Drma al 7 THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES & r THE Third VOLUME LETTERS Wri by a Who Iiv 7 ed Five and Forty Years, Undifcovered, at PARIS: Giving an IMPARTIAL ACCOUNT to the Divan at Cotiftantinofle, of the moft remarkable Tranfadions of Europe ; and discovering feveral Intrigues and Secrets of the Cbriftian Courts (efpecially of that of France^) continued from the Year 1645, to the Year 1682. Written Original/)* in Arabick, Tranflatcd into Ita- lian, and from thence into Englifh, tor ftb* Firft VOLU'ME. CDition, LONDON: Printed for J. Rkodet, D. B>-ovn, R. S"rc, B. -and S. Tetke, G. Strahan, W. Me'rs, S. Bal/ard, and F. Clay, 1723. D u C-. T O T H E READER U R Arabian^ having met ' with fo kind Entertainment in this Nation fince he put orr the EngliJbDrefs, is refolved to continue his Garb, and vilit you as often as Convenience will permit. He brings along with him many foreign Commodities, to gratify the various Ex- pedations of People. His Cargo confid- ing of Jewels and other Rarities, which are the genuine Product of the <*/?; and" feme kinds of Merchandife, which he has purchafed here in the ffeft, during his Refidence at Paris. It will be pity to affront this honeil Stranger, by railing Scandals on him, as if he were a Counterfeit, and 1 know not what. This will appear inhofpkable, and unworthy of the Englifli Candor and Generofity. To fpeak without an Allegory, in this Jhiid. Volume of Letters, as in the former A- 866856 To the READER. two, you'll find an exaft Continuation of modern Hiftory, acquainting you with all the memorable Sieges, Battles and Cam- pa igns^ that weje in Eunpe, from the Year 1645-., to 1^49. Aialfo, with all the remarkable Negotiations and TranfaSimi of State, EmbaJJks, Leagues and Overtures of Princes ; the Policies and Intrigues of fMck Miniften, efpecially thofe of Cardi- nal Ma&arini $ the great and ftupendous Revolutions and Civil Wars in England, China, Naples, Tttrkj and Paris ^ the prodigious Rife of a poor young beard- lefs Fifotrman 3 to the Height of fovcrelgn 'Power ; the difmal Tragedies of an Eng- lij% King, and Cbinefe Emperor - y with the Murder of a lurkifi Sultan. And all thefe intermix'd with proper and ufe- ful Remarks, pleafarit and agreeable Scories; couch'd in a Style, which be- ing peculiar to the Arabians, cannot be march'd in any other Writings that are extant. If his Pbllofoffty wiH not abide the Teft of our learned ^inno/i, yet it may pafs Mufter in a Mahometan ; fmce it is taken for gran red, that the Men of that Faith rarely apply themfelves to fuch Studies; or, at leaft, not in the Method ufed in Chrijlian Schools. They may have the fame To the READER:. fame Idea's of natural Things as we ; but they exprefs themfelves in a different Manner. As for his Morals, they are folid and grave,, and fuch as could not be repre- hended even in a Chrlftlan Writer , if W3 reduce what he lays to UniverfaU. For abftrading from the particular Obliga- tions he had to his native Religion, and to the Grand Signior, whole Slave he was,, there will be found little Difference be- tween his Ethlcks and ours. He every where recommends Loyalty, Juftice, Fortitude, Temperance, Prudence^ and all thofe other Virtues which are requi- fite to fill up the Character- of a Hero, or a Saint* And who will not bear with him, for patronifmg the Religion and Intgreft in which he was bred ? it being natural for all Men, to adhere to the Noticm they have fuck'd in with their Mothers Milk? In this alfo he {hews great Moderation, and a more unbyafs'd Temper, than one would expe<5l from a Turk $ which may, in part,, be afcribed to his (tud) ing in rhe Cbriftlan Academies, his Conversation with the learned'lt Men in Paris, and fome of the moft accomplifh'd Perfoas in the World. Hence it was, that he was A 4 ac- To the READER. accus'd by his Super/ours at the Ottawan Prf, of inclining to Christianity or A hz- ifm as he takes notice, in his dyology to a religious Dignitary, in the ftrft Letter, of the third Book of this Volume, Page 202, to which the Reader is referred for far- ther Satisfaction. In his moft familiar Lettert, fuch as this laft mention'd, and others to his intimate Friends, you will find fome Expreffions, difcovering a certain Finenefs and Strength of Thought, which is not very common in Cbriflian Writer*. Which is an Argument, That the Mahometans are not all fuch Blockheads as we take them for. And though his Pifiure, which we have affixed to our Travjlation 3 fince we had the Italian Tomes, reprefents no extraordinary I^erfon., yet you know JuvenaVs Remark fronti nttU* Fides, And it has been a com- mon Obfervation of one of the great- eft Pbilofopbers in this Age., That by his out-ward Afyett, no Man would guefs what an illuftrious Soul Ldged -within. If you would know how the Italian came by this Picture, (for,, in his Preface, he alTerts it to be the true Effigies of this sZrabian) he fays, That being acquainted wich the Secretary of Cardinal Maz,arini, and Ta the READER. and frequenting his Houfe, he faw a PL tture hang in his Clofit, with this Irfcri- ption at the Bottom, TITUS D E MOLDAVIA, CLERICUS. vtatis fu a -LXX 1 1. He asked the Gen- tleman who this Titus was, who inform'd him, That he was a great Traveller, and under ftood many Languages } efpecially the Slavonian, Greek and Arabick^ on which Account Cardinal Ricblieu, and his Succeflbr Maz>*rini, had made great Ufe of him ; and that the latter had caufed that Pi&t&e of the Moldavian to be drawn and hung up in his Chfet, from whence he- had it. Our Italian being fatisfy'd after fome Difconrfe about him., that this Stranger was the very Arabian f whofe Writing! he had fo happily found 3 got leave of the Gentleman to have a Draught of the Pitfure taken, by a skilful Limner t which he afterwards placed in the Front of his Tranjlatton. There is one of thefe Letters, Page 242.1, wants a Beginning in the Italian Copy. Which the Author of that Tranflttion takes Notice of m his Preface, faying, That by fome Accident or other, the Ardick Paper had1?een torn afunder, and one Part was miffing. A j There. To the REAVES..' There needs no more to be faid,, but to acquaint the Reader, that we are going forward with the Englifj Transition of thzfe Letters, as faft as we can. So that in all Probability, you may exped: a Fourth loiumt before Cbriftmas. Wherein you \vill find more particular Remarks on cur Englifl, Affairs, wich political Dif- courfes on the Original and DhTolution of Governments. As alfo many curious Paliages during the Wars of Paris, which have not hitherto come to publick View. In fine, you will there be inform'd of all the remarkable Events that happened at that Time, either in Peace or War., on the whole Globe. Adieu, A TABLE OF THE LETTERS and MATTERS Contained in this VOLUME. VOL 111. BOOK I LETTER I. MAHMVT, an A abian at Paris, te Nathan Ben Saddi, a Jew at Vien- **. Page 1 He exhort l s lim to l-e prepared for the Tfofft Events ; To jland upon his Cuard againft the Chriftians; tut, above all, to beware of himfelf. He tells him 4 Story of Carcoa, Nathan'j PreJeceJfir. II. To the K^imacham. ; A 6 Of the Tranfylvaniai "Agent's Bufinefs at the French" Court: "'Of Monfieur A 6 The TABLE. Negotiation with Prince Ragorski. The Speech of Prince Ragotski'/ Son. III. To the inftrudted in all Knowledge, the venerable Mufti. 10 H-' makes a Comparifon between the Chriftians and Mahometans j prefers the Devotion and Charity of the latter . And relates a f leaf ant Pajjage of a Chriftian that whipt himfelf. IV. To Muftapha, Berber A&*. 13 Of the 'Buttle of Mergentheim, between the Germans and French : The unfortunate Ad- venture of a French Officer. \. To Sh*fhim Jftham, a B!ack> Eunuch. \& He pardons the Scandals caft upon him by the Eunuch ; commends his Apology advifej him to jet a Watch on his Tongue and re* Utes the Adventure of aBufy-Body. yi. To Zelim of Rhodes, Captain of a Gal/ey. 18 Hf acquaints him with the Execution of thret Witches at Naples, who were hired to deftroy him by Enchantm:nts. VII. To the invincible Vitfr A^ent. 24 He compares France to the four great Mo- narchies . Relates the Battle of AJlerfheijn, and the Progrefs of the French A'ms. VlH. To Cara Halt, a Phjjician at Conjiantine- fle. 18 Of A blind Man who diftinguifoed Colours by his Touch. Of another who caried to the Life. Of tie $4ute Saqueda ; And of ft deaf Man #ho apprehended ones Words by th* Motltn tf the >]. The TABLE. IX. To Vfefh Bajfa. 3* He congratulates hit neve Dignity ; informs him of the Dijfolution of the Diet of Francforr, and of the Kjng of PolandV defiring the Queen of Swedeland in Marriage. X. To Ichingi Cap Oglani, Preceptor to the Royal Pages of the Seraglio. 3 5 He expoftulates with him concerning his Calum- nies. XI. To the fieis Ejfendi, principal Secretary of Statet if Of the taking of Canea, and the Policy of Sul- tan Ibrahim. XII. To the magnificent and redoubtable Vi- %ier A\e accompanied Mah- mut to Orleans. XXIX. To the Captain Baffa. 199 Of the bold Propofal which a Sea Captain made to Cardinal Mazarini : And f a magnificent Ship, which Queen Chriftina. presented to this Minifter. BOOK III. LETTER I. TO IBedredin, Superior of the Convent of Der~ vifes, at Cogni in Natalia. 2Pi H: mallet an Apoiogy for his Faith agaiuft fucb as flandered him. Of a Hermit then living near Paris, who had ahnojl doubled the Tears of Bedreden. II. To Murat Bajfe. 207 Of the Chriftians Joy, for their ViRory by Sea and Land: A Comparifon between Sultan Ibraham, and Sultan Amurat. III. To Majtomet Techli, Bajja of Bofnia, at his Camp in Dalmatia. 2 t o tie reproaches him with Cotvardice l in decamp' ing from before Sebenico. IV. l"o Aehmet BaJJa. 2 12 He The TABLE. He tells him of an Attempt to murder Queeh Chriftina in her Chapel. y. To Car a Halt, a Phyfician at Conflantinople. 215 He difcourfes of the Manna in Calabria, feme of which he fends him, VI. To Barker Hajfan, Ba/a. 31? Of the Revolution in China. . To Darnijh Mehemet Baffa. 226 Of Mafllanello, ^nd the Revolution in Na- ples. . To Solyman his Coufin. 230 He again reprehends his Manner tf Life, and ferfuades 'him , ly the Example of his - Grandfather, to cbfetve the Laws of Pu r rity. IX. To the KJiimacham. 234 Of the Cruelty executed by the Turkifh Gene, ral, on a Chriftan Prieft. Of the Vene- ration the ancient Mahometans paid to Scanderbeg'* Bones. Of PorfennaV Gene- rojiv. X. To the Mufti. 138 Remarks on the Spanifh Miifortunes y the Infurredlion in Sicily, and particularly on the Revolution in Naples. He prays him to furnijh Nathan Ben Saddi, with religi- ous Bocks. XI. This Letter wants the Title and Begin- ning. i|i Of the Chriftian's Revenge on the Son of Ali- Sangiac-Bay of Lippa, for the Sufferings of the Chriftian Prieft. The extravagant Re- venge of an Italian Captain. XII. To The TABLE. XII. To the venerable Ai^fti. 244 Of Cardinal Mazarini'j fup porting the Tu- mults in Naples, K^mar^ on the Duke of Guife his Attempt to fuccour the revolted. A Defer iptiin of the Extent and Rjches of that Kingdom. XIM. To Abdel Melee Midi Omar, tend ant of the College of Sciences at 250 fie difcourfes about the Duration cf the World. The Vifion of Omar, Succeffor of Mahomet. Of Adam'/ firjl Wife Ali- Icth- That the Earth vets inhabited fir many Ages before Adam. XIV. To ihe Mufti. 257 He relates to him the Tragedy of the Sicilian Vefpers. Of A Woman and, hoar Daughter, that were immured feventeen Tears by a Scribe in Naples. XV. To the }\aimachfim, 260 He itfanns him, what I(eafon he has to be jealous of Cardinal MazariniV Defigns a- galnfl the Ottoman Empire. Ofmin the Dvvarfj Dexterity, in frying into the Car- dinal'j Secrets, and thofe of the Grandees. XVI. To Pejlehali, his Brother. 164 He farther commends his Journal. A Hare Example of Indian Charity. Of the Inge- nuity of the Chinefe. Of the Conqueft of that Kingdom by the Tartars. He dif- courfcs if the Original of Nations, and the unmix'd Blood of the Arabians and Tar- tars. Of a Gun *t Pequin, Two thoufand Tears old. XVII, To The TABLE. XVII. To the dgA of the Janizaries. 270 Of the famous Viftory of the French o-btaind at the Battle of Lens. Cf (he Tumults at Paris, And the Kjng cf France'* Speech to the Senators. Mahmut informs him, how he employs certain Agents, to foment t\>e publick Sedition. XVIII. To Acbmet Btig. 174. He acquaints him with the Death c/'Uladi- ilaus, 'King cf Poland, for. which the Court of France was in Mourning; -as-a!fo with the Duke of Bavaria'* Death. Of tie French Campaigns in Flanders- Of a Sea Fight between the French and Spaniards. Of a. formidable Confpiracy againftthc Czar of Mofcovy. XIX. To the Mufti. i-]6 He feems to approve of Sultan Ibrahim'* being defofed, 8cc. Cenfures bir Attempt on Sul- tan Amurat'.' TVtdow, and his Rape of the Mufti'j Daughter. The Continence ,ef the African Scipio. The Stratagem of Athe- nodorus the Philofopher. He incites the Muftj, to encourage the Tranilation of Greek^ and Latin Hiftorians. XX. To Chirrrgi Muhammel, Soffit. 180 Of the Conclufion af the Peace rf Munfter. Of the Troubles of Paris, and the Duke of Beaufort'* Efcape cut of the Caftie of the Wood of Vinciennes. XXI. To D>nst Oglou. 181 He complains of the unjuft Proceedings of the ''Conipimo s againft Sultan Ibrahim: ^p- f lifts 'to defame him after his Death: The TABLE. evens that he did but dijjemble in his lafl Letter to the Mufli. Of the Statue of a fa- mous Wreftler, which fell down and crujhed to Death, a Man that through Envy went to demolijh it. Of the Motto on Plato'* Ring. XXII. To Danecmar J\efrou 9 Kjdilcfquer of Romania.. 284 Remarks on the Murder of the Englifh King Charles I. and what Cardinal Mazarini fnid, when be firft heard of the News of that horrid Tragedy. Of Machiavefr corruft Principles. LET- LETTERS Writ by A SPY at PARIS. VOL. III. BOOK I. LETTER I. Mahmut, an Arabian at Paris, to Nathan Ben Saddi, a Jew at Vienna. I BELIEVE the News of my Imprifonmenc might fill thee with Doubts of thy own Li- berty, and make thfee careful to avoid ac Vienna, fuch a Misfortune as befel me ac Paris, Yet if thou wert much furprized at this Accident, it is an Argument that thou art but a Novice in the World, and art yet to learn the firft Rudiments of ufeful Wifdom, which teach us, That there is no Stedfaftnefs in Humane dffairt. There has nothing happen'd to me in this, which I was not before provided for ; neither did the Suddennefs of the Event make me change Countenance. I fmiled ar the fulfilling my own Prefages, and went to Prifoii as uncon- B ccrned, i LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. cern'd, as I would have gone home to my Lodg" ing. Not that I would have thee think, I wa s infenfible of a Lofs fo afflifting as that of Liber" ty ; but my Chains did not appear fo very formi* dable, having made them familiar to my Thoughts long before. When I firfl came to Paris. I look'd on my felf but as aPrifoner at large, owing the Freedom I had to walk about, only to the Carelefnefs of the State, and the Favour of Dfftiny. So that when that Indulgence was retrench'd, no new Thing happen'd to me. What I had expefted for Seven Years together could not feem ftrange when it came to pafs. By what I have faid, thou may'ft learn to pre- pare thy felf for the worft Events, which com* monly fteal upon the fecure and unthinking, be- ing wrapp'd up in greater Darknefs and Silence, than the Moments which bring them to Light. Thefe flide away without our Advertilement, un- feen, unheard : Neither can our Watches or Di- als inform us any thing of them, 'till they are pafs'd. So there is no Index to point out to us the hidden Decrees of Fate, 'rill they are accom- plifh'd ; no Efhemerii of Deftiny, but our own Experience. T-hou, and -all thy Nation, are fufpe&ed by the Chriftiatn : They efteem you Enemies of their Intereft, as well as of their La*. They defpife and vilify you, calling you, The accurfed tf God. Yet they admit you as Members of their Com- monwealth. They receive you to the Prote- ftion of their Laws, and entruft you with their Secrets, that they may ferve themfelves of your Money. Thus are you become Bankers for your fworn Enemies : And while you profefs an Eternal Obedience to the Injunctions of Mtfes, you maks underhand Leagues with the Difciplet of Vol. HI. a SPY At PARIS. $ of Jefu;. I do not accufe your Commerce with thefe Infidels: but, I lay, you have Reafon to be upon your Guards, when you are environed with fo many Millions of Enemies. They are not ignorant of the Intimacies between the Mi~ Ttiftsrsof the Sublime Porf, and thofe of thy Na- tion : It is common in the Mouths of the Frtnch, Thanh' Jews are the Turks Intelligencer}. Thou oughteft therefore to have a fpecial Regard to thy Conduft, that no imprudent Aftion may ex- pofe thee to the Jealoufy of the St ate where thou refideft. That Cturt is full of Eyet ; and thou haft need of a flrifter Veil, than what thou weareft in the synagogue. The very Walls of thy Houfe will betray thee, and thy Domefticks may prove thy greateft Enemies: Yet fufpeft none more than thy felf. This will not feem harm Counfel, if thou reflefteft twice on it, there being nothing more certain, than that it is not fo eafy to defend ones felf from him irt whom we confide, as from one we are jealous of; And every Man is apt to put too much Truft in himfelf. I believe thou art faithful and abhorreft Treachery ; yet at the fame Time, thou may'ft be remifs and weak: What could not be extorted from thee by an open Enemy, may be discovered by the Infinuations of a pre- tended Friend. Thy own good Nature may ca- jole thee ; and therefore it will be no fmall point of Wifdom, T beware of thy felf. As for Con- tingencies, I advife thee not to be perplexed a- bout them, or be uneafy. Thou canft not avoid the inevitable Appointments of Heaven. Only be ready for the worft that may happen, fince thou canft never be certain "of any Thing. Thy PredecefTor Carcoa was a Man of exqui- fite Forecaft, always on his Watch, prying into the dark Orb of Futurities j yet an Accident B 2 furprized 4 LETTERS Writ ly Vol.111. furprized him once, of which his ftrifteft Caution never gave him Warning. I read it in one of his Letters to the Kaimachim, which thou fenteft me from Vienna. The Story is this : As he was one Pay writing Difpaccha to the Port, a certain tame Bird which he kept for his Divertifement, fnatches from the Table the Paper on which he was writ- ing to the Ttfrsrdar ; and the Window being open flies with it out into the Streets. The Paper was dropped in the Garden of the duguftin Friars, the very Moment when the Spani/h jimbaffadtr was walking there with the General of that O>-der. 