, the ' Place of his Abode, and how his Wri- tings came to Light, Siifficknt b . h ; /; fyoktn on thut tubjecf] m the Preface to To the READER. to the Frrft Part. I ft all only add, That if bis Style may feem in this Party to vary Jometimes from the Firft Volume, // miifl be attributed to the Difference of theLangusigesfrom whence they are Translated ; it being impofjible to objerve an equal idiom, in following Twofuch different Languages, tis French and Italian : The One dancing in J oft Mea- fures, delicate Cadencies, andJmoothPe-. riods ', the Other, advancing in Lofty Strains, keeping a Roman Pace, full of Mafculint and Sententious Gravity. Neither can the Arabian himfeif, be fiipfofed always in the fame femfer ; or y that his Style fhould be till of a Piece. In Jome Places , where he treats of Sieges and Battles, he feems to foot the Pyr- hick Mtajures in Prole ^ there breathes a certain Martial ^drdor in his Words. In other Places, on the fame Subjeff, he goes en like an Impartial Hiftorian, bardv relating Matter of Faff, without any Flowers or Glojfis. Hejeems not to trifle with Philoiophy, or Religion ; but, handles the One in the feculiar Dialect of the Eaft, and treats of the A 3 Other, To the READER. Other, in the caftigate Language 0f the Weftern Schools, To Jbew he had been converfant in the Academies; as he himjtlj pro]*Jis, Letter XX. Book I. Vol. i. In a Word) throughout all bis Letters, there is a .^.laintnefs oj c Ex- frej/ion, peculiar to ^Arabians \j4na \ however he may vary in his Style, yet #/j Senie retains thejame Edge ; he is Lively to the very laft. Nay, As far as I can perceive^ both his Language, Senfe, and Judgment, grow more Cor- red, as he advances in Tears : dnd, you witl find Jbme Difference between his Le tiers of 1^37 and 1660. Expeft the whole Series of them, as fa ft as they can conveniently be publijhed^ the Third Volume being ahaoft ready for the Prefs : In which, the Reader will find the ftrangeft Revolutions, and moft amazing Accidents, that ever hap- fien'd in the World face the Creation ; with many Fra\ch~Jntrigues and Court Policies, which would never have come to Light, had it not been for thisjitbtls Arabian. Farevvel. A LETTER LETTER From Mr. Daniel Salt mar jb^ to his Friend in London y concerning the Italian Copy of the furkijb SPF. SIR, T Ravelling through Italy this Summer^ and coming to Ferrara auout the Middle of June, I made fome Stay in that City, in Com- pliance with the Importunity of my Sifter, the Wife of Signior Nicolao Valen- tittf) formerly Merchant in London. Du- ring my Abode at her Houfe, I was brought acquainted with that Eminent and Learned Phy fician, Julio ds Mzdicis^ of the Houfe of Florence* and late Stu- dent at Padua. This accomplilVd Per- fon received me with lingular Humanity A 4 and Mr* Saltmarfh'j Letter ^ &c. and Friendfhip : In all his Deportment, giving Proofs of a Difpolition worthy of his Chari&er, and the Blood -which runs in his Veins. He is univerfally Learned, and by his prodigious Read- ing, (which cunnot be hid from thofe who converge with, him) he feem'd tome a Walking Library. You cannot name an Author of Note, with whom he is not acquainted, being a careful Colktfor, or rather an Engrojjer, of all Remark- able Books. He gaye me familiar Ac- eels to hisZ/rar)', which, according to the beft Computation I could make, con- iiiied of no lefs than fix Thoufand choice JTreattfes. You know my Inclination, and will eafily believe, that I took no fmali Delight in the Liberty I had, not only to Survey, but alfo to make Ufe of this Treafure, fo long as I llaid in Fer- rara. I was there daily, and thought that Time mifpent, which my other Obligations took from my Study.- Among other Books, I chanced to open the Ita- lian Trefojlation of the Turkijb Spy, which was io celebrated all over Europe, and which I had read both in French and 'English . I had the Curiolity to perufe it over, and found it exadly to agree with thofe &faff/?atiom I had feen ; which made me ask this GenthmtW) Whether there were Mr. Saltmarih'j Letter, Cc. \vere no more Volumes or it Printed ? He prefently ilicw<-a m;. 5Vx more, and told me, The- fcigbtb was in the J'rf.fs. Over- joy 'd at this Nc-A's, ! asked h.in, Where I might rurnifh myfelf with thofe Seven Volumes already Printed ? He afTured me the Firft Impreffions were alHbldoff, but that they would be Reprinted again. I expreffed fonic Sorrow and Concern, that I could not procure thefe Books } when, with an unparalleled Generality, he frank- ry bellowed thofe Seven Volumes upon me. 'Tis true, at our firft Acquaintance, I had obliged him with a .fVf/^/f , on which, I bclic\e, he let a greater Price than on thefe Books ; it being a Watch of moil curious Workmanfhip, made by One of the greateft Artifts in Italy. However, I fancy'd my Gift returned Seven-fold in thefe Books . I brought them along with me through Germany into Holland, where I kept them as a Secret Treafurc; being defi*ou3, if poflible, that the Six Volumes which are not yet franjlated out of Itali- an,, might firit fpeak my Native Tongue, that fo we may not always be obliged to the French for the moft acceptable Pro- ducts of the Prcfs. Knowing therefore, thciingular Delight you take in Enter- prizes of this Nature, and how much it may lie in your Way to procure a A 5 Mr. Saltmarfti'j Letter, tc. lation of thcfe VOLUMES, by Reafon of your great Acquaintance with Learned and Ingenious Men^ I offer you the Re- fufal of this Undertaking j both tor the Friendship that is between us, and be- caufe I know none fo fit to manage this Dciign, as yourfelf. I will willingly ven- ture a Miare in the Coft, but I would have no more than a Third Perfon con- cein'd in ir. IF you accept of this Pro- poial, I will fend you the Italian Volumes, and leave the Sitccefs to your Condutf* I can afiure you, That none but the Firft Part is as yet Tranflatcd into Frevcb-> or any other Language, except the Italian ; and the following Tomes arc not to be had for JVioney. 1 herefore, we have a fair Opportunity of obliging the Nation with a Work fo long expefttd, and fb much dtfired by all that have fecn the FIRST VOLUMF. My Occaliorjs require me to f: end this Winter at Amperdam j but, I hope, in the tyring, to lee you at Louden. Iq the Interim, am, SIR, Sept. y. 16570. Tour, &c. Danie TABLE O F T H E LETTERS and MATTERS Contained in this VOLUME. VOL. II. BOOK L LETTER I. dhmut, the Arabian, faithful Slave of Sultaa Ibrahim, to Becbir Ba/a t his HighnefsV Chief Treafurer at Ceniiantinople. Page i Of v_urcoaV long Silence, and IViahmutV Sit/pi {is* t her i of ; Of bis Removal from Paris on that A(- count* IT. To The TABLE. II. To the Ago, of the Janizaries. j Of the Swedifh Amazons ; the Death of Duke Albert; the Taking of Glogow, Succiniez, and Olmitz, by Gfnera/'ToT&.enfon. III. To Ibrahim Chanrrgil, Chief Eojlargl, or Gar- dener to the Su/tan. 4 Of an Herb caWdtbe 111 Neighbour ; and of the Senfible Plant ; Of Mahmut'.r Enemies at the Seraglio. IV. To Mux/u Keis Ejfcndi, Principal Secretary of State, at Conftantinople. 5 Of Carcoa'/ Death at Vienna, and of Nathan .Ben SaddiV fucceeding him in ;V ' Commiffion- ; Of Mahmut'j Return to Paris. V. To the Kaimachajn. 7 Of the Death of the Queen- Mother of France ; Of her dfpai ition to Cardinal Richlieu, and of his Sicktitfs. VI. To the Venerable Mufti, Sovereign of the True and Ur.defiled Faith. 10 OftbtDtatb of Mary de Medicis, Queen Mother c.nd L'owager of France ; Of Cardinal RkhlieuV Lititr to her, and of the Rich Church of Saint Dennis in France. VII. To DgnttOg.ou. 13 ~ ' Of a. vicltnt Ttmpiji of Thunder and Lightning ; Of what happened to Mahmiit during this Storm ; and, Of the Cvflom of Ringing the Bells at Paris en fuch Ofcv/iOKs, VIII. To the fame. 16 Of his Fiic-ndjkii) ar.d Con-cerfation nuith a Carme- lite Friar ; cf Images and Piflures. IX. To the Kaimacbam. 1 8 Of the I'l'urs in Catalonia and .Rouffillion : Of ibs flege cf Perpignan, and the Gcnfrojity of the Frciich King. SX. I'o Riit Eftcndi, Principal Sccretaiy of State. 22 Of The TABLE. Of the Injuries done to Two French Lords ly the Sub -Bailee of Salhia, near Arabia. XI. To Nathan Ben Saddi, a Jew at Vienna. 24 Of CarcoaV Death, and of bis Virtues, e m them. XXV. To the fisu'r dzem, Prime Diredor of the Afiairs of the Ottoman Empire. 57 Hf informs him of the Commotions in Ene;laad. XXVI. To The TABLE. XXVI. To Abdc I Mek c Muly Omar, Superintendent of the College of Sciences at Fez. 66 Of the Motion of the Earth : That the Planets are Habitable : Of VigiliusV being put to Death for cfferting the Antipodes ; and that Galilseus bad like to run the fame Fate, far maintaining Coper- nicus'j Dofirine. XXVII. To Cara Haly, the Phyfician at Confianti- nople. 6 a He averts, That Beajls ha*vc Reafsn, or a faculty very Analogous to it ; in Oppcjttion to the CartC- fian Philcfophy. XXVIII. To Ha/ein $a/a. 72 He reproaches the Tutor of the Pages in the Seraglio with Envy and ill Offices. XXIX. To Solyman, his Coufm at C-jnjlantineple. 74 he accepts his Apology for defaming Him ; gives him Counftl ho Touching the various Sefts of Mahometans and Chriftians : Of the Golden Age, and many Ab- furditiv taught ly the Mahometan Dcfam. BOOK II. LETTER I. TO the Kaimachcm. 89 Of Cardinal Richlieu'j De&tb ; of his De- fee fit, Education, Prtftrments, and the Jea- loufy of the Grandees, II. To the "Venerable Mufti. qz On the jami .Subjcl, and of the Cardinal^ Legacies. His Cb.traffer. III. To Jafmlr Sgire Rugial, an Aftrologer at Alep- po. 94 He Paraphrafes on his Nr.me, drolls on his Profef- Jion, ar.d ivzJfaa him it return to bis old Trade of teaching Pigcyns to carry Letters. XV. To the Grand 5^/orVChicf Trcaf:;rcr. 96 He excufesthe I>ifttr,itendts of his L.tttn -,' mentions the King of Perfia'-f D, ath : ; tlatcs tie Surrender of Tortona, n?ul tht Klarri^ge cf the Prince of Savoy ivitb his Niece. V. To Darnft Mebimei Br/k. 99 Of Cardinal Julio ! Jazarini, Rich!ieu v j SucceJJbr. VI. To Ifouf, his Kiniinan. 100 tie dtjtre.' him, to in-.ke an Offering for him to Sheh The TABLE. Sheh Boubac, a Santone at Aleppo : The Story of Synrana Fiffa ; He requires an Account of bis Travels. VII. To Mahomet, Bf!/a of Damafcti^ IO2 Of Manfour, the youngeft Son of Facardine, the brave Emir o/'Sidon. And, Of a Buttle fought . before Leipfick- VIII. To the Venerable Mufti, Arbitrator of the Problems and Myfteries of Faith. 104 He axfucers ell the Scruples of his former Letter to the Mufti ; and affi-rts the Bodily Delights of Paradife. IX. To the Kaimacham. I IO Of the Extraordinary Honours done to the Prince of Morgues by the French King, as a Reward of his Services. X. To Achmet Beig. T 1 2 Of the Defign which the Spanifn Ambaffador had, of Murdering the Portuguefe Ambaflador at Rome. XI. To the Vizir Azem, at the Port. \ \ j He expoftulates with him, concerning the Threafnings of the BaflaV of the Port. XII. To Marat Bajfa. 1 1 7 Of the Siege of Friburgh ; and, Of the Defeat of the Germans before Leipfick ; Of the Surrender of that Place, and the Confujion of the German Court. XIII. To the Kaimacham. 1 2 1 Touching Cardinal MazariniV Condufl, XIV. To the Venerable Mufti, Prince of the Inter- - prefers of the Law, and Judges of Equity. 123. Of the Death of Lewis Xlil. King of France . An Apology for his making War -ge Account of the Eaftern and Weftern Patriarchs. Of the Immunities ef the French Church. A Dcfcription of the Mafs. A Charafier of the Spaniards, French, and Italians. Of Retires. Of Proteftants. Of the Hierarchy. XVIII. To the Kaimackam. 143 Of the French Dauphin. XIX. To the Vizir A^tm, at the Port. 145 Of the Wars between Spain and Portugal. A par- ticular Relation of the Imprifonmtnt and cruel Ufage of Don Duartus, Brother to the New King of Portugal. A farther Account of Spa- nifh Cruelties ; and of afecond Confpiracy againji the King of Portugal. XX. To Dgnet Oglou. 149 Touching Melancholy, and his Method of cut ing it. XXI. To the Tefterdar, or Lord-Treafurer. 153 Of the Battle of Rocroy. XXJI. To the Vizir Azem, at the Port. 1 54 He difco'ven a Con/piracy of the BafTaV and Cover - tiers of the Ifles in the Archipelago, againji the Ottoman Empire. XXIII. To Chiurgi Muhammet, Bafa. 158 He relates a Pajfage at the DauphinV Chrijlening ; calculates the Number of the French Clergy ; talks of the King's Revenues, and of the French Dragoons. XXIV. To Igri Boinou, a White Eunuch. 162 Of The TABLE. Of the French King's Brothers ; of the Princes of the Blood, and the Nobility of France. XXV. To the Captain B<:J/a. 166 Of a great Number of Slaves, that efcaftd from Alexandria XXVI. ToMuJlapbaGuir, an Eunuch-Page. 168 Of the Murder of the Duke of Orleans his Page. Of Mercenary Ruffians. T0t Duke o/" Beaufort fufpefis Cardinal Mazarini to be thv Author of thftt Murder* 'the Duke isfent Prifoner to the Caf.le of the Wood of Vinciennes. XXVJI. ToPefleliHeli, his Brother. 172 He dcjires him to fend him fame Ntivs of his. Mother i invites him to an entire friend/hip, and to join with him in the Imitation of their Kindreds Virtues. Difcourfes of his Travels in the Indies. BOOK III. LETTER I. TO Ibrahim All Cheik, a Man of the Law. 180 Of the Wandring Jew ; and of Mahmut'f Converfalion ivith iiim en feveral Subjects ; particularly, of the Ten Tribes o/"Ifrael, 'which are loft. II. To the Scliffar Aga, or Sward- Bearer. 1 82 Of the Wars of Swedeland and Denmark. III. To Car a tialy l a Phyjtcian at Conjlantino- Kof/e. 1 84 Of a Man icho revived, after he had leen dead 35 Hours. Of another, He exprejfcs his "Joy, to hear of her Health -, end exhorts her, not to mourn in vain for her dead Hiijbcnd. VIII. To Muzlu Rds EJfendi, Principal Secretary of the Ottomt.n Empire. 198 Of ihe Hatred in-hich Madam de Chevereux, and the Duke of Beaufort, bare Cardinal Mazarmi. Of an old Courtier, from whom Maomut hoped to gc,in fsnie Sectt ts. IX. To Sig7iittr Lcrenzo def Citfa Bianca, a Genocfe t at Mfirffilles. 200 Mahmut uhdecditcs him, as to tke^fitory of Sul- tan MahometV being taken Prifsner ly the Mal- tefes. X. To Dgnet Oglou. 201 More on the fame Suljefl. XI. To the Rdi Ejfcndi, Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire- 203 Of thf JFars between the Duke of Parma, and the BarbcriaiV. Qf the DivijSons among the Italian Princes. XU. To The T A B L E. XII. To Lubuno Alitfei Sand, an Egyptian Knight. 207. Of a Finlander at Paris 8 Foot high. Of a Muf- covite Wrefller at Conftantinople. Of Sultan AraurathV Cruelty. Of a Spanifti Carvdtier> that murdtr'd his Wife, bis Servants and bimjflf, out of Jealoufy. XIII. To the Kaimacham. 209 Of the Parliament of Paris. A Defcription of Pa- ris, and St. Germain en Lay. Of the Kings Water-Works. XIV. To the moft IlJuftrious Vizir Azem, at the Port. 2 1 4 He perfitades kirn, That 'it is neceJJ~ary for the Sultan to isbett Prince Ragotfki'j Quarrel againjl the German Emperor. XV. To Af.s frffa, at the Port. ^ i 5 He difcovrfet of Dtjliny and Chance ; tells a Story, Of a poor Men ftrangely enriched hy finding of Trcafures ; and of the Death of a Soldier in the Duke of Anguiealr Army. XVI. To Nathan Ben Saddi, a Jew at Vienna. 218 He acquaints him, That he has learnt to make Wc-tches; whereof he has fent fotne to his Friends at Conitantinople. Of the German Emperor'* Sicknefs, and of Prodigies. XVIJ. To So/yuan Aga, Chief Eunnch of the Wo- men. 220 He ccmbarcs one of the SultanV Adventures^ to an that happened to One of the Kings of XVJ1I . To Dgnct Qgltu 2 2 I lie relates, Hen.:- he hrd like to have been difco'Uerd by bis farmer- Matter at Palermo. XIX. To The T A B L E. Abfolution for eating ofSiuincs F/rfi, and df ink' XXXVI/To ^Lhemet, an Eunuch Page in the Se- raglio. Touching his Imprifcum-rnt ; /rW, How a Man ought ahvays to be provided for Misfortunes. OfWie> end his Inclination to it. LETTER LETTERS Writ by A SPY at PARIS. V O L. II. BOOK I. LETTER I. Mahmut the Arabian, faithful Slave vf Sultan Ibrahim, To Bekir Bafla, His Higbnefs's Chief Treafurer at Conftan- tinople. I Know not whether it be a Vke or a Virtue to be fearful in my Gircurnftances. I am no Stoick, nor can I pretend an Exemption from the com* men Paffions of Men. However, 'tis not for my- felf I am folticitous, but I confult the Good of my ComtniJfioK. There is a Difference between Cautioii and Fear ; and Apprehenfion of Danger, is not to be termed Pufillar.imity. I have written fix Letters to Carcoa at Vienna^ but have received no Aafwer thefe four Moons, This Negleft puts me upon Thinking ; and I am puzzled to find oat an Excufe for him. I would fain continue our good Opinion of his HoneAy, without forfeiting B m/ l LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. my Senfes r For, although I am not naturally fufpi- cious, yet Experience has taught me to number Jea- loufy among the CarcRnel Virtnes. Not to amufe thee, I am afraid of Treachery. Carcea knows the Secret of my Commtjfi/m, and it lies in his Power to do much Mifchief. Vet I may \vrongthe Man ; perhaps he is dead : And there are no PoJIs that bring News from the Grave. If he be in the Region of Silence, and expired in his Integri- ty, the Tivo black Angels (hall have no Power to hurt him. But I wonder 1 mould have no Intelligence of his Death, neither from the Minijicrs of the Portt, nor ftoai Elladim the Jiiv. 1 Sell thee, I am un- eafy till I know the Truth. When 1 fit in my Chamber, and hear any difcour- fmg in the Houfe, I imagine 'tis about me ; when I go along the Streets, i.f any Man fallens his Eyes on me, hearrcilsme with Fear and Apprehenfion. 'Tis true, I am willing to undergo the worft they can in- flift; but it would extremely enhance the Sorrows of Death, to fee die Secrets of the Sub I', me Port, become the Scorn and Derifion of hf.ckh. For thefe Reafons, I have removed myfelf about n League from Paris, pretending it is for my Health, trufting the Conveyance of my letters, and other Uufmcls to Eliad-im, who, for ought 1 know, may prove a Reed of Egypt. I defire thee, nay, I conjure thee to fend a fpeedy Supply of Money," without which 'tis impcilible for poor ivlabnwt, the vildt Slave of the great and invin- cible Ibrahim, to perform what is expected of him. The great God reward thy Fidelity with unfading Treaftrres. Paris, loth of the yth Moon, of the Tear \ 647. According to the ChrifUan Style. LETTER Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 3 LETTER II. To the Aga of the Janizaries. THE God of }'l r ar feems to efpoufe the Quarrel of the Swedes ; and all the Planets contribute to their Profpcrity ; even Venus herfelf, has for a while laid afide all her ufual Softnefs, appearing now in the Field arm'd Cap-a-pee, with a Train ew*4jA Ama- X.OHS at her Heels. Thou wilt think I romance in telling thee this, and only temporize with thy Gtnius, having often heard thee pafiionatdy admire the valiant Acls of Semiramis, and other Eaftent Virago** : Cut aflure thyfelf, that the Snvfdes after feme late Battles, when they went to bary their Dead, dripping them of their Cloaths, found feveral of the fair Sex under the Difguife of Men, among which there were fome of Quality. It is laid, that one of thefe was feen to engage Duke Albert himfelf, with a matchlefs Bravery and Cou- rage ; the Duke being twice unh-rfed by her and as often remounted by his vigilant Squire*. Thofe that pretend to know more than the common Sort, fay, that Revenge was the Motive which brought this Lady inso the Field, having received a grofs Af- front from Duke Albert jn the German Court. How- ever, the Duke died of the Wounds he received of this Bellona, and (he furvived not to triumph over her dead Enemy, After this, the Swedes, under the Command of Ge- neral Torjfenfm, marched into Site/to, ; took Gloivgo'w by Storm the izth of the 5th Moon ; and Suciniez, on the yth of the 6th Moon. And, as if nothing were able to difcourage or bafile the indefatigable Mind of this Great General, he iuvefteJ the ilrong Town of Ohnit-z in Moravia, B z and ^4 LETTERS /Tr/V by Vol. IL and took it after fourteen Days Siege. The Po/s are arrived this Morning with this News. Be ftrong and of good Courage, and God (hall give thee Victory in Battel, when thou fighteft againft the Infidels. Abftain from Wine, and from Oppref- fion. And receive this Advice, as a Te3Jmony of my Efteem and Friendlhip. Paris, zoth of the yth Moon, of tbeTeur 1642. LETTER III. To Ibrahim Chanregil, C#/>/ Boilangi, or Gardener to the Sultan. ><-. ::,. .ml THOU that art daily converfant with the El- deft Produfts of the Earth, and canil call the whole Vtgetabh Family by their proper Names, tell me whether there be fuch a 'Plant, as by its baneful Influence blalts all that grows within ten Cubits of its Root. 1 would not put fuch a Queftion to thee, had I not lately feen fomething in the Garden of a certain Nibleman near Paris, which makes me think 'tis true. They call it here [The ill Neighbour,] becaufe it preys, (they fay) on all the Herbage that is near it, rifmg and flouriming by their Fall. Indeed, at the Time I faw it, there was a wither 'd Ciic!c roand it ; whilft this devouring Sprout look'd gay and full, augmented by the Spoils of neighbouring Grafs: A proper Emblem of Opprefllon. I wifli 'twere growing in the Gardens of all cruel Tyrants^ that in this natural Glafs they might behold their vo- racious Spirits. I will not thus call in Queftion thy Knowledge of an Herb, which fhuns all Human Touch. Here is one in the fame Garden, which the Nobltman boafc Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 5 boafts was by thy Hands cropt from the Sultans, Gar- dens, and being fet in a Pot of Earth prefeated to him. Thou didft not well confult thy Safety, in fuch a grand Preemption, nor yet the Honour of thy Sovereign Majier, who (Ihould it ever reach his Ears) would foon tranfplant thee from the Garden of the Seraglio to the EJ^/tan Fields. Thou oughteft to receive this Reprimand with high- eft Gratitude, fmce it will not fhut thee out of thofe pleafant Walks and Groves with the High Imperial Walls. Ufe more Prudence another Time ; and fcorn fuch eafy Condefcenfions to Infidels. Say, that I am thy Friend in this Advice ; and, in Recompence, I oaly defire this good Office of thee, to watch the Motions of my Enemies. There are no lefs than three great Officers of the Seraglio, hammering out my Ruin. Thou knoweft who I mean. Keep thy Integrity. The fly infmuating Words of Skaflrim Jflbam, the Black Eunuch, fpoken not long ago in my Difgrace to the Principal Secretary of State, quickly ecchoed to my Chamber in Paris. Be Silent a:id Wife. Paris, zoth of the 7th Moon y of the Year 1642. LETTER IV. To Muzlu Reis Effendi, Principal Secre- tary of State at Conilantinople. IP it were lawful for me to take the Oath of our Holy Prophet,, I would fwear by the Hour of the Evening, that thy News is welcome. I had fcarce finifh'd our appointed Devotions after Sun-fet, when the Pojl brought me thy Difpatch, which informs me, that Car coo. at Vienna is dead. B 3.. Ire- 6 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. I rejoice not at the Death of an honeft Slave to llrahim ; let Flowers fpring from the Dull of his Grave. Neither can I mourn for a Man, that may- be gone to new asd richer Pofleffions ; yet I am pleafed, that he quitted the Old fairly, and has left behind him an Odour of Virtue. A Man in his Poft is attacked with ftrong Temptations, and he that re- fifts to the End merits a Wreath gathered from the Tree of Lifs. Thou mayeft think, Vis with more Eafe I receive the News of Carcaas Death than of his Infidelity ; nor that I value the Rack or any other Tortures, wirh which the Policy of State ufes to draw Confef- fions of Capital Crimes. But I would not have the Grand Affairs of the Ottoman Port, COIT.C within the Verge of a Scrutiny. This News is the beft Cure for the Illnefs I pre- tended, when I exchanged Paris for tne Country Air, ten Days ago ; whereof Bechir BaJJ'a. has received an Account, I am now returned to my old Lodging, and am congratulated for my fpeedy Recovery, by them that knew not my true Diltemper. Thou informeft me, That by the Order of the Divan, one Nathan Ben Saddi, a Jew, is appointed Succeffor of Czrcoa : I wifti he may acquit himfelf as well. The five hundred Zcchins thou haft ordered me by hijH, will be very welcome to a Man, who has been forced to retrench many Charges, that he might the better ferve the Grand Signior. - The King of Spain may wilh, that he could con- clude a Peace on as eafy Terms with the French King, as the Safhy of Perjia has with the Sultan Ibrahim. None but Go/> ly Vol. IL they have by all tie Arts of Malic*, fafined the fulllck Odium on me, is a great Unhappinefs ; but, (Us is the Mfijler-picce of their Enmity, to render me fufpcfted by you. I could pardon their frequent ^li tempts upon mv Life, by pfivtite Ccmfpiracies and AJJaJJjnations, though Human Nature recoils at tbofe who are our Murdi rcn ; but to deprive me of that, without which Life iff elf it a Burden to me, I mean your Royal Favour, tranfportj me beyond myfelf*, and, I beg, that it may pafsfor r,tt '' Excuje of this Prefumption. I could cnjlly have ppj/cd over in Silence all their barbarous Plots agairjl me ! I ccttld ec.fely have parted ivitb my Life, and t.ll thife Honour i and Dignities ivitb which it has been blefs'd. Put, to rob me of your EJleem, which frjl raifedmeta this envied Grcfitnifs, and r u. i hicb lvalue more than all ike Grandeun of the Earth, breaks the Bars nvhich anyd jny 1'cngve and Pen, and makes me bold to throw nil f< If at your ^.oyal Feet, and All that- Ihaiuens Death, especially in that (he died before he was reconciled to her Majrfy. And tliey plead in Defence of his Innocence, his daily Zeal in faying Majs for her departed Soul, and that at a Time when ta has more need to keep his Bed, than go to Church. This I have heard difcourfed, even by feme uho bore no good Will to the Cardinal, yet now be- gin to relent towards him, feeing the very Linea- ments of Sorrow in his drooping Looks, and tracing the Footfteps of a profound Grief in his macerated Body. Hence they take Meaiures of his real Inno- cence and Fidelity towards that Great Queen. I will' n,t>t interrofe my particular Opinion on either Side, but Hand neuter among thefe conufting Inf.dels, tho 1 B 6 my 12 LETT 5 R * Writ fy Vol. If. ifty Inclination and Regard would rather fway me to the Cardinals Side. But, I leave the Determination of this Matter to thee, who art the Oracle of IVifdam, from whofe Sentence there can be no Appeal. In the mean while, the Body of the deceafed Queen lies as I have faid, at Cologne, where fhe fpent her laft , Days in a Religious Convent ; a Practice net fo com- mon now-a-days, as it has been formerly among Crowned Heads, And thofe who thus defcended vo- luntarily, from the Height of Human Glory, to the Aufterities of a devout, Life, have commonly been canonized for Saints, Nor do the Creatures of this Queen fpare to whifper about, that fuch an Honour were but a condign Reward to her extraordinary Me- rits, being already canonized in the Efteem of the bi- gotted Vulgar, while her Body is yet above Ground. The Royal Carcafe will be brought and interr'd in , the Temple of St. Dcn>is, about three Leagues from this City. This is efteemed the richeft Clitrcb in Trance, being a Repofitory of ineltimable Jewels, Gold and Silver, belonging to the Relicks of their Saint s. Here alfo is generally lodged the Duft of all the Royal Blood of France. The Saint to whom this Church is dedicated, is efleemed the Patron of this Kingdom ; for according to their Doctrine, the Saint i have the Patronage of certain Kingdoms, Pro- vinces and Cities, committed to them by God, and therefore they.addrefs themfelvesto them, and tP the Guardian y%f/jboth in Publick and Private. Every orie alfo, has h:s peculiar PatronrSaint and Guardian 4ngi I affigned him at his own- Choice* But if thefe Cbrijliun Saints are fet over fuch Places , and People as they fayour'd particularly in their Life- time, then one would think, when this Great Queen is canonized and inflated in her Saintly Government, the Hvgoncts here may claim her Patronage, in that fhe. fhewed much Kindaefs and Friendihip to. them while fhe was. alive. Pardon Tot. K. a SP Y at PA R is, 13 Pardon, Great Oracle of Truth, the Length of this Epiftle ; and excufe my Prefumption, in defcanting on Matters of Religion, which belong to thee to de- termine. I kifs the Hem of thy facred Veft, in pro- found Humility. Vouchfafe to pray for thy faithful Slave Makmut. Paris, zoth of the 7th Moon, of the Year 1642. LETTER VII. 2v Dgnet Oglou.. TFT is now paft Midnight, and being called out of 1 my Bed hy the People of the Houfe where I lodge, I knew not how to beftow my Time better, than in giving thee an Account of this Occurrence. Here is now fo violent a Tempeft of Thunder, Lightning and? Rain, that the whole Hemifphere feems to be on Fira; and the Superfluous are overr \vhelmed with .panick Fears, . concluding this Storm . will ufher in the Day of Judgment. It has conti- nued thefe two Hoars ; and they tell me, that no lefs than twenty Houies are burnt to Afiies already. I' had fcarce taken my Pen from thelaft Word, when a Flafh of Lightning dyed all the Papers and Books on the Table whereon I now write, as black as Soot ; whereof this fcorch'd Paper may be a Teflimonial, which I fend enclofed. Obferve but the Colour and Smell, and thou wilt fay, 'Tis damped with the^ Mark of the Thunderer. 