'Tis true, the Letter was unfmifh'd, no Name fub- fcribed, and fo Caret* efcaped an imminent Haz- ard of his Life But the Secrets therein contain'd gave a vaft Sufpicion to the Imperial Court, it be- ing foon carried to the principal Secretary of State, and by him communicated to the Emperor and Divan. Strift Inquifition was made throughout the City for the Author of that Letter A Re- ward of a thoufand Rix Dollars promis'd to any that would difcover him The Bird was feen by many to fly along with a Paper in her Bill, but from whence fhe came, none knew. Nor had any curious Eye attended her uncertain Motions back: No man divining, that that Paper was defigned to tranfmit to the eve k*ppy Port, the moft impor- tant Counfels of the German Empi'-e. Neither was Carcoa's Hand taken notice of having lived very privately, and ufed another Character in his com- mon Dealings. But how near was he to a Difco- very, when he fays himfelf in his Letter, -that^he wanted but five Words to the Conclufion, where he would have fubfcribed his Name' liFrom hence thou may'ft learn that a Ater/W'ma Tempeft, amongft Rocks and Sands, runs nor greater Ha- zards, than he whoA&s.in thy Station. How. Vol. 111. a SPY */ PARIS; f However, rhou may'fr. now continue thy Ad- vices to Paris, but obierve the Directions of Eli*. ckim, who brings thee this Letter. He will in- form thee of whatfoever is neceflary for thee to know, taking this Journey on purpofe to prevent the wakeful Jealoufy, and aftive Inquifition of Cardinal Uazarini, from whom nothing can be hid that's trufted to the Poftf. Receive him with lingular Honour; he is an incorruptible Friend of the Ottoman Part. From him thou lhalt learn the fafeft Methods of our future .Correfpondence He is the Apollo of thy Nation ; and his Wifdom and Fidelity will be recorded in the Regifter of that Empire, which ftiall know no earlier Period than ths Moon, whofe. Crefcent is her Arm?, and the happy Omen of her encreapng Luftre. When thou beholdeft that natle Enjign of M*. bomut on the Top of the chief Temple of Jffsa in Vienna, let it augment thy Veneration of our Lav, and convince thee, that all Nations muft fubmit to the M-fenger of God and Seal of the Prophet/. Be fitirhful and wife, and thou canft 'not mifs of Happinefs. Paris, z8tb of the -jth Moan, f tfa Tear to the Chriftian Style. B ; IE T- 6 LETTERS Writ ly Vol.111. LETTER II. To the Kaimacham. SINCE my Releafe, I have informed my felf of fome PafTages, to which I was a Stranger during my Relrraint. The Tmnfylvfininn /)gtnt continues ilill at this Court ; and his Negotiation is not now a Secret. Monjieur Croijfy is gone Jmbaf- fad&y E.x;>aoriiinary to Prince Ragottki on the fame Errand from this Crown. The fubjeft Matter of fco&h their Embafli?^ is a League. Cardinal Maza^ rini fufpefted Tergiverfation in that Prince, and that he would privately treat with the Emperor, if the Grand Seignior fhould withdraw his Affiftance and Protection from him ; or if he himfeif ihould grow weary of the War. Wherefore Monfiear Groi'Jfy according to the Cttrdixal's InftruiSHons would not fign the League, till Ragouk! had called home his dmttffadffj, who were treating \vith the Imperialist at Tyrne , and fent away the German En. uoy from his Camp. The League being concluded, he infifted on the Neceffity the Prince lay under, of marching his Army nearer to Torftenfo* the Swed/jh General, that fo they might fupport one another againft the German Forces. This was the Pretence ; but in Reality it was defigned to engage the Tranfylvanians beyond the Power of a Retreat, and to poft them under the Eye of the Swedi/h General, who foon after pof- fefred himfeif of Tyrne, the Place appointed for Treaty between the Imperialist and Prince /?* gOtikl. It is a Town in the Lower Hungary, not far from Preibu*gh, The Swede* entered this Place the 1 7th, Vol. III. a Spy at PARIS. 7 ivrTi of the fth Moon, but left a Garrifqn in It of Seven hundred Hungarian Horfe, and Three hun- dred Foot, according to their Article) with the Befieged The-fe were foon forc'd to quit the Town by Count Forgatfch, an Imperialist, the Sv>edei and Tranfilvaitian. being march'd a great Diftanceoff .* And 'tis faid, this Hungarian Garrifon yielded not unwillingly to the Imperial Arms. 'Tis certain, General Tor ft en f on puts but fmalf Confidence in the Hungarian Soldiers : For above Six hundred of the common Sort deferted him, the 29th of the jth Moon, and the reft raifed fuch frequent Tumults and Mutinies, that their Com- manders flood in more fear of them, than of their Enemies. It's reported likewHe, That there has been lately no good Undemanding between: J^agonk! and Torftfnfon, about die defigned Siege of Presburgh : The former feeming too much to favour the Hungarians, and being rather inclined to carry his Arms into the Emperor's Hereditary Countries. Yet he would not confent, that Pref- tu>?h fhould be in the Hands of the Swedes. The French fay, that the Prince is humorous and wavering, yet of a fair Intention ; but thar the greatefl part of his Officers, are corrupted by the Ewperor : And that therefore, both they and the common Soldiers were for Peace ; only hi? Wife, his Son, and fome few of his Councellors, perfuaded him to adhere to the Srotdet. They add, that the Tattug Prince, being inftrucV ed by his Mother, one Day in a full Aflembly of the chief Commanders, made the following Or*-- tion, Ragotiki himfelf being alfo prefent. Permit 8 LETTERS Writ By Vol. 111. PErmit me, moft Serene and Illufrrious Prince, ' my Royal Father, to perform the part of a dutiful Son, a faithful Counfellor, and a loyal Subjeft. The L*w of Nature and of N<*:iwr t entitles you to my Ohdienct ; and the particular Honour you have done me, in admitting me to your Cabinet, obliges me to exemplify it, in an humble Remonftrance of my Sentiments, at a Time when the Intereft of Trtvfylvanfo calls for Freedom of Advice * It is with no fmall Complacency that I now behold you encompafled with a Circle of Htroej, whofe Valour and Fidelity may give fuch a Lu> ftre to your victorious Arms, as fliall eclipfe the Glory of the Rom*n and Grecian Conquerors. The dlexanderj, Ctfart, Scipio>, and Hawribalf, ihall no longer draw the World into an Admi- ration of their obfolete Achievements. J he Regifltr of your Dtedi fhall foil their tin'.i^ttted Htjloriti ; whilft Plutarch, Tacitui and Litty muft veil to mtfkrn Pens, the Recorder} of your matchlefs A&im, * Let not the crafty Infinuations of the Ger- nn Court, warp your Refolutions, and cajole you with the deceitful Umbrages of Peace, only to gain Time, that they may more fuccefsfully carry on the War. Neither fuffer your felves, already in part victorious, to be amus'd with feign'd Treaties, and Overtures which you can- not but fufpeft. We are now in a Condition to give the Law ; and (hould Fortune turn the Scale , it will ftill be in our Power to make our own Terms of Compofition. The Alliance of Svtedtn and Prattct, have raifed us to a Ca- pacity of braving all Europt ; whilft the one with a potent Army on the Rhine, the other on the Dawtt, keep the Imperitliftt in fuch perpe- ' tual Vol. III. a SPY af PARIS. j> tual Aftion, that it will be impofllble for them to barrier Germany from our conquering Arms. Now is the Time to raife Tranfylvania above the Title of a Tributary Province, and reftore this Kingdom to her ancient Renown. If we mifs this Opportunity, we muft for ever be Slaves to the Turks or Germans. Let us not feek any longer Protection, but from the Juftice of our Caufe, and the Dint of our Swords Lee not France and Sweden boaft of their Turenne, their Torftenfon, as if no other Nations could furnifh the World with famous Generals ! Whilft Prince Ragttski lives, and lives at the Head of fuch an Army, your Fidelity and Courage ftall render his Name more terrible than that of Ta . merlain, and his Attempts more profperous than thofe of Scande*bcg. And our Pofterity fhall be obliged to raife Pyramids to your Honour ; and from your prefent Achievements to date a new Epocka, the eternal Memtir of Tranfyfoania's Redemption. 'Tis faid, That Ragotsk! was not very well pleafed with his Sort's Speech, fufpefting that he held fome private Correfpondence with Torften- ftn, for whom he had no great AfFeftion. Laft Mstn he infifted earneftly on the Money and Men promifed him by Rebenjlick. But General Tirfttn- fn thought it fufficient, that he himfelf was fo near him with his Forces. Yet left he Ihould take an Occafion of Difcontent, he fent him a Supply of Money ; though he was not without fome Apprehenfions that the Prime, having re- ceived it, would under-hand treat with the Em- ptror. 'Tis faid here, that a Cblant tvas arrived in the Tranfylvanian Camp, exprefly forbidding Ragttiki to enter into the Htrt4it*ry Prtvittett of the B J io LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. But that he, trufting to the Strength of is Army, (which confifts of Five and Twenty oufand Germans, Tranfylvanians, Hungarian f Walachiam) was refolved to purfae his firft R C folution. Thou knoweft what Reafons the Port had, to fend him this Prohibition. The French fay, 'twas out of Fear that he would join with the Emperor's Forces. By this thou mayeft know what Opinion the Infidels entertain of the Meafures taken by the So- vereign Divan. They defcant at Liberty, whilfl I fend up Vows to Heaven for the Exaltation ot the Ottaman Empire. Paris, 4?&. e/ the %th Moon, of tht Ttar 1645. LETTER III. To fie InftruSted in all Knowledge ; the Venerable Mufti. HAIL, Holy Interpreter of the Sacred Law ; may the Divine Light guide thee beyond the Errors of Humane Frailty. I am amongft /- fideli, Enemies to the Truth ; who yet feem as. certain of being in the Right, as thou art fure they are in the Wrong. They hate us with an inevi- table Hatred I muft difTemble my Refentments-; whilft, with the loweft Proftrations to the Unity, I celebrate his Glorious Mercy, who has fent us fuch a Star to guide our Feet into the Way of Peace. The Chrijiians feoff at the faithful People, as di- Vided into feyeral Scttt. Would my Death could wipe Vol. III. a S p y At PARIS. r i wipe out thofe Reproaches, and vindicate the Honour of the Holy Profiffion. I could retort, that Error fhews it felf infinite in them ; but I muft hold my Peace, and reftrain my felf, ]eft my Zeal tranfport me beyond Difcretion ; remem- bring I am not fent here to difpute, but to aft fecretly for my g>-e*t Mafier, \vhofe Empire be ex- tended over all the kabitable World. Thefe poor Wretches boaft much of their Tra. ditions, their Sacred Synods and Fathers, as if we ever wanted Hsly Men, working Wonders, and pe- netrating into the profoun deft Myfteries, but only wiping their Eyes with the Dufl of their Ftet. They talk much of Faith and Reafin j at which I fmile, as knowing it to be only Education. Yet, as the wo'ft of People have fomething that is good, fo thefe are not wholly deftitute of Devo- tion. They pray often, but not fo often as the true Believeri ; it being, as thou knoweft, a juft Exception againft a Witnefs amongft us, That he pray..' not fix times a Day They pray to Men and Women deceafed, whereas, thoa knoweft, there is no eiiy but One. They faft often, but. not fo ftriftly as the afllfted with the Vertue of the fupreme Dlfpenfir of Graces. They are charU table, but this hinders 'em not from excluding; all frorh the bhft Abodes, who are not of their Belief : Whereas thou affirmeft (\vlvo art the RefoL ver of all the Problems of Faith) .that it will go well at the laft Day with all honeft People, feeing thefe have all the fame Object of Worfhip ; and their different kdigiont are but as fo many diffenttt Ways, which lead a Man to the fame Place of Reft, like 'variant Roads to the fame City. Thefe Chriftitns whip themfelves often wJtJi fmall Cords; which Humour, fay they, was let on Foot by an Hermit's Preaching and Example. Not many Countries diftant from that where I B 6 am, 12, LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. am, there happen'd fuch an odd Inftance of this extravagant Zeal (which was to be heighten'd, it feems, with the Fumes o-f Wine) as plainly jufti- fies our Prophets Wifdom, in charging the Faithjzl to avoid it. It was particularly the Cuftom of feveral People in this Place, in their Procijptm, to whip themielves, 'till the Blood ftreamed down their Frocks, which were fo made as to cover their Faces, and leave only their Backs bare. One of thefe Zealots, diftrufting the Firmnefs of his Conftitution, had taken fuch large Draughts of this intoxicating Liquor, that reeling up and down vith his Whip in his Hand, and his Head againft the Walls, he was followed by all the Boys of the Town hooting after him, which fo leflened the Repute of this foitifo Religion, as made them ab- ilain for the future from this pompous Ufage of it. What low Thoughts have thefe People of the Almighty Lord of aff ; when, allowing him to be Omnipotent, yet reprefent him to themfelves and others, as delighting in Cruelty ; whereas, thou knoweft, this Paflion is only ta be found amongft the weak and raiferable. That the Divine Preferver of Men may conti- nue thee long for the Edification of his Eleft, are the paflionate Wifhes of the raeaneft of thy Ser- vants, Mahmnt. ?aris, 4fi of the eft be Year LET- Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS- 13 LETTER IV. To Muftapha,, Berber Aga. \A/O ULD to GOD I could converfe with * * thee Face to Face in the Seraglio, as in former Times. I vent many paffionate Wifhes to Conjitntintplt, that happy Refidence of my beft Friends, the Nurfery of my Childhood, the School of my Youth, and I hope, the future Re-' pofitory of my old Age. When I think of that City, 'tis with a Pafllon hardly fecond to that, which I cherifli for the Place of my Nati- vity. In Arabia 'tis true, I firft law the Light of the Sun. but 'twas in Greece I received the more friendly Illumination of the Mton, the Splen- dors of the true faith j which though they dif- clofe not to us fo clear a Profpeft of the E*rtk and all its Gayeties, yet they prefent us with an unveiled Diicovery of the Heavens and Start j ihewingus Partdife, with its glittering Inhabitants the purpled Calorie} of true Btlieverr, Champions and Martyrs of the Eternal Unity. In the Defart I left my Father, or rather he left me before I found my felf, being but an Infant when he died, but in the City I found Friends, which is not a lefs endearing Title. He gave me but ray Birth, whereby I entered on the Stage of Miferies : with which he foon after left me to ftruggle, be- fore I could diftinguifli Mifcry from Happinefs. But they gave me Education, which taught me how to fhun thofe Evils, which are the natural Confequences of our Birth, So that in the main, I am more indebted to them than to hinv Let it be how it will, I cannot ceafe to love them, and often wifli my felf with them. Ths is 14 LETTERS .Writ ly Vol. III. - is a fecond Nature. And becaufl- I cannot have my Defires fulfilTd In that, I gratify my felf by often writing to them. Should I make Compa- rifons, thou wilt fay I am a Flatterer. Suffice it to tell thee, that thou art one of the Number, whofe Remembrance affects me with fenfible Complacency. Yet I cannot write to thee, nor any of my Friends, fo often as I would, without entrenching on the Obligations I have to the Other Mmifters of the fubiime Port. J feud Bif- y (itches to all by turns, facrificing my private Re- gards to the Expectations of the biare, and the P/eafure of my Saperforr. Had I been at Liberty, I could have fent thee the earlieft News, of the Slaughter which the Ger- mans made three Moons ago in the French Army at Me-gemheim. 'Tis not too late now to fay fomething of it. The Imptrialifti owe that Tri- umph to the Candor of Tureane, and the degene- rate Craft of the Duke of Bavaria who, to lull the F'ench In a fatal Security, fent an /tg?ht into frame to negotiate a Pesee, with deceitful Over- tures and Umbrages ; commanding alib, that none of his Soldiers ftould dare to call the French their Enemies. Yet fome lay the Blame of this Over- throw to the Swedes, whofe unfeafonable Sufpi- cion of a private Treaty between the F ench and Germans, hinder'd To-ficvjln from joining with the former ; and expofed Turtnne, with his raw and unexperienc'd Forces, to the numerous Army cf Veterane Imperialist. 'Twas a fatal Engagement, and the French loft many brave Men ; befides an Hundred and fifty Commanders taken Prifoners, Fifteen hundred of the common Soldiers, Fifty Enfigns, with many Waggons, and Four Mules laden with Money. Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. if It is reported, that whilft Turennc, in the gene- ral Retreat and Flight of his Army, betook him- felf to Mergentheim, as he lay on his Bed the firft Night, one of his Officers was coming to alarm him with the News of the Germans Approach to that Town, but unfortunately (rumbled at his Chamber-Door, with the Noife of which Tu^nns awaked; and fearing fome Attempt on his Life, leaped off his Bed with his drawn Sword, and making toward the Door, juft as the Officer o-. pened it, he run him into the Heart By which JVliftake, he himfelf, and the Troops that were in the Town with him, had like to have fallen into the Hands of the Bavarian!. But receiving Notice of their Approach accidentally by fome other Means, he withdrew his Troops out of the Town by a contrary Road, and efcaped the Pur- fuit of his Enemies. This Viftory has given new Courage to the Int. ferialifts, and has not much difpirited the French, who are by this Lofs enflamed with greater Ar- dors, mediating a fpeedy Revenge. The Gcniut of this Court leems to be undaunted, breathing nothing but War. I (hall not fail to fend thee fuch Intelligence, as will demonftrate, that Mahmut pafTes not away his Time in vain. I pray the Sovereign of as many Empire: as there be Worlds, to diftinguilh thee by fome particular Mark of his Favour, from the Crowd of thofe he makes happy. Paris, 4* of the $th Moen, of the Tear L E T~ 16 LETTERS Writ fy Vol. 111. LETTER V. To Shafhim Iftham, a Black Eunuch. AT length thou haft condefcended to beg my Pardon, for the Calumnies thy Tongue has loaded me with. I am not ill pleafed with thy Letter. It abounds with elegant Expreffions of thy Sorrow, for an Offence to which thou hadft no Provocation. Thy Submifilon, though late, abates my Refentment; and, if thou per- formed thy Promife, 'tis banifhed. The firft Crime fo ingenuoufly acknowledged, claims a Ti- tle to Forgivenefs. Let eternal Oblivion feal it. I am not by Nature revengeful. I rather blufh for Shame, than grow pale with Anger, at him that injures me Yet Self-Prefervation will rouze our Choler, which is the moft aclive Hu- mour, and precipitates many to violent Courfes. The Effeft it has on me is to put me on my guard, left he who has wronged me, without any Signs of Repentance, fliould continue his Malice to my Deftruftion. But thou haft dif- perfed all my Sufpicions by thy feafonable Ad- drefs; and if I cannot pronounce thee innocent, I will believe thou art not Incorrigible. The beftr Advice I can give thee is, henceforwards to attend to thy own Affairs, and refrain from thofe of others ; remembring the drabi** Proverb, He that fetfi in At bts Neighbour'} Window, may chance tt lofe bis Eyes. There is a great deal of Wifdom couch'd in thefe fhort Sentences. They are not theProduft of one Man's Experience, nor of a fev ; but they are the Refult of univerfal Obfervation. And our Conntry has been happy above others in the Choice of her Prtvtrbt. This that Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 17 that I mention'd is peculiar to the Eafl, Yet I can produce an Inftance, whereby 'twas lately Verified in the Weft. There is hardly a Night palfes in this populous City, wherein feme Murder is not committed in the Streets. Two Nights ago a Man was found dead on the Ground ; whereupon a Tumult was gather d about his bleeding Carcafe. Amongft the reft, a Fellow came crowding in, inquisitive what fhould be the macter. Thofe who (rood by beholding his Cloaths bloody, which he was not lenlible of himfelf, iei/ed on him as the Murde- rer. His wild Looks encreaied their Jealoufy; and the incoherent Words with which he endea- vour'd to excuie himfelf. render'd him guilty in the Judgment of the Rabble They carried him before a C*di, by whom he was ftriftly exa- min'd : He ftoutly denied the Faft ; and no- Proof could be brought againft him, but his ftained Cloaths. 'Tis the Cuftom here, to put to the Torture Perfons fufpefted of capital Crimes, in order to draw a Confeflion of the Truth. This they did to this poor Wretch ; and in the Extremity of his Pains, he acknowledged he had killed his Wife that Evening , but was altogether innocent of this poor Man's Death , who was murder'd in the Streets. All the Torments they inflicted, could force no other Confeflion from him, fave that which his real Guilt prompted him to make. For which he was condemned to Death, according to the Laws. Thou feeft by this, that had he gone about his Bufmefs, without prying into other Mens Mat- ters, he might have efcaped a Difcovery. But that meddling Itch of the Imprudent betray'd him (not without the particular Direction of FtKt) to a Death, which indeed he merited, but not 1 8 L.ETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. not on the Score f the murder'd Man, whom he Went out of his way to. fee. Thou wilt fay, this Story is not applicable t;o thy Cafe, fince thou haft never yet embru'd thy Hands in any Man's Blood. I tell thee, what I have faid, was not defign'd as a Reflexion on thy paft Offence (let it be forgotten ;) but as a Caution for the future, not to engage thy felf in Matters out of rhy Sphere. For, a bufie Body is never ithout Troubles. Above all, I counfel thee, to pra&ife the Go- vernment of the Tongue, which is a great Vertue, efpecialJy in the Court: of Princes. The Arabian! fay, That the Wife Man's Soul repoftt at the Rcot of bis Tongue; but, a FooVt is ever Dancing en ihs Tip Thou haft no reafon to take in ill part, the Free- dom with which I advife thee for thy Good : Un- lefs thou thinkeft thy felf too old to learn. But, I have a better Opinio'n of thee, than to rank thee among Pythagoras's Afles. I have faid enough for a Friend ; too much for an Enemy. It is in thy own Choice to make me which thou pleafeft. Adieu. Paris, 4 # of the 8th Moon, of the Tear 1645. LETTER VI To Zelim of Rhodes, Captain of a Galley. r T~ T H O U haft never vouchsafed to acknow- 1 ledge the Advice I fent thre fome Years ago, of a Ckriftians Defign againft thy Lite. Perhaps he wanted an Opportunity, to put his Revenge Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 19 Revenge in Execution that way ; and therefore* the Caution I gave thee looked like a falfe Alarm* Thou trufteft in thy Courage, the Strength of thy VefTel, the Multitude and Fidelity of thy Slaves, and thinkeft thy felf invulnerable. But, let me tell thee, that neither thy Courage, nor thy VeflTel, can defend thee from the strike of De- fliny ; and thou haft no greater Enemies than thofe who eat thy Bread. Whether it be the Continu- ance of thy Cruelty, or the natural Regret.of Ser- vitude has rendered them ib, I know not ; but, if what I am informed of be true, thou art the miferableft Man in the World. Wert thou only in Danger to lofe thy Life by a Stab, a Bullet, or the fwift Effefts of Poifon, it would be a Happinefs, in Comparifon of the Method that is now taken to deftroy thee. And the invifible Death which thou wert formerly to receive from a Prayer-Book, would have bees loft as the Stroke of CttpicFs Arrow, in Refpect of the Tragical and Unheard of F*te, which is now preparing for thee. Think not I go about to amufe-or affright thee with Chimeras and Tales, fuch as Nurfes ufe to awe their Children Into Compliance and good Manners. What I tell thee is Matter of Faft, and confirmed by many Letters from Italy, to fe- veral eminent Merchant > in Parts, I have feen fome of them, and hear that the reft agree in the fame Relation. ^ They give an Account, that at Nf>le>, on the fecond of the laft Moon, three Witcbet were feiz- ed, and accufcd of praftifing diabolieal Arts ; of enchanting feveral Perfons ; of doing great Mifchief ; and, in fine, of having private Com- merce with the Devil. They ftoutly denied all at firft, and made very fubtle and plaufible Apo- logies. Infomuch, as the Inquifitors were almoft perfuaded of their Innocence ; till it was fug- gefted, ^o LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. gefted, that their Houfes (hould be fearch'd. O/. fistrs were fent accordingly ; who after a narrow Scrutiny, found fome magical Books, fevcral Vials of ftrange Liquors, Pots of Ointment, with an Image of Wax, refembling a Man, but partly melted. There were imprinted on the Breaft of the Image feveral unknown Characters, Figures and magical Symbols : And on the Fore- head was to be read Z L I M E BE N S/f- G R A N. All thefe were brought, and expofed before the Inejuifittrs (of whofe Office thou art not ignorant) great Deliberation was had about this unufual Emergency. The Imaum: and Chelks were fent for and confulted. The Witchet were examined apart, and put to the Torture, as is the Cuftom in Capital Crimes. Admirable was their Conftancy for a confiderable Time ; but ac length, overcome by the Continuance and Sharp- nefs of their Pains, they confelTed they had for fome Years praftifed mtgiek Arts, convers'd with fni\i*r Spirits, raifed Tempefts, Earthquakes, and done other -wicked Feats. Being examined about the Image of Wax, they declared, That ic Was the Image of a Turkifi Captain of a Galley, whofe Name was written on the Forehead : And that they were hired by certain lt*lian>, who had been Slaver in the Galley of the faid Captain, to bewitch him to Death, in the moft lingring Me- thod they could invent ; that in order to this, they had made this Image ; that every Night they met together, with a fourth of their Gang, (who was not to be found) and made a Fire of the Bones of dead Men, which they ftole from the Graves and Ckarncl-H3*ft!. That they laid this Image dewn at a convenient Diftance before this Fire, repeating certain magical Words and Charms ; and, as this Image gradually melted, fo the Body of the faid Turkijh Captain did infenfi- bly Vol. III. * SPY at PARTS. 2,1 fibly wafte and decay. And, to add to his lin- gring Death an intolerable Torment, they ba fted the melting Image with the Oils, and other Liquors which were contained in the Vials and Pots : That by this Means he was perpetually racked with moft pungent and acute Pains in his Bowels, Head, and all Parts of his Body, ra- ging under moft violent Fevers, infatiable Third, and want of Sleep Finally, that this lingring kind of Death would continue, as long as they pleas'd to protraQ: the DifTolution of the waxen This Cenfejpon, tho' extorted from the Witcket In the midft of infufferable Torments, yet was de- Kver'd without any Inconfiftences, and with all the Demon ftrat ions of a real Penitente. And be- ing feconded with the Teftimonies of many ere- dible Witnefles, who had overfeen them in fomc of their nsfiu^nal Ceremonies; the Irnjui(itors, mo- Ved with a juft Horror of fo nefandous Abomina- tions, fentenced them, To be burnt, and their dfhet to be fcacterea Into the Sea. Which was ac- cordingly executed on the fixth of the laft Moon, in the Prefence of infinite Spectators. The News of this extraordinary Event is frefh in the Mouths of almoft all the Inhabitants of this City ; yet no Man, I dare fay, hears it with that Concern for the Turkifl) Captain, as I do. Even thole among the Chriftians who abhor Witckcrtft, would neverthelefs rejoice, if not only thou, but all the Muff#lm*nj were deftroyed with Enchant- ments ; fince they can never hope it will come to pafs by the Succcfs of their Arms. I am not credulous of every Story that is rela- ted of Witchei, being fatisfied, that Superttition and Ignorance has lifted many in that infernal Number, who were innocent and never deferved it ; fome having been forced by Racks and Tor- tures x z LETTERS Writ ly Vol. tures, to confefs themfelves guilty of pracrifing Enchantments, when, after their Execution, there have appeared evident Proofs to the contrary. Vet I cannot be fure, but that there have been fome in all Ages and Nations, who have entered into Leagues and AHociations with Dtvili. and have been enabled thereby to perform Things a- bove the Power of Nature. However, I have a particular Delire to hear from thee, and to be informed, whether thou haft experienced the Ef- feft of their Enchantments. If thou haft not, blefs thy Stars that thou wert born and bred a Mvjfitl- man, againft whom the Magick of the Infidels can- not prevail ; and that thou haft fwallowed the Iw^rtjjlon of Mahomet^ Seal, which is of Force to diffolve and make invalid, all the Charms of Men and Dtvih. But if thou haft felt the Force of their Enchantments, and pineft away with un- accountable Pains and Languors; then think with thy felf that thou art defective in keeping fome Pant of our Holj L*u> ; that Mahotntt is angry with thee, withdraws his Protection, and expofes thee to the Malice of Evil Spirits. Nei. ther perfuade thy felf, that becaufe the three Witches are put to Death, thou ihah prefently re- cover thy former Health and Eafe again : For, fo long as there is a fourth living, and out of the reach of Jnftice thou art not lafe. Nay, rf fhe were taken and executed too, fo long as thy Enemies are yet alive, who firft employed thele H*gi, thou art ftill at their Mercy. They will fearch every corner of Italy, and of all &urtpt, t but they will find Inftruments of their Revenge. They will rummage Hell itfelf, to gratify their Fury. The beft Counfd I can give thee in this Cafe is, To pacify thine Enemies, by extraordi- nary Ats of Civility to the Chn'flitnr, where- ver thou meeteft them j by ufing thy slaves mildly, Vol. III. aSpY at -PARIS* xj mildly, and giving them their Freedom, after a limited time of Service, without exafting a Ran- fom, which neither they nor their Relations and Friends can ever be able to pay. This will abate the Rancour of the Infidels, and turn their Re- venge into Kindnefs and Love. Thou wilt every where be free from Dangers ; and thofe very Perfons, who now ftudy all means to take away thy Life, will then hazard their own to preferve thee from Death. Think not that I go about to perfwade thee to change Temper with thy Slavtt , and from the Refolution and Bravery of a true Mu/u/man, to fink into the abjeft Timoroufnefs of a Ckriftian, Be fearful only of thy felf, and ftand in Awe of none more than of thy own Conscience. There is a Cat in every Man, a few ere Gtnftr of his Manner t ; and he that reverences this Judge, will feldom do any thing he need to repent of. Let not the Authority of any Station, rempt thee to be cruel aad unjuft j but, in all things, Do as thou wottldft be done unto. This is a Precept engraven on every Man's Heart ; and he whofe Aftions write after this Copy, will always be at eafe here, and tranfcendantly b*ffy hereafter. Follow this Rule , and thou wilt experience the Effift. Adieu. Paris, i/J of the $th Mttit t I f the Tear 1645. LET- 14 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. Ill* LETTER VII. To the Invincible Vizir Azem. IF one may judge of future Events , by app'y- ing to them the Symptoms of Things part ; and if a Man may compare one Kingdom with another, I fhould think that Fr*nce will in time extend the Limitt of her Empire, as far any of the four great Monarchies, that have been recorded in Hiftoria for their unive-fal Sway. I will not fay, as far as the wide-ftretch'd Empire of the ever- vi&orious Ofmans Yet the Genius of this Nation feems in fome manner to infpire the French with as ardent a Thirft of Glory and Conqueft, as that which has in all Ages appear'd to be the infepertble Virtue of the Mujfulmans. They prefs ^forward to the Mark for which they take up Arms; that is, to fubdue all before them, an-d lay Kingdoms, Provinces and Cities, at the Feet of their Sove- reign. They are not difcr-uragcd at Difficulties and LofTes. The Checks and Oppositions they meet with, do but animate them with new and frefh Vigours. So that it isiecome a fure Prog- noftick of fome .great Succefs to that Nation, when at any time they receive ill News from their Armies. In this, their Courage feems to be of the Quality of N*pth*, which by pouring on of Water takes Fire, although, thou knoweft, thefe two Elements be contrary to each other. So this Warlike People, inftead of being deje&ed, or made timorous by any Defeat given to their Ar- mies, :are rather inflam'd with more acVive and valiant Refolutions, as will appear by the Repulfe given them by the Duke of Bavari*, not many ago. As Vol.111." a SPY at PARIS, a,? As foon as that News arrived in this Citf , one would have expe&ed to have feen feme Tokens of Fear in the People, but it wrought a con- trary Effeft. No Tears of Women and Children, no compaflionate Sighs for their flain Husbands, Fathers or other Relations ; no down-caft Looks, or ominous fhaking of Heads ; no melancholy Whifpers or portentous Stories were murmured in the Ears of the Multitude : But all Things appeared lively and profperous ; the very Wo- men exciting the young Men to lift themfelves Soldiers, and the Boys in the Streets making all their PafHmes condft in imitating the Mtn of dims, and learning the Dtfcipline gf War. There was no need to force Men to the Field. No fooner was the King's Intentions to raife new Forces divulged in the Provinces, but thoufands caraie voluntarily, and took up Arms, chufing rathor to feek honourable Deaths in the Toils and Hazards of War, than to lead ingloriousr Lives at Home, in the foft Enjoyments of Peace Thefe Things appeared to me as certain Pre fages of the riling Greatnefs of this Monarch j, and an evident Sign that the French Nation in this Age, Hull out-do their Anceftort in Warlike Deeds. The Stage of that bloody Combat, between the Forces of the Duke of Bavaria, and thofe under the Command of Marefchal Turenne, was Mergeri* theim . Since which there has been a more fierce Encounter between the Frtnfh and Imperialist at Me-fisim. Wherein the former have reco- vered the Honour they feemed to have loft in the Spring, owing much to the Bravery of the