'Tis that whereon I had begun to write to thee ; but, this thirfty Fire, at a, Moment, lick'd up all the Ink, fo that the Impreffion is wholly effac'd. The Reafon of their calling me out of my Bed, was. to go to Prayers with them, according to the Cuftom 14 LETTERS tfrit by Vol. II. Cultom of thefe Itifidds, who in Time of Thunder light certain confecrated Candles, and fall on their- Knees round about them, imagining, that whilil they are within the Room, where thele Candles are, the Thunder cannot hurt them. I excuied my felf from keeping them Company, by telling them, I had a Hallowed Candle in my Chamber, which I would light, and fay my Prayers there- They were fathfied with this Anfwer, and fprinkling me with Holy tfatft; to blcfs me from the Danger impending, I retired. There is a private Stair- Cafe in my Chamber, which leads to a Terms on the Top of the Houfe. My Curiofity carried me thither, where methought I be- held Nature in her Frolicks and Rants. The great- eft Part of the Sky was clear and ferene, and innu- merable Stars appeared ; but, round the Brims of the Horizon, a growing Bulk of Clouds encompafled the Earth, fpouting forth Cataracts of Fire from op- pofue Parts. One would have thought they were im- pregnated with Bombs and Carcailes, and that ibmc Armies were embattel'd in the Air. After this, as if thefe had been the Heralds of the laft and fkrceft Combat, the Clouds drew up into a Point, and mingling with each other, fhot forth fuch Showers of Hre, as made the World look like a Furnace. For my Part, I had not Courage enough to Hand longer .in the open Air, but came down to my Chamber, and falling prolirate on the Ground, recommended my felf to the Great Creator of all Things, Lord of Nature, and Sovereign Difp r -fcr of the li*Ui of Men. Neither do I think my felf fuperflitious in this, any mere than I mould be, in. humbling my felf in the JD>uft, before the- Terrible Ibrahim, when he is out of- Temper. Methinks Nature Teems to be in a Cholerick Fit, v, hen it Thunde; s j and 'tis neither good Manners.. Vol. IL a S P Y at P A R i *. 15 nor Policy, to draw her Fury on our Heads by daring Carriage. Our Holy L^iv, which prefcribes Prayer to us at the firll Appearance of the Sun and Moon, feems to intimate, That on any Emergency which gives us a peculiar Occaiion to contemplate an Omnipotent Pow- er, we aught to fall down and adore the High and Eternal One. I am almoft deaf with the Bells which are rung in every Church of this City, on this Account. It being the Opinion of the Nazarcnes, that this Noife will chafe away the Tempeil, with all the evil Spirits that infeft the Air. And this Opinion is grounded on the Ceremonies which are ufed at the Confecration of their Bells. For, the Bifoop, or, in hrs Abfence, the Pricft, hallows them with a kind of Bap'.ifm, and a Form of Prayer ; wherein, among of^er Petitions, they defire of God, to endue them with a Virtue to refill the Devils. I am no Friend to Superftition, neither do I give much Credit to Charms ; yet I cannot deny, bat the ringing fuch avail Number of Bells, mull needs caufe a violent Concuffion of the Air, even to thedifperfmg of the Clouds, and producing a Calm, And Expe- rience azures us, that this is tne common Effeft of a Battel, which, if it happen in Tempeftuous Weather, yet the Difcharge of many thoufand great and fmali Shot, has quieted the Storm, and hufh d the Elements into a very ferene Condition. Though this Noife of Bells be very troublefome, in a Time when People mould take their Repofe, yet here we are ulcd to it in a lefs Degree, every Night throughout the Vev.r. For the Chrijtians Law require the Der--v'ij\ 3 to rite at Midnight to fay their Prayers in their Chap- pels : And feme are Co devout and regular, as to make this their conftant Cuttoin ; fo that as ibon as the Clacks have itruck T-wefoe, the iinall Bells in feme 1 6 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. fome Convents begin to jangle. Abeut two or three Hours afterwards, other religious Houfes ring their Bells, and fo continue at certain Hours, Day and! Night all the Year long. The Storm is now quite blown over, the Clouds difpers'd, and.all Things hufh and quiet. He that brings forth Light out of Darknefs, and converts the Terrors and Sadnefs of the Night, into the chearful Joys of a fair and propitious Morning, have thee in his Keeping, and perpetuate our Friend- fhip. Paris, 24th of the 7th MJCU, of the Year 1642. LETTER VIII. Zo the fame. THERE lives a Dervife in this City, with whom > I often converfe with the fame Freedom as I do with thee ; and, it is no fmall Alleviation of my Melancholy, to vent my Thoughts to one of an agree- able Spirit. He is a Religious of Mount Carmtl ; a Man of fin- gular Piety and Virtue; and, were he not fo zealous a Patron of the Cbrijlian Superftitions and Idolatry, I-fhould efteem him a Saint. I have often attempted to wean him by Degrees, from the Errors which he imbib'd with 'his Mother's Milk, and which feem to be rooted in him through the Influences of his Education. Sometimes I plant a Battery of Arguments againft Images and Pictures ; bat, I can neither beat them down from the Ports they are allotted in his Oratory, . nor am I able to demoliih the Chapels which he has built for their Ideas in his own Breaft. Yet, Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS, 17 Yet, after a long and clofe Siege, I have reduced him to Terms of Ccmpofition. Jn the firft Place, he has furrendred up aPifture which hung up in his Clo- fet, .1 Form of a very ancient Man with hoary Hairs, defigned by the Painter, to reprefent the Perfon of COD. He yields, that it is not lawful t make any Refemblance of the invifible Divinity. Next, he allows, that it is not lawful to bow, or mew any other external Refpeft to the Pictures and Images of Jf/ui, Mary, and the reft of the Saints, but only to ufe them as hiftorical P^membrancers of thofe holy Perfons, and as natural Helps and Spurs to Devotioo. and Virtue. I tell thee, my Friend Oglou, on thefe Capitula- tions I could not but raife the Siege, and yield him the Ufe of Pictures thus far a blamelefs Praftice. For, it feems to me unreafonable to debar thofe who believe the Hrjlory of the Gofpel, the Privilege to read it in what Language they pleafe, whether this of Images and Pictures, or that of Letters. Letters are but the Images of fueh and fuch arti- culate Sounds, by which we exprefs our inward Con- ception of Things : But, Images and Picture? are the lively immediate Characters of the Things them- felves, and it feems as eafy to me to look on a Piclure or Image without the Danger of Idolatry, as 'tis to read a Chapter in the Alcoran without ado- ring the Letters that compofe it. Was not the Ta- bernacle of Mo/es adorned with Images of Gberu- viJitirs, rather than by A; ins. Catalonia and Rtujfition, were the Stages of this War, in the Beginning ef the Year ; where the Ma~ refckal de Brexe, ard the Situr de la Atotbe-Hoitdan- court, combated with all the HardfTiips of the Win- ter, as well as with valiant Enemies. The Rigour of the Seafon did not cool the Courage of thefe Generals, nor divert their Ptfchition from taking the Fitld. All the Country appeared like a frozen Lake, and there was no Place for them to encamp, but in deep Snows or Ice : Yet, for all thefe Difcouragements, the Marefcbal de Brtze block'd up Perpignan, a Town of great Strength in RouJ/ilion, whilft the Sieur de la Mot he, kept the Arragomam in Play, and baffled the Enterprises of the Caf titans, having given them two fignal Defeats. Thefe fuccefsful Actions of the French Generals, in- vited the King their Mafter to give them a Vifit, be- ing very defirous to take Perpignan, and fettle the Affairs of Cafa/wia. He therefore fends another Army under the Command of the Marrfchal de la Mejleraye, which he foon followed in Perfon. There was now a generous Envy raifed between fo many great Commanders, every one Ibiving to ad- vance lamfelf in the King's Efteem by his Services. And the particular Merits of the Sievr fie la Motke, drew a favourable Eye on him. The King made him Marefchalde France, the Staff, which is the Badge of his Office, being prefented to him by the Marefchalo( Breze at Barcelona, to the general Satisfaction and Joy as well of the Cataloniain as the French. This Honour was conferred on him, prefently af- ter the great Victory obtained over the Spanijb Forces at Ville Franca in Catalonia. In the mean while, the Marefchal de Mefleraye* inverted 26 LETTERS Writ fy Vol. It, inverted the ftrong Caftle of Calioubre, which was furrendred to him upon honourable Terms, by the Marquis of Mortare, Genial of the Spanijh Horfe in Rtitffiljen, and Governor of that Caftle. The King flufh'd with Conquefts and Sueceflbs, would not fufFer his Army to lie idle, but in good earneft laid clofe Siege to Perpignan* Yet fuch was the Generofity of this Prince, that before he tried the Force of his Cannon, he ordered the Marefchal de MeJIeraye, to fend a Herald to the Marquis de Flares, Governor f the Town, to put him in Mind of the great Streights the Befieged were hi for want of Provifions, of which his Majefty was not ignorant ; and, that there was no Hopes of Relief from the Marcuis de Poftin')ple, to demand )uitiee on the aforeiaid . Sub-baffle; threat n wig, -that if it be denied, he will cover the Ocean with Ships, and raze the Palace of the Suit fin to the Ground. For theis two Noblemen ire nearly allied to the Royal Family. I knew thou wilt defpife the bold Bravado of this King, and fo do I, being allured, That the /- vincible Sultan can fet his Foot on the Necks of for- tv fuch Petty Kings as this. Yet, let us be the Advo- cates of Juftice, by which the refulgent Empire of the Munlmen was firft eitabliflied. Should luch a Villany as this go unpunirhcd, it would encourage others 24 LETTERS Writ by Vol. If. others in like Cafes, and then there would be nothing but Extortion, and cruel Infolence praftifed by Go- vernors of Towns and Cities on the Road. So bar- barous and inhofpitable Ufage, would provoke all the Princes of the Chriftian Law, to take tip Arms^gainft us. Thus would the moft glorious Empire -in the World, become a Prey to Infidels. I know this would fee mifreprefented, were it to t;ome to other Hands than thine. They would fay of me openly, what they have already whifpered in the Cabals of the Seraglio, That Mahmut is in Pcnjion nn-itb the French King. They feek my Life without a Caufe. But I trult it to thy generous and right noble Hands, of whofe Friendship I have had fo late Experience. May the frjl Mover of the heavenly Orbs, lead thee as by a Clue of Thread, through the dark Laby- rinth of State -Affairs, and bring thee, after a long and happy Life, to the fields ofendlefs Light. Amen ! thou Lord of Paradife, Paris, 26th of the 7*th Moon, of the Tear 1642. LETTER XL &o Nathan Ben Saddi, a Jew at Vienna. 'TT Know thee not, and 'tis probable, thou art as ^ little acquainted with me : Yet, I have often ob- terved more durable Friendmips contracted between Strangers, than betwixt thofe of the fame Blood. Good Offices equally deferve and attract Love. There are many Opportunities for Travellers toferve one another. And, he that obliges rue in a firange Country, makes himlelf my Brother. I received a Qifpatch from the Rtii Ejfendi at Con- Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 25 Jlantinople, informing me of the Death of Carcoa> one of the Happy Slaves of him whom God has or- dained to difpenie Felicities to the World : I mean, the Grand Signior, PoJJeJJor of the mofl excited Throne on Earth. He tells me likewife, that I muft expecl from thee the Continuance of Carcoas Office. I congra- tulate thy Honour, in that thou art thought worthy to ferve the great Viceroy of the Lord of the Uni/<& ofcndhjs Light. Paris, 6th of the 8th Muox, of tie Year 1642. LETTER XIII. $o Cara Haly, a Phyfician, at Conftan- tinople. THerc is a Garden in this City, fo near refem- bling that of the Invincible Vizir Azem, on the Eaft of Pera, that I cannot but fancy my felf near ConJtdntinMe, when I am walking 'in it. It is called the Kings Garden, being allotted by the Royal Bounty of the Kings of France, to the Service and Improvent of Students in Phyfick. There is a Yearly Stipend fettled on an approved Phyfician, to take Care that no kind of Phyfical Plant or Herb be wanting in this Rcyal Seminary. Who al- fo during the whole Summer, is obliged to read a Latin Lecture every Morning, on the Simples there growing; Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 19 growing ; whilft a great Auditory of young Stu- dents, with Books, Pen and Ink in their Hands, wait on him up and down the Alleys, and write down his Difcourfe : He that is now employed in this Office, is a very learned and ingenious Man : He takes great Pains to make all his young Difciples perfect Herlalifts ; for, all the Way as he paiTes along from one Herb to another, he ftoops down, handles the Simple, and explains his verbal Defcription with his Fingers Ends ; giving a moft accurate Ac- count of the minuteft Difference between fuch as feem to be alike, and demonftrating to the Eye, that thofe are two diftindi Plants, which many take to be one ; tracing out their different Families, in the Number, Texture, Shape or Colour of their. Leaves and Flowers : And, this he does with fo graceful an Aclion, fuch eloquent Language, and fo compofed a Spirit, that he charms all that happen to be pre- fent at his Lectures, and makes every Body in Love with the Eotar.icki. The Garden Hands open to all Gentlemen, provided they leave their Swords with the Keeper of the Gate, to prevent Quarrels and Mifchief. I enter daily among the reft, and when the Pfy- Jick-Leflure is over, I retire my felf into one of the moft pleafant Shades in the World ; it is a Gravel Walk, the whole length of the Garden, on each fide of which grow lofty Trees, planted fo thick, and intermixing their Leaves and Branches fo clofely at the Top, that they compofe a perfect natural Umbrella over the Walk, from one End to the other, fo that not a Beam of the Sun can enter. And, that which creates in me the greateft Complacency, is, that the farther End of the Walk is not fhut up by a high Wall, as is the Cuftorn in fome Gar- dens ; but whether you are fitting, or ftanding up- right, it opens to you a very agreeable and large Profped. of the Country adjacent to Paris, which C 3 ' .30 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. affe&s the Eye with incredible Delight ; and mine fo much the more, becaufe it perftdlly refembles the Country lying Eaft of Ptra and Conjlantincp/e, which you furrey out of the Grotto's of the aforefaid moft Jlluftrious Vizir dzem. Tis when I am in this Waik, I imagine I breathe the Air of 4Jta, and am within ti.t \ t rge cf the Imperial Seraglio, the Sc.nflua- ry to which ail the diftrsfs'd Princes in the World have Recourfe. There are in Paris above an hundred magnificent Palacei, and beautiful Gardens belonging to them ; but noi:e wherein I take fo particular a Delight, as in this Royal Pbyjick Garden. Here I fpend many a folitary Hour, and fometimes I meet with Com- pany. 1 tell thee, Dear Hafy, that tho' the French are na- turally the moft polifhed and refined People in the World, yet I am many times willing to make Ex- cufes, and leave their Society ; being by the Force of a poweiful Inclination either drawn to this Garden, or to a famous Library in this City, in the Cuftody of certain Rtligicus Dervifes, who at certain Hours of the Day, are obliged to give Attendance t all Gentlemen who are pleaied to fit there and ftudy. Toward the Evening I vifit the Hcjpitals, which, are the fineft that ever I faw in the World, and I believe the beft govern'd. There is one named the Hofpital of God, where Perfons of Quality them- felves, and thofe of the frft Rank, come every Even- ing, and wait on the Sick and the Wotmded, doing all the rr.eaneft Offices of inferior , Servants, and this with Abundance of Tendernefs and Humanity. I have feen the niceft and gayeft Ladies of the Court, dreffing the moft fquahd and putrificd Sores of wounded Men, not feeming in the leaft to Be difgufled at the loathfome Sight and Stench of their Ulcers. When one firft enters the Place, one would imagine it to be a Chamber of youg Janixariei ; is being Vol. II. a S P Y at P A R i s. 31 being a very long and wide GaUery, with Rows of Beds on both Sides, wherein the Sick are difpofed ac- cording to the Order of their coming, or the Nature of their Difeafe The Curtains of the Beds are all of pure white Linen, prettily wrought here and there with Flowers of Needle-work. Their Sheets as white as the Curtains ; and by each Bed ftands a Bafon of clean Water, and a fine Towel laying by it. At the farther End of the Gallery, Hands an Altar railed in, where the Priefts perform their Religious Myileries for the Sick. In fine, all Things in this Place fpeak an exquifite Decorum and Order, with a generous Re- gard to the Health and Life of Man. Three of thefe Galleries make up the whole Hofpital, and it is as pleafant to roe fometimes to walk up and down in tnem, as in a beautiful Garden. Certainly, if any Argument could be of Force to recommend Sicknefs as a defirable Thing, it muft be taken from the Circumftances of this Hofpital, or, an Equivalent Ground. I, for my own Part, have often thought, that Death itfelf would not be formidable amidft fo many Ornaments, Sweets and Comforts. If this Publick and Charitable Regard to the Sick, be an Effect of their Religion, 1 cannot be fo partial to deny it a due Acknowledgment, but muft own, that Heroick Virtue and Piety is to be found in an emi- nent Degree, even among the very Infidels. Thou wilt pardon me for detaining thee fo long in the Theatre of the Sick and Wounded, and pre- fenting thee with the Tfagicai Scenes of Mortality ; fince it is thy proper Profeflion to converie with the Infirmities, Difeafes and Dolours of Human Bodies, and to be frequently prefent in the Anti-Chambers of Death. Suffer me to prefs thee to an Integrity of con- tinual Love and Friendship between us. Let not Miitakes or MUapprehenfions cool this generous Af- C 4 32 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. fe&ion. It is Pity, that either the fpightful Mif- reprelentations of infinuating Back-biters, or our own groundlefs Jealoufics, nnd Sufpicions, fhould diffblve the Union of Faithful .and Loving Friends. I had rather fiiffer a thoufand fmall Injuries, which I know muft proceed from Frailty and Human Necefiity, than not continue to love where I have once pkch'd my true Affeclion. Nothing but ap- parent wilful Perfidioufnefs and Treachery, ought to break the facred and inviolable Band of Fticndfhip. Fidelity and Love cover a Multitude of lefler Faults. He that breaks with his Friend for fmall Errors, difcovers the Rafhnefs and Inconftancy of his Mind, and that his Friendfliip was never well grounded. For, had he been a wife Man, he would either have been more flow and cautious in the Choice of his Friend ; or having once contracted Friend fhip, he would not break it again for a lefs Crime than ma- nifeft Difloyalty. But thou, who haft ever purfued me with all the Offices of a generous and faithful Friend j bearing with many Infirmities and Failings, deft not deferve this Cenfure. Yet, conficering the Instability of all Human Affairs, I could not for- bear putting thee in Mind ef thefe Things ; left, through the Malice of Fortune, or the Envy of Men, or any other Caufe, thou ftiould'ft withdraw thy Af- feclion from me, which I value above all Temporal Blefiings. For, befides the many Favours I have received at thy Hands, whereby I am obliged in. Honour and Gratitude to love thee perpetually ; a Spark of Natural, or rather of Divine Affeclion. was kindled in my Breaft, from the firft Time I converfed with thee ; whether it proceeds from Agree- ablenefs and Harmony of Spirits, or fome lecret Operation, I know not. But, fure I am, and would have thee reft confident, That there is not a Man in the World, who loves and honours thee with greater Fidelity than I do. The Vol.11. a SPY at PARIS. 33 The Great and Eternal Lord of the Univerfe, in- creafe and multiply thy Virtues and Bleffings, and make thee Illuftrious in thy Generation ; granting alfo this Happinefs to me, That after a lafting and true Friendmip between us on Earth, I may drink with thee of the Rivers of Pleafure, which glide a- long the Fields of Paradife ; 'and that I may fee thy Face brighter than the Stars of Heaven. Amen ! Amen ! O thou Lord of the Worlds. Paris, 6th of the 8th Moon, of the Tear 1642. LETTER XIV. To the Kaimacham. I Take the beft Meafures for Intelligence, yet I can- not gain a Sight or a Copy of all the ExpreJJcs that come to this Court ; nor can I learn their Import as foon as they arrive. The Minijlers of State here, are the Sepulchres of News, they bury all in Silence. This is the Reafon that I fometimes have been forced to fend thee an Account of many Events, long after they happened. My laft Letter was an Abftraft of the French Conquefts in Catalonia, from the Be- ginning of the Year to the Moon laft paft. After the King of France had retired from the Camp before Perpignan, the Marefchal de Mejleraye applied himfelf vigorously to perfect the Batteries, Redoubts, and other Works. Whilft the King of Spain was hourly perplexed with Cares and Anxieties, for this important Place. The Extremities to which it was reduc'd, haften*d his Preparations for an effeftual Relief. He fent Orders to the MarquiJ/ei ofTarrstcufe, of Lfganez and Mortuire, to raife the Flower of ArrazonwcA. Caftile. C 5 The 34 LETTERS Writ by Vol. IT. The Viceroy of Naples, furnilhed out a confiderable Fleet, it being the Catholick King's Refolution either to fuccour Perpignan, and raife that Siege, or take Barcelona by way of Rcprizal. Jn the mean while, the new Marefcbal de la Motbe, fiufh'd with the late Favour he receiv'd from his Ma- iler the French King, and fpurr'd on with the Thirft of Glory ; entered like a Torrent with his Troops into Valentia, \vhich at that Time lay naked and un- guarded. The firft Thing he did, was, To furprize a Convoy of the Marquis of L'ganez, who were carrying an. extraordinary Piece of Cannon to Vi. Lord of the fe*ven C/imatet, for whofe Sake the Elements are reftrained within their Bounds, and Nature itfelf keeps on her Courfe. Coufin, I pray the great Godto poliflr thy Soul with rational Principles, and make thee ufeful in thy Gene ration ; for no Man is born for himfelf. Adieu. Paris, i jth of the 8th Moon, if the Year 1642. LETTER XVI. 20 Berber Muflapha, Aga at Conilan- tinoplc. !Sent thet a Letter k the Conclufion of the lad Year, concerning the Duke of Lorrain, and the ifs of his Eitate : Since which he feems to have loft himfelf; being Excommunicatfd\sy the Pope who is to the Chrijlians what our Mufti is to true Believers. If thou knowefl not what it is to be Excommunicated by the Pope, I will inform thee in few Words. Thofe who lie un^er this Cenfure, are forbid to en- ter into any of their Churches, or in the leaft to par- take of what they effeem Holy. All Chriftians are commanded to fhun their Company ; they areefteem- ed as bad as Hereticks ; banifh'd human Society, aud given over to- the Dcvi/t The Occafion of pafling this fo fevere a Sentence on a Sovereign Prince, thou wilt imagine was great ; and yet it was only for putting away his firft Wife, and marrying another, A Thing commonly pra- aifed 40 LETTERS fflrit by Vol. IL ftifed all over the'EaJ?. Should our Mufti's have the fame Power, there would be but few Mujjulmen in the f acred Mcfques. But, thefe Infdch call Marriage a great Sacrament* and eileem it as violated when a Man repudiates hi* Wife ; Divorces being not allowed in any Part of Christendom, unlefs in Cafe of Adultery. People talk varioufly of the Pope's Cenfure. Thofe who favour the Countefs of Cantecroix, murmur at the Excommunication, calling it a Breach of Privi- leges, an unheard-of Innovation, an Attempt upon the Life of the Prince. They add alfo, that he ought firft to have been cited, and his Cafe heard by the Court, according to the Canons and Decrees of Coun- cils. On the other Hand, there are who juftify this Proceeding of the Pcpe, and accufe the Duke of bar- barous Ingratitude, for leaving his lawful Wife, by whom he got his Eftate, and with whom he had lived many Years. Hewever, the Duke f Lorrain has publifhed a Protejlation againft the Papers Proceedings, and caufed his Procurator General to do the like ; 'writing Let- ters alfo to the Prefidenis and Counfellort of the Sove- reign Court of Lorrain and Barois, commanding them not to take any Notice of the Pcpis Cenfure ; it be- ing actually null and void, becaufe contrary to the fundamental Laws of the Church. It is to be obferved here, That this excommunicated Prince in the Conclufion of his Proteji, appeals ne- verthelefs to the Sovereign Bijhcp, whn he mail be better informed, ftill profeiung an eternal Obedience to the Church. It is a ftrange unaccountable Power, the Popes of Rome claim over Empercrs and Princes. In his pub- lick Letters, Briefs, or Patents, he ftyles himfelf, the Servant of the Servant s of God; yet, in his Acti- ons, he aflumes a Sovereignty over Kings, calling all the Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 4t the Princes in Ckrijlendom, bis Sons, and chaftifmg them as fuch, when he fees Occafion. All this pro- ceeds from the Difference they made between the temporal and fpiritual Sword. So, that when their Forces have been routed, the City of Rome fack'd, and themfelves taken Prifoners by the Force of the former ; yet they have at the fame Time, by the Dint of the Jacter, fubdued their Conquerors, and in the midft of Captivity celebrated a Triumph. Spare not to command me, if thou canft propofe any Method of doing thee Service. God, the EJ/ence of Ejfenccs, purify us, and wa!h "away our ImperfecYo.is. Paris, 2 gth of the 8th Moon, of the Tear 1642. LETTER XVII. 'To Eedredin, Superior of the Dervifes of the Convent of Cogni, in Natolia. AR T thou alive, venerable old Man, or muft I expeft my Anfwer in the other World ? I have often writ to thee, and more often enquired after thy Health, when I had Opportunity ; but have received no Anfwer, nor heard any News of thee thefe feven Moons ; which feerri fo many Years, to a Man who would be ready to die for Joy, could he receive the leaft Affurance that thou' art yet alive. Without Doubt, thou Jiveft where-ever thou art, and livcft in perfect Joy and Peace, the Rewards of thy confummate Sanctity a>>d Virtue. Either thou ftill enjoyeft a Heaven on Earth, thy incorrupt Soul being a Paraflife to itfelf ; or, thou haft tranflated thy Refidence from Earth to Heaven, to augment the Number and Joys of the Blefled, Well! 41 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. If. Well ! I will fuppofe and hope thou art alive, and that thib Letter will come to thy Hand : I will there- fore make thee an acceptable Prefent. Thou haft often fpoke with much Affection and Reverence of JESUS ; the MeJJlas of the Chriflians, as all good Mujjiilmtn ought to do ; being taught by the Alcoran in feveral Chapters, that he was a holy Prophet, and in die Number of the divine Fa- vourites. I have met with an authentick Defcription of his Perfon in the King's Library, and have tranflated it into Arc.bick for thy Satisfaction. Publius Lentulus being Prifident of Judea, fent it to the Senate of Rome, when the Fame of JESUS began to fpread abroad in the World. Thefe are his Words. THERE lives at this Time in Judea, a Man ofjingular Virtue, tuhofe Name is Jefus Chrift. Whom the Barbarians efteem a Prophet ; but his (wen Followers adore him as the Off-fpring of the Iro- mortal Gods. He calls buck the Dead from their Graves, and heals all Sorts of Difeafes- 'with a Word, er a Tcuch. He is tall and ivell-Jhafed ; of an Ami- able, Reverend Affcfl ; his Hair of a Colour that can hardly be matched, falling into graceful Curls be- hvu his Ears, and very agreeably couching on his Shoulders, farted' on the Crown of the Head like the Nazarites. His Fore-head is fmooth and large, his Cheeks 'without other Spot, fatie that of a lovely Red. His Nofe and Mouth form d ith exqujjite Symmetry. His Beard thick, and of a Colour fuitable to the Hair of his Head, reaching an Inch beloiv his Chin, and farting in the Middle like a Fork. His Eyes bright, clear and ferene. He rebukes with Mcjcfty, counfeh with Mildnefs ; his ivhole Addrefs, LETTER XIX. fb Muftapha, Bafla of Siliflria. THOU haft no Reafon to repine at the Exchange of thy Government, tho' thy present Power be circumfcribed within narrower Limits than it was in Egypt. That Granary of the World, never afford- ed thee fuch a Harveft of Laurels as thou reapedft on. the Banks of the Black Sea. The Conqueft of Ajfac has loaded thee with Honours, and the Moderation thou haft in tke midft of Triumphs, has captivated greater Numbers of the Cojjacks, than could the Dint of thy Cymetar. Tho 1 the Foundations of Kingdoms are laid in Blood, yet the Superftrticlure is cemented with Clemency ; and the Raman Co-far s, by timely fheathing their Swords, fattened to their Empire toe Provinces they had won by drawing them. I am bound to write often to the Minijlcrs of the Port, and all my Moments are confecrated to the Service of the Grand Signicr, who has a Right to command all Mankind : Yet the Fame of thy late Vidlory reaching thefe Parts, and giving Occafion of Difcourfe, I ftole this Time from my felf, no: from my Great Mafier (it being the Hour of Sleep) to tell thee what the World fays of thee. They do not compare thee to Hannibal, Sdpio, or Alexander the Great ; thou thy felf would^l take him for a Flatterer, that mould ufe fuch an Expreflion : But they fay, the Method thou haft taken to fweeten the Calamities of the Co/jacks, and invite them back to their abandoned Habitations, has fome Refem- blance with the Conduft of Sclim, a General of Or- cbattes's Army ; who, after he had taken the City of Prufu, forbid his Soldiers, on Pain of Death, to touch the Goods of the Inhabitants, or commit any infolent Adion. The Moderation of this Conqueror, not 46 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. not only rendred the Citizens eafy and willing tofub- mit to their new Lord, but, the Fame of it fpreading abroad, he with little Bloodfhed, reduced all the ad- joining Countries under Subjection. It is reported of the great and victorious Saladine, that he took more Pleafure in winning the Hearts of his Enemies, than in conquering their Perfons. This Prince had a Saying very common in his Mouth, That be did the Office of a Barber and Gardiner, /hawing the Superfluities, find pruning the Excrcfcencies of over - grown Kingdoms and States, not dejlroying them Root and Branch. 'Tis certain, he endeavoured in all his Conquefts to mollify the Averfion of his Enemies, by Ads of Generofity. Thou wilt expeft fome News from a Man in my Poft, and I cannot entertain thee with more agree- able Intelligence, than what is the common Theme of Difcourfe at this Time. Edward, Duke of Parma, has entered into the Pofis Territories with three thoufand feleft Horfe, where he marches, dragooning up and down the Coun- try, bringing Terror and Confufion where -ever he comes. He conquers without drawing his Sword, the Papers Army flying before him. This Prince is by Nature very fierce and aftive, and has a peculiar Gift of obliging his Soldiers, by treating them with a frank, affable Carriage, free from the {lately Refervednefs to which Men in Au- thority are accuftomed. By this Deportment, he has infenfibly fiole their Affeftions; they are ready to fol- low him all over the World. When the Princes of Italy fall out with one an- other, they generally engage the Trench and the Spaniards in the Quarrel. But the Duke of Parma refufed the Afliftance which the former proffered him of two thoufand Men, provided they might be difpofed in Garrifons; he was jealous, left the French defignd to play their old Game ; and, that when Vol.11, a SPY *t PARIS. 47 \vhen they were once hoafed in his Cities and ftrong Holds, it would be difficult o unkennel them. He has a new Way of winning Towns, carrying with, him neither Infantry, Cannon, Ammunition, nor any other Provifions neceffary to a Campaign. Yet when he approached towards Simula in his Road to Bologna, the Governor fent the Keys of the Town to him in his March ; which he made no other Ufe of, than to give his Troops a Pafiage through the Place, refigning them up again. By thefe noble Acts he paved himfelf an eafy Way through ibtEccbjiaftitk State ; his Army being furniuYd with Victuals in Abundance, without Plunder or Jnfolency. . The firft Occaiion of this Quarrel proceeded from fome Contempt pat upon the Prince of Parma, at the Court of Rome, by the Nephews of Pope Urban : And the Difgufls have fmce been improved to that Height, as to engage the State of Venice, the Grand Duke Of Tufcany, the Duke of Modeita, and other Princes, in the Care of the general Intereft of Italy. They proceed with Mediations and Overtures of Peace in one Hand, vvhilft the Sword is brandifiYd with the other ; amufing one another with Treaties to gain Time. The Lois of Cajlro, a Itrong Town on the Borders of the Ecdefr.jlical State, fpurs on the Duke of Parma to revenge himfelf on the Bar* bcrims ; whilft the Rtpublick of Venice ftrives to miti- gate his Fiercenefs, and accommodate Affairs, efpou- iing his Caufe, but fearful of his Ramnefs, left his impetuous Humour m<5uld carry him to the Walls of Rome, and bring Things to Extremities For, all the Princes of Italy profels an inviolate Obedience to the Pope, who feems to inherit the Authority of the an- cient Roman Emperors. Thou may 'ft comprehend by what I have faid, how eafy it were at fuch a Juncture, when all the .Principalities in Italy are (as it were) disjointed, to bring them under the Yoke of a Foreign Power. This 4& LETTERS Writ ly Vol. IT. This is what the Sprniards and French have for a long Time been nibbling at: And, whereof thej&teftffflt of Venice are fo jealous, that they never fide with one Party to the Ruin of another, but endeavour to keep all the Interefts of Italy in an Equilibrium, 'till they are reconciled and united, left the Party which finds itfelf moft weakened, fhould fetk the Protection of one of thofe potent Crowns ; who would not fail to ftrike two Strokes for themfelves, if they are de- fired to ftrike one for the opprefled Italian. The Chriftians call Italy the Garden of Europe ; and if the Alldion may hold, the King of Spain has poffefled himfelf of two ftately Grotfo's in it, Naples and Milan ; yet, 'tis a Queftion, whether the Coft in maintaining thefe two Cities, will countervail the Honour of being their Sovereign at fuch a Diftance. The fame may be faid of his Dominions in Mexico and Peru. This is the peculiar Happinefs of the Ottoman Empire, that all the Members of fo vaft a Body lie contiguous to each other. The Monarch of the World above, and this below, increafe the Territories of our invincible Sultan, and by continually fupplying our Armies with fuch fortunate Leaders as Muftapha, fubdue ail Nations to the true Faith. Paris, 29th of the 8th Moon, of the Tear 164.2. LETTER i the Reis EfFendi, Principal Secretary of State. IHave heard with Sorrow, the Difappointment the Sultans Forces met with in the taking of Rab. I he Vol. II. a S p Y at P A R i s. 49 The Chrijliaws accufc him of Breach of the Capitu- lation, on which a Peace was concluded for twenty Years, between the Happy Port, and the Emperor of Germany. If the Stratagem by which they defign'd to take this Town, be ;ru^y related to me, it feems to be a Copy of the Grecian Artifice in taking Troy, bating the Difference ef many Carts, and one Wooden Horfe. That Officer who difcovered the Intrigues, tho' he had hunted in vain all the former Part of the Day, yet returned with good Game at laft, when he had enfnared our carted Soldiers within the Toils, got them within the Wall* of the City, and drawn up the Draw Bridge upon the Ambufh which lay behind. The Emperor, it feems, takes it mightily to Heart ; and, as I hear, has lent an AmbaJJader to the Per/, to complain of this Tranfaftion, The Court here is not very felicitous for his Inte- reft, nor will they be much troubled to find that his &nkdffadw has but a cold Reception at Conjluntinople. For, the DiJ:rences between the Kings of France* and the Houfe of Anjlria are too deeply grounded, to fuffer any good Underftanding or Affe&ion to take Place between them. And the Cardinal of RicUitu was heard to fay, not many Days ago, That fence the German Eagle tvasfo greedy, hi would give her a Bone to pick 'would break bir Bill. This was fpoken in relation to the Etnperers Encroachments on the Palatinate, and his Seizures of Juliers and Trpvss. I anr glad to hear that the League is renewed be- tween the Shining Port and the Kings of Perfea, that fo the Nerves of the Sacred Empire may be wholly employed in Hungary. Paris, 1 2th of .the gth Moon t of the Tear 1642. D LET- 50 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. LETTER XXI. 70 Enguruli Emir Chcik, a Man of the L/?w, THIS Wejtern World lies drown'd in Wicked- nefs ; or rather, is fet on Fire with Sin. I fweat while I am within the Confines of the Air of Cbriftcndom. An univerfal Feftilence infects the Souls of Men, from whence their Woi'ds breathe no- thing but Contagion. Even fuch as one would take for Hdy Suiu. s, are mire Cbtats ; and like thofe Fruits that grow en tl.e lanks of the Lake Jtfpbultitcs t they are fair and beautiful without, but bring them. tq the TotcWiOne, and you will find, them mere Corruption at.d Roitennefs wilhin. The Lait\ open- ly wallow in all Debauchery and licentious Practices. Nor are the CLrgy Icfs exempt from fecret Enormi- ties ; while the Eccltfiaf.uk Veilmentfi ferve but as Cloaks to Pride, Ambition, Coveioufnefs, and other concomitant Vices. The Sword of Jujlice itfelf, or at leaft, that which ought to be fo, ferves to divide the Spoils of the Puor, the Widsiv, and the O>j>bun. Jn Court and Cump all Oiaces are bought and fold, without regard to Merit, or the Publick Gcod. He that bids nigheft, is firft pr< fcn'd ; and, the bed- money Id Chapnlan, is the rat-it njeriiorious Candi- date. Thefe are the Efcapes of Princes, and the Be- fii;ns of Favourites ; whilft'the Eailnds of the One, abufed by the Craft and Sabtlety of the Other, ex- pofes Places of higheft Truft, ai in 'anC Exchange, to bacome the Merchandize of every Peddling Huckfler : And brave and generous Souls are many Times put by, tlio' the R--.yul Promife it felf has pafs'd in their Behalf. This is eminently the Unhappinefs of the French Court : And, 'tis thought, the la:e Duke of Lnyncs, and the prefent Cardinal Ricblicu, both of them Favouriies to the prcfcnt King, could not have Vol. IT. a S p Y at P A R i s. 51 have fwell'd their Coffers with fuch Heaps of Gold, but by thefe ilniltcr Methods. I am credibly inform'd by an old French Courtier, That Mo:.fcur Bel iag at Bordeaux, and being there alib buried, he, by the Mediation of fome Friem!, pro- cured a Repeal of hie Banijhir.cnt, that he might have an Opportunity of making the King fcnfible ot D 2 the 52 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. the Duke's Injuftice. But, it took not the defired Effeft ; for, he was upon thofe Words, immediately imprifoned, where he loon after died of Grief. Thus is Opprefhon, Murder and Violence countenanced by -Authority among thefe l*f.dds- JBut thou, Sage Interpreter of our Law, and Pa- tron of Virtue, vouchiafe me thy Counfel, that I may learn not to be corrupted by converfing with thefe Uticircumcifed. Paris, I zth of the qth Moon, cf the Ytar 1642. LETTER XXII. fo the raoft HJiiflrious Vizir Azem, at the Port. TH E Enemies of the Ottoman In'ereft, ever fince the Time that our late invincible Sultan Amurath had caufed his Uncle Mujlapha to be ftrang- kd, flatter'd themfelves with the vain Hopes of feeing that Royal Line extinft ; it being blaz'd a- broad in all the Courts of Chriftendom, that Sultan Amuratb, by excefiive Ufe of Wine, had quite ener- vated his Natural Vigor, and rendred himfelf in- capable of getting any more Children. And the private Charge which he gave to the Bnffas and Grandees of the Empire, that in Cafe he died Iflue- lefs, they mould translate the Imperial Diadem to the Tartar, was no Secret here Every body look'd upon our prefent happy Sovereign, Sultan Ibrahim, as a Man defign'd for a Sacrifice to his Brother's Ha- tred, and that he would not long furvive the Fate of his Uncle Mufapha. I have heard a grave and experienced Statefman fay, That .he hoped to fee the Ottman Empire (af- ter Vol. II. a S p y at P A R i s. 53. ter the Death of Amurath) rent into as many and fatal Divifions, by the ambitious Beglerbegs, Baff~as f and other Governors of Provinces, as the Empire of Alexander the Grtat was, by the Commanders of nis Army, after his Death ; who fhared it among them- felves, and cantonized it into as many Principalities, as there were Captains to make Pretenfions, either by- Merit, or the Sword. But, Praife be to God, Lord of the Univerfe, the Sovereign Protestor of the Empire eftablifhed by his own Hands, the Hopes of the Infidels are defeated. Ottoman is not left without an Heir to fit upon the Throne, an Heir of his Blood, as well as of his Empire, The Birth of Sultan Mahomet is no fmall News to Europe, after it had been generally reported, That his Father Sultan Ibrahim was Impotent. The Ladies of the Court here begin to entertain a better Opinioa of him. And the Grandees frame more Male aline Idea's of our Glorious Monarch. G0pf%, a Confi- dant and Emiilary of Ct. retinal Richlicu, whom he em- ploys boih at Home and Abroad in feveral private Negotiations and Intrigues. I have infmuated into, this Man's Familiarity, and (if I may fo exprefs it) I have riveted myfelf into his Heart. He treats me with an Affurance void of Jealoufy ; and there is no- Folding or Angle in his Breafk, which. 1 do not eafily penetrate. 1 make ufe of him as an Gptick, through which I peep into the Gardii*tP\ Secrets, and, as a Mirrour, in which I behold the true Face of many difguis'd Affairs, tranfafted in the remoteit Corners of Europe ; there being hardly any 7'hing of Moment done in the Courti of Cbrifiian Princes, wherein the, Cardinal has not a Finger. He fecHis to be the Ge- nius, or Sou! of Cbiijlendom, communicating Motion,, A&ivity and Heat, to all the grand Intrigues now oiv Foot in thefc Wejlern Parts of the World. The Commotions of England, feem to be a ccmpli- tated D/Jlemper of the State, arifing from feveral C*.:ufcs, drawn to a Pec.d by the dextrous Artifice of this Bitjy Spirit. The preftnt King of the IJlr.nd, came to the Crown with no fmall JJifadvantage^V his Father having exhaulUd the Tre^ry, and left him deeply in Debt. He had no frr.all Number of the Bloed Royal to maintain ; which kind of Charges, thou knoweft, our Glorioui Sultans, tho' they b Mafters of Infinite Riches, endeavour to avoid, by Marrying their Daughters and Nieces, whi'.ft yet Jnfants, to Tome of the m oft Potent and Wealthy BvJ/tis, that fo their. Port might be kept up, without burdening Vol. II. a S p Y at P A R i s. 5^ burdening the Royal Coffers. But the Infdel Princes are wanting in this frugal Providence In the Reign of King yarr.ei 'this King's Father) England lay at Eafe, flumbering in the Downy Bed of Peace ; fhe wallowed in Pleafures, and had no other Unhappi- nefs, but in being too Happy. Her Affluence and Idltnefs, affe&ed the Srafe with a Pletkoty. The Publick Health cannot be long conferved, without the rr.odtrate Exercife of War. Charles, after the Death of the Old King, being eftabliihed in the Tbroxc, ccmn.itted the Affairs of State, to the Ma- nagement of his MiniJIers ; never examining the ^nafury, nor calling to an Account his Officers, but indulged himfelf in the Pleafures mod agreeable to his youthful Ger.ius. He hunted in the Forefts, whilft the Grander;, whom he entrufted with his Revenues, and the publick Conduft, had another Game to pur- fi;e, poftponing their Mailer's Intereft, and that of the Nation, to their own private Avarice. The Fa- vourite Minijler held a fecret Correspondence with Cardinal Ricb'ieu, and, by this Means, the Court was filled with Fnncb Penfancrs ; countenanced alfo by the Authority ef the ^uecn, who was the Daughter of Trance. It had been before agreed in the Articles of the Jdeftritfgt t that the ^ueen of England mould have a f refixea Number of French Servants. But they, not content with their Domeftick Employments, and Attendance on her Perfon, fought the Management of that Eitate, which King Charles had fettled on her as a Dcn (which they call the Parliament) of that Nation. It is a S crate compofed of above fevcn hundred of the No- lillty and Gentry of the Land. The f e have the Power to make. Laws, raife Taxe.s, and redreis the Grie- vances of the Kingdom. It was an ill Seafon to afk the Afiiftar.ce of his Subjefis, who had already con- <>ciye4 an. Av.er/ion for the Royal Dignity. Kowefer, a mighty Vol. IT. t of England, exhaled from the ill Blood of the Subjcfts. The Royal Dignity went Retrograde ; and all Things tenoed to obfcure the Luflre of the Crown. Yet there pafled feme Years before 1 hingscaine to Extremities; and Matters tho' ripened, yet were not brought to an open Rupture, till Scotland lanced the Sore. This Nation is fubjeet to the Crown of England, and makes ore half of the ]Jl:.nd of Great Britain. They are a Warlike People, patient of Labour, ac- cuftomed to the Rigor of an extreme Coid Climate, great Travellers, Subtle, Proud and Inconftant. After that which fome call Herefy, others a Re- formation, had begun to alienage many Kingdoms and. Provlnftt from the Roman Church ; the Scon, greedy of Novelties, and fpurred on by the ambitious Pretexts of one of their Granc'ees (who under the Mafk of Religion fought the Crown) introdixU Innovations into their Church. They (hook off at once all their Obedience to the Pope, and felf up fuch a firm of Religious Difciplhie, as was altogether Anti- monarchical \ and their Preachers ceafed not to inftill into the Hearts of the People Dcmocratick Princi- ples.^ Thus continued Affairs, till, King Charles, not inftnfible of thefe Things, and willing to new- model that Church, they took up Arms againft him, knowing Vol. II. a S p Y at PAR is. ' 63 knowing that he would not be able to raife Forces to chaitife them, without calling a Parliament. The Parlw.mtnt of England was at that Time full of Scctt : Jh Profelytes, Men of Seditious and Turbu- lent Principles : So that the King was like to find bat little Favour among thetn. However, by the Af- fiftance of fome Loyal Nobles and Gentlemen, he inarches into Scotland at the Head of an Array. Not a Blow was llruck 0:1 either Side ; but all Differences were compofed, and hufli'd up by a Treaty. Yet, ieon after, the Scots entered into England with an Army, being under hand invited by their Parti zans in England. The King is a fecond Time forc'd to throw himfelf up&n his Parliament for Money; but they, iailead of granting him any, fell to examin- ing his paft Conduct, complaining and defiringaRe- drefs of feveral Irregularities in his Adminiftration. There were thofe who failed not to put into Execu- tion the Deiigns and Inflections of Cardinal Rich- lieu ; he had his Agents up and down the Kingdom, vho infinuated Jealoufies and Heart-burnings into- the Gentry and People of the Land. The Kingw;.s repreftutcd every where as a Tyrant, and all his Actions were mifconftrued. Sigxior Rofetti, the Pope's Nuncio at the Engli/b Court, befides his Inftrucuons from the Roman Pot.tif, held a Uriel Intelligence with the Cardinal. His Bufmefs at this Court, was publickly to the Quein (who profeficd an Obedience to the See of Rome) but ffivately he was oider'd to negotiate an Ac- commodation between the Rcmcn and Er.glijh. Churches. Cardinal Ricblieu thought to ftrike two A'Jaiks with ore Blow, that is, to embroil the State ef England, and procure himfelf the grea'er Efteem xvkh the Reman C;w t. He appears very Zealous foe the Converfion of Er gland ; and in order to it, al- lows a confiderable Penfion to Signicr Rcfetti : In- n. cling him withal, to fliew his utmoft Dexterity, 64 LETTERS Writ by Vol. IF. in gaming the Courtiers and Grandees of that Nation to his Side. ' He knew the Genius of the Englijh, and, that there was nothing fo offenfive to that Nation, as the Papal Power and 'Religion. Wherefore De Lopez was erder'd to pay Signior Rofetti vaft Sums of Money, that fo there might be nothing wanting to profelyte the Courtiers ; knowing that they would aft infolently, and difguft the Proteftcmts, and fo increafe the publick Averfion for the Regal Au- thority. There was alfo another Agent at the ~Engl':jh Court, who was Secretary to Cardinal Bar- berini, a Man no lefs induftrious than the other in advancing the Roman Intereft. He held a flrift Cor. refpondence with feme of the Chief Minijltrs, efpe- ciaily with the Principal Secretary of State, Whilft thefe were doing their Matter's Bufinefs ac the Court, there were others no lefs active in the City, where they endeavoured to create a Party, and raife Fadti* cms, infinuating themfelves into the Acquaintance of the moft eminent Merchants and other Citizens ; reprefenting t them the dangerous Confequences of Signior Roftttts Refidence at the Court ; glancing at every Thing which look'd like a falfe Step in the King's Conduit ; alarming them with Fears and Apgrehenfions of being fubjected to a Foreign Pow- er ; and ufmg all their Arts to nourim Popular Diffa- tisfaction. The Scots about this Time made another Incurfion into England. A Parliament was called, but no Goosfc done. The King's Neceflities made them grow high in their Demands and Carriage, and all Things tend- ed to a general Defection. A while after, the Irijh revolted, and maflacred above a Hundred Thoufand Englijb. The King is accufed for being privy to it : Tumults are raifed, who, in a threatning Manner, feemed to befiege the Roya/ Paiafc, calling out for Juftice ; not much, unlike Vol. II. a S P Y at P A R i s. 65 unlike the Sedition of our Janizaries, when they are difpleafed with the Condudt of our glorious Sultans, or his Prime Ministers of State. In fine, the JVlifunderftandings between the King and the Parliament grew to that Height, as induc'd the King to withdraw fr-om the Capital City, about the Beginning of this Year. And, in the following Mean, he fent the Queen with her Daughter into Hol- land, that they might pafs away the Time in the Court of the Prince of Grange, 'till this Storm was blown over. In the Interim, the King fends Letters to the Par- liament, persuading them to confult the Publick Peace ; but all was to no Purpofe ; they feize upon all the Strong Heidi and Cajtlts they could ; fo that when the King came to one of his Garrifon'd Towns, the Gates were fhut up againft him, and he was de- nied Entrance by tke Governor. The Parliament lifts an Army, and the King fet up his Royal Stand- ard in the lail Moon. Since which, there has been nothing of Aftion between them, but the Annie* are drawing near each other. I will inform thee of all Particulars as they come to my Knowledge. Bmt the Packet-Boats from the I/land 'come not fo frequently during the Diilurbance* as they have done formerly. I btfeech the Creator of all Things, To defend our Invincible Sultan from the feditious Praclices of his Subjcfis ; and make thee Inilrumental, to eitabliih. and, aggrandize the Ottoman Empire. Paris, 2gth of the Qth Mqott^ cf the Tear 1642* LETTER 66 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. LETTER XXVI. 70 Abdel Mclec Muli Omar, Superinten- dent of the College of Sciences at Fez. WH E N I write to thee, 'tis with a RefpeA equal to that which I pay to ihe Ernirs t the Defendants of our Holy Prcfhet, fince thou art fprung from the noble Stem of the ancient Saracens; the Bleed of the celebrated Orrar, Succrffor to the Divine Lsnvgiwtr, flreaming in thy Veins. I revere the Banner carried into Egypt by thy JCcwunieel Progenitor, before which the Grecians Red aftonifhed, as at a. Sign fent from Heaven of their approaching Ruin '1 his facred Piece of Antiqui- ty I have feen at Medina, where 'tis repofited in the Chancel of the Babylonian Caliphs. I have honoured it with a Pious Veneration ; but much greater is my Regard to thee, who art a living Relick of that lllu- frioui H^ufe. Permit me, Venerable Sage, to converfe with thee a little, after tine manner of a Pupil j with thee, I fay, who art a Fountain of Sapience ; for, befides thy perfect Knowledge of the Divine Laiv, thou art acci/iiipliihid with all human Literature. Theie is a Man in thefe Parts, of a large Soul nd elevated Speculations, who ftiffly maintains, That the Ear.h moves, and the Sun ftands ftill. He h not the firft that broach'd this Doftrine, it has had feveral learned JPatrws, but he has highly im- prov'd the Ihe-ry. His Reafons for it, have almoft the Force of Mathematical Demonji rat ions ; and no- thing ieems to oppofe him, but the Authority of Mo/es, and the Httrenu Scriptures. The Cbrijiiant will not approve of any Pbihfopby which interferes with Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 67 with that which they call the Bible ; and yet their Practice gives a perpetual I .ye to the Contents of that Book. Surely there is no En<-, the Elephant, with many other four footed Beafts, afford us manifeft Specimens of Reafon, or foniething very like it. Who has Hot heard of the Love which Dc!p l .>ins bear to M'en ? Pliny rela'es a pretty Story of aW- thin that frequented the Lake Lucrmus in Italy, and fceing of en fed from the Shore by a certain School- boy, grew at length fo familiar, as to come at a Call. We alfo rend of another, who took the Muficiaji JSrion on his Back (when caft into the Sea by cruel Sailors) arid carried him fafe to Shore. Can all thefe Actions proceed from mere Matter ? In my Opinion, 'tis as eafy to defend, 1 Lit Human Kauive it fclf is but Matter fo and fo modified ; and thKt all the Buflle Men keep in the World, is but the Effect of a better Compofition of Body, the Refill t cf a more perfect and refined Machine. I eafily agree, That we far excel the other living Creatures in all the Operations of our Souls, and Ex- ercifes of our Reafon : Yet we have our Defects as well as they j and this I efteern as one cf the greateft, to deny Them any Share in Reafon, who fo far excel Us mStaJe. It is a culpable Pride and Envy in Men, thus to blaft' the Reputation of their animal Kindred, from which Vices I know thou art free. G^d that has made Ufe of the Tongue of a filly Afs to reprove the Folly of -a Wife Man in his own 7 2, LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. own Conceit, illuminate our Underihnding in the Myfteries of his Law. Paris, 24th of the lOth Moon, of the Year 164.2. LETTER XXVIII. ft Haffein BafTa. T H Y Commands I receive as Marks of thy Efteem and good Will, which I delire may be perpetual. Thou hart an eminent Share in the Favour of our Auguft Emperor ; and I (hall ftudy to merit thy Protection, by all the dutiful Offices that can be ex- pected from a Slave in my Station. There is nothing fo much conduces to eftabliili a permanent Friendmip, as a right Underitanding. The Souls of Friends are firft warp'd by Mifappre- henfions. I would not have thee think of me, as I do of my felf ; that would prompt thee to Con- tempt ; nor, as the French do, who take me for Ti- tus of Moldavia ; but look upon me (whatever my Failings are) as a Man that values and praftifes the incorrupt Fidelity of the firft Ages. I abhor Trea- chery, and, for that Reafon, am often forced to make an officious Lye : Yet I do not proftitute my Confcience, having the Mufti's Difpenfation. When- ever it mall be told thee, that Mahmut degenerates, fufpedt the Slanderer j perhaps he would fuppJant me. I am not fond of my Commijfion, but I dread to lofe the Sultans Favour : Whofoever deprives me of that robs me of my Honour, which is dearer to me than my Life. By what I havefaid, thou wilt perceive, that I am not ignorant of the ill Offices which Ikingi Cap 1 - Oglani lias dene me, The Man afpires, and is envi- M Vol. IT. a SPY at PARIS. 73 ous : Were I in his Pod, I would not exchange the Honour and Felicity of educating the Royal Pages of the Seraglio, for an Employment attended with infi- nite Hazards, -and no lefs Trouble, as is that of Mab- mut. If he be expert in the French Tongue, there fire -thofe that excel him ; and Language ir- but the Shell of more fubftamial AccompliilTmcnts. Every Lhiguijl is not fit to be employed in the Secrets of State ; neither are all Psedfgogues Politician. I am ftartled at the Ambition of a Man, who, be- caufe he had ftudied at Athens, thinks hirrifelf wor- thy ef the Confidences of the myfterious Port, which arbitrates the Fate of all the Kingdoms in the World. If this be not his Aim, why dors he daily traduce me f Why does he paint me to the Minijlers of i'nt Divan t \n black and odious Colours, perfuading them it is my natural .Complexion ? He is not content with the Calumnies he himfelf throws on me, but has cor- rupted Solyman my Coufin, and has hired him tomif- reprefent me to the Kaimac&am : And, that he might bj furc to ftrike horre he has drawn to his Party S&~fiim If:/: am, the Elnck Eunuch. 1 fent Sclymana Letter laft Year full of Reproofs, not knowing who had fet him at Work : I h^pe it had fome good Effects on him, tho' late. ' Tis from him I receiv'd this Intelligence. He feems to repent of his Malice, telling me, that this Ikingi Cap 1 -Qglani y had fo artificially pofTcfs'd him with a Belief of ray Perfidioufnefs, that he thought he did good Service to Gt^/and the Grp.nd Signior to rail at me; but that the KymackamtoA^ afterwards convinced him of my In- nocence. This was the Subftance fif his Letter, and he concludes it with begging my Pardon. I tell thee, illuftrious Baffa^ that tho' the Wounds \\ hieh are given by the Tongue of a Slanderer, he deeper than thofe which are given by the Sword ; and 1 could fooner pardon him who fought man- fully to take away rr.y Life, than he which bafciy E -murders 74 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. murders my good Name ; yet, I attribute my Kinf- rnan's Fault to youthful Error, and a loyal Miftake ; and I love him the better, for hating any one that he could imagine would prove Unfaithful, and a Tray tor to God and the Grand Signior. May the benign Heavens blefs thee with their good Influences, and profper thee in all Things. Paris, 6th of the i ith Moon, ef the Year 1 642. LETTER XXIX. *To Solyman Ms Cottftn^ at Conftantinople. THY Apology is rational and modeft, and I am glad to be thus happily deceived. Thou fecit the Kaimacham, with the other Miniftcrs of the Port, have too good an Opinion ef me to liften to the Insinuations of defigning Men ; and Ikingi-Cap"- Oglani was out of his B> afs, when he defam'd the Loyal Mabmut ; and the Black Eunuch had better been watching the Ladies, than wounding my Re- putation with his envenom 'd Tongue. I wilh thee hereafter to avoid all Company that profcfs a Kind- nefs to thee, which thou may 'ft bat fo much as fufpecl to be forc'd. Thou aflceft my Counfel how to conduft thy felf loward thy firit Wife, of whom thou fpeakeft both well and ill. Thou believeft her faithful and chafte ; thou knoweft her to be induftrious and careful of her Family ; good natur'd, flexible and obliging ; but thou accufcft her of a violent and haughty Spirit, fiercely paflionate, and of a provoking Tongue. She daily and hourly reflects upon thy Mifcarriages ; will play the School miftrefs with thee, pretending to $orr.ect, reprove, inftrucl, and guide thee in au to Vol.11. fl SPY rfJ PARIS. 