Landgrave of Hife-CaJfsl, who, with his Regi. meats, had a confiderable Share in the A&ions fcf this Day j and therefore has been prefented C with LETTERS Writ ly Vol . III. with magnificent Gifts by the Queen Regent. The Bavarians loftinthis Battle above Two thoufand common Soldiers, belides may Officers of Note. On the French fide, the Duke of Enguitn (who , had newly joined his Forces to thofe of Turenne) was wounded in the Arm, with two other Com. manders. Mon/ieur Grammtnil was taken Prifoner, but honourablytreated and fent away with Pre- fents by the Duke of Bavaria, together with In- ftruftions about a Neutrality, who is exchanged for a German of equal Quality. The Frtnch have alfo loft in this Battle above a Thoufand of the common Soldiers j fo that their Viftory coft them dear The Duke of Enguien, notwithftanding his Wounds, marches on the next Day with his Army to Norltnghen, offering to that Town a Neutrality and Liberty for the Garrifon to march out, which confifted of Three hundred Bavarian}. But re- ceiving a fierce Anfwer from the Governour, he caufed the Approaches to be made in order to an Aflault, which was begun that very Night, and a Breach made in the Walls ; upon which the Inha- bitants were forced to intercede with the Duke, that there might be a CefTation of Violence till the next Morning, promifing that then the Sol- diers mould furrender at Difcretion ; which was done accordingly. There he tarried eight Days to refresh his Army. Then he marched to Dtmienffnk, which was defended by a Garrifon of Five hundred Bavarians. He took this Place by Storm, yet gave Quarters to the Soldiers, who kid down their Arms, and yielded themfelves Prifoners. __ Leaving a Garrifon of three hundred French in the " Town, he removed his -Forces toward Heilbnn. But in regard this Place was defended "by Fifteen hundred Men he forbore to aflault it, and only quartered Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 17 quartered his Army in the neighbouring Villa- ges. Since that Time, which was about the middle of the laft Mam, there has been no confiderable Action between the F inch and the Germans. Yen thofs who pretend to be vers'd in military Affairs, iauu'ble Prudence had deter- mined to infatuate the Minds of the Germans, and seferve thofe two potent Nations, their Enemies, to be a farther Scourge to the Empire. Adieu, great Guardian of the eternal Monarch}, and believe Mahmut, when he folemnly fwears by Meant Sinai, and by the tcn:h Night of the Moon, that he adores thy confummate Virtue and Wif- dom, which never fail thee in Extremities. Paris, Bth of the $tk Mton, / the Tear 164 5 C 2 LET- 2.S L T T E R S Writ ly Vol. III. LETTER VIII. To Cara Halt, a Phyfician at Con- ftantmople. I AM weary of writing News of Battles an3 I Sieges to the Grandees ; and I know, thou ieldom troubleft thy felf with the Care of foreign Tran factions. Befides, I have no certain Intelli- gence of Moment to communicate. But I can acquaint thee with fomething more agreeable to thy Studies and Genius. Here is a Man in this City who was not born blind, but by fome ill hap loft the Ufe of his Eyes. Yet Nature feems to have recompenfed that Misfortune, in the Exquifitenefs of his FecL ing. Thou wouldeft fay he carried Eyes in his Fingers ends, fince he diftinguiftes thole Things by his Touch, which are the only proper Objecls of Siftht. Believe me, I think, there can te no Deceit of Confederacy, whereby he might blind others, iniread of being fo himfelf. I fa\v him. muffled! up with a Napkin which covered all his Face, then divers Pieces of E*ftem Silks, of va- rious Colours, were laid on the Table before him. He felt them attentively, and told us the Colour of each Piece exaftly. I who was never over-credulous of extraordinary Pretences, fufc pefting that either the Finenefs of the Linen which veiled his Face, might give him fome Glimpfe of the different Colours, or that fome By {rand er, with appointed Signs, might inform him, caufed all the Company to withdraw, except a learned Dervife, who was intimate with me. We threv & thick Velvet Mantle over his Face which reached down to his Navel, girding it about Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 19 about his Waift, fo as to leave his Arms at Li- berty. Then I procured finall Shreds of Silks, fuch as I could conceal in the Palm of my Hand: Thefe I caufed him to touch with his hingers, brought up as high as his Chin, fo that 'twas im- poflible for him to fee them, had he had the Ufe of his Eyes ; yet he made not the leaft Miftake in five feveral Colours We changed the Order of the Silks, and fometimes gave him the fame Piece four or five limes together; yet, as foon as he had felt it, he readily told us, 'twas the fame Colour. I tell thee, O learnad Haft, fuch an uncommon Experiment, afforded me Matter both of Delight and Wonder. I concluded from hence, that Na- ture is no Niggard in her Gifts, but fupplies the Defeirs of oneSenfe, by the Super- abundant Ac- curacy of another. We asked this blind Perfan, By what Diftinfticn he thus knew one Colour from another, without the Help of his Eyes He was not able to exprefs the particular Manner of this difcriminaring ienfaticn ; but only told us in general, that he felt as much Difference between the -std Silk and black, as he had formerly done during the Enjoyment of his Eye fight, between the Siikf of Pcrfia, and the fine Linen of Europe ; Which, thou knoweft, are as different to the Touch as fine Paper and Vellum. Thou that daily pryeft into the Faculties of Humane Bodies, art better able to judge whether this Man's Excellency lay in the Tenuity and Finenefs of his Skin, the Subtilty of his Spirits, or fome unufual, powerful, yet delicate Lnergy of his Soul ; or, whether it confiiled in all thefe . together. The Dervife who was with me, feemed not much to admire at this rare Quality of the blind Man: Telling me moreover, lhat about ten. C 3 Years 30 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. Years ago in his Travels, he had feen a blind Sta- tuarj at Florence, who undertook to make the Re- lemblance of an Image in the chief Tsmplc of that City, which he finifh'd fo much to the Life, that his Work could no otherwile be diftinguifh'd from the Original, than by the Difference of the Ma- terials, that being Alabafter, &// white Clay; which he ib tempered and moulded with his Fingers, as he continually felt of the other, that no Linea- jnent was left unexprefs'd. Indeed, when I reflected en our Mtttes in the Seraglio, and the unaccountable Sagacity with which they apprehended thofe Words which they never heard, I ceas'd to be furprized at what I Iiad feen the blind Man perform, or what the Der- wife had faid of the Statuary. I remember in Sa/- t9 dmurarh's Time there was a Mute, in whom the Grand Signior took infinite Delight For, be- fides a tlioufand pretty Geftures and Tricks, with which ihe ufed to divert that Ptince, he often made her his Secretary t employing her in writing Letters to his B*(f*'s and others, whilft he difta- ted to her by Signs. Although fhe could never receive the Sound of Words, nor utter any tha were articulate ; yet I have feen her tranfcribe a whole Chapter in the AUoran, containing a hun- dred and feventy yerficles, in as fine a Character, as the moft celebrated Scribei of the Empire ; and xv hen flie had done, would explain what fhe had thus written by Signs, which made it evident that ft e perre&iy underftood the 4lco;an. Theie are rare Gifts, my Friend ; yet were all the Mutei educated with as much Diligence and Care, as was Ssqvefia, (fo (he was called) 'tis pof- fibie they would attain to greater Perfection- I have been told, that her Tu:v, one of the learn- ed'ft Men in Arabia, beftowed many Years in. teaching her this Method of Reading, Under- Handing and Writing. This Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS.- ^r This puts me in mind of a Man who was bred a Mahometan, but being taken Captive by the French, embraced their Religion, not in his Heart, but only in outward Profeflion. When I firft ca-me to Parif, I fell into his Company by acci- dent, and underftanding that he was an *fncn t I defired to ask him fume Queftions, but he was dumb, fo that I had almoft laid afide my Hopes of converfing with him ; till perceiving that he moved his Lips, and opened his Mouth as one that was talking, I offered him Pen, Ink, and Pa- per, making Signs to him, that I would gladly know his Mind in Writing. He accordingly writ in Morefco, That he was ftruck deaf and dumb about eighteen Years fince ; telling me alfo the Place of his Nativity, and how he came hither ; I took the Pen, and in rhe fame Language ex- prels'd my Companion of his Misfortunes. When he faw that I underftood Manfco, he writ again, fignifying to me, That if I opened my Mouth wide at the pronouncing of every Syllable, he. could underftand my Meaning by the Pofture of my Lips and Tongue. I found his Words true, to my no fniall Admiration; for he would write down what I had faid. We converfed together often; and at length I procured his Efcape in the Retinue of a Chiaus that was returning from hence to Ctnfttminople. I befeech the wife Jrchitetr of Nature, and Re- pairer of Humane Dtfeffi, either to continue to us the Ufe of our Seafes, or to fupply that Want by fome fuperlative Endowments of the Mind. Paris, 2 otk tf the $;h Moon, of the Year 164$. L E T- 3* LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. LETTER IX. To Ufeph Baffa. THOU wilt fay, I am unmindful of my Duty in not congratulating thy new Honour before this ; and that I forget the good Offices which formerly pafs'd between us in the Seraglio. 1 tell thee my Obligations are infinite, not only to thee, but to many others of my -Friends at the Port: It is impoflible for me to acquit my Self of fo many Engagements. As for the Dignity to which the Sult*n has raifed thee, I received the firft News of it within thefe fourteen Days. And I dare affirm, That none of thy Friends, or of thofe whofe Dependence is on thee, could with greater Complacency behold thee vefted by our moft avguft Emperor, than I read the Let- ter which conveyed to me this welcome Intelli- gence. Long mayeft thou live to enjoy the Bleflings which thy good Fortune has heaped en thee. Yet I counfel thee to enjoy them fo, as not to forget thou muft die- Let not the Grandeur of thy Station render thee proud and wilful : But remember, when thou art furrounded with a Crowd of adorning Suppliants, that Death ft all level thee with the meauft or* thy Slaver. Thus the ancient Ptiilofophen fpared not to perform the Office of Monitors to their Kings and Princes : And I hope thou wilt not take in ill Part the wholefcme Advice of Mahmvt, who difcovers a Temper void of Hypocrify, in the Freedom lie afTumes. If thou giveft Ear to Flatterers, they will complement thee to thy Ruin ; and when thou art on the Brink of a Precipice, they Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 33 will perfwade thee there is no Danger, though, if thou goeft on, they know thy Fall is inevi- table. They will pride themfelves in the l>x- terity of their Malice, and infult ever thee with." fcornful Strctfmt, whom not long ago they ido- lized. The eminent Command thou haft, requires thy frequent Prefence in the jo-vtrtign Divan: And that thou may'ft not fit there, onJy as aa- Auditor of other Men's Counfels, and incapable of making one in the Number of thofe, who - become remarkable by their Orations, or Re. ports of foreign Events; I will now enter- tain thee with fome PaiTages, which have - happened in Europe fmce the Beginning of this Year, whereof the other Bajfr's may poflibly be ignorant. The Diet of francfvrt, which had continued for three Years, was diffolved on the 1 2th of the 4th Moon. This may be known at the Port, while - they remain Strangers to the Reafon of it. There . are a fort of Cbriftfa*; in Germany, whom they call Evtngelicki. Thefe are oppofite to the Roma* Chic-ch, both in Religion and Intercft j and their - Caufe is chiefly efpoufed by the Dukes of Saxcny and Brtndevburgh. It was to comply .with thefe, that an dtfembly was appointed at Ofnaburgh ; but . the Emperor and the Catholickt were either for - continuing that at Francfart, or tranflating it to Munfter. While the contending Parties were bickering, and ftrivingto gain their feveral Ends,- the Deputy of the Duke of Bavaria, tired OUt- with fuch intolerable Delays, departed from. Francfort, whom the reft of the Deputies followed.. And this thou mayeft report for the true Occafion of the Dijfilutian of t at Diet. Thus, at the Beginning of the Year, the Dif_ putes which thofe Irfdels raifed about fafe Con C y duft" ;4 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. TIL duft, Exaftnefs of Titles, Priority of Addrefs, and many other vain PMflih'o's, hindered them from coming to any Conclusion about a Peace, wh ch was the principal Caufe of theiraffembling. And this is a Folly peculiar to the tfazarener, that in a 1 publick s.ffcmb'iei the very Strength and Vi- rals of their Counfels, are fpent in a vain adjuft- ing of mpty Ceremcnt'ei. it is credibly reported here, That the King of Poland earneftly folicites a Match with Queen Chnjlina of Swedeland, but has not hitherto had any pofitive Anfwer, or effefted any thing in it. In the fecond Moon of this Year, that Queen lent an simbe/ador, to give the King of Poland an ac- count, That flie had taken the Govonmtnt upon her While he : tarried in the Pali/h Court, there were not wanting fuch, as by the King's Order, fifted his Inclination, in Reference to this Affair. It was propofed to him that this Match would be u happy Occaflon to unite the two Kingdoms in a firm and durable League : That the Evange- iicks in Poland would be much eafed thereby : That Ultdifiatts was not much decayed in his natu- ral Vigour : That Smtdcland might in the mean while be governed by the Council ; with many other Propofals and Encouragements to this Pur- pofe. Among which I muft not omit, that it \vas fuggefted, how eafy 'twould be for two fuch potent Crowns, in Cwjunftion, not only to hum- ble the Germans, but alfo to put a Stop to the Victorious Arms of the Ottoman Empire. But all this came to nothing , that wary Queen fu- fpecling that there was a deeper Defign in the Courtfhip of this old Fox; and that by fuch a M*:ck, the Kingdom of Swtdtland, in Default of the ijfui Royal, might be fubjeCted to a However, Vol.111, a SPY at PARIS. 3^ However, it is eafy to apprehend from this. that if the Poles maintain at prefent their Accord with the fukhrne Port, 'tis for want of Strength to- break it ; and that they only wait an Opportunity to make fome potent and firm Alliance, which* may fecond the Defigns formed by that Conn a- gainft the frft Throne on Earth, whereof thou art one of the principal Pillars. Remain firm in thy Station, and let neither the Tempefts of War, nor the Convulfions of State, which are the too frequent Products of Peace, lhake thy Confrancy. But above all, fuffer not thy Integrity, which is the Bafit of all Virtue^ to be undcrmin'd by Bnbes. If thou followed this Counfel, Go^and his Pro. ;>* Praecepcor to the Royal Pages of the Seraglio. THERE is a vaft Difference between thy Letter, and that of Shajhtm Iftham. He is eloquent in the Acknowledgment of his Crime , thou rhetorical in thyownjuftification. Thou haft plundered Demojllienessuid Cicero, and robb'd em of all the Flowers and Trtpgs of Oratory, to drefs up a faint , lifelefs Excufe. Siich an artificial Apology, inftead of cancelling, heightens thy Offence H might 36 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. might have procured thee the Applaufe of the Academy ; but it comes fhortof giving me Satisfa- ftion for the Injuries I have received at thy Hands. I have Reafon to efteem them fuch ; be- caufe fo defign'd, altho' they tsok no Effeft. For Wrongs of this kind ought to be meafured by the Intention of the Author, not by their Succefs. The Minijlen of the Divan will hardly be pre. vailed to fufptd Mahmue, who has given fubftan- rial Proofs of his Fidelity. Tell me, in the Name of God and Mthomet, what was the Motive that induced thee to flan- der me ? Wherein have I merited this Perfecutioa at thy Hands? It could not be Revenge, be- caufe I never gave the Occafion ; unleis thou iHll retaineft a Grudge on the Score of my Study- ing in the Academies ; and that at my Return from Paltrmo, thou wert not able to expofe me in the Prefence of the Mufti, in any Point of Lan- guage or Learning. But I had rather charitably believe 'twas thy Ambition, not thy Malice, which gave Birth to thofe Calumnies thou haft ventured againft me. Thou envieft me the Honour of ferving the Grand Seignior in this Station, think- ing thy felf capable of difcharging this Office more fuccefsfully than Mahmut. I cenfure not thy Abilities; but think 'tis beft for every Man to be content with his own Condition, fince Dtfliny diftributes the Employments of the World a- mong Men, by Rules into which we cannot pc. netrate. Thou art Matter of the frexc h Tongue ; but doft thou think that a complete Qualification for a Man in my Poft ? Art thou fit to converfe in the Ctun of a foreign Prince, who canft not go* vern thy Tongue in that of thy native Sove- reign ? Thou art yet to learn a Curtier's Mafter- piece, which is, To diflemble even the neceflkry Art Vol. TIL 'a SPY at PAR'IS. 37 Arc of Diflimulation. That is, as the drahanf fay, To have * Peilupon a Veil; or as the Italians, To have a Matk with * natural Face on the out/id*. Tho\i art fo far from this, that thou canft not yet draw perfectly the firft rough Strokes of aCoun- terfcit. To fpeak plain, hadft thou by any artificial feigning of Friendfliip to me, made Way to inli- nuate thy Story into the Belief of the Grander s, thou mighteft have praifed me to my Ruin. But to go bluntly to Work, without preventive Encomiums, difcovered at once the Weaknefs of rhy Judgment, and the Strength cf thy Paffion ; giving the Mlniften Occafion to-rhink there was lefs of Truth, than of Defign in thy Accufa- tions. For the future, I advife thee to mind thy Books and Scholars, and meddle not with Maktnut, whofe Bufinefs is to ftudy Men. Adieu. Par's, ji& of the lotk Motn, of the Tear 1645:. LETTER XL To tbt Reis EfFendi, Principal Secretary of btace. TT/ITH extreme Joy I have received the VY certain News of the taking of Canto, by the invincible Ottoman Arms. I muft confefs, when I firft apprehended the Intentions of Sultan Ibrakim, to make War with the Refublick of Venice, I was apt to hearken to fome thinking Men in this Cottrt, who, making their Obferyations of the Sultan's indulging him' 38 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. HI. himfelf in Female Pleafures, conjeftured from thence (as by a common Rule) thut he would not have difcovered fuch a martial and aftive Sui. rit, in afferting the Honour of the Otttman L*t. fire. His dextrous concealing his Defigns, even to the very Execution of them, has ftruck a Damp into ail the Courts in Euro??, infomuch as Cardi- nal Mewini this Day told the Queen Regent, That he doubted left Sultan Ibrahim would prove another Jur.iitJ Brutus, who being the Nephew of T*>quin, one of the Primitive Kings of Rome for fome Years, counterfeited an extraordinary Sim- plicity and Weaknefs of Spirit : But having pri- vately fecured a Faftion to his own Interefts by popular Arts, he, to gain the Sovereignty, changed the Form of Government, procured him- felf to be made Gonful, and difcovered a Genius, furpaffing in Policy and mature Judgment, all his Fredeceflbrs. Though the CardinaTs Comparifon be difpro- portionate to the Grandeur of the fevereign Em- peror of the World, who cannot without a vaft Injury be poftpon'd in Virtue, Wifdom or Power, as a Second or Imitator of any Prince upon Earth : Yet the Character holds good in the main, That he has timely and maturely diflembled the moil fublime Abilities and Endowments a fovereign Prince is capable of, rendering thereby his Ene- mies fecure and carelefs ; till at length all thofe illuftrious Attributes exert themfelves on a fud- den, breaking forth like the Sun from an Eclipfe ; at once dazling the aftonifli'd World, and furpri- zing the Enemies of the Ottoman Empire, in the Slumbers which proceeded from the Contempt of his facrtd Majeftf. I thought indeed once that the Venetians would have been in a Condition to have faced the Or- t man tfavj, and difputed their farther Progreis on Vol. III. f SPY at PARIS. 39 on the Seas. I expefted no lefs than that they would have made fome huffing Attempts on the IJles of drchipelagt; that they would have enter'd the HeSffpent, braved the Dardaneli, and failing forward would- nave block'd up the Ottoman Wavy in the Pr^ntls, or driven them into the Euxini Sea for Shelter. And who could have thought otherwife, had they been provided for a War ? But our fage Emperor, by Secrecy, which is the very Soul of all great Undertakings, has antici- pated their very Fears, and leap'd upon the Prey while the Keepers were afleep * Had the Chrjjlian Princes and Statet laid afide their private Punctilio's and Animofities, when the ftnttiam firft made their Application to them for Afliftance, it might have pioved a doubtful War. But inftead of generoufly uniting their Forces in the common Defence of Ckriftendom, they begin to divide their Intercfts and Hearts one from an- other, and that upon the vaineft Motives in the World, one State difputing with another about Precedency of Pofts in the Army, which proceed- ed to that Height, as to fruftrate the main Defignr For the Pooe himfelf at laft is forced to raife the greateft Aids the States of Pinice are like to have ; joining his Galiies with theirs, and fending a thouland Foot on Board at his own Coft. Thus does Divine Providence, out of the Dif- cords of Ckrijiian Princes, draw Occafions to en- large the facred Empire of the Mujfulmans, and to fpread the Ottoman Conquefls o'er the Wtftern World. Paris, *of of 'the nth Mow, of the Tfar 1645. L E T- 40 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. LETTER XII. Jo the Magnificent and Redoubtable Vizir Azem. IT appears that the Uttteen of France is very in- dulgent to her Gsneralt, having called home the Duke of Enguien from the Toils of War. This Prince neglefting the Wounds he received in the Battle of ^tlerjbeim, not many Days after, fell in- to a violent Fever ; fo that he was carried in a Horfe-Litter to Philipsburgb, with no fmall Dan- ger of his Life. As foon as he recovered his Health, he was commanded to return to Franct. and the Charge of the whole Army committed to Marefchtl Turenne. Such Tendernefs is never fhew'd to the invinci- ble Ottoman Generals, neither would they efteem it a Favour, but a Difgrace. When they go to the Wars, they make no underhand Leagues with the Elements to fpare their Bodies, but are refolved to combat with Cold, Heat, Hunger, Thirft, and all the Hardiliips to which Soldiers are liable, as well as with the Swords of their linemies. They take no other Armour againft the rigorous Frofts of a Ruffian Winter, or the icorching Sands of a Perfian Summer, but an un- ihaken Refolution, an invincible Patience, and a .Mind incapable of bowing under the worfl Misfortunes They are not angry with the Weapons of their Adverfaries, when they carve in their Limbs, the Marks of an Hoaour, which will far outlaft the Pain of their Wounds ; and in flieir Flefh hew deep Characters of an im- mortal Fame, and a Renown which (hall know no Period. They are not parfimonious of their Bfc Vol. III. a SPY at PARTS. 41 Blood, but court their Enemies to fpill it on th e Ground, from whence it will fpring up in Lau- rels and Wreaths, to crown them with Tri" \imphs and Glory whilft they live, and for to fweeten their Memory with the Praife of future Generations Thus, Magnanimous Pizir, do the Mu/u/mart Herco, the P/-c/>; of the fi-Jl Emfi>-e, manifelr. their Courage, in defying of Dangers and Wounds, and fcorning to capitulate with Fortune for Eafe and Exemption from Death. They knew, that when they march again ft the h.fideli, 'tis in Vindication of the eternal U>,i:j and therefore, inftead of endeavouring to fhun, they court a Death fo glorious, as that which will immediate- ly tranfport them to the Bsfcm of our koly Pro* pbet, and to the inexfnjjtsle Del'ghts of the Gar. dens of Eden. Where this Truth is firmly root- ed, there is no Room for Fear to plant it felf. But the Cafe is otherwife with Infidels, who blafpheme that pureft undivided E/lnce. They aflert and believe a Plurality of Godi, and there, fore, in Time of Danger, amongfl fo many Dii- tie), they know not whom to addrefs, or whom to confide in. The Apprehenfion of Death is terri- bie to them, whofe Hope is only in this Life ; whofe Confciences are ftaiiaed wirh a thoufand Pollutions, and yet renounce the very Method of being clean Who not only err themfelves, but by their evil Example and Influence, Cfor J fpeak of the Princes and Great Ones) draw innumerable after them, to tafte of the Tree Zacon, which grows in the witdle of HcU. People fpeak variouflyof the Dukt of Engvuns Conduft in the Battle of Jllt-.fodm. His Crea- tures extol his Valour and Experience with Hyperboles-, whilft his Enemies endeavour to leflen his Reputation. Some fay, he owes his Revo- 4* LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. Revocation to the Queen's Diflike ; others attri . bute it to the extraordinary Concern (he has for his Health. But fuch. as would be efteemed the wifer fort fay, His Return is voluntary and fought by himfelf, fcorning to hold his Cwwif- fan any longer at the Pleafure of Cardinal Maza- rini, who, 'tis thought, firft procured him this Employment, only to have him out of the way, and take off his Appttcat'on from the domeftick Affairs of France. Thefe are the Difcourfes of the People at prefent, who yet perhaps may change their Opinions before the Sun goes down. They will always be cenfuring and defcanting on the Aftions of their Suferitntrs- few being v-illing to think their Tougues were given them to lie idle. It is but a little Member, but often does great Mifchief by its A&ivity, One of the Ancients gave no good Character of it, when he called it a Damon. Yet we are not bound to believe all that the Phtlofophtrt faid. &fop gave the moft impartial Account of this Member, when he faid, Twas the bed, and tht worft. Sometimes I fit filent raany Hours together ; not for want of Company, (for here's a Glut of that 5n this populous City ;) nor becaufe I know not what to fay, (for I could fpeak a great deal more than 'tis fit for others to hear) but that I may fludy with lefs Interruption, how to ferve my grea: Mafter. For mucn talking enervates the Judgment, and evaporates the Mind into Air. Befides, by thus praftifing Silence in private I karn the Art of retraining my Words in publick, when it is requifite to promote the Ends at which I aim "Tis not for a Man in my Station to be open and talkativa, but to diftinguilh Perfons and Seafons ; to underfland the due Stops and Advances of my Tongue; fome-tirnes to fay much in a little, at other time* to Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 43 to fay little or nothing at all ; but ever fo to fpeak, as not to lay my felf naked to the Hear- ers ; yet to feem a very frank, open-hearted Man, in what I difcourfe of. I would not have thee conclude from what I have faid, that Mabmut ufes any Referve to the tdimfter, of the Divan, who are Mines of Science and Wt'fdom, and can eaflly difcern the Heart thro* the moft artificial Veil of Words. But it isabfo- lutely necefTary for me toufe Difllmulationin this Cvurt, feemlng many times ignorant of what I really know, that I may not be thought to know more than they would have me. I was never yet fo indifcreet, as to publifh any Secret that was com- mitted to my Charge, whereby I have gain'd great Confidence with Men who delight to unbofome their Intelligence. They efteem me a Man of In- tegrity, and fit to be trufted. Thus am I made privy to many Intrigues of the Grandees, and a Repofitory of the Ceu>t News : Whilft they whif. per in Mahmut's Ear what is tranfafted in the Roy- al Bed- Chambers, and private Apartments. By this Means I came acquainted with an A- mour of Cardinal Mazarini, which is known but to a few. This Minifter has none of the worft Faces, and a proportionate Elegance in his Shape: Much addicted alfo to the Love of Women ; yet he manages his Intrigues with that Cau- tion and Privacy, as not to expofe the Honour of his Funffion. Among the reft, he had fre- quent Accefs to the Chamber of a certain Co- tefs Dowager, her Husband being lately deceafed. This was not carried fo privately, but 'twas v htfpered about that a Man was feen often to come out of this Ladies Chamber a little before Day; but no Body knew who it was (for the Cardinal went difguifed ) At laft it came to 44 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. the Queen's Ear, who was refolved to unravel this Intrigue. She caufed Spies to be placed at a con- venient Diftance from the Lady's Chamber-Door, which opened in a Gallery of the Rojal Palace, with Orders to trace him home. That Night the defigned W*ttb was firft let, it fortuned that the Cardinal being in the Cwntcjfes Chamber, her Maid, who was privy to this Amour, overheard thefe Spies talking to each other concerning her Lady, which made her more attentive (being in a Place where Ihe could not befeen) till at length fiie plainly difcovered, That they lay in wait to find out who it was that had been leen coming out of the Chamber. She quickly acquaints the Ctuntsfs with this News, bhe ccnfults the Car- dinal what was beft to be done to avoid Difcove- ry. In fine, it was agreed between them, that the Caunteft fhould put on the Cardinafs Diiguife, and he a Suit of her Cloaths ; that flie Ihould go out at the ufual Hour of his Retreat, and walk in the Gardens.; that if examined, Ihe fhould pretend this Difguife was to guard her from the rude Attempts of Men, who if they found a Lady alone in the Night-Time, would not fail to offer forne Incivilities ; that foon after her Departure, the Cardinal Ihould go forth in her Drcfs, and Ihifr for himfelf. This was performed accordingly. The Ctuntef: walked into the Gar- dens in the CardtHal's Difguife, followed by the Spier, whilft he goes to an intimate Friend's Houfe, fan /:*//, whofe Fortune depended on this Minifttr; and changes his Female .Accoutre- ments for the proper Apparel of his Sex. The Countep having walked about half an Hour in the Garden, was feized on by fome of the Guardi, under Sufpicioa of fome iil Defign. She was carried before the Q*t<.n, and examined. She thea Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS- 45- then difcovered herfelf, begging the Queen's Par- don, and telling her, That a particular Devotion had obliged her to take that Courfe for feveral Mornings ; but if it offended her Majefy, flie would hold her felf difpenfed with, and would forbear. The Queen feeming fatisfied with this Anfwer, difmifled her. Thus the Amours of the Cardinal and the Ctunteft remained a Secret ; and there are but three Perfons (befides themfelvesj that know any thing of it, among which Mabmut Is one. Thou feeft, Illujirious Minifter, that the Reputa- tion of my Secrecy, has gained me the Confidence of one of the Cardinal's Privado's ; for I had this Relation from the Kalian whom I mentioned, at whofe Houfe the Cardinal changed his Difguife. I am not without Hopes, by the prudent Manage- ment of this Difcovery, to penetrate farther into the Court Intrigues. For he that told me this Story, considered not that he made me thereby Mafter of his Fortune, and that it is no longer fafe for him to deny me any Intelligence I require of him. He has put a Key into my Hand, which Will open his Breaft at my Pleafure. Yet I need not magifterially claim Difcoveries from him, as the only Conditions on which he is to expeft my concealing what he has already dif- cloied. There is a more dextrous and ferviceable way to become his Confejfir, without fuch an in- grateful Infult; whilft with a well afted Candour I feign a Relation of fuch Things as I fufpe^r, yet cannot be certain are true, till attefted by himfelf, profeffing at the fame Time not to be- lieve thofe pretended Reports I heard. If I fhall be fo happy as to do any effectual Service to the 'Grand Seignior by this Engagement, it will anfwer .-my Ends, and I lhall not repent of my Craft. Mahmut 46 LE'TTERS Writ fy Vol.111. Mahmut falutes thee, fovcreign Bafla, in the humbleft Pofture of Adoration, lying proftrate on the Ground, in Contemplation of thy Gran- deur. Befeeching God that he would grant this Favour to thee, To live happily, and to die in thy Bed. Paris, ao? of the i ith Moon t of the Ttar 1645. LETTER XIIL To Egri BoignoUj a White Eunuch. THOU giveft me abundant Proofs of thy Affe&ion and Friendfhip, in frankly telling me what they fay of Makinut in the Seraglif. I do not expeft tote free from Cenfure; and am fo far from being difcouraged at the Obloquies feme Men faften on me, that it adds to my Com- fort ; it being an allured Mark of Innocence, to be traduced. I am not defirous that the Arabian Proverb fhould be verified in me, which fays, That he defefvet no Man's good Word, ff vhom all Men fpeak weS. I dread to be popular at fuch a Price, and will rather court the Slanders of the envious, by a {redfaft Perfeverance in my Duty, than lay a Train for the Complements of Flatte- rers, by favouring Sedition. Thou knoweft what Reafon I have to fay this. There needs no In- terpreter between us. Though the Black Eunuch has recanted his Afperfions, yet there are others who perfift in their Malice; and it will be difficult for the Mafttr of the Pages, with his beft Rheto- riek, to exempt himfelf from the Number. I have Vol. III. # SPY &t PARIS. 