7J thy Aftiona. In fine, thou complainell that thou canft not enjoy Tranquility with her. I tell thee, Kinfman, thou fhould'ft have applied thy felt" to the Imaums and Dernterapts and Defiances, Lectures, and other Female Difcipline. Who, that's a Man, can brook fuch Slavery ? Who, that has but a Spark of Fire within this Hulk of Clay, can Hoop to fuch ignoble and unmanly Softnefs ? 1 cannot counfel rhee to fuch an abject Tamenefs of Spirit. Man is Lord of all his Fellow Creatures j the fierceft Bealts fub- mi; to his Imperial Sway : Woman alone, idbiti- s ^E 2 tioas ;6 LETTERS Writ by Vol.11. ous Woman, difputes the Government with him. But, 'tis his Right, and ke difowns both Gcd'and Na- ture, who refigns it to that afpiring Sex. Yet, ufe' thy Power moderately ; keep the Golden Mc-nn. Bs not farly and rough as a Bear, nor yet efleminate and wkhout Gall, as a Dove. But, if thou findeit it im- pofiible to keep her within the Bounds of due Sub- jection, put her away, and fo preferve thy Peace. The Company of thy other Wives will foon efface her lov'd Idea, and fweeten thy Lofs with a thoufand new Pleafures. But, if they fnould follow her Steps, inkeriting her Spirit, and tormenting thee with kil- ling Words, divorce them all. I would counfel thee to take fucteffivel'v five hundred Wives, rather than make thy Life miferable, by too much Love and In- dulgence to one that knows not how to* ufe thy Fa- vours. But, before thou beginneft to put in Execution this Advice, try all the fair and gentle Methods thy Wit Can fuggeft, to win her to a Senfe of her Fault, and a Change of hes Temper. For, be afiur'd, that it will be of lefs Pain to thee, to have an Eye pluck'd out of thy Head, than to tear from thy Heart tfce firlt Object of thy Love. In this, all Things e!fe, have an efpecial Regard to thy Confcience, and to the OLj swing Angel, who writes down all thy A&ions in a Book. Do nothing which may deferve the Chaftifement of the Two Black Angels, wha fhall vifit thee in thy Grave. He who deals unjuftly and cruelly by Women on Earth, fhall be deprived of the Felicities which our Holy Prophet has promifed us, in the Company of that Beautiful S-CX in Paradife. Keep the Law, and thou wiltfeave thy fill of Love, both here, and in tiie bliisful Bowers of Ed<.n. Par.'s, i ft of the \ ith Moon, oj tb; Year 1642. LETTE R Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 77 LETTER XXX. To tke Kaimacham. THE Surrender of Perplgnan to the Trench, ftartlesthe World : A Place inexpugnable by Arms, and not to be reduced b'it by Famine. Some that pretend to penetrate imo foreign Secrets, lay the Blame on the Duke cTOlivarcz. Theyfoy ,' that when 'the King of Spmn fiill heard that Lewis bid Siege to this important Place, he would have gone in Perfon to its Relief, but that the Dake hindred his Defign, fearing left his own Mifcarriages fhould take Wind, when the King was got on the Frontiers : This, they fay, put a Stop to the Levies that were making in Arrcgcn and Caftile, and damped the Courage of thofe who were actually in Arms. Whether this was the EfFeft or no, 'tis certain, the Duke d'OH'varez had fufficient Reafon to be confci- ous, knowing, That the Grandees of Spain watch' J for an Opportunity to difiodge him from the King's Breaft. But, it is ftrange, that he fliould at fuch a Time, negleft any Thing that might confirm him in his Mailer's Favour, as the faving of Perp-gnax mail reeds have done ; all the Succeffes and Mif- carjiages of the State, in Peace or War, being attri- buted te the F&uten Mother. Whereby, he gained much upon btoth their Affeftions ; fo that in a little Time, he was made the Principal Minijltr of State, and CLief Direftor of the Government ; having a Guard of Soldiers ap- pointed to attend his Perfon. Then he was made Supcrintendant of the Marine Afiairs ; after this, GcneraliJJlmo of the Armies. So that Vol. IL a SPY at PARIS. pi that he feemed to have monopolized all Command both in Church and State , by Sea and Land. It was impoffible fer him to efcape the envious Eyes of die Grandees ; nay, the Queen-Mother her feJf, who firfl raifed him, began- now to grow jea- lous of his great -Power : But efpecially the Prinees of the Blood were highly offended at him. The Ccvnt of Soiffbns ftomach'd the Indignity the Cardi- nal had offer 'd him, in propofing the Marriage of his Daughter. The Duke of Orleans fufpefted his Defigns upon the Regency. Yet all their Confpiracies againfl him proved ineffe&ual. For neither by pub- hck Arms, nor private Machinations, could they ever prevail againft the fixed Defliny of this great Miniftcr ; who, tho 1 he had been often attempted to be poifon'd, piftol'd, and ftabb'd, yet died quietly in his Bed, having a little before received a Vifit from the King. I will not prefume to make Corollaries or GlOitej on thefe Things, as tho' I were able to inftrud thee, whofe Wifdom and Experience renders thee a fit Oracle for the greateft Princes to refort to in time of Need. I only lend thee bare Matter of Faft ; and, together with an Account of the Cardinal's Death, a brief Abftraft of his Life, as I received ic from one of the moft obferving and knowing Men in the French Court. J wifh thee Health, Long Life, and Happinefs. Paris, 4th of the Injl Mow, of the Year 1642. LETTER a LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. LETTER II. . fo the Venerable Mufti. I Have fent to the SjamaeJkata, an. Account of the Death of Cardinal Ricbliiu, \vi:h fome Paffages relating thereto, wherewith I thought it not proper to interrupt thy Diviner Thoughts. This &reat Minifer died the Fourth of this Inftant Moon, being the hift of the Year, in his Palace at Paris. His Eody u interred in the Cbapd of the College of Sorbcnne, where he finiSied his Studies, and attained the Degree of DoFor in theology. He has left hehind him a prodigious Eftate, amounting to a Million of Crowns Yecrly, which he has be- queathed in Legacies to his Kindred, Friends, and Creatures: And, as a particular Demontfration of his Gratitude to the King, he has made him Heir of his Cardinal Palace in this City, with all the Plate and Furniture in it. And, at the lail Vifit the King made him (which was a little before his Death) he prefented him with a Stone worth a hundred thoufand Crowns of Gold. Upon which, 'tis difcourfed, That the King will fettle a yearly Revenue on a certain Number of the Soriit&ift, to celebrate Mafs daily for the Ccrdinars Soul, during the Space of one Year, and ence a Year afterwards on the Day that he died. For, thefe Infdcls approach thus near the true and unde/i led Faith, in that they hatfe Hopes of Jmmtrtalitjt believing the Rifttrrttfion of the Dead, and that the Prayers, Alms, and good Works of the Living, do attone for the Sins of the Departed ; as as our holy Doctors teach, and, as is the Pradlice of the Mifion, folid judgment, faithful Memory, and a moil prevailing Way of Difcourfe. A Man highly fcrviceable to his King and Country ; and therefore deferving better of the Fnncb thau thofe fcandalous Repoius and Libels which were every where in- thilliioi.ily fprcad abroad, to leiTen his Fame. Yet, there wanted not thofe who itrewed Flowers on his Grave, and perfumed his Allies with Encomiums, and f'anegyiicks. In this he fhared the common Fate of the Grfaf, that he was wialign'd and esvied Living, but honour'd with the Tears of his very Enemies when Dead. There is one Fault to be found in his Conduct, without appearing too cenforious, That he being a Man confecratod to the Service of the Altar, mould fo often take the Field, and, divefting himfelf of the peaceful Robes of Religion, mould cloath himfelf in Steel, delighting more in the Smell of Gun- powder, than that of Incenfe, and preferring the Noife of War, to the Hyinns and Antiphons of the Church : Not that Religion is incompatible with Valour ; and, to fight for one's Country, is not as Lawful and as Pious, as to pray for its Profpsrity. Our Holy La^c, the celcflial Pattern of Truth to the World, exhorts us to Courage. And all True Belie- vers are allured of the Joys of Paradife, of unfa- ding Crowns," and eternal Felicities, if they lofe their Lives in Defence of the f acred Empire, and the Book of Glory : Our immort&l Lawgiver, giving us his own Example, when he laid the Foundation of the greateft and moft iiluftrious Empire in the World, in the Wounds of his Enemies, cementing the W 7 ork with the Blooi of Millions of Infidsls. Nor has the Superftru&ure been carried on by any other Methods, than thofe of perpetual War with the Nations who will not fuhmit to our I'icinrious Sul- tan 94 LETTERS Writ by Vol. IT. tan, \!nt invincible Lord of the Earth. But, thcMr/V fenger of God, never required the Imaurns or Z)^r- o///tj to take the Field ; leaving Armt only to Sfcu- lar Men, and the Alcoran to the Religious. I forget that 1 am fpeaking to him, whofe Rcpofe and Tranquility is the fpecial Care of Heaven, who is not to be difturbed by Emperori. Therefore, in profound Reverence, I faiute thy Holinefi with a du- tiful Obeifance, and fo withdraw my Pen. Paris, 4th of the laft Moon t of the Tear 1642. LET r E R III. .*, *.;. ,-, r., .., ' ~ ;\.~> j '-^.'l To Jafmir Sgire Rugial, an Aftokger at Aleppo. THOU needefl not be a&amed of thy Name, though it denotes the Dwarfifhnefs of thy Bo- dy. That little Epitome of human Stature, is ex- quifitely regular. Nature in framing it has (hewed her Skill in Proportions, though fhe feems to have made it too narrow for thy Soul. In this, thou art obliged to her for thy Knowledge ; thy Mind feeing uneafy in its diminutive Habitation, is for that Reafon feldom at Home. Thy Soul is a perfedl Night-walker; when other Men are a- bed, and a- flcep, thou art taking thy Rounds among the Stars . Thou art become a Spy upon the Plantts ; if any of them make but a'falie Step, thou telleft the World of it. Thou arta Pimp to all their amorous Affignations and Conjunctions, and Vulcan him- ielf never fo often expofed the Intrigues of Mars and Venus, as thou haft done. But, I would have thee beware left they revenge themfelves on thee" fome Vol.11, a SPY at PARIS. 93 fome Time or other, as they A id upon one of thy Profejfion, by llirring up a certain King to take away his Life. He was a bold Fellow, anS pretended great Familiarity with the Stars. One Day hecame to the King, and to'd him, he had exaftly calcu- lated his Nativity ; and by his bfervation from thence, according to the Rules of Art, had ditto - ver'd, that he fhoald not live out that Year. The King replied, / will prove, That try Skill is greater than thine ; for I know the ueen has yielded to the Cardinal in Points of greater Referve. And curious Eyes pretend to dilcern the Features of Mazarini in the Dauphins Face, who is not much above Four Years old, being Born on the fifth Day of the ninth Moen> in the Year 1638, according te the Cbriftiatis He- gira. The Cardinal is of a Grave and Majeftick Afpeft, full-fac'd, having a piercing Eye : He is fomething inclined to Fat, being a great Eater, as they fay. T'odier Day he had like to have been choak'd by a Piece of Ueel, one Part of which hung faft ; i F z hit too LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. his Teeth, and the other juft reach'd the PaiTage to the Lungs ; and, as it were, barring up the Door of that Paflage, hindred his Refpiration fo long, that his Noie fuddenly darted out a-bleeding ; his Face grew black, and he was ready to drop down dead, had not one of his Attendants forcibly thruft his Finger into his Mouth, and faftning on the Morfe!," 1 pull'd it out of his Throat. He, that is Lord of Life and Death, Preferve thee from all Perils, and make thee happy in the Service of our Great Mafler ; who will in Time, I hope, curb the Infolence, and punilh the Vices of theie gluttonous Infdels. Paris, i Ath of the ift Moon, of the Tear 1643. . LETTER VI. ';!-..: &o Ifouf, bis Kinfman. ,.,' ''. #, Yiri i "ivi tfJU'Tj ..- > . .' vt ". -...ift I Believe, thou and thy Coufm S fly man, take me for a Marriage-Broker, r a Goffip : Is there no Body in Conjlavtiivple, can inftrucl you how to ma- nage your Wives, that you fend for Counfel to Paris ? Or, Do you lay Sn.res for me, by extorting fuch Advice, as will draw the Revenge of Women upon me ? Believe me, I have no Mind to run the Fate of Orpheus, or, That the Tragedy of the Ciconian Wives ihould be afted upon me. I rather expefted acompleat Jcurnalof thy Tra- , vcls in the Eajl : But, I perceive, thou haft not yet received my Letter. Thou talkeft of going to Alep- fo in the Spring. If thy Refolution hold, I defire thee when thou art there, to make an Ofering for flie to Sbeh Boubac, the Santone, whofe Sepulchre ' il Vol.11, a SPY at PARIS. is about a League from that City, a Place of great Devotion, and retorte.l to from ail the Cities in thofe Parts. Without dcnht, Skrh B'.r.bac is with .God ; and his Prayers are i.nrd for fuck as honour his Vir- tues, and approuCi, .~ Sepulchre, to pay their Devo- tions there with Humility and Faith. Likevvife, I dcfire thee to diuribute three ' -.~\- dred dfptrs to the Poor of ^l.fpo, who beg in the Streets for the Sake of Syntatia Fijj'n. If thou haft not heard of this Female Saint, I will relate to thee how fne came to be Canonized. This City \vas the Place of her Nativity and Refidence. When me came to the Age of Sixteen Years, me was married to a Spa bee, call'd Griu/i Eben S a gran ; but, the jfirft Night, as her Hu/band was going to Bed with her, he fell into a Trance ; wherein he faw Para- a'ife open'd, and the Holy Prophet leading Syntana. FiJJa, his Wife, in one of the Alleys of Eden. Whereby, when he came to hifnfelf, and miffing his Wife, (who was never after to be found) he was fatisfied that me was one of the Daughters of Para- 'flife. Since which Time, the People have efteem'd her as a Saint, or rather an incarnate Female Angel. The M'jort relate this Story otherwife, and make a fecond Mary Magda'.en of her ; of whom the Gre- cians "fay, That fhe was a common Proititute at fir ft, but on a Time being alked her accuflomed Favours gratis, and for the Love of God, me by granting it. merited the Grace of Converfion, and io became a Saint. But, I would not have thee regard this Fable, tho' it be common in the Mouths of the Ignorant at Aleppo. If thou beareft any Reflect for thy Uncle Mab- tnut, let me have a Proof of it, in giving me an Account of thy Travels. I do not require a Chart of the Regions through which thou hail pafs'd ; be- ing no Stranger to the Geography of Jljia. Neither would 1 have thee tell me, how many Leagues, V Courfes, 102 LETTERS Writ by Vol.11. Courfes er Furlongs there are between fuch and fuch Cities- Thefe are the Remarks of every Carrier or Murcerman. But that which I aim at, is to know, What Natural, Moral, and Political Obfervations thou haft made, in fo vaft a Tra6\ ef Ground as thou haft meafnred, comprehending the greateft and moft celebrated Part of Afia. This is the fecond Letter I have fent thee, fince thy Return to Ccnflantinople : Let thy Anfwer be adequate to ray Expectation. In the Interim, I counfel thee firft to get an abfolute Conqueft of thy felf, and then thou wilt eafily goven thy Wife. May the moft high God adjuft your J)ifference* happily, and make your Lives to be as innocent and contented, as thofc of Philemon and Baucit, Thou knoweft the Story. Adieu. Paris, zoth of the ift Moon, of the Tear 1643. LETTER VIL. 2*o Mahomet, BalTa of Damafcus. TTERE is a Genoeft Merchant in this City, with JL JL whom I often converfe, as I do with all Strangers that are Men of Intelligence, learning fometimes from them Advices which a're not com- mon. He tells me, That Ma*four t The youngeft Son of QldFacardine, the brave Emir of Si Jon, whom his Father had given in Hoflage to Sultan Amuratb, is now living in the Court of the Duke of Florence ; that he efcaped by the Afliftance of a Grecian Priejt, from the Caftle of the Seven Towers, and, That the Duke of Florence has promifed to affift him with Ships, Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. Ships, Men and Money, towards the Recovery of his Patrimony. The Trench fpeak of his Father, with much Re- fpet, and Companion of his Misfortunes j they fay, He was defcended from a Noble Captain, which the Renowned Godfrey of Eulloign left in thofe Parts, when he was engaged in the Wars of the Holy Land, and, that though racarJitu wore a Turkifli Turbant, yet he had French Blood in his Veins. They tax Amuratb with the Violation of his Oath, in caufing him to be Itrangled, when he had folemnly fworn to the contrary. And fome of them are fo bold as to fay, That, if his Son Alt had not been kill'd, he would have fhook the Throne, whofe Founda- tion is deep as the Centre of the Earth -, and there- fore cannot be moved, without the Diflblution of the- Globe. This Genoffe brags much after the fame Nature of Manfour, who, he fays, is preferved by Providence to abafe the Pride of the Ottoman Family, to revenge his Father's Blood, and re-eftablifti the Drufes in their ancient Pofleffion. Suppofing this News to be true, I judged it my Duty to give thee timely Notice of it, who poiTefTeit part of his Eftate ; left he mould furprize thee, un- awares, and ferve thee as one of his Ancefiors did the Damafcenes, who got from them feveral of their Towns and Caftles, when they leaft dreamt of any Jnvafion. He will lay claim to Gazir, D\4cre, and Saphet, thofe being torn from his Father in that lail Rebellion. In a Word, thou would'ft find him an ill Neighbour, mould he catch thee unpro- vided. Should it come to a Tryal, I wifh thy Soldiers may prove more faithful to thee, than did the Ger- mans lately, under the Command of Leopold, Arch- Duke of Aujiria, and General Picolcmini ; who going to relieve Leipjick, befieged at that Time by the F 4 Sivfttes, i>4 LETTERS Writ by Vol. IF, Sivfdcs, and entring Eattle with them, above Six. Thcnfand of their Soldiers never difcharged a Muf- ket, or drew a Sword ; but gave thnr Enemies an entire Victory, without fuiking a Stroke. Should thy Forces ferve thee fo, when Manfcur enters thy Territories, thou wilt be in Danger of Icfmg, not only the fore-mentioned Towns, but Damafiut it- felf; a Place ib delicioufly lltuated, that cur Holy Propbti hirnfeif d.urit not venture into it, left this. Earth.;/ Paradifc Ihould tempt hiin to take up his Abode there, and caufe him to ncgleft the Hea- venly, May the great Proteflor of Kingdom* and Empires, preserve both Damt-.fcut aad the whole Etnpire, from the Fury of R*htlt and Infdcli. Paris, 4th of tke id Moon, of the Tear i&4-$' LETTER VIII. To the Venerable Mufti, Arbitrator of the Problems and Myfleries of Faith. IAddrefs to the Dtift of thy Feet, O thou Spring of all Irtte Science. I wrote to tiiee formerly, to defire thy Inftrudlion and Aid, in anfwering feme Cavils and Blafphemies of the Infidels. Now I think a great Light hath (hined in my Bread. Now I think 1 can anfwer them with Arguments clear and intelligible. Neverthelefs I will not walk without a Guide. . Oar Life in this tranfitory World, is checquer'd with various Intervals of Light and Darknefs, of Knowledge and Ignorance, borne Jrnes, the Soul of Maa Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 105 Man is bright and ferene as the Orient, at other Times wrapp'd up in Clouds and Mifts. Then we are as in a Dream, and full of Anxiety ; we grop^fe about for Truth, and flumble upon Errors, as in the Depth of Night. So fared it with me, when thefe Infiddi afiaulted me with Queltions and Cavils concerning our Holy Law. I heard them with Hor- ror and Pain, but knew not how to put them to Silence. I fled to thee for Succour, who art in- ftrufted in all Knowledge, true Heir of the Propbe- tick Light. But a Ray from Heaven has prevented thy Anfwer, and I will communicate to thee my Thoughts. God is moft High, and IncomprekenfibU ; we.can- not overtake him in his Ways.' The Works of his- Hands are Perfed, and full of Wifdom. Why do the Infidtli Blafpheme the Eternal? Gabriel^ the Mijfenger of Gid, Bright and Glorious, flew through the Hezvens ; and to avoid a burning Comet whicfc then fian.-ed in the Sky, he took his Courfe too near the Orb of the Moon ; and, with the End of one of his Wings, he brufh'd the Planet, leaving a Mark of the Stroke, as a Memorial to the Angels for the fu- ture ; even as a Sea-mark is placed to give warning of Rocks and Sands. The Infidels deride, and afk, Hc-iv big was Gabriel V Wing? Who can meafure the Works of the Omnipo- tent ? Let thefe. Infidth number but the Atoms that cleave to. the Seles of their Feet, when they walk in fandy Places ! Or, Let them weigh the Air that is (hat up la a Bottle ! If they cannot perform thefe Things "which are near them, and svithin their Reach, why do they mock at the Greatacfs of Angels, which dwell in the Immenfe Heavens. They take their Meafures of Calfftial Things from the narrow Search ot their Ser.fes, which yet fail thenn in common Tcrreftriat Objefls If we believe cur Senib, they wo.ild perfuade us, That the Moon F 5 || Jo6 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. IT. is no bigger than a Royal Charger, and the Stars have no larger Dimenfions, than a Lamp or Torch : Whereas we are afiured by Reafon, and AJlronomi- fWObfervations, That the Moon is little Lefs than the Globe of the Earth ; and that fome of the Stars are near a Hundred Times Bigger. If thefe Orna- ments of the Sky, which look, at this Diflance, like glittering Sparks of Fire, are really of fo prodigious a Bulk ; why may we not believe, That Angels, who dwell higher than the higheft Stars, are much Grea- ter, and more Magnificent Creatures than they ? Nay, what Incongruity is it to believe, what our Holy Do- ficrs teach, That the Angels can ftride from one Star to another. And now I am plunged thus far in the Depths of Nature, fuffer me to wade yet deeper, nay, to fwim in the Abyfs of Speculation. I will tell thee my Thoughts : The Works of God are Unmeafurable, and there is no Bound or Limit to the Extent of the World ; 'tie high as Thought can foar, endlefs as Imagination can travel. Who can tell where the Wai's of Parcdife are ? Or, Has any one gone the Circuit of the StoubtJefs, The 7///?fha'l be replenished with all the Joys, and the Uijufi .vj\ h all the Da- lours, of which their Senfes are capable. And this they themfelves believe ; yet, thefe captious hfdels |>ick (Quarrels with cur Holy Lawgiver, and fay, That the Perntife which he promifes, is fit for none but Fools or BealK I have read in Books of Devotion, \vhich the Chri- Jiians ufe, That the Blrjjid in Heaven fhall be fa- tiated with all Manner of Delights. The Eye fhalh always behold moft Beautiful Objefts ; the Talle lhall be gratified with incredible Sweets ; the Smell; fhall be pleafed with all Manner of rich Odours and Perfumes, far furpafling the Arorru-.ticks of Arabia ; the Ear ftiall htar fuch wonderful Mufiek, a one only Vol.11, tf Spy at PARIS. only Strain thereof, were fufficient to lull all the Hearts of this Sublunary World afleep : In fine, There fhall be none of their Senfes and Fscultie*, which fhall not be tranfported and ravifhed with* infinite Delights ! What is all this, but fenfual Plea- fure ?. Can there be any plainer Defcription of Bo- dily Enjoyments than this ? Why do they then ma- licioufly traduce the Mffinger of Gcd, and refift the Truth? But they will fay, That the Pleafures which they fhall enjoy after the RefurreRion, will be refined and fpiritual as their Bod es mall be : Whereas they fay, our Prophet intimates grofs, carnal Enjoyments ; as the Company of Beautiful Women, and fuch amo- rous Delights. Certainly, They are wilfully blind, and (hut their Eyes againft the Light ; or elfe they would eafily fee through the Veil of Allegories and Metaphors, which our divine Prophet ufes in the Alcoran to adapt the Doctrine of Heavenly r f 'hings to the dull Capacities of Men ,- even as all the Prothttt and Apoftlti have done before him. In ' the Beck jof the Gffptl, Paradife is described under the Figure Vf a me it ticgnrfcent Cify, built all of Gold and pre- cious clones, with a River flowing by it, and Trees whofe Fruit, never., withers, nor their Leaves fade. Will the ChriRialit take this in the literal Scnfe, or, do they own it. to \>tK&Alhgary?- If the latter, then, Why do thcy'BIafoheme the Sacred Oracles of our Holy Law-giver, becaufe he defcribes the Felicities of ParaJi/'t! under fenfible Figures, and Types, f'ueh as are moft apt to work on the. AfFeclions of Men ? It is not to be thought, that our Enjoyment of Beautiful Women in Paradife, fhall be attended with the lealt of thofe Impurities which tfain it in this Life. Our Fleafures fhall be agreeable to the Place whither we ge, Pare and Immaculate. As we fhall HO LETTERS /fr/J by Vol. II, fhall there enjoy the Perfection of Beauty, without the fmalleft Allay of Deformity ; fo, in our Enjoy- ment, we fliall be tranfported with the Heighth of Extafy, without the leaft Mixture of Pollution. Nor fliall thefe bodily Delights fuperfede or hinder Our more Spiritual-Enjoyment ; but, both Body and Soul (hall be ravifhsd with eternal Felicities. Tell me, Thou who art the Kty of the Treafures of Truth, whether I am now fufficiently armed with Reafons, to withftand the Cavils and Objections which the Itifdth make againft our Holy Laws. I have laid at thy Feet my Sentiments, fubmitting all to thy unerring Wifdom ; vouchfafe to confirm what I have well faid, and to correct my Errors. And, in the midft of thy divine Ejaculations, glance a Thought on the humbleft of thy Slaves, praying for the exifd Maktnut, That he may perfevere in the true Faith ; and at the End of his Life, may talle the Joys of Paradije, which he zcaloufly afierts againft the Infidels. Paris, loth of the ad Moca, of theYtar 1643. LETTER IX. Vo the Kaimacham. WHEN I informed thee of the Siege' of Per- fignan, I had not heard of the Extraor- dinary Honours which were done to the Prince ef Morgues during that Siege. This Prince was a Subjeft of the King of Spain, and had in Pofleffion the Town of Monaco. Yet, for fome Diigufts which he had received from the Spaniards, he fome Years ago had Thoughts of throwing himfelf upoa the Pro- tection Vol. II. ^SPY^PARIS. lit te&ion of the King of France ; but, Difficulties ari- fingi it took not Effeft at that Time. However, in the Year 1641, by the Dexterity of the Go--vernour of Provence^ he was fo far wrought upon, tha at French Garrifon was by his Connivance put into Monaco, and he totally threw off his Obedience to the King of Spain ; and though great Offers were made him by the Cardinal of Savoy and others, yet he rejected all ; and to demonftrate to King Philip, that his Soul was altogether French, he fent him back the Collar which was the Badge of his Knighthood, beftowed Oft him in the Spanijh Court. After which, Four Galleys of Naples cruifing on the Sea before Ville Franche, one of them by the Order of the Captain, failed to Monaco, not having heard of the Revolt of this Place. The Prince ia- vited the Captain to come afhore, and as foon as he was landed, threefcore Frenchmen, who lay hid in the Boat which carried the Mefiage, boarded the Galley with admirable Rclblution, killing near thirty Spaniards, who made Refillance, and the reft yielding, the French took PoiTeffion of the Veffel. The Prince failed in this Galley to Marfeilles, with his Son, who is dignified with the Title of a Mar- quis ; and taking their Way through Provence and Langitedoc, came to the King of France, while he lay with his Army before Perpignan. King Leivis, to whom nothing is more delightful than to reward the Merits of brave Men, carefled him with extraordinary Demonftrations of Affecli- cn, and Acknowledgment of his Service ; fending his Coaches to meet him on the Way, caufmg his Army to appear in Battle Array, entertaining him at his own Table, and doing all Things whicn might honour the Arrival of this Prince at his Camp. And, to make him amends for the Lofs of his Or- der of Knighthood, he invefted him with that of tbi Ho!y X.ETTERS Writ by Vol. II. Holy Gboft ; which, as I have in my former Let- ters told thee, is a fair Step to make one a Peer of France. I thought good to inform thee of this Paflaje, il- luflrious Minifter, in whofe Power it lies, to lift up to Dignities, and the great Charges of the Empire, Men in whom thou perceiveit a Genius capable of great Undertakings, God direl thee in making Choice of fuch as may be effe&ually ferviceable to the Grand Signior. Paris, 1 7th of the 2d Moon, of the Tear 1643. ^ L LETT E R X. 70 Achmet Beig. IT feems as if the late Revolution in Portugal had imbilter'd the Spaniards to detpair, and fwell'd the Spleen of that Natisn with iniupportable Ran- cour. The Lofs, which they cannot hope fairly to recover by Arms, they feek to revenge by dilhonour- able Aliafune and Treachery. The Marquis de Los V'eL'K, the Spanijb Ambaffa- dor at the Court of. Rome, coald not brook to fee- there ah AmbafTador from the King of Portugal, whom he efteeined at beft but a Subjcdt, or a Tray- tor, to Philip his Mailer. He tried all Means to pre- vent and hinder his Audience with the Pope, and openly demanded, that he might be lent back into Portugal with Diigrace. But. the Sieur< Fontenay, Ambaffador from