47 I have received both their Apologies, and have anfwer'd them. I wiih they would reform this Vice ; not fo much for my fake, who am Proof againft their Accufations, as for their own : For the Injury they intended to do me, will redound moft to themfelves. Mifery is on him that perfe- cuteth his Neighbour. He that is merciful and gracious, who hath fe- parated the Brightnefs of the Day from the Qbfcu- rity of the Night, defend both thee and me from the Malice of Whifperers, from the Enchantments of Wizards, and fuch as breathe thrice upon the Knot of the Triple Cord. "Paris, loth of the nth Moon t of the Tear 1645. LETTER XIV. To Muftapha., Berber Aga. THOU wilt laugh at the Hypocrifie an3 Folly of the Nazarenet, when 'thou lhalt know the Articles agreed upon betweenthe Ettffor of Saxony and Koningfmark, one of the ^Stpedi/h Generals, on the 27th of the 8th Moon. The Svedes had prevail'd on the Son of the Eh- &or y to intercede with his Father fora Truce; but the old Duke would not hearken to any thing of that Nature, till Torflenfon gave Orders to the Svudijb Army in thofe Parts, that they fhould qpprefs the EleRor's Subje&s, by exacting fro m them unreafonable Taxes and Contributions; and thar they fhould Jay defolate all the Countries about Drj/W #, if they refiifed to pay what was demanded of them. -Accordingly they took a CaftJe, 48 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. Caftle, which commanded a large Valley of Mea- dows and Corn-Fields. The Swedes burnt the Corn on the Ground, led away the Peafants Captives, and demolifhed many Towns and Vil- lages ; yet not without fome Lofs on their fide : For the Saxons one Night ftole upon them while they werefecurely fleeping, andilewan hundred and Twenty, taking above Three hundred Pri- foners. Thofe who were left in PofTeflion of the Caftle, met with no better Fortune ; being com- pelled in a few Days to furrender this their new Conqueft, with Five Enfigns and a Hundred and fifty Prifoners, which were all carried in Triumph to Drefdcn. One would have thought that thefe Succefles fhould have confirmed the Elefttr in the Aver/ion he had already conceived for a Treaty, that he would rather nave purfued his good Fortune with Arms ; efpecially when by cntring into a private fcparate Tfeatj with the Sw(dej, he muft needs give a great Sufpicion to the Jffemblj of the De- puties. But the old Duke doted ; and what nei- ther the repeated Solicitations of his Son, nor the continual Ravages which General Konifyjmark made in his Territories, could procure from him, that he granted to the charming Addrefles of a beautiful Lady. The Elefttr's Son adhering much to the Svedifo Intereft, and finding all other Means ineffectual to oblige his new Friends ; it was agreed upon "between him and Konittgfmtrk, that ha fhould at kaft, perfwade his Father to a Trues of a few Days: That, during the Ceflation of Arms, the Son fliould invite his Father to a Banquet, where Koniugfrn^rk fhould be prefenf, with fome of the principal Swedes In his Army. All this fucceeded according, to their Wifhes. The good old Man confented to a Ceaation of Arms, and Vol. in. a SPY at PARIS. 49 and to _gtve Konixgfma'k a Meeting at his Son's Banquet. The German Gallantry, and indeed that of all Nerth Europt, confifts much in their excef- vc Drinking : He is efteemed the moft polite Man who can bear moft Wine, with leaft Altera- tion of his Temper. This they call Carou/ing. The Soi had provided Plenty of thofe Wines which grow on the Banks of the Rhine, efteem'd the wholfomeft and moft delicious of all thofe Parts. It is not necefTary to repeat particularly their firft Salutes and AddrefTes r Both Parties feemed emulous to exceed in Civilities. They fell to their Wine with Freedom and Mirth, af- ter the manner of the Country. When in the midft of their Glatfes, whilft the Heart of the old Duke was elevated with the Juice of the Grape, came into the Room a tall Perfonage all in Ar- mour, and making his Obeyfance to the Compa- ny, delivered a Letter to Ge ne rai Koningfma, k the General having received it, the Stranger was invited by the /?#<'$ Son to ilc down with them. He was Matter of the Feaft, and only Koningf. mark and the Stranger, befides himfelf, were pri- vy to the Intrigue. The Stranger unbuckled his Helmet, and pul- ling it off (for all th-e reft of the Company were uncovered, it being the hotteft Day in all the Suinnttr) difcovered a Face and Hair, much like one of thole Nymphs defcdbed by Poets and Painterf. The Duke could not withdraw his Eyes from this furprizing Beauty, nor fix his roving Thoughts: Sometimes it put him in mind of Ganymede, the difcardcd Minion of Jupiter but G*nym de was never feen in Armour. Then he thought of Jdonls, then of the Btbjlovian Pyra m mat, the Indian Atys. In finr, he run over all the celebrated Youths of the */?, to mr.tch the D Beauty $o LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. Beauty of this illuflrious Stranger He drank and g-az'd, v> hilft r.is Son and Koningfmark were pleas'd to lee the Baits take. From ruminating on our }u;x, he pafs'd to that of Women ; And remem- bring that in ibme former Battles between the Sweats find German;, feveral Ladies had difguifeJ them lei ves in Armour, and followed General 7o/-- iienloK to the Field, he concluded piefently, that this was ibme beautiful Female of Svoeddand. This Thought put the old Duke into a pleafant Fit of Raillery, yet not without Ibme Mixture of Riiflion for this lovely Htroine. There was feme- thing fo peculiarly graceful in all her Carriage and Adarefs, as charm 'd the /<#or's Heart, The Wo- men in thofe Parts of Europe, are not fo precife in their Conveifation with Men, as in the ajt. And 'tis a great Point of Education, fo to adjuft the Punftiliis of their Deportment, as neither to appear too open, nor too refer v d This was her Matter piece, for fhe fo equally divided the Parts (tie was to aft, both of a Maid and Soldier, that neither entrenched on the other, but fhe acquitted herfclf w*th exquilite Honour and Gallantry. 'The next Day after the Banquet, the Son re- newed his Mediation for a Treaty, but the Elector n'd cold. All his Thoughts were bufied ia ruminating on his fair Enemy. . Not to detain thee Icnger in Expectation of the fjTue, the Love of this young sttntzon had taken fo deep Rcot in his Heart, that he would, grant uj.hing but for her fake, neither could he-d^ny any- thing which Ihe dclired. Thus, by this Strata- gem, they accomplilh'd their Aims, andhecoade- fcended to a Tre:y, after fourteen Days '.Debate cm the Articles : Of which 1 herefend-t'ieea true and particular Copy, that rJiou mayeft -fi.nd fome Divertifement in the Folly of.dre.7*/dfc/J. The At tides are as follow : T II AT Vol. III. A S p Y at P A R i s. 5" i > TH A T it fhould be lawful for the Duke to keep due Faith to the Emptror nor ' fhould he be obliged to admit any thing contra- ' ry to the In-ereft of the Empire. 4 That the Elettor fhould not lend the Ewperor ' above three Regiments of Horfe, nor fhould ' permit him to raife Soldiers in his Principality. ' That the Swfdet fliould have free and fafe ' rPallage through 5.v9y, provided they came 4 not within three-Miles of Drefden. ' That there . flip u Id be free Traffick between ' the ElettiSs Subjects and the Swedes by Land ' and Water, 1 That at the end of three Months, each Party ' fliould be obliged to declare, Whether they ' would prolong the Truce, or break it off. ' That the Etctfir ftould again enjoy his Reve- ' Hues, except thofe which were drawn from Leip- ' fi t k. That he (hould pay the Swedes Eleven * thoufasil Rix Dollars a Month, and a certain ' Quantity of Corn. That the Eleffor fliould do nothing which ' might hinder the Siege of Migdiburgh. "Thofe Anichs, at firfl Sight, , appeared to ba equally favourable to the Saxons and to the Sw.dst. But in reality they ferved only as an Umbrage t deeper Defigns, which the Sweaet had in Agita- tioji. For this was the . firft Step to draw the S*XOH off from the Emp&rar's Party ; and Terftenfcn was now lecure, that whilft the Svtdei ruflied farther into Germany, the Saxant. would not mo- left them behind. For my Part, I neither underftand the Policy nor the Integrity of the Elefftr, in figning theft Articles ; nor how he can reconcile the firi> of them with any of the reft ; To give fafe Con. D 2 duft, fi LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. tluft, and kind Entertainment to the Enemies of iiis tovettiztt: To be>cbliged not to lend him any more Afllftarice than his Enemies lhall allow, nor fufFer him to raiie Forces at his own Charges: To be cheated of his own Revenues, and tamely yield to pay a monthly Tribute befides : To be tied up from fuccouring one of the principal Towns in his P>incip*lity, at that time befieged by the Sweats- this is a new Method of keeping due Pui'h to sovereign?, or of oberving common .Prudence for ones felf. But Women and Wine caafe a wife Man to finmblc. as the Arabians fay. And this old Prince is blefled in a hopeful Son, who is not afhamed to turn Pimp, that fo he may betray his Father to his mortal Enemies. But let the Chnftian proceed in their Falfliood and Treachery one againft another, u hilft every good MifTulvian proftrates himfelf/y-r times a Day; and prays in his Integrity for the Confummation of that Time, wherein Gd has determined to put a Period to the Monarchies of thefe h>fidth t and to reduce them to the Faith and Obedience of his hoiy Lav. I wifh fome of my Friends would fend me fome Rehtion of what pafles in the Eaff : J have heard nothing of Moment out cf *fia- thefe many Mom. I could almoft think my felf banifhed from "the eternal Providtnctj whilft I refide among rhefe Mtcircutncifed. Think fometimes on Mahmut; and if >thou canft not relieve his Melancholy, at leaft, pity him whom all the Honours and Pfeafures of thefe Wrftnt Parts, would not be able" to -exhila- rate. fo long as he apprehends Jiimielf- forgotten by his Friends at Paris, loth of tke \itk. Mcon, f tltt Tear 1^4?. L E T- Vol. III. a SPY at PA-HI V f& LETTER XV. 70 Ma hummed Hogia, Dervife, Bremic Inhabitant of the Sacred Cave,, *f f& foot ef Mount Uriel / Arabia the Happy. HY Remembrance is as the Dew of the. Evening, or the Midnight Breezes in ; alter thefcorching Fervours of a Summer's Day, when neither Trees, nor Houfesv nor high- eft Mountains afford any Shadow. Such are the Employments of State, keeping the Mind in as reftlefs an Activity, as that which the Philofopkert fay is the Occafion of Heat. Such alfo is the Kefrefhment I find in thinking on thee, whofe Soul is a Manflon of Tranquility, an Umbrella of Temperance, and all Virtue. Thither I retreat for Reipiration from the Fatigues of worldly Bu- frneis. Pardon the bold Accefs of an humble Slave who cannot be fo happy as to vifit. thes any other wife than by Letters, yet would be mi- ferable in the want of tins Privilege. Ever fince I had the Honour to kHVthe Dud of thy Feet in that .j'acred Retirement, I was filled with Love and Admiration of thy Sanctity. Thrice happy are the neighbouring Shepherds, whofe Flocks feed under thy aufpicious Prote- ftion. No fierce Lions, no ravenous Tigers, dare violate that Sanftuary, or hunt far Prey within thofe Meadows, confecratcd by thy Pre- ience. That rich and flow'ry Vale, was firft fe- cured with an eternal Immunity from Spoil and Rapine, by the Bleffing of our holy Prtpkei. Now that Blefling feems to be redoubled by thy Prayers and AblKnendes, who inherited his . Spirk as well as his Abode. 'Twas in that ^.7 D 3 Grvr, 54 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. Cave, the Meffexger of Ge nctk *s Abraham, chf/le f Jcfe>>h, and ten>}?r*te is Vol. ITI. rfSpy at PARIS. 5^ Ifmael. Thou h aft experienced the Efiefl: of l.ts ,-, , . o Benediction. There is another Happinefs alfo attends thy Retirement ; thou livefr free from Cares and An- xieties ; thou committeft the publick Good to the Ccnduft of thy Sovereign, and thy private Wei- fare, to the Protection of Providence ; neither tlilquieted for the one, nor folicitous for the orher. Who rifes, and who fiMs. in the Favour of the Sultan ; who purchases the Government of the Empire by their .M>rits,. or who by their Mo- ney ; whether it be betcer to remain in the S^e- gho, or to be made Bnf* cf &.>.ypt t are Cares r never moleft thee. Thou canft fit in that Savflu- ary of Peace, and pity thole whofe Ambition, ard the Love of Glory, has driven into the Tails of War. Thou ca:-:ft behold with CompaiTion the burthenfome Attendants of the Great; their La- bours by Day, and their Watchings by Night 5 their refllefs Thoughts and bufy Aftions ; mace- rated Bodies, and uneafy Souls ; while with inde- fatigable Pains they purfue mere Shadows, and endeavour to graip the Wind, orfecure to them- felves a Bubble, which is no fooner touched, than it vanifiies Thou in the mean time art filling thy Mind with folid Knowledge, and laying up PolTefTicns which (hall never be taken from rhee: For the Soul carries her Goods along with her t'> that other World. I often with my fclf with thee ; snd the Re- membrance of what I once enjoyed in thy Con- verfation, cannot be effaced by Difbnceof Tinv?- and Place. The farther I am from th*e, the more ardently do I long to fee thee Bat even in thefe innocent Defires, there is a neceflary Mortification ; fmce we are not born for our felves, but to comply vith the n)f-t;-fou: Ends of Fn:e. 1 am appointed to ferve the Grand Sigxfor D 4 in f6 LETTERS Writ Ij Vol. III. in this Place ; where I endeavour to acquit my felf a faithful Sltve , and a good Mu/alman. If I fail in the/'-y?, my gre*t Mtfttr will punifh me ; if in the laff, Got and his- Prcphtt will revenge it. Yet I hope every Frailty will not be efteemed a Tranfgreffion, fince the Heart and the Hands go noralways together. I often ftrive to imitate thy Abfh'nence, but my Appetites are too ftrong for me : I return to my old Courfe again, like a Bo v that is forcibly bent. Yet I fin not in this, lince it is nor required ai my Hands. Pray for me, hojj Man of Gtd, that while I aim at the 4? Things, I may not fall into the vtrft - t and by ftriving to aim at Perfcttiw, \ may not crack chole Powers which are requifite to keep me ftedfaft in the High-way of moral Virtue. I leave thee to thy Contemplations, and the Society of thy courteous Angth, who ever wait at the Door of thy Ctit. Paris, 20/4 of the j itk of the Tear LETTER XVI To Ufcph Bafia. 1 Forme 1 ly acquainted thee, That King of Peland, fought Chriftina, Queen of *>v>(dtn, in Marriage ; but that his Propofal was rejected. Now thcu may'ft know that this Mo- March has made a more luccefsful Amour being married to Ltuife M*rie dt Gonzguf t Princcjs of kmmu*. The Nuptial Solemnities were perform'd in this City by the ^mbaffador of Fotat.d, who was his Mailer's Proxy. The greateft part of the laft Moen was fpent in Masks, Banquets, and Court-Revels, to. honour the Efpouja/f of this. <> ew Vol. ITT. *SPY at PARIS. 57 new Queen, who is iince gone towards Poland, being attended to the jprontiers by a numerous Train of the Nobili:y, With all the Ceiemonies* and Regard due to a PetlW.of her Rank. The F ench, who are never fparing in Words, are too liberal in the Praifes they beftcw on this Princefs. For if all were true they fay of her, fhe- might be lifted in the Number of s/>.ge/j; wi^ereas fome more impartial Eyes have difcovered fuch Imperfections/ as fpeak her yet on this fide a Saint. But ordinary Virtues in Princes dazzle the Multitude, borrowing a greater Luftre from the Nobility of their Blood, and rhe Eminence of their Quality ; whilft their Vices are either fhrou. ded from the Vulgar, or made to pafs for Virtues, in the artificial Drefs which Flatterers put on them. 'Tis under this Advantage the new Queen of Poland is cry'd up for a Din ; rho' a late Saty~ rift vindicates her from being half fo cruel as that Giddeff. It being no Secret that a young Italian M*>quis had fomething kinder Ufage than had ; A8*<>n, when he accidentally encountered this Princefs, as fhe was walking alone one Evening in a Grove belonging to her Falace. I ana no Patron of Libels; nor would I fpeafc irreverently of thofe whole Royal Birth claims Refpeft from all Mortals. But the Stupidity of the N*x.arene: provokes my Pen, who allow their Women all the uncontrollable Freedom and Op- portunities, that commonly give Birth to the mofl: irregular Amours, and yet believe 'em in- nocent. They are perfeft Idolaters of that Sex,. not having learned, with the illuminated Mvjfit? man.', That Women are of a Creation inferiour to that of Men, have Souls of a lower Stamp, and confequently more prone to Vice ; and that they ihall never have the Honour to be admitted ifltoour Panulife, D 5 S*c *8 LETTERS Writ fy Vol. III. I3ut thou who believeft the . Doftiines clear and intelligible, and haft kifVd the Garment of the Sent of G d. wilt not fuffer thv Reaibn to be blinded by the Enchantments tf thefe deluding fair ones ; but fo Jove Women, as ftill to remem- ber thou art a Man, which is ibmedung more iublime. Paris, tft of tb; \igk: open tht G^iff, and let in his -Army ; and that brfire Mid-day hs vuos'd fend, a Mtffir-ger to know his Pleafuff. The Duke waited the Arrival of the Meflenger, who ieconded what his Matter had faid. But the mag- nanimous Pnnte, inftead of accepting his- Offer fent him back to his Majler with this MelTir'ge, That ht came vat before the lawn PS -a Merchant, .'j purchase it at the Pric' cf a n'cdlefs Jieajjn ; bv"' *i a Soldier, at the HtaJ cf an /!>>/;}, fi-tfid tor.h ctntinutl tffforiei ; fummoniog him forthwith to furreuder at Diicrctlon, lht being ihe CH// v>*j ty experience hit Generofi-y. This Year has been fignalized with muchAclion \ji'"fiMikrf t Catalonia, and It-aly. Ths Field was ih arc j among many brave Grnerels The Duks of Orleans, had the Command of the Army in Fhnd^rr^ where he took the fours' ot Vaiid- ev*l, Bourbough, Li'ik, D>-!nghctt, Rt-'hunr,- if, Vena>.t Gaifctt,. Lcnt t AiJ+'aykf, L'li'ers^ Metiirg, and dwenticrt. Tliefe Places were won by fcveral Parties, un- i}.-r the- Command of the Marejlhals de G./?-K^, de Rantz.au, tmd the Duke rrf GUI ft, whd all ;v^led in fepurate Bo-Ji-es, Bunder the Duk* bf Or'eam: Nor w.i r . thfi Cotshf a'tlirconrt idle in C'aialor.ig, where he fucceeded in the Charge of the War. f chat d U Mo he. The firfl Effort of his. Arms was- the retaking of /fgrtim.mi, which the Spa^nr^r had feixed ; a firong City, and which kept a large part cf Catalenia in Subjection I'jom hence he marched towards Refer, one of the moO important Places for Strength under the Span<'fl> King's Dominions, and governed by an fix- perionced .Soldier, who failed not to defend the JH lace to the laft Extremes, but after a Siege o two Afrfow;, was coinpell'd to yield for wan-r of Provifions. D 6 60 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. Ilf. After this, the Frer.sb Gineral'cut off Seven hun- dred Sf-atr.ttrds, who were pofted to hinder hi* Faille over the River. The next Day the whole Armies meeting in the Plains of Lttrenj, there was a furious Lncounter, in which the Spaniards loft ten Regiments of Horfe on the Spot j the: reft threw down their Arms and yielded. The Mjr^uii of tfortare, cne of the Spamjh Generals, was taken Captive with other Perfons of Note ;. among which was the Standard. Bearer of Spain. Vet this was but the Engagement of one Wi*g For when the other entered the Combat, the Slaughter was dreadful. Of the Spaniards were ilain Six thoufand Horfe, and Sixteen hundred Foot ; and Three and Twenty hundred of them were made Prifoners The French loft not above Three Hundred in all, and they bad but a few wounded. This Batde has brought infinite Glory to the Count (fHartturt. After which, there happened nothing remarkable in Cataltmia. fave the taking, of Ba-lquie'f, which is like to end this Year's Cam- paign on that Side- Prince Thimai o Savy commanded in Italy, but had no great Number of French in his Army , the main Btdy being drawn off to ferve in Catalo. 