France, fupported and countenanced the Portugucft: Minifter, which precipitated the Mar- quis de Los Vilex, to one of the blackelt Attempt* that has ever ftain'd the Records of Time. Thou Vol. II. ' a S P Y at P A R i s. 113 Thou art not to learn that the Perfons of AmbaC- fadors are by the Law of Nations efteemed Sac;-e f J t their Houfes, Sanftuaries ; and whatfoever Injury is offered them, is at leaft accounted a Cra// S#- . crilcge. Yet, the Spanijh Ambajfador finding the 3i- Jbop of Lamego (fo was the Portuguese called) pro- tected and favoured by the French Intereft, refolves to leap o or of holding any Cor- refpondence LETTERS Writ by Vol. II refpondence v.ith the Enemies of the JMuflulmatt Empire. What is then my Crime ? Am I to, be cen- demned, for employing the Money which is allotted me for Subfiftence, ;o render my Minijlry snore fuccefsfal ? Will they' call it, an cmbezzelling the Su/fan's, Money ; when rather than hoard it up for my own private Profit and Conveniencies, (as I might do confiderable Sums, were I fo baiely Fru- gal) I frankly part with it, to confummate the Af- fair for which I am placed here r Or, is the Ottoman Treafury grown low, that heretofore has lapported the indigent World, and by an Excefs of* Reyat Munificence, has been thrown to the riihes of the Sea ? Is Mabmut alone, to be efteemed a Piouigal in his prefent Expences, becaufe 'tis known thac he was a Slave in Sicily, and tied down to the penu- rious Stint of a rigorous Patron ? Suffer me this once, Sage Mwjlcr, to vindicate my felf, and to tell thee, That the Hardfhips and fqualid Circum- ftances of Captivity, would not be very fuhfervient to the Ends for which I am fent hi her ; neither can a niggardly Penfion qualify me for the Genius of the Court, in which I mutt be daily convsrfant, where all Things appear Gay and Polite. It has not been my Cuftom to complain without a Caufe, neither do I love to grate my Superiors, with whining Remon- ftrances : But it is my humble Requeft, That the Mi- mflers of the Di-van would confider me, not as a l)rudge to a private Man in Palermo, but as the Indefatigable Slave of the moft Opulent and Liberal Monarch in the World. In all thefe Things, I contraft my felf into a moft fubmifs Refignation to thy Will, who art the Vice- gerent of the Empire, founded on the Rock of Dejli- fiy ; befeeching thee to prote& me from the Malice of Whifperers, who envy me, becaafe I ferve the Sove- reign of Sovereigns, Lord of the Eaft, and of the Wejl, and all that is between them. May Vol. II. a S P Y at P A R i s. 117 May the Eternal Pofieflbr of all Felicity, cull out of his immenfe Treasures, fuch Bleffings as thoumoft ardently defireft in this Life ; and, when he has led thee through all the Apartments of human Blifs on, Earth, may he translate thee to the Palaces of Eden, the Seats of an immarcefcible Life, where new Sources of Joy are opea'd without End. Paris, 26th of the zd Moon, of thvYear 1643. LETTER XII. To Murat BafTa, TH E Floods have been fo great, and thofe al- fo congealed into Ice, that there has been no travelling by ibme Roads for thefe two Moons ; which is the Reafon, we have been wanting in our ufual Ad- vices from Germany, Piedmont, the Valtoline, and other Parts. Yet now, the Ports bring a Glut of News to this City. Friburgb, a Town in the Parts of Saxony, is at this Time befieged by Torjlenfon, General of the Snvedi/h Army. He inverted it the Eleventh of the Firft Moon. And, People are amazed, to hear, that it has held out to this Time, being a Place of no great Strength : Efpecially, confidering how foon Leip/ick furrender'd to the fame Forces; a Town well fortified, and ftored with all Things neceflary to fuf- ' tain a long Siege. By this thou may 'ft obferve, how much the Fortune of War many Times depends on ene fuccefbful Battle. When Torftenfon firft lay down before^Lr'/yfr^, it Ws generally believed, he would find a ftout Re- fiftance- nS LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. fiftance from the Inhabitants, and on inflexible Re- folution in the Garrifon, not to yield that important Place : And, perhaps they would not have been miftaken, had not the Imperialiftr (out of a Gene- rous Defign to relieve it, and raife the Siege) ha- zarded a Battle. The Arch- Duke of Aujlria (whofe Name is Leopold) and Picolomini, as foon as they received Advice that the &*widijb Army had patted the /*, and entered into Mifnia, took their direft- cft Way to ilop their Advance into thofe Parts. But, it had been better had they kept their Quar- ters ; for in one Battle they loft all the Glory which they had before acquired with their Arms. Torflenfcn was already intrenched before Ldpji an hun- dred and fixty Carts, and fix hundred Waggons ; with all the Tresfury of the Arch-duke Lecpald, and Gene- ral Picolomir.i. < This Battle was fought on the Firft of the Eleventh Moon, as we reckon ; but, according to the Cbrijli- cnt Account, on the twenty-firft cf the tenth Moon. After this fignrl Victory, General 'Torjlenfon (hewed himfelf again before Lcipjick, approached the Walls, planted his Batteries ; and though the Befieged at firft rnac^e Shew of a firm Refolution to defend the Place, yet the Terror which the late Defeat of the German Forces had ftruck them with, foon altered their Counfels, and they furrendered upon honour- able Conditions. In the mean Time, General PicoJominl and the Arch'duke of Auftiia, are retired into Bohemia. The German Court is full of Apprehenfions, and new Le- vies are every where making, to join the matter'd Remnants of the Army. The Affairs of the King cf Hungary are at an ill Pafs, and all Things look with a cloudy Afpeft on the Empire. From the vSide of Italy we hear nothing of Mo- ment, but the Spaniards are taking fuch Meafures, as may belt repair the Lofs of Tortona : And to that End, the Dtke of Milan is making all the Prepara- tions which are cuftomary in fucb Cafes. 'Tis faid here, they intend to recover that Place again. . May thefe Quarrels of the Infidels continue, till the determinate Time fhall come, that our ^tfiorious Ar r/V/ftiall fubdue them to the Mujjulman Empire* Paris, jth of the $& of the Year 1643. LETTER Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 12 E LETTER XIII. fa the Kaimacham. WH E N I fent thee Word of the Death of Cardinal Ricblieu, I thought it the fame Thing as if I had prefented thee with the Head of one of the moil dangerous Enemies of the Ottoman Empire. That Head, which while the Owner liv'd, was always plotting of Mifchief, had it not been diverted by nearer Intrigues, would not have fail'd to put/ome horrid Defign in Execution agJnft the Sublime Port, which, of all the Thrones in the World, feems alone to o'er-top the Grandeur of France. Eut this Court feems to play the Hydra ; for no fooner is the Head of one of her Prime Minifters laid, but up fprings another in the Room of it, e- qual in Vigour and Subtilty. And we have ftill as much Reafon to apprehend the Coimfels of Cardinal Mazarinr, as before we had to fufpeft thofe of Richlicu. The General itjr of the People at fir ft looked for another Conduft in the King towards the Creatures of the late Minijh-r ; fmce he himfelf, toward the latter End of his Life, feem'd to fubfift in the Court rather through the Neceffity the King had of his Counfels, than any Motive of AfFe&ion. However, the King has exactly complied with the Cardinal"* dying Requefts, in honouring feveral of his Relations and Friends with Places of confide- rable Truft. And 'tis to his laft Recommendation Cardinal Mazarir.i is obliged for the Authority he now pofTefies. In ufisig of which he difcovers a refined Policy, and a Model!/ which hath but few Examples. G . The 122 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. The many Combinations and Attempts againft Cardinal Ricklisu, and the King's Coldnefs to him during the Siege of Perpignan, fufnciently inftrucl- ed Mazarini, That it was impoflible to poftefs fo eminent a Charge, without drawing on him the En- vy and Hatred of the Grandees. He confider'd al- fo, that he was a Stranger, whereas Rlchliut was a Native of France. Therefore he unites his Intereft with that of two great Officers, who alfo courted the King's Favour ; the one is Superintendent of the Fina-nce<> the other Secretary of St&tz. Thefe be- ing longer acquainted with the nice Tnmfa&ions of the Court, and the Intrigues of the Grandees, do him no fmaH Service with their Inflrudions, and likewife abate the popular Spite, or, at leaft, (hare it with the Cardinal ; lince no body vviil be fo par- tial, as to lay the Blame of any Mifcarriage on him alone, who feems to do nothing without the Dire- ftion of his two Partners (for fo he calls them, as if thefe three fhared among them the Authority of the defunft Cardinal.) 1 his is a pure Trick of Mazarini ; and he ferves himfelf of them as \ve ufe a Ladder, defigning by their Means to mount by fafer Step?, and en their Shoulders to lift himfelf un envied to the Helm of the State. Not but that he is actually invtfted with the Primacy by the King ; but he is willing to divert the Storm which that will draw upon him from the Nobles ; therefore, he cunningly feems to decline it, pretending an earnefl Defire to withdraw into Italy ; and, in' the Interim, has chofcn thefe two for his Collegues. Thus he grafps with one Hand, what with the other he feems to rejeft ; and by his magnificent Living, his ob- fequioas Court, and obliging Carriage to all, he demonftra'es, That if he ihojld pafs the Alps, his Heart would be left behind him in France, and that he only aims to be eltabiilhed in the Mbiftry with Applaufc. It Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 123 It makes me fmile fometimes, to fee what Pains he takes to entangle himfelf in infinite Hazards and Trou- ble, as if he were of a Conftitution like that of a Salamander, \vhich cannot live out of a Fire. The great God increafe the Virtaes and Graces of the illultrious Kc-irnacbam, and of all the Minitiers that Hand by the bright Throne of Juftice, the Seat of the Ottoman Empire. Paris, zcth of the 4th Mom, of the Year 1643. LETTER XIV. To the Veuer.ible Mufti, Prince of the In- terpreters of the Law, and Judges of Equity. A Cloud of Sorrow o'er-fpreads the Kingdom of Trance ; their Sun is iet ; the mighty Lew's, for whom all Europe had been too narrow, had he liv'd, is now confined within the Limits of a Grave. He died at St. Germain Yelterdpy, being the four- teenth of the fifth Moon ; having left bis Q^een pof- fefs'd of the Regency, and Cardinal Muxarini of the prime Conduct of the State. He" was a Prince of great Virtue, which with his fuccefsful Conquefts and Victories procured him the Envy ctf his Neighbours. And ibrne Criticks among his own Subjects, pretend to find many Faults in his Proceedings ; as Breach of Royal Proraife to the Governer of Saitmer, when he deli- vcr'd him the Key> of the Town; to the Rr- in not razing Lewis's Fort. Among Foreigners, the Dakc of Sitvoy, the Duke of Lort-:in, and the Gcr- vuin Emperor, charge him with Breach of Articles, G 2 1 24 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. in his Treaties. So does the King of Spain. And all of them complain, That he alone has involv'd all Cbrijlendom in War and Blood. Every Thing has two Handles, and Men are apt to take all Things by the worft, efpecially in Cafes of this Nature. It is difficult for a Sovereign Monarch to carry himfelf fo evenly in Peace or War, as to efcape Obloquy, efpecially if he be victorious. Lofers muft have leave to be peevifh. But I forget that I ipeak to him who can reveal the Sentences of G reateft Monarch; ; before whofe unerring Tribunal all earthly Dignities fland mute. Therefore, avoiding all impertinent GlofTes, I will only prefent thee with what is proper to be faid without Partiality in Lewis's Vindication, being Matter of Faft, and leave the Decifion to thy Sacred Judgment. Herein it will not be amifs to call to Mind, how the Kings of Spain, and the whole Houfe of Aajlria, have invaded and diflurb'd the Peace oft Europe, from time to time, thefe many Years. The Usurpation of Navarre by Ferdinand King of Arragon, began the fatal Jarr, when he depofed John of Albert, and Catharine his Queen, though he himfelf had no ether Title to this Kingdom, than what the Swords of the Arragonians and Cajiilians gave him ; being of Pyrrbus and Lyfander* Mind, who knew no other Limits to their Dominions, than what their Enemies ftout Refiftance fet them. Thus Navarre being adjacent to old Cajlile, S if cay, and Galicia, it became a Prey to Spain. ^Add to this, his Breach of Royal Word to Catherine de Mt- dicis (Queen Mother of Trance,) to Don Antonio the next Heir of Portugal, the Duke of Savoy and Parma, and Catherine Dutchefs of Braganza ; that he would acquiefe to the Chamber of Lijlon, in the Cafe of Succeffion to the Country of Portugal; when contrary to all Law and Juijice, he invaded that Kingdom Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS* 125 Kingdom unawares> making it a Tributary Province to the Spanijh Crown. It has been the ufual Methods of politick and wife Princes, to check the Torrent of their Neighbours growing Grcatnefs, to lop the luxuriant Branches of ill-gotten Empire; and had Henry IV. of France fro- long'd his Life, 'tis thought he would have conquer'd Navarre, and planted the Flower -de-Luces in Fonta- rabia and Pampelone. Who then can with Juftice tax Leuis XIII for-managing a Wai-, which all the World expeded of his Father ? Moreover, the Spanijh Methods in conquering Mexico and Peru, two mighty Empires in America ; their barbarous Cruelty, their inhuman Butchery of above twenty Millions of their Natives, when neither Dignity, nor Age, nor Sex was fpar'd, but all became a Sacrifice to their infatiable Avarice of Gold, was a fufficient Argument to incenfe all the Princes in the World aga'nft them. I have no Intereft in France, any more than I fhould have in Spain, if I were there : I only plead for Juftice. 'Twas Time for France to be alarm'd and fland upon her Guard, when ftie faw her potent Neigh- bour planting frefti Alliances and Interefts, like Batteries round about her. Had the Danger only threaten'd from beyond the Pyrenean Mountains, die might have waited their Defigns. But when ihe faw fo many Powers and States united in clofe Leagues, and wholly fubjecl to Spain, 'twas Tirre to beat the Drum, and carry the War from Home ; 'twas Time to climb the Alps, and take a Survey f Spanijh Italy ; for, the Kingdom of Naples, the Dut- chy of Milan, and the Ifland of Sicily, the Dukes of Mantua, Parma, and Urfan, the Princes of MaJJa and Piombino, with the Free States of Geneva and Luca, did then all march under the Banner of Spain. So that none but the Great Duke of Tufcany, with G 3 the 125 LETTERS Writ by Vol. IF. the Rcpublick of Venice, were left to withftand his threatning Arms. Who will now blame King Lttv- ts, for drawing into his Confederacy the Hollanders, licjJiaKs, G'i/ovs, and the Sfit.-(ctf-s r Kow could he otherwiie difiblve that formidable Union afore- faid ? Befides, the Murders of Henry III and Henry IV. the one kill'd at St. Clou, by James Clement, the other at Paris, by Ra*viUac, were fo apparently hatch'd and committed by Spa^i/b Counfel and Influence, that had Lena-is, the late King, no other Reafons to fland upon his Guard, and obferve the Motions -of Spain, yet that were enough to juitify hi: warlike Preparations Egaipf: that Crown. For, be fides the Motives of a j.:ll Revenge, t e common Jealoufies of Sta:e muft needs prompt him to do his utmofl in Prevention of Spatty* Intrigues. No ought his matching with the I/if<*nta to have given him any greater Security j fince, under the faireft Grcfs, many tiir.es lurks the molt veno- mous Snake What Spain could not do by open Force, nor fecict Conspiracy, fhe heped might be accompli (h'd by this fotcicus Marriage. And it was no fmall Step towards it, that the numerous Train of Spaniard!) which came into Fraxce, with the /*- fottia, prefently fcrewtd themfelves into all Offices and Plac-s of Truft ls:h in Church and Staff ; dai- ly making Parties 'ui Penfionerb for Sfain, till at }t ngth all France grew weary of them j fo that the King was conflraiucd to fend them home gain : Elfe it is more than probable, that in a little Time he might have focn tnis fioitrifiung Kingdom in a . worfe Condition than ever had been known before. Hs has already feen the Bowels of France ript up, by inteftinc Broils, and weltrir.g in its own Blood ; he has feen the Princes and .Nobles armed againft him, debauching ar.d alienating the Allegiance of the Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 127 The French Gentry, Clergy, and Cc:t;tnons, and cover- ing their pernicious Rebellion under tbe Mafk of the Holy Luigue. He has feen the Duke of Rohan leading up and down an Army of twelve thoufand Foot, and twelve hundred Horfe, at the King of Spain's Cofl ; he himfelf with his Brother Scufazc, being bo:h Penfioners to the King of Spain, the one receiving fourteen, the ether eight thoufand Crowns a Year. Jn fine, he has feen the ftrongeft Cities and Forts of Picardy, Normandy, and other Provinces of France, plunder 'd and pillaged by fly- ing Armies of Spaniards and Imperialist, even when he leafl dreara'd of any fuch Misfortune, being at the fame Time involved in Civil Wars with his own Subject. After all this, had he not Reafoa to pre- vent the like Mifchiefs and Incurfions for the future, by tranfporting die War into his Enemies Coun- tries, who hai committed fo many fcfoftilities and Ravages iu his ? It was certainly high Time for France to rouze up her martial Genius, and leave off her dreaming Ibcory, when Spain was fo bafy with the Pra3ick. Thefe are the Arguments that may be alledged in Vindication of the King of France's Condad to- wards Spain. And not much lefs is to be recrimi- nated upon the Emperor of Germxty, in feizing the Dutchy of Ckves and Julierj, with many Towns and Biihopricks in the Counties of Luxemburg^ and Le Mure; as alio, in the Frontiers of Swiflerland and Ljrrain. His Conqueft of the Palatinate, with the chiefeit Cities, Forte, and Pafies of the Gri- fons ; his reducing the Lives and Liberties of that feople to their laft Gafp and Peiiod, was a fuf- fcient Motive to the French King, to put a fpeedy Check to this increafmg Grandeur of the. llcufe of Avftria. G 4 Heave 1 28 L E T T E R~S Writ by Vol. II. I leave the Determination of thefe Matters to thy fage Wifdom, great Arbiter of Juflice, and bowing my Head to die Duft, awfully retire. Paris, 1 5th of tke $th Moon, of the Tear 1643. LETTER XV. fo the Reis Effendi, Principal Secretary of State. THree Days ago, Lcnuis XIII. King of France and Navarre, was arrelted by the King of Terrors, and forc'd to pay the Grand Debt to Ged'and Nature ; I will not fay* before it was due, but fooner than the accuftom'd Time of Payment, being Eot full Forty three Years old. Yet Heaven was fo indulgent, as not to fuffcr the Grim MfJJenger of Fate to fnatch him hence without a previous Summons ; his Diftemper being a lingring Confumption, which gave him frequent intimations of his fading Strength. There are not wanting fuch as whifper, That he was hurried out of the World before his Time, by fome unnatural Artifice. And the common Sort fay, That Mazarines Scarlet looks of a more Sanguine Hue, than it did four Days ago. , The Reafon of this Jealoufy, I fuppofe, is ground- ed on the Familiarity that has been obferved be- tween the now ^ueen-Regent and the Cardinal; both alfo being Strangers to the French Blood ; me a Spaniard, and he an Italian. I will not determine how far thefe Reflections are juftifiable, becaufe I know it ii impoffible for Perfons in their Circum- ftances to avoid the Cenfure of bufy prying Minds, Vol. IT. a SPY at PARIS. 129 in fuch a Juncture as this ; Yet fome, who move in a Sphere above the Vulgar, cannot forget by whofe Inftigation his Roya4 Father, Henry the Great, was fent out of the World. The known familiar Accefs which the Marquis Spinola gave to Ra:t, ( from whom it derives the Name it now bears of Coxftaxtixopft). then the Ecdsfiajli- cal 136 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. cal Supremacy was alfo transferred to the Patriarch of that City, who enjoys it to this Day ; through, the Favour of our munificent Sultans, who fucceed the ancient Emporors of Greece. This fuperlative Power the Popes of Rome would not recognize in any other but themfelves, being loth to part with the Authority they once pofTefs'd ; whence pro- ceeded the Scbifm between the two Churches of the Eaft Bnd Weft, And while the Patriarchs of the Grecians flicker 'd their new-acquired Honour un- der the Protection of the Emperors, the Popes, partly by Artifice, and partly by force, made them- ielves Lords of Rome, and the adjacent Territories, taking the Advantage of the Abfence of the Emperors, the Pufillanimity of the Senators, and Difcord of the Citizens. Supported with this Princely Eftate, they excommunicate all the Churches which did not fub- mit to them, as the Sovereign Prelates of the Ckri- fian World ; publifhing fevere EdiSs againft the Greek Church, and doing every Thing that might confirm the World, in the Belief of their Autho- rity and Grandeur. The Potentates of Europe, frighten'd with the Thunder which the Reman Pon- tiffs ufed, and induced by other Reafons, did Homage , to them, acknowledging their Sovereign Jairfdiftion in die Weft. In this State they have continued ever lince, without yielding in any Thing to the Patriarch of Conjtantinofle. There have been great Endeavours ufed on both Sides, to gain their refpe&ive Ends ; and feveral General Councils were called, that is, An 'Aflembly of the chief Biflops and Dsflors of both Churches, to examine and decide the Difference. And fome- times the Fathers of the Greek Church have fub- icribed a Submiflion to the Pope ; but, as foon as they return'd home, they have recanted, and the Breach been render 'd as wide as ever. They ac- cufe the Romans of Partialty, and fay, .That the Council, - Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 137 Councils were pack'd ; yet both Parties feem to give an extraordinary Deference to thofe general Councils, believing that the Holy Ghoft is there pre- fent, and guides them into all Truth. The Ceun- cils, which they efteem infallible, have emtraJiSed each other ; This repealing what That had de- creed, and a Third difannulling that Repeal. ' The Councils believe themfelves above the Pope, and the Pope, exalts himfelf above the Councils. Some- times they have had Two or Three Popes together, all claming that which can be the Right but f one. In fine, they have involved themfelves in fuch a Labyrinth of Difputes and Cavils, and entangled in fuch a Circle of Abfurdities, that the foberer Part of Chriftians begin to queflion the Authority both of Popes and Councils : Infomuch, as it being generally known, That the laft Affembly of this Kind, was manifeftly over- ruled by the Agents of the Court of Rome, People fpar'd not to pafs this Jeft on it, and fay, That the Holy Ghoft teas fent from Rome to the Council of Trent /* a, Cloak-bag ; intimating thereby, the many InftrucTrions and Ad- vices which were continually tranfmitted from Rome by the Poft, to the fathers fitting in that Council, whereby all Things were determined according- t the Papers Pleafure, and to the Advantage of the Ro- man Court. 'Tis certain, the Chriftians now a-days have a- bated much of that blind Obedience which they formerly paid to the Roman Pontiff: They begin , to fee with their 0wn Eyes, and not with thofe of their Priefts. There was a Time when many Kings were made to hold their Crowns in Fee of the Roman Prelates, who pretended a Right to difpofe of all the Kingdoms and Empires of the Earth, as Vicar of Gad. But the Kings of England, Swede- lond, and Denmark, with fome Princes of the Ger- man Empire, and the States of Holland, have taught others 13$ LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. others the Way to ftand upon their Guard ; fo that, though the Emperor of Germany, Kings of France, Spain and Holland, with the Princes of Italy, profefs an Obedience to the Hcly Father, yet 'tis rather out of a Maxim of Policy, than any real Ferfualion of Religion. The Spaniards feem themoft fuperftitioufly devoted to the See of Rome ; yet they will not tndure the Ex- communication, which the Pope pron .,'uccr againft their King, above the Space of one Day. It fee in s upon feme old Difference between therr. : ir is ufual for the Holy Father to excommunicate thh Sovereign. once a Year, that is, on the Thu.J'JGy befc.e E 'after, which is the fame as our Feaft of Biitiim. N( \v, as I am told, the Spanijb Ambajfcidor next Day (-resents the Pope with a Gennet, or Horfe, upon which the Cenfure is taken off. This is an Ecclefiaftick Jug- gle ; and the Court of Romj ufe a great deal or luch holy LfgertLmcin, to keep the Sons of the Church ia their Obedience. The French Ckurcl, though in all Things agiee- ing, and profefling an entire Obedience to the Ro- man, yet claims to her felf fome Immunities and Privileges, which the Court of Rime is very loth to grant. Hence it eom.es to pais, that there drife frequent Contefts between the Popes and the IJ.ngs of France, which are generally accommodated -Q the Advantage of the latter ; the Pope not being * -ling to try the Force of THE LAST REASON OF ' KINGS : This is a Motto engraven on f he French King's Cannon, which he has thrcatenV to carry to the Walls of Rome, if the Pope fnould intrench on the Gallic an Rights. But though they thus difagree in fome Niceties of State, yet they, and all the rett of the Nations within the Roman Cummunion, have but one Form of Divine Service, which they call the Mafs, and it is the fame with the Grecian Liturgy. On Feftival Dajs Vol.11, a SPY at PARIS. 139 Days it is fofemnized with Variety of choice Mujick and Singing ; with innumerable Wax-Tapers burning at Noon-day I have feen, at fuch a Time, Cxteen Priefls before the Altar, all vefted in mod coftly Silks, embroider'd with Gold and Pearls. They have alfo many Chapels and Altars in the fame Church, and fometiires they celebrate Mxfs on all the Altars together ; differing herein from thole of the Greek Communion, who have bat one Altar in a Temple : For which they plead Antiquity, k never having been known that the primitive Ckr>fiians had any more. On the other Side, the Romans plead Conveniency for the Multitude of their Altars ; that the Pope has a Power to difpenfc with the ancient Rites and Traditions in fuch Cafes ; and tha' nothing was more reafonable than that their Altars mould be multiplied, a the Number of their Prcfelytes and Priefts increased. I will net pretend to decide this Controverfy : permit me only to fay, That the faithful Mxfful- mo-i have more Rsafon to require feveral Preachers at the fame Time in our mcgnifcent Mafques, where it is iinpoffible for all the Audi ors in fo vaft an A/Tembly, to hear and underftand the Law ex- pounded by one Man, though it be performed in the vulgar Tongue : Whereas, their Service is cele- brated in a Language whereof the Multitude are utterly ignorant. It matters not much whe.her they are near a Prieft at the Altar, or afar off, fmce they underftand not a Word he fays j and the Gre- cians judge it fufficient to be prefent at this their dai- ly Sacrifice, though it be at the very Porch of the Temple. Another Difference there is rJfo between thefe two Churches : The Raman allows not a Married Priefl, unlefs in fome extraordinary Cafes, and then the Popis Difpenfaticn rnuit be procured. Bu Concubinage is connived at, though forbidden by the 140 LETTERS Writ by Vol. IT. the Caucus of the Church : Whereas thou knoweft that all the Grecian Papas marry, and get Chil- dren. The Spaniard, among all the Nations within the Reman Pale, are reckon'd the befl Catholicks ; but the nvorjl ChriJiiaKS ; the French are faid to be" the beft Cbriftians, but the nvorft Cathslicks ; and the Italians are accounted neither Catholicks ; nor Cbri- Jlians. I know not what Reafon they have to ftate the Dif- ference fo between the two former ; but the Cha- racter of the latter fuits in one refpedl with the ufu- al Proverb of that Country ; it being common in, the Mouths of Italian Gallants, to fay, He that is a Chri- ftian, is a Fool. - The devouter Sort of Catkolicks pay a great Re- verence and Devotion to the Relicks of their Saints. I could not reprehend them for this, if I were fure of Two Things, That all thofe whom they efteem as Saints, were really fuch ; and, That all the Re- licks they keep with fo much Veneration in their Churches, did really appertain to the Perfons under vvhofe Names they go : For then it would be no more than what the true Believers pra&ife through- out the World ; and it is well known, That when a Piece of the Garment of OUB Holy Prophet was dipp'd in the Water which they caft on the Flames of Conftantinvple, the Fire immediately ceafed, to which before no Stop could be given by all the Induliry and Endeavours of Men. Affuredly, 'the Bodies of the Prophets and Meffengers of God are holy, and have a Power of fan&ifying whatever they touch, pro- ducing often miraculous Effecls ; but the Avarice of Men may abufe this Truth to their own private Ends ; and the Cbriftians themfelves, will not believe all to be true Relicks of Saints, which their crafty Friefts (hew for fuch. There Vol.11, a SPY at PARIS. 