77*. Yet vexed to fee the Succefs of the Sfani- *r(/s, who had pofTefTed themfeJves of a ftrong Caftle, and kept the Field in a Bravado, as if he were not able to face them; he raifed fome Re- cruits, and enter'd the Milaneze, where he took the City and Caftle of yigtvane. After this, de- iigning to return into Piedmont^ he found all the Paflages block'd up by the Spaniards, who had a- far greater Army than his. Yet afluming Cou- rage, he attempted to pafs the River Moura ; and the Enemy prefenting themfclves to cppofe his "Defign, he gav them Battle, and killed Five hundred Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. <>i hundred and threefcore of them ; among which were nine Officers o-f principal Command and; Quality ; On his fide were loft Two hundred common Soldiers, and twelve Officers ; among, which was his Brother Prince Maunce of tavor, Thefe are the chief Aftions on, that Side. As for Portugal, there has happened, nothing in that Kingdom worthy of Remark. I have in this Letter, fage Governour of the Imperial City, obferved the Method thou en joy $ edft me. I have acquainted thee, u ith whatfo- ever has occurred in the prefeut Wars of France and Spain during this Year. 'Tis difcourfed here, that the Venetians will lay Siege to Cania next Spring, in hopes to recover that important Place from the Arms-of the victo- rious Ottomans. The Duke of Orleans will be on his March to Flanders, towards the latter end of the next A/o, refolving to make an early Campaign, being a- larm'd with the late Lofs of Ma>djke, which th Spaniards took by Surprize, without much Blood- fhed, having not the fourth part of a hundred) Men killed on their Side. Whereas, when the F'-evih took it from them, it coft Five thoufand Lives of the beft Soldiers the King of France had in his Army. The Hour of the Port: will not permit me to fay more, thaa that I am the humbleft of thy Slaves. Paris, 14*6 of the iith Mat t / (be Tear 1645. LET- 6z LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. LETTER XVIII. To Dgnet Og'ou. I Will not make Tryal of the Virtue of Fnend- fhip at this Time, in the Way thatPh:l:f!>pl::rt propofe to be ufcd between fuch as own that Ti- ile. I will not complain of the Dolors I under- go, that fo by making thy CompafTion ihare them with me, I may eafe my felf of a Part. It ap- pears to me a pufiUanimous, if not an unjuffc Aftion, for a Alan to transfer his Sufferings by tlifcovering 'em to his Friend, and designedly throw that upon another, which is fcarce tolera-. b'e to himfelf. I am fick, and Cuftom has rendered this al- moft as natural to rue as Health. My Conftitu- tion is not Proof againft the envenom'd Arrows that are fhot from the St^s. Nor am I conftella- ted, to refift the fecret Contagions that lurk in the Elements. The Herbage of the Field Ian- gut flies, \vhen poifon'd with inviil^le from above ; and all the Leaves of the Foreft -wi- ther, -when touched with the baneful EmifiV certain M'tears, or fcorched with the winged Exhalations of the Night. So our Bodies re- ceive a thoufand Imprefiions from Tilings with- out us. and not A few Ma'adies from our felves. The very Channel of Life proves many Tim^s the Vehicle of Death, while our Lungs fuck in unwholfome Airs, and our very Breath becomes our Bane. We have radical Poiibns in our Complexions, which though they do us no hurt, vhi.t we let them lie dormant, yet once excited b'y our Pamons and Vices, they become noxious and fatal, hurrying us into the Chambers of Death, Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 6? Death, by unaccountable Difeafes, and Pains which are under no Predicament. This makes me bear my prefenf Diftemper with- an equal Mind, becaufe I know its Original, and 'tis not in- the Lift of thofe Maladies which have BO Name ; whereby I can eafily calculate its Du- ration and almoft point to a Day when I shall lo well agairr. For \\3 in the Number of thofe, Pby/tciens call ~Acu:e ; and the Anguifli ft inflicts confirms that 7Vr/?. Take not this for a Complaint, nor what Ian> about to fay for a Paradox, when I tell thee, That I know not which is greater, 'my Pleafure or Pain, during this excruciating fiver. Theie- Afflictions border ib near upon one another, that 1 find it difficult to diftinguHh them. They feem to be Inmates to each other, and blended toge- ther in their Roots. Sure I am, they areibtwi- fted and interwoven in my Conftitution, -that I never felt one without the other livery Man may experience, That his ftrongeft Defires are compounded of thefe two Paflions, and the vtry . Moment. of Fruition itfelf, cannot ieparate them. The Minute of Enjoyment is but confecrared to his Lofs, while the Heighth of his Joy is the Rife of his Grief, iince the fmalleft Particle of Time cannot diftinguilh the Life and Death of his Pleafure Do but reverfe this Contemplation, and apply it to my Sicknefs, and th^u wilt find no Riddle in my Words, when I allure thee, that as the Torment of my Fever advances, Ib does my Eaft- ; PJeaiure and Pain, fit and.thake Hands in rny Heart, embrace, and equally divide its Sjflole an J : Diaftole between them Vet I muft needs own, I am indebted for this Allay of my Dolors, to the Prefence of my Mind, which I fuffer not to be torn from itfelf, or &4 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. r carried away by the violent Motion of my agi- tated Spirits. Were it not for this, a Fever would prove a Hell upon Birth, and every Pulfe a tor* menring Fury. My very Drink (which is all my Subftftence now) would appear but the Joathfome Diftillation of that Tree, whoie uvpalatble and fcalding Gum, is appointed for a Beverage to the Damned. The fofteft Entertainment of my Bed, while awake, would but be a Tranflarion of the * Torments of fxion and Sifjpkaj ; and the flatter- ing Intervals of Sleep, would but renew the Suf- ferings of Tntlus. Whereas now, whether afleep or awake, my Mind keeping aloft in her proper Sphere, bufied in the Contemplation and Enjoyment of her felf and fuperiour Objefts, partakes not in the Fever of my Bedy, but as if on the cool top of fome high Mountain, furveys all the Valleys beneath, without being fenlibte of their raging Heats. I owe this Tranquih'ty, in the m'tdft of bodily Perturbations, to the Examples of ancient PhiUft- phers, which thou knoweft have far more Influ- ence than Precept t. Ever fince I read that Ploti. **} could chafe away the racking Tortures of the Gout and Stone, by thelble Force of his Thought, I daily try'd the Experiment, fpurr'd on by Emu- lation of his Virtue ; as judging it ignoble in a Mvjjfulman to give the Palm to a Pagan in any Point of mafculine Bravery. 'Tis recorded of the fame Pbilofopher, that by the mere Strength and Majefty of his Mind, he diffipated the E.*ich*ntwenn of ^olloniui Tyrit> ; and the mjenitl Spirit/, confefs'd they were baffled by that thinking Man As if his Soul were of the Nature of Meduff's Head, which turn'd all into unaftive Statues, who did but Icok on it. Surely, great is the Efficacy of Contemplation, hinted at in the Arabian Proverb, which fays, Ut Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 6$ He tbt can fee bis own Ejret without a Glafi, {hall t* able (o move the Butts Harm. Which myfteri- ous Expreflion is thus interpreted by the learned Avian. A Prophet or Spiritual Man, who always converfes within, (hall have Power to {hake tJie FiuHdaiigm of the Earth ; which, thou knoweft, refts on the Ho^ns of a Ba//, according to the Dt* Et'ine of the Htly Law-giver. I need lay no more to convince thee, that I am in zPver. My thus expatiating and running from one thing to another ("when I thought to have faid all in a few Words, 1 will fatisfy thee what Temper I am in. Yet recollecting my felf with Comfort that I know my Diftemper, I will crave Leave to tell thee a fliort Story of a Man who was Tick for many Years, and yet the ableil PhyficiiHi in P*'is> could not diicern his Malady. This Pcrfon was an Officer of the City, whofe Bufmefs 'twas to arreft Men that were in Debt. He was ebferved to be ; he fabtleft of all his Bre- thren, and the mo ft dextrous at plotting another Man's Ruin. This augmented his Eftate, and he grew extremely rich. But in the one and for. tieth Year of his Age, he was felled with a;i unknown Malady, a Diftemper to vrhich the moft skilful were Strangers He languilhed five Years in a Condition which moved all Men to Pity. It will be tedious for to iccount the Symp- toms of his lllnefs. At length he died ; and ac- cording to his own Will was diflefted The Physicians found all Parts of his Body decayed and wafted ; but when they came to his Head, they were above meafure aftonifhed to fee a Neft of Serpents jnftead of Brains This was conclu- ded by all to be the Source of his Diftemper : and People defcant varioufly on it Some fay, 'twas a Jude.mint of God infiicleu on him, for m's cruel Subtilty, in crapanning Men out of their Liberties 66 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. Liberties by a thoufand Wiles. Others are of Opinion, that it is a natural Produft, it being ufual iii fome Conftitutrons, for this fort of Crea- ture to be bred out of their Vitals. A Merchant that had been in Peru told me, That in a Prwixce of that Empire, there were People, who by drink- ing the Water of a certain River, had Serpents of- ten engendred in their Bowels ; that he had feen one prefenred to the Klni> of Sfain which was ta- ken out of a dead Man's Heart, a Cubit in length. He faid 'twas of a crimfon Colour, without Scales or Eyes ; neither was it venomous. This he af- ferted very folemnly, and with Imprecations. I tell thee, dear Friend, if thefe Things te true, who can be fure he harbours not feme fuch Joathfome Inmate in his Body; yet I would not have thee grow melancholy upon it, and difturb thy Repcfe. The Day will come, when we fhall all be metamorphofed into Wtrmi and Se-pmtf in the Grve. In the mean while live thou happily, in the ftvotir of thy Sovereign, in the Enjoyment of thy Heal'h the rigour of thy Senfes, and have forr.e- t'mes in thy Thoughts a Man full of Infrmir.ies, without murmuring, M*hmut, that loves his Friend in all Conditions. Paris i6tb of the uthMtox, of lit T.ur LET- Vol. III. a Spy at PARIS. 67 LETTER XIX. T) the Sclictir Aga, or Sword Bearer to his llighnefs. IWifh I could time my Letters fo, as to gratif/ all the Miniftcr) of t!ie bhjfd Part, by making each alternately, the firft Relater of fame accep- table News in the myfterlous Divan, where all Human Events are {canned with impartial Judg- ment. But every Moon does not prefent us with Sieges or Battles ; neither can I receive Intelli^ gence of all remarkab.le, Events, fo foon as they come to pafs. What I shall now tranfmit tu thee, is an Account of what has been omitted ia my Difpa:cke: to the other Min-Jios. Evrcpe- is a Field, fertile in Rebellion', Tumultt, Difcrdcrs, and um.atu- al War*. J^ o Part of Chri^ flf.fidorn, which is not polluted with Tr.eafons, Perfidies, and MafTicres ; no Corner -undented with humane Blood. The Son confpires tlie Death of him who firft gave him his Life, The Brother lays Trains to enfnare the Partner of his' Blood, the Offfpring of her that bare hlmfelf. No Bond of AfFecHon'or Tye of Confanguinity, is of Force to reftrain thefe Irfi.ieli from purfuing each other with Malice Neither has tlriir Reli-' gion any more Influence -on- their Paflions, than the Fablei of the ancient Paeft. In publick and private, all things are governed by Intereft. Thus, while every Man and every State, are cnly_ , byafs'd by the narrow Principles of Self P refer va- tion ; they abandon the general Go-od cf Chriften- dam, and e.vpoie it as a Prey to the next daring' Invader. . Ther 68 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. Ill, There is no Reafon that we fhould grieve at this Folly of the Nazartnes. 'Tis from their Im piety and Vices, the Virtue and Wifdom of the victorious Mujffulmaas receive the greater Luftre, who are created to difplant thefe uncircuwcifcd, and inftruft the Nations which they pofTefs'd, in the Faith free frtm Blcmifl). Yec fince the Depredations which the Swedes have made in Germaxjr and Denmark, the neigh- bouring Crowns and Staces, notwithstanding their Infincerity, have feemingly interpofed tHeir En. deavours, to prevent the worft EfFeb of a War, fo definitive to the common Intereft of CbnJleM. eiora. Deputies were fent from all Parts, to Mun- ftcr and Ofnaburgb, with Inftruftions from their refpeftive Sovereign. They have fquandered away much time in vain Overtures of Peace ; whilft the Swedes daily get Ground on one fide of the Empire and the Uitnth are not unfucceisful on the other. The Enemies of France, fenfible that they can- not reduce this Crown by open Force, have Re. courfe to Artifice. They endeavour to corrupt her Allies, and infinuate into the Minds of the Unittd Sta'.a of the Low-Countries, all thofe Ap- prehenfions which may ferve to improve thej^a- Joufy they had already conceived of the French Neighbourhood. Suggefting, that the Spanifo Ne therlnd! are the only liar which flops the Armies of Francs from over running Hvtfand, and the reft of the United Province!. Jn fine, they have prevailed on them to eater into a feparate jtti- aice a ( id not to treat in Conjunction with the Mlni&.r: at Munfler. On the other fide, the Freneb, by their Jfr'nt] in HoUand, endeavour to unmask the Ar- tifice of the Spaniards ; reprefenting, that they have no other Delign inj chefe Infmuations but Vol. III. a, S p Y at P A R i s. 69 but to breed an ill Under-Handing between this Crovn and the United Provinces ; that fo, by their ill Offices, in time Things may come to a Rup- ture, and the States be deprived of the Friendfhip and Protection of France, which alone is able to fupport that Commonwealth, againft the Pretenfions of their old Enemies, the Spaniard. All Europe is altonifh'd to fee, that notwithstanding the ut- moft Condefcenfions of the French Court to con- fer ve Peace, yet the Stater, led by their ill Drfliny, fhould embrace the fropofals of Spain. This makes a great Imprefllon on all the Miniften afTembled at Munfter and fnaburgh, who now conclude, that the Spaniard; only feek Occafions to perpe- tuate the War in Europe- that uhihl the Princes of the Empire are engaged in a Defence of their Territories, and the Swedes and French are bufied in purfuing their Conquefts, they may pick a Quarrel with their new Friends, wftorri they have deprived of a more powerful Protection, and re- eflablifli themfelves in the revoked Previncet. The Deputies have had fevcral Conferences about this impertant Affair ; and the RefuJt of their Counfels, is to foliicite the French Cott't, to ufe its urmoft Power to prevent the ill Confe. quences which thisfeparate Treaty will bring along with it. 'Tis difcorfe(J here, that Mon/ttttr de la. Tuiforie will be recalled from the Cturt of Svtdeland, be- ing efteem'd tlie fitted Man to difluatte the Httian* den from this new Mime ; he having been al- ready employed in feveral Negotiations -with the States, and is well vers'din the Methods of treat, ing with that Nation. This tome judge to be the-Reaforrof the Sieut Chanties, being fent to S-medela-nd, "-that he may re- fide at Stockholm, and contmueTto aft there in the Abieace of la TuiUerie. So 7q LETTERS ^Writ ly Vol. III. So- nice and delicate in. this Affair, thatajl France- cannot aft'T.d. another Man duly' tjualificd, to ma- ii;igc.it with' any' Probability o..Succcfs. If he }l ew net more Csndcur in tnis I^egociation, than. he did when he was fent.to mediate a Peace be- tween SwcdJ(>.ijHan& Denmark, he wiil receive but {lender Thanks at his Return. But if he fucceeds, 'tis faid, 7 hat Cardinal Mazarit'i has declarad, he will merit to be inftalld in tlie Q r drr of the Hsly tpirif. I have formerly fpoke of this in oiic pf my Letters, as the moil eminent Order of Kni&ht^ kocd in Prance. I wifh the Chrflfiani may ever find Difficulties to obftruft the Meafures they take to eflablifh an univerfal Pe*cg, and may continue to amufe and vex one another, 'till the Day of the Scourge. Paris, icth of the \ of the Tear 1646. L E T T E R 7'o the Reis Effendi, Principal Secrecary fo^eOcroman-Lmprre. ' 1 IT is not \et publicity known u-Iir^ De/Igns have moved this Court to order a mighty Fleet to be fitted out to Sea : But it is privately whif. per*3, That they will fail to the Levant 1 , to aflifl the Venetians agajnfl: the Turks. People difcouffc' varioufly,'. according to the Strength or Weakncfs of their Reafon , and Five Pays ago an old Man went t~> r.ardir.el M*. z.r,'r.? t pretending to. fpcak by Infyirati.on :' Fie told him, 'That 'twas in vain to truft to their wihgecf Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS- 71 winged Caftles, (fo he called the Ships) the Mul- titude of their Armies, or in the Treasures of their Money ; for a Decree was fign'd in Hsaven againft all the Nations in Eurepe ; that the War was begun above, between the Patentees who have the Cujiody of Kingdom) and Empires ; that they should foon fee the Banner of the Eternal difpiay'd in the Fir- mament ; that: the Stan should fight in their Courfes, againft the wickea Ptcffjfurt of Cbriftia- nitj ; that the Ifbwalites fhoiild come out of their Holes, aad Ihould flow' down like a Torrent from the Mountains of the Eaft, over-running all Cbri- ftendom. In fine, that Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, rhould be laid delblate, their ben rtiful Ci- ties fack'd and the Inhabitants led into Captivity, that the Pope, with all his Priefts, fhould be exter- minated j.and, that all Nations fhou d embrace tne Lavf. They put him in Prifon,but he was- found walk- ing next Day in the Streets. The Keeper chain J him in -Irons, but in the Morning he was landing at the Gate of the Prifon preaching to the People. Some fay he is a Chymtft, and has found out the Mvfter-Seaet ; others fay, He is a Prophet ; but moft judge kirn to be a Magician. He feems no'v ro have loft his Vigour, not being able to>^eleafe himfelf from the Chains, which faiten'hinYto rhe tjroujid where he lies, yet he continues to foretel the Ruin of Chr'jlendcm. 