141 There are innumerable ether Sefts of Cbriftians, which are neither in Communion with the Roman nor the Grecian Churches ; but, acculing them of Idola- try, feparate thernfelves from their Society, and form diftinft Congregations. Thefe are not known in France, faving only the Hugonots, otherwife called Protejtanfs : Which laft is a Term comprehending all that have revolted from the Roman Church, and was firil allumed by the Lutherans, at Augjburgh in Germany. In England and Holland there are Abundance of thefe Setis, fome of them newly fprung up, others of longer Date. And all thus far agree with the MuJJulmaits, that they ufe not Pictures or Images in their Temples ; fo that were they rightly inftrufted in the holy Alcoran, it would not be a Thing altoge- ther impracticable, to perfuade them to Circumci/ion. There is a Scft which they call Sodnians, who feem to preach out of the very Book of Glory, denying the Divinity of "Jefus, the Son of Mary, the Cbrijiian Mejfias ; even as our diviil then be eafy, either Vol.11, a SPY at PARIS. 143 by thy intelligible Reafons in the Alcoran, or the more cogent Argumen.s of the Sword, to plant the true and urdffiLd Faith in thefe Countries. The Creator of a 1 ! Things haften his Holy Prophet's Re- turn, that all Nations may embrace his Law, aflert his Unity, and be incorporated into the glorious Em- pire of the Ofihans. Paris, icth of tie 6th Moon, c-f the Tear 1643. LETTER XVIII. To the Kaimacham. SINCE the Death of King Lewis, all Mens Eyes and Hearts are fixed upon the Dauphin ; who, tiio' he is very young, yet he is a Prince of a forward Genius and promifing Afpet, giving fignal Proofs of a martial Spirit. One Day, feeing the Guards, as they were exer- cifmg their Anns, he difcover'd an extraordinary Complacency, and faid to thofs that flood by, / had rather be a Soldier than a King ; imagining from the Softnefs he is accuftom'd to in thefe Infant Years, That the Life of a Soldier is incompatible with that cf a King. Since that Time, he harafies his Tutor and At- tendants with perpetual Tattle about Guns and Swords. And Cardinal M. \zarlni, not to baffle Qr check fuch generous Inclinations, has culled" out a Companion for him, agreeable in Temper, only a Year or two older. Thefe young Sons of Mars bsftow their Time partly in mooting with little harmiefs Engines, made on purpofe for the Dauphin's Recreation, in Imita-i 144 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. Imitation of Guns ; fometimes with Bows and Ar- rows ; at other Times they fence, with Files adapted to their tender Arms, and Childifti Skill. In thefe kind of Exercifes the Dauphin grows a great Profi- cient ; and it is look'd upon as an Omen of his fu- ture Warlike Deeds. A Spanffi Aftrologer has calculated his Nativity. He proprieties jftrange Things of this young Prince ; as. That he (hall excell all his Royal Anccjiors in Feats of Arms ; That he lhall make-the Crown of France Imperial, having fubdued pain, Italy, and Germany; That he (hail {hake the Ottoman Empire, but in the End mail be deppfed by his own Subjects. I know not what Credit may be given to the Pro- fefTors of this Science, in regard the ancient Rules of AJirologv, on which the Chaldeans and other Eaftern Sages grounded their Predictions, are now either wholly left, or fo corrupted and obfcured by the Comments and GlofTes of latter Authors, that there are hardly any Footfleps ofjjthe original Maxims to be trac'd. Yet, without troubling sljirologers, Prophets, or Wizards, one may preiagefrom the natural Genius of the Dauphin, That when he comes to feel his Strength, he will not be idle, but follow his Father's Steps, who, before he was thirteen Years of Age, Appeared at the Head of Armies. The Omnipotent guard our glorious Sultan, and the Empire eftablifh'd by his own Hands ; and may his Blefling defcend on the Royal Off-fpring ; that the young Sultan Mahomet may perform greater Things, than are prophefied of the French Dauphin. Paris, 6th of the yth Moon, of tie Year ^4 3. LETTER Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 145 LETTER XIX. To the Vizir Azem, at the Port. I Remember, I promifed to fend thee farther Ad-vi- ces of the War between Spain and Portugal, fince the late Revolution in thofe Parts. The f/Iarut.-;&i, /? Ce- remony vvhtrcby they are nude Chrijlians, and it an- fwers to our CircumcifioK.} As foon as the Myjiery was performed, this young Prince, with an allured Countenance, and becoming Gravity, fpoke thus to the Prelate : My Father, J humbly thank you, and fiail be eternally obliged io you : My Par tut j gave tne only an Earthly Craven, but ycu have mads Heir of the Kingdom of Heaven. Theri Vol.11, a SPY at PARIS. 155? There were prefent, the Queen, the Princcfs of Cor.He, Cardinal Mcxarini, with diners other Pre- ibr.s of Quality. The whole Aflembly were aftonith'd at the Child's Expreffion, (being but about four Years of Age.) taking it for an Omen of his fu- ture Piety, and extraodinary Adlions. He difco- vers a prompt Wit in all his Difcourfe, ufing but few Words, and thofe very appofite. His whole Deportment is graceful, and fuprizingly regular ; attended with a Difcretion, which is not leok'd for, but from thofe of riper Years. In fine, Nature feems to have fitted him for the Empire to which he is born. In the mean Time, as if Infant G-.-i^rnon were now become fafhionable, there are feveral made Bificps and Abbots, while they are yet in the Cradle. This the inferior Clergy fiomach. and the Laity grumble, faying, That there are like to be good Times in France, when thofe who are fty- led The Fathers of the Church are B^L-ies. This is Cardinal Mazarirns Policy, to fatten the Mo- bility to the Interefts of the C -ma, by thus ho- nouring their Children with the principal Dignities of the Church. And, thou wilt fay, he is a wife Man in fo doing, when thou confidereft, how great a Share the Bijhops and other Ecclejiafticks have, in the Wealth of. the Land. And that he could not do the King a better Service, than by difpofmg of thefe Preferments, to fuch as would not only there- by be obliged to Loyalty themfelves, bat would a!;b link the Fztnilus to which they belong, to the Ryal Caufc. Thou wilt better comprehend the Policy of this J&r.ifttr, in thus endeavouring to fecure the digni- f id Clergy, when thou weigheit thsir Strength and conffdercft their Numbers. There are in France 12 Arcljbijhopricks, 104 Bifoop- ricks ; C:r t -jc;.ts of "the greater Qrdtr $qb,*Conven!fs of 160 LETTERS ffrif by, Vol. II. of the Lrjfer Order i 2320, Abbies 14,0, Kunnerirf 67, 708 Friaries, 259 Seminaries, of the Qtdcr of the Kmgkti of Malta, 27400 Par'iJh-Chunbci Hofpi- tulf q 40, private Chapels or Oratories 9000, To fill all thefe, they reckon 2 26,000 Religious, or Der*vififier t in tne Room of Maxcrit/i. To fpeak mv Sentiments, I \vifh he were ; for there feems n-v. K much Reafon to apprehend fiom his Count-, notable Defign againft the Ottsman Pott, as troi. tliofe of the Cardinal, whom 1 look upon as a Stcotid Riiblieu Here are fc-vcral IntertHs oa foot; the whole Cyurt is divided into Fali ons Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 163 on?, ilriving to undermine and fupplant each other. It is not here as in Turkey, where the greateft Bafta's are but the Sudan's Slaves. The Princes of France are equal to Tome SrvtftigA Kings, and upon the leaft Grudge will raife Armies, and give the King Battle, if he does not come to their Terms, anil make a fatisfaftory Competition. Neither dares the King put any of them to Death, for fear of the Peo- ple, who generally take their Part, being greedy of Novelties, and prone to rebel. Wouldft thou know, by what Means the Nobility of France arrived te fuch a dangerous Power ? I tell thce, in a Word, The Kings 'themfelves have put a Sword into their Hands, which they fpare not to draw, when thsir Ambition or Difcontent prompts them to it. They are freed from all Tribute and Homage; have the Command of whole Provinces committed to them, in which are great Numbers of wallei Towns, Forts, and Caftles. Thefe great Charges, procure them the Efteem and Veneration of the People living under their Government ; who honour them as Kings, and readily take up Arms in their Vindication. The Queen Regent is fearful, left they mould take Advantage of her Son's Minority ; and, under Pre- tence of reforming the State, or ferving the King's Intereft, they ihould involve the Kingdom in Civil Wan. She keeps a ftrift Watch over the Duke of Orleans and obferves the Prince of Conde* Motions : Her Guards are doubled, and me neglefts nothing that may aflUre the Interefts of the Cro-ivn. Thou, who ftanclcft by the Silent Fountain, and art near the Perfon of the Grand Siwior, think of doing Muhmut fome good Office, who loves cordially, ferves faithfully, and prays Jjer- vently for the Health and long Life of our glorious 166 LETTERS Writ by Vbl. II. Glorious Sultan, and wifhes thee thy Fill of Happi- nefs. Paris, zyth of the icth Mean, of the Tear 1643. LETTER XXV. ,tte, as he lay wrapt up in that remarkable Cloak. It is common in thcfe LnjJtl Countries, for gnat J.len to hire Ruffians to execute their Revenue. And thefe Fellows are as prompt and c'exiroui at a pii- vate Murder, as our bluta are to execute tl.e Hea- (ure of the Grt..nd fignior, when he commands them to ill-angle any OfTending B(-:JJa. But they vull have half the Price of their Villany before har.d, nd the Rcfidue \\hrn 't;s ace omp limed. Thus is innocent Elood become a Merchandize : They traf- ck for AfTaffinations ; and, a Man cannot call his J ife his own, fince, ac that very Ina'ant it may be b;mght by another. I have not heard, That fuch a detefi^ble Wickednefs has ever been pra^is^d in tl.e Empire of the Mifalmatis, muvh kfi in ;he Sera^/iis of our Sii/ta.is, which are the Mai.funs of Juflicc and Viriue. . One ef the Grander of Trance, (whom they call the Duke of Beai;fo,t)> take^ ir.ctffant Fains to find out the Author of this Murder. He is a mortal Fneniy of Cardinal MazaiiKt, ar.d vvOvJd give half tlie Revenue of his Dukedom, could he remove him out of the Kingdom. Ke iuiir.uates \'ery plau- fible Sufpicions in.o the Minds of the Ccunien, to render him odious. He dares not openly accufe him of being acceiTary to the Pagers Death, having no evident Proofs againil him ; but he endeavours to Cieace in all Men a Belief, that he had a Hand in it. He has consulted a Magician, who has iliew'd him. the Figure of the Murderer in a Glafs, and by an- o:her EfFecl of his Enchantments, has prefented him with a Piilure, drr.\vn from the 1.1-gica.l Portraicture in Vol. II. a S P Y at P A R i s. 171 IB the Glafs, which the Duke had caufed to he imi- tated by the fkilfullft Mailers in France, lending the Copies in great Numbers to all Parts of the Kingdom, with Orders to the Governors of Towns and Cities, efpeciaily fuch as are on the Frontiers and Sea-Coafls, to caufe all Travellers to be brought before them, and confronted with the Pidiure ; that fo ( if poffible ) ths Murderer may be difco* ver'd, who will not fail to be put to all the Tor- tures they can invent; to draw a Confeffion from him, That Cardinal Mazarini bad contrived the Muid<.r cf the Duke of Orleans, tho" ly mift.ike 'twas rxecut:d c.i bis Page. But the Cardinal is even with him, having accufed him to the ^ue^.t, of defigtun^; 19 murder him ; whereupon, the Duke is fen t .'nloner to the Ctjlle of the Wood of Fi:'^ennes. This makes the Creatures of Beaufort to murmur, and fay, There is a higher Hand than the Cardinals alone, in the Contrivance of this Murder. Libels are fcatter'd up and down the Streets ; and 'tis faid, That the Gbojl of the Page has been often feen to walk in the Royal Apartments. In the mean Time, I \vait all Opportunities to do "the Grand Signior fome effectual btrvice, {hatching every Contingency which may advance the Ott^myn Jntereft. Neither am I forgetful to oblige my Friends. The great God preferve thee from untimely Death, and give thec Favour with the Sultan. Paris, 3oth cf the I ith Moon, of the Year \ 643 . J 2 LETTER 172 LETTERS l\ rit ly Vol. II. LETTER XXV. To Peftcli Hali, his Brother. WH E N I wrote laft to thee, I thought I mould have taken a farther Journey than thou ; Jtjla was the defigned, ^ta^e of thy Travel ; but I look'd on my felf at that Time, as bound for another World : And therefore, having no Hopes of ever feeing thee again in this, I g:ve thee a.iolemn Adieu. It is now four Yean fince that Letter was writ, during which, thou haft feen many ftrange Things in the Ei>ft, while I have obfcrv'd ibme Re- markables in the Wejl. Thou art return'd fafe to Cinftaxtinople, and 1 am ftill alive in Paris. I am overjoy 'd to hear I have a Brother living ; I hope thou wilt not be forry that I have hitherto efcaped the Stroke of Death. We Two are the only Survi- ving of all our Race ; let us love one another, as though there were nothing elfe in the World for us to love. As for our Mo her, I know not whether Ihe be on Earth, or in PafaJjfe. I he lalt I .etter me fent me, exprcfs'd her Grief for the Death of her fecond Htfhand, fmce which, Eighteen Mwns are elaps'd, and I have heard nothing of her. I dcfire thee, if thou haft any Tendernefs for Mahmut, to fa- tisfy me whether me is living or dead. Perhaps fhe is married again, and may be removed into fome un- known Country. I am perplex 'd with a 1 houfand Anxieties about her. Remember, 1 .hat the Tnl-e to which we belong, was none of the moll obicure in AraHa. Let us imitate the Virtues of our Kindred, without meddling with their Vices ; in fuch a Family, it will not be difficult to find fome good Examples, and fuch as are worthy to be followed. Let us learn Tempe- rance Vol. IF. a SPY at PARIS. 173 ranee from one, Prudence from another, Magna- mity from a Third, and the Rules of Piety and Jaftice from them all. This I take to be a proper Method to acquire an Excellency in Virtue, and to root good Habits in us ; it being certain, That pra- ctical Examples have more Influence on Men, than the mod pithy and fage Inductions. Who can re- flect on the incomparable Modefty of Ufep.b, wny Father's Brother, and not be charm'd ? Thou may 'ft remember with how fweet a Grace of Mildnefs and Condefcenfion all his Actions were adorn'd. He was efteem'd the moft polite Man in thofe Parts. From him we may learn to bear In- juries patiently, and not to grow peevim at the Jmpertinencies of the Vulgar : Not to be of a rag- ged Temper, fierce or revengeful, but to be al- ways of an even Deportment, purfuing all Men with Civilities, and good Offices ; the very Nature of which brings its own Reward along with it (if there were no others ; ) the Mind being fed with an inexprefilble Complacency, after fucli generous Per- formances. Mehemet Ati> our Kinfman, was a Man of Angular Government and Moderation. He was nether vain- ly Fond of his Friend, nor Humourous or Cold. He rejected Flatterers, and was not concern'd at Slan- derers. He was neither Superfiitious nor Prophane; Liberal without Pride, Frugal without Avarice, and in all Things he carried himfclf with exquifite So- briety and Reafon. . Such Men as thefe we ought to fet before us, as Patterns of a good Life ; aad, in following their Steps, we flail nonour the Family from which we defcend. In perufmg thy Letter, I find thou haft made fome profitab'e Remarks in thy Travils. Thou hail been at the Courts of fcveral Great and Jllu- flrious Ptinca ; and returneft Home enrich'd with I 3 aTrea- 174 LETTERS Writ I) 1 Vol. II, a Treafury of Jewels, of a far higher Price th^n Rubies and Diamonds. The Knowledge which thou haft purchaied, is a Merchsndiic for Kir.gs r and will rentier thee acceptable to the Sovereigns of the Earth. Thou haft improved much in a little Time, and (halt reap the Honour and Profit of thy Experience all the Days of thy Life. It will be a kind Office, if thou wilt gratify thy Brother with fome of thofe choice Observations thou haft made. I have a particular Dcfire to be inform'd of many Things in the Indies. OurCoufm Jf'.uf is covetcus of his Memoirs ; he will not impart any Thing to me, though he has likewife tiavers'd all the Eaji. I would fain know the Age and Cha- rafler of the prefent Mogul. Here is a Portuguefe in the City, with whom 1 fometimes converfe : He has been at Indhjiax, and fays, That the prefent Em- fercr of that Country is a Man of no great Abili- ties j fa fieri ng his Affairs to be managed by the Con- duel of Women : That he has more than ordinary Familiarity v iih cne of his Daughters ; That he has fear Sons, whom he has made t o-uereigns of Pro- Circes : They are Princes of active Spirits ; and, he fays, 'tis fear'd they will one Day depofe their Father. He tells a remarkable Story of the Great MogvTa being once in Danger of his Life ; which, bccaufe it has i\ mctliing in it very extraordinary, I will in brief relate it 10 tiue. f It happened that this Prince was riding on one of his Ciltfhanti in the Province of Ca/hetnire, when fuddenly the Beaft grew racing mad, it fecms it is the Nature of thtfe Animals, when they are ftung \viih Luft, at certain Times of the Year, to fall in- to a kind of Phrenzy, which, (if not timely obvia- ted,) will laft forty Days. He, whofe Office it was to manage the Eltpbant, perceiving t,hat the King's Life was in apparent Danger, through the furious Humour Vol.11, a SI?Y at PARTS. 175 Humour cf the Eeaft, had not Time to fa}- any more to the King, but only thefe Words; There is ixt't&ri only Wc:j taft.veycur Life, that Jfacrijice rt:>nc to tie Elephant:, u.kiib Jfrtel", J? t af4x**ftig(/TfJtiao*j of my loyalty. With "that, He caft himfclf at the ELpkant\ Feet, which immediately took him up with his Trunk, and kill'd him, and fo became pa- cified. The King, aftenimed at fo furprizirrgan Ac- cidint, and to ttftify hisGraiitude for fo unparallel'J a Fidelity, fent for this Man's Son's, and having afic'd them, Whether they could have Refolution enough to follow their Father's Examples in fuch a Cafe, t j which they all anfwering, Thc.t his Majcfty ; gbt fee it immediately ', if be pletfe to gii>e but tke ff'irJ; the King caus'd rich Veits to be beftowedon every one cf them, with other Prefents, and made 'em the Ckicf Me fieri of his Elephants, throughout the Empire. The Poriuguefc added, That in Token of Thank fulncfs to Heaven for fe fignal a Preferva- tion, the Emperor gave Royal and Magnificent Alms to all the Poor in that Province, vowing never to ride again on an EUpbant, fince it had cofl him the Life of one of his molt faithful Servants. If thoa haft met with any Imtances of fo re- markable a Virtue, infert them in thy Letter ; for, whatever may be in the Eaft, a Man iray live whole Ages in the Wtfiern Pans, before he mall nd fuch unfhaken Fidelity in a Servant. The King Eternal caft an Eye of Favour on thee, and reward thee for the Love thou bearefl to our glorious Sultan. Paris, it6h of the l 2th Moon, of the Tear 1643. 'floe End of the Second Book. I 4 LETTERS LETTERS Writ by A SPY at PARIS. VOL. II. BOOK III. LETTER I. To Ibrahim Haly Cheik, a Man of ths Law. H ERE is a Man come to this City, if he may be called a Man, who pretends to have lived about thefe Sixteen Hundred Years. They call him the Wandering Jew. But fome fay, He is an Impcftor. He fays of him- felf, Tnat he vas Ufoer of the Divan in 'Jcrufalem, (the Je-ry tkou till I ccw: ; thereby condemning him to live till the D^y of yud^mcnt, He pretends to remember the afoffles that lived in thofe Days, and, That he hireifeif was Baptised by one of them : That he has travelled '.hro'.igh all the Regions of the World, and fo mufl continue to be a Vagabond till (he M-Jfiat (hall return again. They fay, That he heals Diltafes, by touching the Party affefled. Divers other Mir acl; i are afcribed to him by the Ignorant and Sxtfrfiitious ; but the Learned, the Noble, and the Great, confute him as a Counter- feit, or a Madman. Yet there are, who affirm, Tha 'tis one convincing Argument of the JReality of his Pretence, That he has hitherto efcaped a Pri- fon, efpecially in tht-fe Countries, where the Aa- thours of all Innovations are fcverely punilh'cL He has efcapedthe Inquijttion.tt Rove, in Spdn, and in Portugal, which the \ r ulgar will have to be an evident Mirach. Cne Day I had the Curiofity to difcourfe with him in fcveral Languages ; and 1 found him Ma- iler of all thofe that 1 could fpeak. I converfed with him five or fix Hours together in Aralick, He told rr.e, That there was fcarce a true Hiflory to be found. I afked him, What he thought of Mubcmet, the Prcpkit and Laivgivcr of the Mujjul- mans ? He anfwerd, That he knew his Father ve- ry well, and had been often in his Company at Ormut in Perfia ; That M-homct was a Man fall of Light and a Divine Spirit, but had his Errors as well as other Mortals ; and that his chiefeft was, in denying the Crucifxion of the Mtjfias ; for, faid he, / it as then preft.Kt, and fait) Kim bang OH the Crofs, ivith tbtfo Eyes cf mine. He accufolthe Mu^itlwaus of 178' LETTERS Writ by Vol. If. cf Impofiure, in making the World believe, That the Tomb of their Prophet hangs miraculotifly between Heaven and Earth, faying, That he himfelf had fcen it, and that it was built after the Manner of other Sepulchres. Thou who haft been at the Ihly PLtce, kncweft whether this be falfe or true. He upbraids the Perjian Mahometans with Luxury, the Ottomans with Tyranny -, the Aralians with ~Rvbl'.ry> the Mcors with GWj, and the MtJJulmam of the India with Atleifm : Nor does he fpare to reproach the CLrlfiitn Clurcba: He taxes the Reman and Gratkir till Rome lad been fit on Fire. Here the o!d Man fell a weeping himfelf, lamenting the Ru^ns of that noble Struclurc, which he defcribtd to me as fa- ir.iliarly, as if he had f.en it but Yciterday. He fays, That Jofipkus wrote partially of the Sediiicus in the City, being related to one of the Chief Ring- Uadnts, whom therefore he fpar'd, being loui to ftain the Reputation cf his CWB Fajnily to all Poflcriry. Itdl Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 181 I tell thcc, Sage Cbcik, if this Man's Pretences be true, he is fo full of choice Memoirs, and has been Witnefs to fo many grand Tranfactipns for the Space of fixteen Centuries of Years, That he may no: un- fitly be call'd, A Lii.'ing Chronology, ihe Proto-Notary of the Chrijliar.s Hegira, or fyincrpal Recorder of that which they efteem the Laft Epocha of the World's Duration. By his Looks one would take him for a. Rdick of the Old World, or one of the Leng-livd Fathers be- fore the Flcod. ' To fpeak modeftly, he may pafs for the Younger Brother of Titxe. It would be endlefs to te I! ihee how many other Difcourfes we had of his Travels and Memoirs ; till tired with his Company, and judging all to be a Cheat, I took my Leave. I tell thee, he fcems to be a Man well vers'd in all Hiftories, a great Traveller, and one that affefts to be counted an extrardinary Perfon. The common People are ready to adore him ; and the very Fear of the Multitude reftrains the Magijlrates from offering any Violence to this Impoftor. Live thou in the Exerciie of thy Reafon, which will not permit thee to be feduced into Errors, by the fubtle Infinuations of Men. Continue to love Mah- mut, who honours the* without a Fidion. Paris, 4th of the i ft Moon, of the Year I 644. LETTER 181 LETTERS Writ /, VoLII; LETTER II. $o tbe Seli&ar Aga > or Sword Bearer. JEaloufy, the Bane of publick Alliances, as well as of private Friendfhip, has carried the Arms of S--u:edeland into Denmark, at a lime when leait ex- pefted. All Europe was alarmed at the News of this fur- friz ng Ine Pr&vincts of the Empire to Scania, entering that Coun'.ry with Twelve Ti.oufanJ Men. And, to fatw :ne World they were in earneft, Uiey privately treat with the HoUerJtr* Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS, : i 8 3 Hollanders, to affiit them with a Fleet and Men, which was granted them under the Command of Admiral Martin Tyes. At the fame Time, General Turflenfon entered Hoi- Jlcin, where he advanced with admirable Succefs -,. took Kid by Surpiize ; and paffing forward, poffef- fed himfelf of Jutland, driving King Chrijlian into a Corner of his Dominions ; for, now he had only Zealand and Fionia left, which are two I/lands, the former whereof commands the Paflage into the Bal- tick Sea, Here the King of Denmark finds himfelf befet with Difficulties and Dangers by Sea and Land ; yet, in regard his greateft Strength lay in his Ship- ping, he wholly applies himfelf to rig and man out a good Fleet. At the fame Time, he informs his Ally of this unjuft War, and made pafiiorrate Com- plaints to the Emperor, for whofe Sake all this befel Kim, imploring his Friendfhip and Aid in fo great a Calamity. The Emperor fends GalaJ/o with Forces, who entering the Territories of Hambugb and Lu- bcck, a League was negotiated between the Emptror ard the Danifo King. But by the Artifices of the Trench and Holland Af&ejjadan at Copenhagen, the King was diffuaded from making an Alliance with the nottft of Auftria. However, the Dunkirkers offered King Chrijtian to maintain a confiderabla Flat in the Saund, at their own Charge , which he feemed to accept of. All the Minijlcrs endeavour to play their own Game, and abufe the Goodnefs of the unfortunate King. Whilll in the mean Time, he lofes Ground in holjlein ; Genera/ 'To'fter.fon having taken Chrijli- c.nprys, a very ilrong Place. What will be the Iffue of thefe Tranfadions, Time will manifeft ; bat were not this King Mailer of an extraordinary Virtue, he would fink under fo 184 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. fo many Preffures, being a Man of a Great .Age- But God iupports whom he pleafes. Paris, 20 h of the \ft..Moon t of tie Tear 1644. LETTER IV. &o Gara Haly, the Phyfician at Con- ftautinopic. THOU haft feen many in the Arms of Death, wreftling with the Grim Monarch of Shad ow, who by the Privilege of an excellent Conltitution, have difengaged themfelves from his Clutches, and flood at open .Defiance with him for fome Years af- terwards. But I queftion whether thou haft ever known any, whom that Conqueror has once laid in the Duft, that ever recovered again In a Village about Half a League from this City, there died a Man (or at leaft he feemed to die) about a Week ago. He was ftretch'd forth into the Poiture fitted for bis Coffin, by the Hands of two Old Women. His Relations and Friends flock'd about his Body, to pray for his Soul, as is the Cuftom of the Cbrijiians. The Houfe was fill'd. with Tears and Sighs, and a mournful Cloud fat on every Brow : He lay thus for the Space of thiny five Hours, dead, in the Sappcfition,of all Jus Family ; when the Watchers, who fat by, were fudtlenly afionifhed to hear him fneeze : They ran away at firft, as People affrighted at fome ghaiily Vifion, and alarmed tj;e whole Neighbourhood with the News. Ptyficiant were fent for, who caufing him to be laid in a warm Bed, and ufing pjoper Applications, he recovered his Senfes, and by De- grees Vol. IT. * SPY*/ PARIS. 1 85 grees his Speech : They are in Hopes to reftore him to perfect Health again : He relates to his Vifitants many itrange Things that he has feen and heard du- ring the thirty five Hours that he was thought to be dead. He fays, He has been before the throne of God, and has feen all the Orders of Angels ; that he was commanded to return back again to his Body, to warn Men of the approaching Day of Judgment. . H preaches Repentance and good Works, to all that come near him. Hence it is, that the devouter >ort of People refort to his Houfe in Pilgrimage, eileeming him a Saint. They fay, He has anticipa- ted the General Refurrefiien, to give a frefh Proof of it to this Unbelieving Age, and to evince that it will come to pafs before he fliall quit his Body : He pro- phefies the Converfion of the Jews to be near at Hand, and that the Mujulmans fiiall embrace tha Chrijiian Faith. Such as are fond of Novelties, and fuperftitioufly inclined, believe what he fays to be as true as the Al- ccran ; but the Learned impute it all to the Fumes of Melancholy, to which he was always naturally .prone. For my Part, who believe that Mahomet, the McJJen- ger of G<.//, by a Voice from (he I ead. There is an O;vr of Der*vifes, GtXke&CartbuJiaKt, who, they fay, a;eafland- ing Monument of the Truth of this P elation. For one B, unc, being touched with Compur ction at fj tre- mendous an Accident, iraniediately fi:rf ;-ok the So- ciety of Men, and led a contemplative Life in exqui- fite Silence, Abflinence, Fafting, and Prayer, enjoin- ing all his Followers to do the like : Who are now fprcad into moft Parts cf Chnjlrndom, having magni- ficent Monalleries, great Immunities, ann areelletu'.ed the/r/ : ^ Orde> of the Rcmc.n Church. They are ferved in the Markets before the King himfclf. If any DC wife of another O/-^rdefires to come into this, he may ; but from this there is no Return. They dig a Part of thsir own Grave every Day, having every one a dl!, and a Garden to himfelf. They converge with one another but once a Week. And if when they are walking into the Clojjlcrs of their Monajlery, they happen to 'py a Stranger, they (cud away into their Cells, as Conies into their Holes, at the Sight of a Dog. They never tafte of Flefh, and are obliged to pray eight Hours out of the four and twenty. Thi Vol. IT. a SPY at PARIS. 187 This Order has afforded eminent Scholars and Statefmen ; but now 'tis like to have Men of another Character for its Profelytes ; for, finee the Refurrec- tion of this m eafy for thee to fubmit to the Will of another, as 'tis hard for me to comply with my own I am of fo wave, ing a Conftmuion, that I cannot, without great Difficulty, pleaie my felf ; much Ids could I be able 'o humour the Ext/avagancies of a Soul, different from mine. I have obferved, that mould I follow the Motions of of my own proper Inclination at ail Times, I mould do many I nings whereof I ,might afterwards re- pent : Why may not the Cafe be th fame, or worfe, if I blindly obey the Will of a Stranger ? Am I fure that he is a good Man ? Or, if he be fo ; b-day, how do 1 know but that he may be otherwife To- morrow ? Nay, What Security can be given me, that if be be a ^cint this Hour, he will no: be a De- 1/rVthe next ? Since the Temper of a Man varies as often, ana fuffers as many Alterations, as the Ele- ments do, out of which he is compounded : Where then can bctfte Reafon, of giving myfelf wholly up to any Man's Difpofal all my Life-time ? Is it not fufficient to obey the Scve^figH Pi-flute, who com- mands the whole Cbutcb, yet impofes not die Dic- tates ei'his own Will as a Law, but governs all Chri- JJians according to the ancient Traditions, facrctl Ca- nons, and Decrees of the Afoftles, Fathers, and Coun- cils ? Whereas, thofe who preiide over the Convents of the Rn.'vicHs, many Thr.es rule arbitrarily, com- manding their Subjects to do thofe Things, which are diametrically oppofite to the very fundamental Rules of Chrijnamty, and contrary to the Law of Nature. The tpo LETTERS Writ by Vol.11. The more I think on't, the greater is my Averfion for this private blind Obedience. Thou wilt fay, That a regular Life is the Way to Perfection ; I grant k : But cannot a Man lead a regular Life, unlefs he be immured in a Convent ? Or, be perfect, if his Mind be not fquared to the Retirements of a Chyfier? I will tell thee my Senti- ments freely, and without a Made. The Nature of every Thing is its Perfection ; there are perfect Sin- ners as well as perfect Saints. Thus we fay, fuch an one is a perfect Drunkard, Fornicator, Cheat, Ty- rant, cr the like. I afk thee, Whether this Sort of Perfection may not be (I wiih I could fay, is not too often actually) found within the Walls of a rdigicus Kovfe ? On the other Hand, dolt thou think it im- poffible to find the Perfection of Virtue, in the mix'd Life of th_- World ? Be not a Cynick, nor condemn Things whereof thou haft made no Experiment. Re- member, how many Kings and Queens, Princes and Nobles, have been Canorizedfa* Saints, who, in the midft of ib many Splendors kept their Eyes un- dazzled. Whcfe Ears never let in the Biandimments cf Flatterer?, nor the malicio js Whifpers of the En- vious. Whofe Hands were never polluted with innc- cent Blood, nor their Thirft quench'd with the Tears of Widows and Orphans. But, in all Things they conferved an inviolate Purity, Modefty, and Integrity of Manners Thefe Perfons were perfect in the midft of Imperfections, and regular in the Heighth of hu- man Diibrders, Saint* upon Earth, and .e a League out of the City te meet him, accompanied with all his Nt/blcs. This Gentleman came away before the Tartarian Prince had fucceeded in his Defign. But it was generally fuppofed, that Cba Alb^s would af- fiil hiui with a coaliderabie Army of florjc and Foot, as aifo ;vith Money to carry on the War. ThU LETTERS Writ by Vol. IT. This King is not thirteen Years of Age, yet takes upon himfelf the Management of Publick "Affairs. He is addifted to drinking of Wine, a great Lover of Mufick and Women. Of a noble Inclination, yet fomewhat too paffionate. He commanded the Belly of one of his Pages to be ripp'd. up, for break- ing a Cryftal Bafon which he much admired. Yet afterwards, repenting of what he had done, he caufed him to be honourably buried, and a ftately Tomb to be eroded over him. He alfo enquired out fuch of his Kindred as were living, to whom he gave large Penfions. There has been little of Aclibn in thefe Parts, fmce the fignal Defeat that was given to the French by the Forces of John de Werdt, and Gtnercl Mercy. Four French Marcjchals were taken Prifoners, with all the chief Officers, Six Thoufand Soldiers, befides their Ammunition and Baggage. In this Aftion, 'tis faid, the Spanijh Horfe behaved themfelves very bravely, fpurr'd on with an Ambi- tion to recover the Glory they feem'd to have loft in fo many Battles. They rufh'dinto the French Quar- ters, with a Fury which fo on put them into Diforder, and afterwards difpofed them to quit the Field. Before thii Battle began, 'tis faid, There were feen Two Armies of Birds fighting in the Air ; which engaged fo furioufly, that the Ground was covered with their dead Bodies. And, that Morning, when one of the French Martfchals was going out of his Tent, with a Piltol in his Hand, in orcler to try it, the Barrel fplit, and tore his Hand in Pieces. Tf.efe are now look'd upon as Prodigies, and ominous Signs of the Lofs they afterwards fuitained : Bat, had che Victory been on their Side, no Body would have taken Notice of them, The Vol.11. a SPY at PARJS. 1513 The G04 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. I told them, they were rniftakcn in the Strength of thofe Cijtkj, which command ci*at important Ave- nue ; and, That no Ships ever t^urft venture within their Reach without Leave : When one of them ftarted up, and made this Anfwer : .$/>, ive have Vcjfeh impenetrable a Rocks, W&tct dare come to a* Anchor under the WaUs of thofe fupernnnuated Fortt f and defy all the Turkifh Ammunition to remove ut thence. We only -want a Ccinm;Jion frotn our King to try the Exfrimfnt. I tell thee, Supreme Miijler, t I found too much Reafon in his Anfwer, to make Room for a Reply. Wherefore, duTe-iibling for awhile the Agony I -.va* in for the Welfare of the Sublime Port, i took my Leave of the Company, and immediately fet Pen to Paper, to let thee know what is in the Hearts of thefe AJUtls. I am not vers'd "the Art and Method of Forti- fication . Yet, pardon an Error of Loyalty and Zeal, if J commit it, in propofing to thee the Neceiiity of crafting Platforms all along the oppofite Shores of the Hctitfpont, to ftrike Terror, and prevent the Ene- my from attempting that, whLh in all Probability, would not fail of Succefs. Thou that art ..all Wifdom, wilt know how to make a right Ufe of this Hint from the faithful Mat>a*f> who never thinks himfelf happy, but when he does fome acceptable Service to \^jfaiHciHt Swffetfk of the Sea and Land. Paris, 1 4th of the zd Meo s tftbe Ttar 1644. LETTER Vol. II. a S p Y at P A R I s. LETTER VII. STo Oucoumichc, &j Mother^ at Grand Cairo. ' THOU may 'ft bstrer imagine than T can express the mighty Joy I felr, when I firft opened thy Letter, and read the Name of her that con- teiv'd me, written by her own Hand ; whereby I am aflur'd that thou art yet alive, and in Health Believe me, it came in a feafonable Time, to refcue me out of a di&nal Melancholy, which had feizad my Spirits. Surely Fete directed thy Pen, and Pro the Fidelity of Man. I looked upon my fe not as my own, but altogether lent me ; I elteemed net only Men, but Btfts, and the very ina- nimate Things, my Creditors, for the Permimon I had to breathe. I thonght my felf highly indebted to the Fire, that it did not burn me to Dea'h in my , and no lefs to the Winds, that they did not K z tlow ip6 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. blow the Houie down where I lodge, and bury me in its Ruins. .For, Where wo -Id be the Injutfice, if any of thofe Elements, which are the ingredients of any Life, ihould become the Inilrumenu of iuy Death ? I confidered, that as I neither made my fe'f, nor knew how I came to be what I am, lo 1 was igno- rant when and by what Means I fhould ceafe to be, Perhaps, I might be ilruck with a Thunderbolt from Kewtn, cr fwailowed up by fome greedy Chtfa in the Earth. A '1 ile from a Houfe, might put a Stop to the Motions of this Machine of FlcfJi, or a Fall frem a Horfe, might break its Ma ftei -String. My prefent Statiai 1 look upon as precarious, fince thofe very Perfos who appointed me this Employ- ment, to ferve one Turn, would not fcruple to take off my Head to ferve another. . Jn thefe Melancholy Thoughts was I almoft drowned, when thy Letter came, and ftruck a Light .out of the midft of Darknefs. I am now ready to die with Excefs of Joy, who before was half killed with extreme Sadnefs. . But tell me, my dear Mother, Jn the Name of our Holy PropLet, what Motive induced thee to qu'it the wholefoiiie Air of Gretce, for the noiio;ne and pefti- lential Vapours of Egypt ? Is Cairo a ir.ore eligible . Seat than Conjiantiucpie * Or, becaufe tho'u halt loft thy Second Hujbatid, wilt thou be wedded to an in- curable Giief, and think i.o Mourning fufficient, un- lefs thou go in Pilgrimage to his very Grave, thereto diilblve in Tears, and mingle thy fclf with his Ames. He died in Cairo, and is there interr'd; And thou migheft have lived in Sio, or any Part of Gnet, without Blemifhing thy Widowhood. People will fay, Thou aimell at the Fortune of the E^lnfeun Wi- dow, who found a living Hujlard'\\\ the Sepulchre of her dead One ; but I, who know thy Virtue, have ether Thoughts of thee ; yet I cannot approve thy thus becoming Tenant to a Churnel Houie. There- fore, Vol.11, a SPY at PARIS. 1^7 fore, the belt Advice I can give thee is, To return to the Imperial City again, to the Company of thy Friends and Acquaintance; or, atlea!t, To return to thy fdf, and be not tranfported with an extravagant Sorrow, for one whom thou (halt never fee a^ain Tears cannot recover the Dead, nor can thy warmeft Sighs infpire him with Breach. He is divoic'd from thee by an irrevocable Law ; and whilft thou art in vain Lamenting for him on Earth, he may be Cel> brating New and Joyful Nuptials in Heaven, being efpoufed to feme of the Beautiful Dtiugbten of Para- dife. Be perfuac'ed then, tr.at he has quke forgot thee, having engaged himfelf in frefh Amours above. That he is in the Arms of fome Swpaffiag Eec.uty of Eden, and that thou hail no more Intereft in him. Let this Confide) ation afTuage thy Grief, cure thy Fond- efs, and make ihce begin to think of another Huf- band. Thofe who make their nrft Vifits to the French Widows, after the ufual Formalities of Con* dolance are over, take the Liberty to tell them, That they muft live fry tJ:e Living, and not by the Deed, This comfortable Proverb is often ufed ; even before the Funeral Solemnities are finiihed ; and thou haft now palicd-away above Two Years fince thy Huf- band's Death in fruitlefs Mourning. Tis Time to coafult thy future Happinefs, and abandoning thy Commerce wkh the D-aa, to become fociable witft the Living. The Great C^cc.tor who is Gcdef the Living, anl not of the Dtad, infpire thee to take fuch Meat r s, as may beft comply wkh the Ends for which he made thee ; and repicniui thy Utter Days, with double the Bleflings of the former. Paris, 2 id of the 4th Mooa, of the Tear^ 1 644. K 3 LETTER !. STTF7.S Wfby Vol. II. LETTER VIII. !70MuzIn Rcis Effcndi, Principal Secre- tary of the Ottoman Empire. IT is no fmall Satisfaction to me, that fince the Death of Cardinal Rickhtu, I have Parted no afoi.s to app'ehend any Dtfigns in this Cczrt, *-. gainft the Empire of the True Biiuvers TheFreicA ^randect, have pafs'd away a whole Year, without giving naucu Tooble or Alarm to the reft of the World. Every one minds hi$ ownArfairs, and all pu(h forward co get neareft the igutcn Rtgent. The Ivliiundertlanding between her, and the Duke of Cr- lian!) increaus daily. And tkis divides the Cnr. and City into two Factions , Cardinal Maz.a>im fetms to be the Man deitin'd to balance the Authority of both Parties. He fpins his Fortune with as fine a Thread as his Predeceiibrs : being ienfible, that though the Ccurt love liini aot, yet thty canno; fubfift without him. He inherit? the Mcmrirs and lijlrudiom of Car- dinal RicMttu, and his Spirif too, as well as his Mini- ftiy ; being a Mtn cf an invincible Courage, and ex- quifite Forecaft. Tiic grcateH- Enemy he has, is a Lady of theCcw;-/ (for, 1 will notconipa e che iVjaiice of the Duke of Beavfcrt to that of a Woman) they call her Mc'.dam de Chevertux, a Perfon ot a keen Wit, and good judgment; aprofefTed Enemy to all that had any Deptudance on LiiiJindRielheu And I could ne ver karn any other Ground of her Haired 10 Maza- rini, but being the Creature- of that Minijler. The late King had conceived an ineconceiveable Averfion for this Lady, fufpecting her to be inftru- Hiental in carrying on a private Correfpondence be- tween his Wife (the now ^ucen-Rcgtnt] .:nd the Spaniards. To avoid the Conieqaences of his Anger * ^ Ihe W;\ II. a SPY fit PARIS. f .c ?:;.! info ^r/-.', but is lately return-, d to this Court. '7 L\ fai ' nc '.^* * received her with all t! e outward tv'Lt-ks o.- AiFection a fuft. br>t fcitlenly grew cold and tfirarr-ra, \\h-.n ihe began to attempt againft Cardinal Mazarini. This maJe the Lady unite her Imerefl with that of the Duke of "Bfuuffrt, who very well matches her in the Imperioufneis of his Temper, and bis Hatred to the Cardinal. They bo'.h agree in their Endeavours to ruin him, but, I believe. theFfc male Persecution to be the moil dangerous. The Duke iia:> made too great % Noii's to do any confuler- ablc Execution on a Man, w'fco has the Wit to conceal JIM Re^entir.enrs, a xi ftrike before he is .perceived. Ii. i Word, the Duke 6 nds hinre'f in a Prifon, while the Cardinal is pv^rv Day more anu rnorc ellablifii'd in the W A Favour. In t.-e mean while, I infinuate my felf into all Men's Loiv.pany, from whom I can hope for any IrteMigericc. Amon,ft the reft, I have observed a Counter, who often gnus between the Grandett, ancj feeins to be entrc.it c. wi h great Secrets ; he is ve- ry fj-arin/i cf Worcis, and makes his Shoulders da the O^je of his T^-f/i*. J rave {uetn, the Cardi* ral, and others ; but all his Anfwers are comprized i Italian Rbeteritk, a Shrug and a Grimace. Thh l?nt Language fpraks very efficacioufly to me, and I efteem him worthy to be courted, who knows fe weil how to bridle ins Tongue. 1 ply this Politician every -Day with Addreii'es, and teli him a great deal o- Feigned Nciui, that I may tempt him to utter fome that is True. He is a great PrivaJo of Madam tU CL;let. Ji I can wn this Man, I hope to penc.rate farther into tlie Mjj:t>Us of the K 4 This 200 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. The God, form whom nothing is hid, fo difpofe of al! Human Events, That the Empire of the Mv^'ulmant may be eftablifoed, notwithllanding the Cabals and Plots of the Paris, 1 6th of the 5th Mcort, of tte Ti.ar 1644. LETTER IX. 2o Signior Lorenzo del' Cafa Bianca, a Geneufe at Marfeilles. THOU fendeft me flange and fiwprizing News, that the Malta Gallies have take the Eldefl Son of the Grand Sigwcr, and Heir of the Ottoman Empire, Captive at Sea, as he was failing to Eygpt. I tell thce, If fcch a Thing were true, the Grand Signior would not fail to fend a Force, as fhould di up the Vfeiy Foundations of that I/land > and caft it into the Sea. . But I can refoltre thee, That there is Nothing more ofTruth in this Story, faving, That about ten yef- fels of the Grand Signior's, bound for Alexandria^ Board of one of \\hich was Sultan Ajefyiptt'i Nurfe, with her Sen, much about the Age of Sultan Maho- met] were taken by fix Gallies of Malta Y whereby the Maltefs were enriched with a great Treafure of Sil- ver Gold and Jewels, befides Slaves. This Intelligence I have received from my Corre- pondents at Csnftantinople. Men that are no Stran- gers to the Seraglio, bat fuch as have the Ear of the Prime Vizir. They fay, indeed, The Grand Signior took a par- ticular Fancy to this JNarfc's Child, oftea play'd with Vol.11, a Spy at PARIS. 201 with it, and fcern'd to carefs it with more Com- placency than his own Son, Sultan Mahomet ; which gave fo great a Difguft to the Sttltatiffs, the Mother of Me.bsmet, that l"he procured the Banifhment of the Nude and he? Chiid. who in their Voyage to Alexandria, were taken Caplives by the Maltefe Gal- lies, as has been faid ; and this is the Ground of the Heport. However, Sultan Ibrahim is fo exafperated againft the M: Ittfts for this Depredation, that he has fworn by Gad and Mahomet, never to fheath his Sword, till he has revenged the Injury, by laying wafte the I/land, putung the Knights to Death, and leadirg the Inhabitants into Captivity. He has vented his Rage already on the Captain Saja, caufing him to be ftrangled, for not guard- ing the iiea, better , and, 'tis faid, he threatens a War with Venice, on the fame Account, becaufe the Maltefe Gallies, after this Piracy, put afhore in Can- dia, where they recruited their Veftels with all ne- ceffiry Piovifions. I expected the Silks laft Week, which I wrote for, and the Oil of Calabria. Send them by the firft Op- portunity. Pa-is, z8th of the jth Mson, of the Tear 1 64 4.. LETTER X. To Dgnct Ogtou. AL L Europe rings with the Report of the Sul- tans Son being taken Captive by the Malt,fe GaUeys. No doubt, but thou hail heard fuch a K 5 Difcourfe aoi LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. Difcourfe among the Franks at Conftantinofle ; and thou knoweft the Intrigues of the Seraglio. It is pleafant, that the Kuzlit- 4gas Slave, foould have no Father for her Child ; that he himfelf mould adopt it for his own ; that the Mother of it mould be perferred to be Nurfe to the Sultan Mahomet ; that Suttan Ibrahim fhoald fingle out this fatherlefs Son of an Eunuch, to fport with him, take him in hi Arms, and treat him with all the Endearments that are naturally fhew'd by Parents to their own Children. The French Ladies laugh at this Story, and fay, That the Seraglio begins to grow more civilized, and to exchange the &aritti'& and the Dute.of Parma. The Pope upholds the former, making the Quarrel his own, in Defence of the EccUfiafiick State : The Fetiitias, the Grc.nd Duke of 'Tufca->y, the Duke of Medina, with the Punch King, inrereit themlelvcs ia the Caufe of the latter. He is A Prince of an active Spirit, and darts up snd down like Lightning through the Pope's Territories. If he has loft Cajlre y Man- talto, and other Places of Strength in this War, it is but by Way of Exchange; having poffefled himfelf of as confiderable Hoidi belonging to hi* Enemies. Yet, the S^rbar/ni's, flickering them- felves under the Protection of Pope Urban, fcera to triumph, and promiie themfelves an entire Viftory, ufing the Artifices of Superftition, to weaken th Duke's Credit-. And becaufe Come of his Veffel* (which carried above a Thoufand Soldiers) were caft awey, they would perfuade the credulous World, that Hcuven fights againil him. They like- wi:e had c'.efigned to build a Fort and a Bridga over the Ruer I'o, to open a Way to themfelves in- to the Confederates Country, and to Ihut it up to all Invaders of their own ; but were prevented by the Vtniiiaiis, who feat Ten Thoufand Men to flop the Building cf the Bridge, or to demoiilh it, if built . In the mean while the Cenfiiltratcs, though thry ilem'd to efpoule tae 'Dukes Quarrel, ye; trifled K 6 vith 204 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. with him, protra&ing their Affiftance, and difputing about Punctilio's ; every one retraining the Condi- tions of their Friendship, within the Limits that would bell fquare with the Interefl: of their own State. They had all Armies on Foot, but could not agree how to difpofe of them. The Venetians de- rr.anded fuch a Po:t, as might be molt advantageous to the Republick.. The Duke of Tufcany would have the main Body of their Forces fo quartered, as to cover his Dominions. Thus each Party purfued their own Claim, while their Enemies gained Time, and put themfelves in a Pofture, either to march into the Territories of the Conftderata, or. defend the Ecclefiajluk State. Certainly, It is fatal to the CkriJHata, to be thus divided among themfelves, even when they have greateft Caufe of Union. Yet, the Duke of Parma, the very Soul of this Confederacy > breaks through all their Demurs and Hefitations, impatient of fruitlefs Delays ; rufties into Ferrara, takes BonJeno, aban- don'd by the Ganifon ; after that La StJlata, a f lace of greater Strength ; but proceeding forward, the Barlurinfs encamp'd not far from Ferrsra, the better to obferve the Progrefs of the Confederates, and fo put a Stop to the Motions of the Duke. He and his Friends had Twenty Thoufand Men in the Field, to which the Venetians, not long after, added Six Thoufand more. They were in different Bodies ; and as they quartered themfelves, fo the Papal Force* remov'd their Camp. Several Skirmilhes palled bet ween them, but n> great Execution done. In the mean wh.ie, the ftnttians were not idle by Sea, having feveral Barks and Galiies full of arai'd Men coafting along the Popes Territories. They took five Ports on the Shore ; and piercing far- thtr into die Country, jsade themfci'/es Maflers of Arittxd^ a great Town, .and Jacked CoJsgory, p^ttkg * 'A. Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 205 putting all to the Sword, and laying the Place in Ames. On the other Side, the Bar&erin?s feizel on Spilim- berto, yigni.rti of Italy, to mediate a Peace, which might be advantageous to the CoitfiJifafet. The Treaties however -came to nothing, and the Mediators finding themfelves eluded fufper.ded their Necotiations, and gave freih Opportunity to the Men of Arms to play their Parts. Cardinal Antonio alia ;;1 ltd N.'.'iai^ola with Four Thoufand Men, but was defeated LETTERS Writ by Vol. IT. defeated by the Venttiom, who flew fevera' Hundreds of his Soldiers, and took Two Hundred Pri oners. Aften this the Confederates pluncicr'd all the Country of Ferrara, and took Verguto, dtferc'ed by Eight Hundred Men. in the Suprizal of B xana, they kill'd above Two Hundred of the Enemy ; and marching forward, took Mont ?r if, Serraarin?s now being ap- prehenfive of the Advantage his Death would give the Co-njldirate Pnntes, were very forward to em- brace any Overtures of Peace : So that by the Dex- terity of theFrttifb Minifters, it was at laft concluiitd, and all Differences adjjfttd j the Duke of Parm /s Territories being reftored to Jum, the Cenfures of the Church taken off, and the Ecdefiajlick State put in the fame Condi ion it was in at the Beginning of the War. I (hall continue to fend thee fuca Intelligence, as may be ierviceable to thee in that eminent Station thou enjoyeft hi the Empire of the 'TrueJSelievin ; and {hall think my felf a very happy Man, if I oia by any Means acquire thy Favour. Paris, 2jd of the 6th Mean, af the Tear 1 644. LETTER Vol. II. a S P Y at P A R i s. 207 L T T E E R XII. To Lubano Abufei Saad, ^Egyptian Knight. ON E would think that there were yet fome of the antient Race of Giants on Earth. Here is a Man come to this Court, full tight Foot high, a Finlandtr by Nation ; be looks like fome pwfthu- mous Birth of the Sons of the Titans. He is Mailer of prodigious Strength, and challenges any Two, the Uouteit Men in France, to throw him a Fall. I have feen him take Two Boys of Ten Years of Age, on the Palm of each Hand, and lift them up from the Ground together, with both his Arms ftretch'd out to the fall Length, and walk Sixty Paces with them in this Pofture ; at the End of which Stage, he fet them down again on their Feet, without the lead Violence or Straining. There are none fo hardy, as to accept of his Challenge; for, they know he will not fufter them to come nearer than the Extremity of his Arm. And fuch is the monftrous Strength cf his Hand, 1 hat he will either infallibly throw them down, or ilifle them with his Grafp. He talks of travelling into Turkey ; if he does, I hope he will hare more Difcretion, than to venture with- in the Seraglio, left he incur the Fate of the re- nowned Mufcevite Wreftler, in Sultan Amuratb'* Time. Thou remembreft that Tragedy, which made all the Brave and the Generous condemn Amuratb^ Cruelty, he was a ftout Prince himielf; and, it look'd like Envy in him, to punifh the Efforts of Courage in his S/aerfec"l is the Roya ty of Chriflia* Kings; who cannot punish their own Subjects, if CJer^ytu.-n, withou: he Popts Permiflion Yet, though this Cbcmbtf car. not inod- dle with the Ecclftajlicks, they have a I 3 .Allege to difpofe of the Rtgenry, during the King's Minori') ; as is evident >n the late Qtteen-Motkcr, Mf-->- : ' Jt M,at- tit, and the prtfcnt Arne of Avjlria, who ncre Lx^.h by the Parliament declared Rcgttits. Taer aiib confirm all the King's Eefitii ; neither does he proclaim War without their Confent, or etfabliin any dttiance There are alfo befides this, Six other Chamber: of Parliaments, Five whereof, fire called (^atnb rs of ltrf'e/?s, and they confifloi Two PuJidcntSy Twenty Counfellot s, and a convenient NununT of La., aic ^x- tremely gallant in their Apparel. Bur, Icanno; be recon- Vol.11, a SPY at PARIS, air reconciled to their lavifh Cuftom of changing the Fafhion of their Cloaths almoft with every Meoa. This Vanity has been forbid in all well-order'd C&mmtrmvra/tes. And, thou knoweft, our Ecjlern People would as foon be ftripp'd of their Skins, as change the Faftion, which ha been in ufe for im- ir.emorable Ages. Here they have no Distinction of Drefs, the Noble and Vulgar, Rich and Poor, go all alike. You cannot difcern a Slave from a Prince by his Garb. Par if is divided into four Parts, The City, the Uni- verfcy, the Town, and the Suburbs. It is about Three Leagues in Circuit ; feated advantageoufly enough, but wanting Fortifications. Henry IV. had added fome Strength to it, had he not been apprehenfive of the feditious Humour of the Inhabitants, who in Time might make an ill Ufe of his Kindnefs, and fhut thofe Gates againft him, which he fhould build for their Defence againft a Foreign Enemy, The Court is generally at St. Germain en Lay, one ef the King's Royal Manfions, fcattd on the Top of a Mountain, which commands a Profpedt of a large and beautiful Valley. I kavc been there often, that I mighf be the better able to penetrate into the Con- duct of Cardinal Maxarit.i, who is never from the Queen Regent. I have already tanfmitted to the Sublime Port, fuch Intelligence as I could gain of this Great Minifars .Intrigues. I will now enter- tain thee with a Glympfe of this Palace, that there- by thou may 'ft conjecture at the Magnificence of the Kings of France. It is divided into Two Part?, the Old and the Nfw. The Former was buiit by Charles I. the Lat- ter by Henry IV. That may boalt of its Antiquity, but this is fo Majefticjc and Coftly a Structure ; as fufficiently demonltrates, That Modern Architect* come not far ihort of the Ancient Romans. The Rooms are all lofty and large, the Roof and Ceiling^ admi- in LETTERS Writ ty Vol. IT. admirably contrived and adorned; the whcle confnls offo many Courf , that it rather looks like a Town, than the Sest of one Family. But pardon me, lUuftrious Kaimackc.m, if I tell thee, That none of the Kings of the E&ft c;m match this Monarch in the Gardens belonging 10 this Palace. I faw there fuch a charming V anety of delightful Objects, as made Art fetm to furpais Nature, and even to out-do it felf. In a Word, the Cbrifiian Princes zrc very ingenious in the Contrivance of their Pleafures, and make all die Ele- ments contribute to their Recreations. Thou haft often feen the artificial Fireworks which are exhi- bited at Coxfioniixcple at cur Fefii'vals, and on all Occaficns of publiekjoy. But, thou haft never be- held fuch JPaffr-Wcrh as are expofed in the Gar- dens of this Palace every Day. There, by the Kere Force of this liquid Element, Inftruments of Mufick arc fet at Work, which afford an Harmony little inferior to the belt Confort in the World ; and, which extrcmly adds to the Pleafare, one may at the fame Time bthold feeming Mujicu-m playing on them, and keeping an exaft Time with their Fingers, on the Keys of Organs, Strings of Viols and Lutes, as if thep weie living Peifons. There you may fee all Manner of Mechanick Trades exercifed by Statues, who do every Thing with a proper Action, and are very eager at their Employments, fo long as the Water gives them Motion ; when that ceafes, they all return to their Primitive Inactivity. From hence you pals to a feerning Sea, with Triton moving on Dolphixs, and founding their Shell-Trumpets before Neptune, who is drawn in a Chariot by Four Tortcifcs. 1 he Story of Perfms and Andromeda, is alfo adled to the Life. by mere Statues. But the moll: ingenious Piece of Workmanfliip, is, Orpheus paying en a Viol, while the Trees move, and Wild Beads dance round about Vol.11, a SPY at PARIS, aijj about him. This is fo coftly an Invention that, as one of the Q'vtifars of the Water-Wot ks told me, a Str: g of Orfhfufi Viol being broken, coft the late King Ltwis Thirteen Hundred Crowns to repair it again. We Mahometans, are apt to value our felves too high, on the Score of our Princes Grandeur. We beait, we i!o rim, and are guilty of a Tho'-ifand Infults, defpiling and putting the rert of Mankind under our Scanfals, as if none of the Ruce of Adam underitood the World but we, or had the Wit and Power to carve out to themfelves the fame Felici- ties we enjoy. The Moncrcbs of the .?/?, flyle themfelves, '1 he only happy Ones, Poffcfors r/ infinite Trecjurfs, Kings of the World, Shadows of Gid, and what not. 1 ne Great Mogul, with his Qmrah\ and Rtjas, pride thernfelves in their Elephants : So do the Kings and Mandarins of China and Torrqtiin. The Sopki of Perjta, fwells at the Sight of his immenfe Treafures of Gold and precious Stones ; glorying, That the very Shoes of his Horfes, are of the moft exalted Metal ; aifo the Mangers wherein they feed, and the Nails whereby they are faitned to the Ground. The Cham of Tartary rejoices in the Multitude and Strength of his Hories, his winged Chariots and Waggons ; and, That when his Armies rife and fit down, the liarth trembles with their Weight and Motion. 'Tis true indeed, the Grand Sigwor, who is the Wiftfi of the Wife, and the Greateft of thefe Sireut O-.es, is not guilty of this Vanity. He is deftin'd by the Lard of the "Umwrfc, to cha- ftife the Follies both of the Esft and the Wejl : Yet, his $lay Offices of Kindnefa aud Friend{h,lp, than to make him his Enemy, by deferring him in this Juadlure. K0 Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 215 He is at the Head of a potent and formidable Army, has taken Solnock, Bredcn, Mcrnatx, together whh the ' : rong Caftle of Sen Jar and CaJ/lnjia ; and many other Places of lei's Importance, whereby a Way is laid open for his Army to over ran all Hungary, if afliiled with the Ottoman Forces. Thus will he do the Office, which, they fay, the Jackal} performs to the Liin, that is, To hunt out the Prey, and fecure it for his Mfijfcr and Sever fign. Befides, The Fortune of this Prince feems to in- Vite our farther Affiftancc, for he has had great Suc- cefs all along this War; whereas, the Ottoman Forces no fooner appeared oa the Frontiers of Moravia, but Six Thoufand of them were encountred by the Ger- man t, and routed, Should the Sultan defert him now, be may be compelled to refign himfelf, with all Tranfyl'vanla^ to the Protection of the Gtrma* Emperor. It is not fefe to run the Rifque of fuch an Brent ; Tranfyl'va- *ia cannot {upport itfelf. Either the Sultan muft continue his i'rotedlion, or the Germans will (bon find the Way to plant their Garrifons in the four Capital Cities, and reduce the whole Country under their Obedience. Paris, zyth of the 7th if the Tear 1644. LETTER XV. 2b Afis, Baffa, at the Port. JH E Pagant, in painting Fortune blind, difco- vered bat the Dimnefs of their own Sight, twas a double Error, to offer Sacrifice to her, that could not difcern her I'otariei. Vet, in my Sentence, 2 16 LETTERS Writ by Vol. Ifc Sentence, the Cbrijltans are more to blame, who term her Inconftant, Partial, Bawd, Whore, and what not : Thefe are Prophanations of Providence, and impious Sandals caft on Eternal Dejiiny. For- tune: and Chance, are but Nick names of Fate, fince there is Nothing abiblutely Cafual in the World. They fee the Vir.uau* profecuted, while the Vici- ous infult and flourilli ; and they tax Heaven with unequal Dif e..fation of Rewards and Puiiilhment ; as if with- ifitmrrt t they thought the adorable Nu- men took no Care of Things on this Side the Em- fyrawm, and refted in an eternal Ignorance of Hu- man Affairs, . t-> trjivw I -vif-ai \i*-^K" Poub'lefs, .the Infidels are in an 'incurable Error. They pore on the Outfide of common Event: and look no farther ; they .bci.old not the bidder. Chain of Caufes, nor the iwijilie Hand, which difpofes all Contingencies with .admiiable Order and Decorum. Hence it is, That what comes not to pafs but by the Certain De crce. of F accofted (by one \vhom I little imagin'd to have feen in Pa- ris] with thefe Words : Muhmut ! How tame yru ly this Habit ? What mokes ycu in tit's Place ? Are jeu a Chril'ian, or (to you thus tt-'&uife your feffor ether Ends ? Thou may'ft eafily "imagine, what a Terror feizcd me, when 1 knew that he who fpoke to me was my Old Mf.Jler at Palermo, It brought to my Remembrance all the cruel Blows and Stripes I had received during that irkfome Captivity ; and I could aJmoft have fancy 'd my felf ready for the Bajlinado. However, diflembling my Confufion, I anlwer'd brifkly, Sir, you are mijiaken in the Per fan ; my Natne is not Mahmut but Titus. / am a Chriftian and a Cathelick ; if yea are fuch ysurfelf, you have r.o Rcfifn to upbraid tny Habit, face I wear it as a Badge of my Profeffion, being ^'Student, and Candi- date of the Prieilhood. J* This Anfwer, inftead of fatisfying him, did but augment his Jcaloufy ; and, being of a Paffionate Temper, he broke out into fierce Language, calling me c Lurk, hjiu<.l t Slave, Drg, and all the ill Names his Fury could iuggeft. He Ipoke fo loud, that it was taken Notice of by the People as they walked by, who began to gather a bo:',t us, to learn the Oc- caficn of fo much Noife. I then condemned myfelf, for not rather owning my felfto him, and inviting him to fome more retired Place, where I might give him an Account of my Circumrtances. I loek'd upon my felf as a dead Man, and would gladly have fuflained feven Years of Servitude again in Sicily, to have been rid of the Fear I was now under, of a more terrible Punishment. While Vol. II. SPY 0f PARIS. 223 While 1 was in this Confufion of Spirit, thinking of nothing but Racks and Torture?, the Noiieofthe Rabble, \vho flock'd about us, had alarm'd the Peo- ple that were at their Devotions in the. Chinch, who came running out to enquire the Caufe of fuch a Tumult : Areonft the reft a Frtw, eminent for his Learningand Virtues, and who had a partici'lar Efleem and Friendlhip for me, perceiving 'the Matter, came up clofe to me, and taking me by Hand, fpoke aloud thefe Words : Sirs, forbear to irjure a Stranger in the Court of the Mother of God. 1 know this Matt very well, c.ndnuill It refpcnjtble for him j be is a Car tholick Clerk, and Servant of the living God. The RaoDlegave agreatShautat the End of tiiis Harangue; and had not my Sicilian Mailer made a narrow Efcape, they would have endangered to tear him in Pieces. I know not what become of him afterwards, but I attended the friar into the Temple, where we ftaid during the Celebration of their Mafi ; and then he conducted me though the inner Parts of the 'lem- pL; by private Ways into the Lodgings of the Prirjli\ whence we iffu'd out by a Pofl<.ra, and, taking Boat, we crofs'd the River Seine into the Fields. The Friar congratulated my Efcape from the Hands of the Mul- titude ; and I returned him a Tkoufaud Thanks, for lifting me out of the Mire Thou leelt, Dtar Friend, that the Arabian Proverb fpeaks not in vain, when it fays, That the Habitation of Danger is on the Borders of Security : And, That a Man nevtr rum greater Hazards, than wben he leajl fears thtm. He that turns the Scales of Life and Death, Good and Evil, grant that fome happy Emergency may al- way- arife, to divert the Perils which thou fhalt incur in this uncertain Life. Paris, yth *f the 9th Moon, of the Tear 1 644. L 4 LETTER L E T TEK'S Writ by Vol.11. LETTER XIX. To tke Kaimacham. THIS Court is now in Mourning for the Death of the chief Mufti, r Pope. And indeed, tliere feems to be more than mere Ceremony in ir, he having all along favoured the Trench Intereft. He bad almoft puffed the twenty fecond Year of .his Pontificate ; \vhich few of the Popes have done fince St. Peter, a Difciple of their Meffias, from whom they pretend to derive their Succ(jjien. Their Hi- fories fay, That this Peter was the Mufti of Rctne five and twenty Years, and that fince him, not one, whether he was eledled Young or Old, has en- joy 'd the Sovereignty fo long. Thofe that have ap- proached oeareft to it, were Adrian I. Sylvejler L and this Urban VIII. who is now dead. It is re- ported, That at the Coronation, the Mafter of the Ctnmsnies, kneeling down, burns Flax before him that is elected, and with a loud Voice, repeats thefe Words thrice : O Holy Father \ tkir.k not yw are to Hvhom he was a profefs'd Enemy, begin to fall into Difgrace Vol.11, a SPY at PARIS. 225 Diigrace. Cardinal d>;totiio, one of the Family is taxed with embezzelling the Treafare of die Church) committed to his Truft. He flice to France for Succour , and though he had no great Reafon to exp:t Cardinal Mazarims I- riend- Ihip, having formerly oppofed his Intereft at the Roman Court, in the Time of the late Pope Urban ; yet this Cardinal, by an Excefs of Generofity, has efpoufed his Caufe, and engaged his Mailer, the King of France, in his Quarrel. What will be the Iflue of this Contention, Time will evince, But Men begin to talk already, That the King of France will carry a War into Italy , which will make the Walls of Rome itfelf. Thus there is no Stability in Human Affairs ; but Time and Providence perpetually flart new Events. God grant, That thou may 'ft live to fee the Otto- man Crefcent, on the Top of St. Peter's Church in Rome. Paris, 6th of the roth Moon, of the Tear 1 644. , LETTER XX. 2o tbe'Vhiv Azem, at tkePort. H E great Preparations which Sultan Ibrahim is making by Land and Sea, affords a Subject of Difcourfe to all Chriftendom ; but adminifters a fpecial Occafion of Jealoufy to the Republick of Venice. They look on his declared Intentions to invade Malta, only as a Cover or Cloak to his real De- figns upon themfclves ; being confirm 'd in their L 5 Sufpi* LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. Sufpicion by the Complaints which the Sultan made to Scranzo their Rffidcnt at the Port, whesi he deli- vered himfeif with an Air, that expreffed far deeper Kefentment. than his Words. Nor can the artificial Strains of Courtefie which are ufe'd toward the RrJiJext, blind or cancel the ap- parent Afiront and Contempt which he received from (he Kartntocham ; who refilled to give him Audience, after feme Hours Attendance, though at the fame Time, Prince Rr^tjk''s Envoy, was admitted at the firft Word. Thefe Conficferations, with others of the like Na- ture, have fnfficiently alarm 'd the Venetians ; fo that they are making all 'the feafonable Preparations that are requifrte, to oppofe the Torrent of the Ottcme.n Fury and Rage, which they apprehend is to be pour- ed on them. This, they perform with all imagina- He Diligence and Secrecy, being neither willing to give a juft Ground of Jealoufy to the Sultan, nor yet to be furprized unprovided. There have lately been extraordinary Confulta- tions in the Senate about thefe Affairs, ibme difap- proving thefe warlike Preparations, Others promo- ting them : One Party judging, That a Peace ought rather to be purchafed with a Tender of Gold : A contrary Side pleading, That fuck a Purchafe would be both difhonourable and difadvantageous, fince upon every new Difgnft, the Qttcmans would com- mence, or at leaft, threaten a War, on purpofe to eredl a continual Mart for Peace, the Sale thereof being like to prove fo profitable to them. Among the reft of the Senator i, Signior GritnalJi made an* Oraficf?, of which I have obta ; ued an authentic!* Co- py. And, it fpeaks thus : THIS Vol.11, a SPY at PAR is. 227 HIS Glorious Republick, which has four ij^d fsr fo many Ages, ought not* in my Opinion, to become the Merchandize of upftart Sbtpiirds. ^'Tis needLfs to recount our Original, or wipe off' the an' dent Duft of our primitive Records, that ive may be able to tell the World, kVe are the Reliclu of Troy. ^Tis looibfs to put you in Mind, hovj this moft ftrtne and flQUHJbing State laid her fir ft Found at iota in the Si a, and built her Nt.Jf -in the Floods : 'That the Nereids J*ed to her Shadow : and the reft of the Sea- Gods, evtn Neptune himftlf, courted her Alliance and Pfoieclion. Suffice it to fay, That this Victorious State, thus founded and built, has fpread her Con- qutft* through Iftria, Dahnatia, and Eptrus, ; has an- ncxtd under her t Government Corfu, Cephalcnia, Zant, and Crete, with many other Iflands cf the. Adriatick end Mediterranean Seas ; and, that ihit Virgin Commonweath has pnfcr^d her ftlf unde- faiuered t/x/e tv:i l\;e hundred Tears. In all 'which Time, Jbe never fubmitted to the luftful Tyranny ef any foreign Conqueror. And muft foe no-ic become a ccnj?;:cn Projiitute to Infidels, be bought and fold at any Rate, and pay the price of her civn Silvery ? Has this mojl Auguft Senate, by a long Series of Juc- cfsful IV art, been exalted to the He'ght of Sovereign Povjtr, end is Jhe now to be oraftfj into a bafe and mercenary Peace, the gilded Majk of af-jefl Slavery ? We that have ftemtned the Torrent of Ottoman ~In- vafionsy and rfjijied the PuiJ/lince cf all Afia, muft iv ni-cj pull down our oitjti B^nks, and tamely let the proud infulting Engjny in, paving his Way yle, boajted, That the Sun ivas his Helmet, replied, Bftaufe that Luminary tit*ver fets on all my Maker's Teriitories. But the Frentb-maa wittily retorted ; He in'il'- neitherftt nor rift on any of your Mt/jler*s Do- mir t ionseer long, if the Great Lewis goesfon with his Conqttefts. Indeed, to pafs from ")efl to Earneft, this Vi in thy Re- fearches ; and I (hall prefent thee with fo:r.e Addi- tional Remarks, which I have made on the Englijb Affairs, fince I wrote to the Supreme Minifter on that Subjeft. M 3 lac- 246 LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. I acquainted him, That the late Cardinal Ricblieu tad a Hand in embroiling that Ifland, as he had in exciting the Tumults of Catclonia, and promoting the Revolution of Portugal. The Part which he a&ed was by Proxy. He had his Agents there, to blow up into a Flame, the Sparks which lay fmothering in the Breafts of that difcontented Peo- ple. Thcfe of the Latin Church reflect on it as a Judgment on the Englifi Nation, That they have never been free from Conspiracies, Seditions, and Rebellions, fince the Time they (hook off their Obedience to the Romrtft Mufti; which was in the Days of King Henry VIII. As if that Revolt in Point of Religion had been the Source of all the following Tumults and Disorders in the State. 'Tis certain, Religion has great Influence on Mens Morals i and, where a Liberty of Innovating is once allow d, it makes continued Progreffions. Some French Antiquaries fay, That the E'-igliJh embrac'd the Roman Communion for the Space of Seven Hundred Years ; and, That during fo long a Time, they ne- ver had any Civil Wars, but fuch as were made on the Account of Succeffion to the Crown. But, That after they r.ad changed their Faith, they were al- ways rc'tteis, ftiil hatching fome Alteration in the Government. 1 know not how far thefe Obferva- tioiis are Juftiftable, Men being generally partial to their own Caufe : Bat, the preient Stirs in that liland, feem to owe their Increafe, if not their Binh, to rhe Latitude which the Subjects take in Matters of Cor. f deuce. Win hi every Man carves Out to himf'Jf lath a Religion as beft pleafes him; v\ icnout being accountable to the State, or paying any Tribute, as is the Practice of the Ottoman Em- ftrf : Hence it is few Men's Ambition to conform to the Religion of the Prince ; but, every Se8 en- deavours to periuade both Prince and People, to CuOicribe 10 their Sentiments ; and the moft po- tent Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 247 tent Party threaten all the reft with the ill Con- fequence of War, in Cafe their Tenets be not efta- bliiVd. Among all the Religions which divide the Inhabitants of that I/land, there is none for which they nave fo general an Averfion, as that which they call the Roman Catholick, though it were once the Eftablifid Religion of the Country. This is now became the pablick Eye-fre ; and the reft of the Seci's, though they are at immortal Diffe- rence with each otner, yet all join Heart and Hand to oppofc this common Bugbear. . The French fay, That the Proteftants are like the Englijb Maftiffs t Two of which I remember were prefsnted to Sultan Amurath, by the French Ambaffador, with this Character of them ; That though when they quarreird, they ?& already loft his Head, for no cthtr '. rime, but his Loyaity to his Mailer : >vho is b'am'd fcr giving Conlt nt to the Execution of fo faithful a Miwfttr. Yet, the Curious pre:end to trace the Fooifaps of Jitjlice in this Man's Defli- ny, fii.ce he fell a ."atrifice to the farce Democratic Principles, whereof he had formerly been a zcalo s Patron, having been obferved to be once a great Op- poier cf the Royal Pr irrigative. If this be true, it leans, as if Ncmtjjs her Jelf had bro'.'ght him to his Fumd/mem. Thou wilt wonder at the Prefumption of thefe Peop e, in ciivefting the King of the Military Power by Sea and Land, and afllmmg it themftlves. Efpe-. csally, when tho-u coi.fidtreft, That this is the E/tnt'uA Prcrog^tii of Sovereignty, without which it is bat an Emft) Title. Our Invincible Sultan rre poflefTcd of fcch art uncontroulatie Authority, as cannot be tramferr'd to any Su/jtf, or to all the SuijtSt of fo vaft an Em- fire put together; but is only communicated at the fx:perii>l Ikaiire, as Rays from the Sun, whofe Enirnaticnb, thongh they are immenfe and infinite, yet do they not, in tLt tail, diminHh on weaken that immortal Fountain of ligjht. But, the Englijb hive not that Vereiation foi thtir Prince, as is found in the MuJ/ulmcm : T, hey efteem -him but the Triftte of the Connors edih, the Creature cf tne Populace, having imbib'd the Principle of Ari- Jt'tif, C*tc, and other Ditnocrctic Philofrphcn; who teach, That the Sovereign Power is originally in the Ptcp/f, and but tranfmitied from tbtm,\.o the Princr, by Way of D<}ut,iicn and Crtdm ot^fiion of G^cl, than fuffer himfelf to be any longer cajol'd by their falfe Rhttorick He has given them Battle once> wherein they (ay, The Viclory was in an even Balance, and neither Side coald claim it. Tne Rebels have put to Death the EngUJh Mufti, whom they ca'l the Arcbbiftxp. They ftruckoffhis Head with an Axe, in the open Steet, on the Tenth Day cf the FirftMooa of the Year 1643. Before I conclude this Letter, I (hail relate to Thee a PaiTage, which happened in this King's In- fancy, worthy of Remark. In former Ages, there were a Sort of PhiLJphcis 0r Prophets, in England, whom they call'd Druids and Bards, Thele in- ftru died the People in the Belief of a God, the Irn- tKoi tality of the Soul, and other Principles of Nafu- ral Religion. They foretold Things to come ; and had acquired fo great a Reputation, that the Kings of that Country would undertake no Affair of Mo- ment, 'till they had firft consulted thefe Oracles. 'Tis faid, There are yet living fome of that Prophc- tick Race in the Mountains of Scotland. One of which, a Man of great San&ity and Wifdom, be- ing an Hundred and Twenty Years Old, came to viiit this King's Father ; at which Tune he faw this King, being then an Infant in his Nurfe's Arms, whilit his Elder Brother and Heir of the Crown flood by. The Old Man, after his Complimife and vilify our Law, but their o-ivn, and openly feoff at all Religions in the World. Thefe are known by the Name of Libertt ies or Atheifts, which is to fay, People that profefs themfelves Enemies to the Belief of a God. A lewd and unthinking Herd of Ani- mals, who dare not be alone, leaft they mou;d come to the Remembrance of themfeives, and be wifer. Thefe People are, in fome Sort, like Nixus, that great Afyrian Monarch, who vaunted, He never faw the Stars, nor defired it ; worlhipped neither Sun nor Moon, never fpoke to his People, nor took any Account of them, but was valiant in Eating and Drinking. He was faid to have this Infcription on his Tomb. / WAS FORMERLT NINUS, THE GREAT LORD OF THE WORLD, AND LIVED AS THOU DOST. BUT AM NOW NOTHING BUT DUST. ALL THE MEAT I HAVE EATEN, ALL THE HANDSOME WOMEN I HAVE ENJOrD, ALL THE WORSHIP THAT WAS PAID ME, AND ALL THE RICHES I WAS POSSESSED OF, HAVE FAIL'D ME ; AND WHEN 1 SET FORWARD FROM THIS WORLD INTO THE INVISIBLE STATE, I HAD NEITHER GOLD, NOR HORSE, NOR CHARIOT. I AM NOW, I SAT, BUT THE DUST THOU TREADEST ON. Such LETTERS iVrit by Vol. IT. Such another was S*rJaxapaliu, one of the Suc- ceflors of Nitius in that Monarchy, and in the Cor- ruption of his Manners. An effeminate Prince, a Slave to his Lufts, and not worthy of an Imperial Crc Victorious wfcere-ever he ftrikes. 'Twas to his own Ruin, that GulcJ/b fuffer'd him to pafs quiet- ly through i-olftein ; when, in Conjunction with the Dt.nijb Army, he was in a Condition to give him Battle, or compel him to retire. No fooner was GalaJJo feparated from the Danes, and encamped near Magdeburgb, but, 'Torjienjon be- gan to obierve his Motions, and lay down not far from him, between whom there pafied many Skir- mimes, which very much leifen'd the German Army. Befides, they were extremely incommoded for Want of Provifions : fo, That at his Return to Bohemia, he could prefent the Emperor with but a few of his Men, and give but a lhailow Account of the Lois of the reft. In the mean Time, Coning/mark and Papenheim, two other Sivcdi/b Commanders, are not idle, having taken Staden and Eoxtehanudt, with moft of the other important Places in the Archbijboprick of Bremen. Thus the Go man AfTairs decline apace ; and, the Swedes, who not long ago were obfcure, and fcarce re&'.rded, betin to make a confiderable Figure in the World. I {hall Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. I {hall fend thee a conftant Account of what is moft Remarkable. God augment thy Felicity. Paris, zyth of the zd Moon, of the Tear 1645. LETTER XXXII. To Berba Muftapha, Aga. THE Bloody Battle of Jankovo has unperch'd the Imperial Eagle, which can no longer en- dure the Smoke of S-^ediftj Gunpowcer. The Gtrman Court is removed in a great Fright to Prague in Bohemia, there to curfe the Avarice of the Soldiers, whofe greedy Defire of the Swedijh Prey, betray 'd the German Army to the Swords of the Conquerors. This Battle was fought on the Sixth Day of the Third Moon of this prefent Year. Goctz, one of the Imperial Generals, was killed in the firft Onfet ; which inflam'd B-rron John de Werdt, That, with Four rhoufand Men, he brake into the Left Wing of the Swedes, putting them into an irrecoverable Dif- order. ' The Get mans, feeing their Enemies retreat in much Confufion, fell to plundering the Baggage. General Torjhnfcn turning their Covetoufnefs to his Advantage, lets them alone til! they were all entangled and loaden with Booty ; then fuddenly falls upen them, and turned the Fortune of the Day on his own Side. There were above Three Thoufand of the Itnperia- lijls killed upon the Spot, and Four J'houfanu taken Prifoners ; among whom were the Generals Hats- feldt, Mtrty, Broy, Zaradejkle, and feven other Prin- cipal Commanders. By LETTERS Writ by Vol. IL By this fatal Stroke, the Swedes have opened to themfelves a PafTage into Moravia, Ai,firia, and Hun- gary. So that, in Time, they may extend their Conquefts even to the Confines of the Ottoman Empire. 1 pray the Great God, To continue the Wars be- tween thefe Infidel Nations i that fo, Not attending to the general Intertft of Cbriftendom, but weakening each other, they may, at length, become a Prey to the True Eeliemcrs. Paris, I ft of the 2d Moon, of the Tear 1645. LETTER XXXIII. I i Ofman Adrooneth, au Jtjlrdoger -at Scio. Know not whether it be an EfFedl of the Stars, or _ the Sport of Spirits that has happened here lately ; whether it proceed s from Hn."v,n or Hal, Natur:. or Ma%ick Art, Chance or Dcfliny ; the Marks it has left behind it are very Terrible, and the AftoniuSment is not yet off from the People's Hearts. T hree Days ago, 1 was riding from Paris to Saint Germain m Lay, where the Court reiides When I was got about half Way on t e Road there arofe a fuclden Blaft Wind, which rufhingr vehemently among the ''rtes maic an uncoutn Noife, aud ft'uck me withfome Surprize and Horror : But, my j;aaze- ment was foon increafed, when 1 preceiv d the Hedges and Tre;-s that grrw a ong the K.oad Side, torn "up, and carried awa> by an invinble Hand. I was afraid, my Horfe and i fhoald have beca ta- ken up for Company : For ..is Wnirwm^ pailed very near us, twilling m ail cm was in its VVay ; and Vol. II. a S p Y at P A R i s." 265 and fwiftly moving in a circular Figure, it grew ta fuch a Bignefs, by the coatinual Addition of Trees, Hedges, Stones, Earth, &c. that it feemed like a flying Wood. I tell thee, though I was not without fome Ap- prehenfion of Danger, yet hitherto this was the plea- fanteil and moft diverting Spectacle that ever I faw in my Life. Trees are a very grateful Okjeft on the Earth, but they are much more fo in the Air ; and efpecially at that Height and Ditlance, they affeft the Eye with unfpeakable Delight. I was raviihed to fee a moving Foreft, almoft as high as the Clouds. The pendulous ; Gardens of Babylon would have appear'd but a Trifle, in Cornparifon of this Noble Scene. I followed it with my Eye as far as I could, 'till at length my Sight was intercepted by a thick. Show- er of Rain, which drove me into a Houfe for Shel- ter. Where, before I came away, I was informed, that what I efteemed fo delightful, proved very Tra- gical to the neighbouring Villages. Falling down from that Height I left it at, and fcattering its for- mer Load, it fell violently into the Groves and Or- chards, tearing up fome Thoulands of Trees by the Roots, and carrying them away like Chaff in the Air, throwing down many Hundreds of Houfes, removing others from the Foundations, and doing the poor Hufbandmen fuch irrepairable Damages, as the like has not been known in the Memory of Man. Common Humanity taught me to pity thefe /;/- fidels ; and the Natural Principle of Self-Preferva- tion, made me blefs my felf, That I liad efcaped fo imminent a Danger. But tell me, Thou who art converfant in the Secrets of Nature, who knoweil the Influences of the Stars, and tke Hidden Force of the Elements, What is the Caufe of thefe wild Fits and Convulfions of the Air ? The Superiliiious here fay, The Devils are let loofe at fucli a Time from their Infernal Prifons, to keep a C*:rjti-val, N and LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. .and play their wanton Pranks in open Light, there being no Holidays in Hell. Others believe Magicians are at Work ; and by the Force of Spells, raife Hur- ricanes and Strms. But the Learned fay, That thefe are only the Effects ef Nature, proceeding from Me- teors and Exhalation! in the Air. I, for my Part, never puzzle myfelf with a vain Search after that -which cannot be demonftrated. If thefe Hurricanes "be Natural, then 'tis certain, Nature does not difco- ver her Power at all Times, nor in the conftaot Strict of her Works ; but has her Referves, and Times of State, wherein me difplays herfelf with greater Pa- geantry, to create Refpefl : Since the unthinking Part of Mankind, is fooner taken with fuch unufuai Events as make a^Noife, than with the antient ftand- Ing Miracles of the Creation, the filent and regular Motions, exq ) uifite Order, and never-ceafing Acti- vity of the Sun, Moon, and Stars. Thus, we are never fenfible of the Heat that is within us, or the Circulation of our Blood, becaufe we are always habituated to feel it from our Embryo. I tell thee, Sage Oftnan, if I have any Dread upon me, it is of Earthquakes ; becaufe they take from us all fure Footing. From Thunder, Lightning, and all the Storms in open Air, Tiberius' 1 * Remedy will iecure us : Nay, the very Beafts will be our Guides to fome fafe Den or Cave ; but, from an Earthquake there's no Retreat ; that undermines and blows us up without any Warning, neither have we Time or Means to efcape. This makes me always think, 1 walk upon a Cobweb ; fo thin and brittle is this out- ward Cruft f Earth we tread on. He that founded the Earth, and has admirably kneaded this Glebe together with Water, grant us a Refuge in Time of Danger, and an Eternal San&uary in Paradife. Paris, ift of the zd Moon, 1645. LETTER Vol. II. a SPY at PARIS. 267 LETTER XXXIV, fo the Kaimachairu I Need not apologize for my long Silence. Elia- chim afTures me, he has acquainted Nathan Ben Scd'.li with the Occafion of it, by whom ihe News of ray Imprifonrnent might be tranfmitted to the Sublime Port. When I was firft feized upon, I had not the Liberty to fend for Eliacbim, or fee any Body that I defired to fpeak with. But that honeft Jew, foon heard the News, and writ to Vienna, to prevent zny'Difpatcbes that might come from thence, or from Ccnjiantinople. He has BOW fully convinced me of his Fidelity, which I fo long fufpe&ed ; and I dare truft him henceforward with the moft important Con- cerns of my Commijfisn. His Sagacity and Conduct in this Occurrence, is worthy of Acknowledgment and P-eward j having dextroufly blinded Cardinal Mfixarinz, who is an Argus ; baffled his fevereft Scru- tinies, and been highly inftrumental in procuring me the Liberty I now again enjoy. The Arabian Proverb fays, The Camel that tra- vels oft in to Meccha, t>ick ; in which the Car- dinal knew I .was wdl fkill'd, having formerly fcen a Tranjlation which I made out of that Language for Cardinal Ricblieu. Befldts, they found in my Chamber, Plutarch's Live:, the Annals of Tacitus ; Liiys Roman Hijicry, a Pbilofopbical Treatife of Averroes, and a fmall TraS of Si. Augvjiine, one of the Cbrijlian Fathers : Wh ; ch made it appear, as reafonable to conclude me a Pagan or a Ctnjtian, for having their Books by me, as a Turk for having the Alcoran. I Rill perfifted, in averting my felf to be Titus ef Motdawia* and that I wa* a Cbrif.ian (Heaven forgive the Perjury !) I had a Friar fent to me, who N 3 exhorted LETTERS Writ by Vol. II. exhorted me to a Confeffion of my Sin, thinking this Way to pump the mighty Secret from me. But this turned to my Advantage ; for calling to Mind a Learned and Ingenious Friar, with whom I had con- vers'd, and contracted fome Friendfhip, I fignified my Refolution to confefs myfelf to him. This is a Privilege could dot be denied me, it being lawful for every Man to chufe his own ConfeJJbr. The Friar was fent for : And, this being the only Time I was like to fpeak to any of my Friends without Witnef- fes, I improv'd the Advantage ; and to make my 'Confeffion leern the more fincere, I accufed myfelf of what I never was guilty of, telling him with a well counterfeited Sorrow, That the true Reafon of my abandoning Moldavia, was, becaufe I had murdered a near Kinfman there. My CojifeJ/icn ended, ai,xl Absolution granted, the Friar embraced me, and tcl J me, That he would do me all the Service he could> in order to my Releafe. I exprcficd my Gratitude in the beft Terms I could, and begged of him to vifit me often, fince he was the only Perfon would be al- lowed