'Tis faid he will be fent to Rome, there to receive Sentence of the Holy fa. r , according to his Demerits. I am no Admirer of Pt/ionarics ; yet there appears ibmething ex- traordinary in the Cqnftancy of this Man. J in,e ivi;l demonftrate, whether hebe'arra* or a fa'tft . A Courier came to this Ciry laft Night from f <&/ to give the Lye to thefe Infidels : And fufler not that, which at prefent may be but a bare Sufpicion, to be improved by thy Negleft or Cowardice, into a palpable Evidence, that rhou art falfe and perfidious to tlie Supreme Lord of the Glebe. Paris, 6th of (be T,d Moon, ff tkt r t r 1646. LET- Vol. III. a S p Y at P A R i s. 751 LETTER XXIIi: To Adonai, a, Jew at Venice. NO W thou art fiVd, 'tis time to write to thee Thou haft been a Rambler thefe three or four Years, and no Body knew where to find thee. I have received eleven Difyatchcs from thee, fince thy firft Departure from Geuoua ; wherein thou haft informed me of many PafTages of Stte. Now I defire thee to fend me fome Remarks, of the diiFerent Nature of the People thou haft feen, their various Cuftoms and Laws, with whatfoever was worthy Obfervation in thy Travels. Italy is a fair Field, yet produces Darml as well as vholfome Corn. It is a beautiful Garden, yet bears Aconite intermix'd with her Rofes : Great Virtue?, and no lefs Vices. This Region is famous for the Wifilom of its Inhabitants, and for their Proverbs : Ir is the Arabia of Europe, in many Senfes ; yet much lefTen'd in its Renown, fines the Decline of the Roman Empire. The Goths and Vandals turned all into Defortf where they came, and have left fuch Imprefllons of their Northern Barbarifm behind them, as made the People they conquer' d half Savages. Hence came the general. Decay of Learning and Knowledge in thefe Weftern Parts : Hence the Corruption of ancient Man- ners The Great, the Noble, and the Wife , bowed under the Yoke of their New Ma(hrt , learn'd their Falhions, and gloried in their Shame Their Examples influenced the Vulgar ; Debauchery became modifh and authentick. Thus a general Depravation of priftine Integrity took place, and Men became vicious by a Law. E 4 Ne ithei So LE'TTERS Writ ly Vol. HI. Neither has Wickednefs planted it felf only in Eurcfe : The Sea could not ftop this boundlefs Evil. j4fia is inferred alfo, and the Vice of Italy is tranfported to the Empire c." rhe true Reliever s. Thcu haft feen all the chief Cities between the sJ?; and Rhenium, which is the utmoft Angle of Italy, to the South : Tell me, whether Sodom could exceed any of them in Licenticufnefs : We will not except even Rome, the Seat of the Cbn'. 8ian Mxfci. Thefe Uncinumctfed have learned of thy Nation, to call the anciert Philopkeri, Infidels . Eut had any of thofe Sages lived to fee the Abominations of the wdem Nazareani, they would have defpifed the Faith which produced no better Works. 4/tinai put in Practice the Import of thy Name, be Lord of thy felf; and if thou ftumbleft at the Light of the Mu/fulmam, walk in that of Mofes, but ftiun the Paths of the Chrijliam for they are enveloped in Darknefs, and grope at Mid-day. Live according to Reafsn, and thou fhalt be hap. py. Adieu. Paris, iBth of the id Moon t of the Tear 1646. LETTER XXIV. To Miiftapha., Berber Aga. TH E prefent War of Candg is like to ren. tier that y/7*^asmuch the -Subjeft of the World's Diftourfe, as it was formerly famous, for being the Cradle of Jufiter. In thofe Days it was called Crete, much celebrated in the Writings of the Greek Poetf. Afterwards it became Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 81 became a Province of the Roman Empire ; than of the Grecians next it fubmitted to the Saracent But in the Time of the Chnjtian Expeditions in Palfline, when Baldwin Earl of Flanderi waSv crown' d Emperor of Cvnftantinoplt, this Ifland came into his PofTeflion ; which he gave to a certain valiant Commander in his Army, a Man of a no- ble Defcent, of whom the Venetians " purchafed it ; and in their Hands it has continned ever fmce. But now, in all probability, it will be the Prize of Arms which nothing fublimary can refift. The Pofts from lt*ly and the Sea Coafts of this Kingdom confirm each other's News ; all a- greeing, That notwithftanding theutmoft Efforts of the Venetian; and Canttiots, to hinder the Re- lief of Canea, yet our General is got into that Haven with vaft Quantities of Provifions, and a fufficient Reinforcement of Men. They add, that Forty thoufand of our Soldiers have made a De- fcent in another Part of the I/land, have gain'd the Forts of Cifttrnes Celmi, and Bicorno, and were on their March towards Suda, with a Defign to befiege that Place. They accufe our General of barbarous Cruelty, in that he caufed Five of the principal Niblemc* of that Kingdom to be puc to Death, becaufe they refufed to betray their Country, or enter into the Interefts of the Grand Signiar. I muft confefs, magnificent 4g, that what- ever may be faid in Commendation of this Gene- ral's Policy, and Fidelity to his Mofltr ; ic is no Argument of the Goodnefs of his Difpofition. I rather admire the Temper of the Duke of Or. leans, who, when Graveling was furrendred to him, juft as he enter'd the Town, was heard to fay thefe .Words ; Let *t endeavour, by generoui ABionf t to win the Htartt ef nil Men; fo may we hope E 5' ' ' 8i LETTERS Writ ly Vol.IIT. for a dally Vsftorj. Ltt the French learn from me, this new Wy of Cwqueft, tu fubdue fdtn by Macy and Clemency. Thefe are heroick Sentiments, and agree well with the Charafter of this Prince, who is laid ne- ver to have been the Author of any Man's Death, nor to have revenged himfelf of any Injury ; yet a valiant Soldier, an expert Commander, and no fcad Politician. It is not hid from the Curt, with what a matchlefs Virtue he difmifs'd a Gentleman that \vas hired to murder him. This ^Jf*]Jtt was fuf- fer'd to pafs into the 'Duke's Bed Chamber one Morning early, pretending Bufinefs of great Mo ment from the Queen As foon as the Duke cad his Eyes on him, hefpoke thus ; / knsv thy Bujt-. s.eff, Friend ; thoa art fent to take away my Life What hurt have I done tbet ? It is ntw in my Pover, with a Word, to have thee cut in Pieces before my face. But I pardon thee go thy way, and fee my Face no mere. The Gentleman, flung with his own Guilt, and aftoniflTd at the excellent Nature of this Prince , fell on IMS Knees, confefs'd his Defign, and who employ'd him : And having promifed eternal Gratitude for this Royal Favour, depart- ed without any other Notice taken of him ; and fearing to tarry in France, enter'd himfelf into the Service of the Spanish King It was his For- tune afterwards to encounter the Duke of Orleans, in a Battel in Flanders. The Duke, at this Inftant, was opprefled with a Croud of Gtrmans who fur- rounded him, and. in the Conflift, he loft his Sword Which this Gentleman perceiving, nim- bly ftepp'd to him and deliver'd one into the Duke*! Hands, faying withal, Nov reaf the Fruit of thy former Clemency. Thou gavtft me my Life, nov J put th(t fa * Capacity to deftnd iky 9vn. The Prince, Vol ol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 83 Prince, by this means, at length efcaped the Dan- ger he was in ; and that Day the Fortune of War was on his fide. The Frsnck had a considerable Vidory. Thou feeft by this, that heroick Aclions have fomething divine in them, andattraft the Favours of Heaven. No Man ever was a icfer by good Works; for tho* he be not prefently rewarded,, yet in Traft of Timefome happy Lmergency or other arifes to convince him, Tfat virtuous Men are the Darlings of Providence. Thou that art near the Perfon of the Grand Signier, may ft find an Opportunity to relate this. Story to him, which may make no unprofitable Impreffion on his Mind. Princes ever ftand in need of faithful Monitors. Adieu, great Minifter, and favour Mahmuf \vith the Continuance of thy Frote&ion anil Friendfhip. Paris, 2jf. f the ^d Moon, of the Tear 1 646. LETTER XXV. 1o NaiTuf, Baffa of Natolia. I Received thy Letter as an Argument of the Continuance of that Friendfhip which was between us, when we lived together in the Sera- glio. Since that time thou and I have been em pleyed abroad, in different Services of our * g/f Emperor, who now rewarded thy Fidelity with a Command ; which, if ic be not adequate to thy Merit, is neyerthelefs agreeable to thy E 6 1 con. 84 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. TIT. I congratulate thy Honour, and wifh dice a gradual I ncreafe of it ; for ludden and violent Leaps are dangerous But our glorious Sultan difcovers his Abilities in nothing more eminent!}', than in adapting Places of Truft to the Deferts and Capacities of his faithful Slavtf. So that if he fhould in time think fit to exalt thee to the higheft Dignity in the State, we might from the Choice of fo wife a Prince prefage thee a better Fortune than befel one of thy Name, in the Reign of Sultan 4chmut III. who from a Slave fold in the Market for three Sequins, was advanced to an Honour too weighty for his Virtue ; being made Pizir dum, and Lord of the moft delici- ous Province in dp. But being ambitious of abfolute Sovereignty, he plotted Treafon againft his M*fter, which being difcover'd, the fatal Firm Was fign'd, and all his Defigns were ftifled with a Bow-ftring. By this'thou may'ft comprehend, how neceflary it is for Princes not to over-load any Man with Dignities, beyond the Proportion of his Humility and Faithfulnefs. Yet Rewards well placed, give new Vigour to the Endeavours of a Slave, where- as when good Services are flighted, it does but quench the Ardour with which they were per- form'd. Few Men are fo fpiritual, as to do great and heroick Things, purely for the fake of inter. nal Complacency. And I doubt not but the Dedi themfelves, in fo freely facrificing their Lives for their Country, had regard to Human Glory. Even Seneca, whom one would take for the moflr mortify'd Stoitk of that Age by his Writing!, yee is conceived to have found more Encouragement in the Treafures of Gold, with which Nero's bounty had fiil.'d his Ccffers, than all his Mtralt, of which he had fuch refined Sentiments, and elegant Expreflion$ f Whac Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 8? What I have faid, thou haft Wifdom enough to apply to thy felf, without being vain glorious : Let thofe whom thou employeft in any meritori- ous Services, and who discharge their Truft well, be encouraged with the fame Proportions of Bounty. Munificence will not only add to thy Glory, but alfo advance thy Intereft, fince thou wilt ever have Occafion for thy Slave* : And he ivho has once tafted thy Liberality as a Reward for any eminent Performance, had he no other Motive than the Pleafure of renewing fo profita- ble an Experiment, will freely hazard his Life to ferve thee in an Extremity. This Method thou wilt find of no fmall Ufe to thee, in the Wars to which thou art going, where it will be necefTary for thee to recompenfe the leaft fmgular Bravery of the meaneft Soldier, not only with Applaufe, but with fome Preferment in the Army. This will not only prove a Spur to others, but even to the Perfon fo rewarded ; and put him upon new Efforts of Courage, to attract the Eyes of his munificent General. This will be the way for thee, in time, to have an Army corn- pofed all of Captains, or Men qualified for fuch. Yet let not this diminifh the Severity of that Difcipline, which is requilite to retain a profpe- rous Army in their Obedience. I counfel thee to be ftrift in requiring the leaft military Duty, and induftrious in performing thy own part, which will be an Example to the reft ; yet rather befor- ward to lead in Labours, than in Dangers: In re- gard thou wilt be more ferviceable in a Battel, by thy counfels and Orders, than by perfonally entering the Combat. In all things prefer the Welfare of the Ottoman Empire, to whatsoever elfe is moil dear to thee, even to thy own Honour, which yet ought to be dearer to thee than thy Life. If 8(5 LETTERS writ ly Vol.111. If them thinkcft I have taken too much Liberty to advifethee, accufe rhy fe!f for having honour' cl me with thy Friendthip, which admits of no Paris, T-k of tke qtk Moon, ef the Tear 1646. LETTER XXVI. To the -Kaimacham. IT is a vaft Difappointment to the ffauti*ni,tka oar General in Candy has fo opportunely rc- ViclualFd Ctnea.&nd increas'd the Garri ion there. Mcrifitii is blam'd for this, by thofe that wifh him no Good. What will not Envy fugged, when it beholds a Man on the Top of Honour ? This Ge- neral, to give an Enemy his Due, is a Man of Spirit and true Fortitude ; neither courting, nor munning Dangers in the Service of his Country ; ' but when once engaged in Perils for that Caufe, he is fearlefs as a Lion. If he has not hitherto had Occafton to give the State fo defperate a Proof of Loyalty, as once did the Roman Cu'tiits (who, bravely gallop'd into the bottomlefs Ckafm to pa- cifyjtheir angry Gods;) yet he has often demon- ftrated, that his Courage and Fidelity come not Ihort of the ancient Htrois. In a Word, he has done too much for the Republick of Venice, to e- fcape the Spleen of other Grandees. All muft be Gintrah, or the War will not profper. Each Man's Ambition diftates this to the state, that a Man of Conduft would foon expel the Turks out of that l/land : Thus in his Conceit, laying a Train for his own Promotion. Would'ft Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 87 Would'ft thou know Morofini's Crime, that excites all this Paflion ? To fpeak the Truth, it was an Overfight advantageous to the Ottomans. He put out with his whole Fleet to Sea, and left the Port of Canea open. By which means, three of our Ships got in with Plenty cf Provisions. So that the Town is now in a Condition to fu. {lain a long Siege, and the Kaetiam defpair of ever recovering it. Vet Mo -tftni has made fo plaufible an Apology, that the Sewate have acquit- red him, not judging it confident either with Ju. ftice or their Intereft, to fuffer one Miican iage, the Effect of a fair Intention, to out-weigh his numerals Merits and Services. For, the Occafion of his thus fuddenly abandoning the Avenue of that Haven was, to chafe ibme of our VelTels, then under Sail, not many Leagues oft; and the taking of thofe Vefiels, on Board of which were abundance of Slavef, juftified- to the Senate, the Truth of his Pretenfions. However, there are not wanting fuch as fay, he held a private Cor- refpondence with our General: Others, that the prefent Governcu* of Canea has formerly taken Captive at Sea a Son of Morifinfs, whom he now offer'd to reftore, in cafe he would withdraw his Ships from before the Haven for a few Days. I know not how far this may be credited. But 'tis a certain Truth that Morejinf has his Son again, and he defended himfelf by pleading, that he re- deem' d him by exchanging a Mahometan Captive of equal Duality , whom he had aboard his Ship. And, thou knoweft, that this manner of Bar. rer is lawful in War. Advni the Jew fends me this Intelligence, and I dare believe him. For fince the InftruKons I fent him to Genoua, he has taken care to afcertain his Reports. I wifh' it were as true, that Moriftni could be prevailed no 88 LETTERS Writ ly Vol.111. on to accept the Friendfhip of the fubhme Port. But the Character of that General gives me no Encouragement to hope for fo fortunate a Trea- chery, from his fevere Virtue. However, I will hope and believe, that the eternal Patron f true Believers, will give fuch a happy I flue to the Qtteman Arms in Candy, and all other Parts, as fhall difpofe the Nawenes that remain unconquer'd, to honour HIM whom they have hitherto defpifed and blafphemed ; even the Prophet, who could neither write nor read. Paris, Jth. / the tft}) Moon, of the Tear 1646. LETTER XXVII. To Cara Hali,, a Phyfician at Con- ftantinopie. TH E Time of the Year is now come, where, in the Earth turns her infide out, and Na- ture calls forth the hidden Virtues of that Ele- menti to grace the World with an infinite Variety of pleafant Forms and Colours. The Eye is loft in fuch a Croud of different Beauties,and every Senfe is ravifh'd with delightful Objefts. The young Men and Virgins throng the Fields, to behold the Refurreftion of Flowers and Herbs ; and the Old feel new Vigours fpringing in their Bodies, as though they had been in Medea's Cauldron. Even Makmtt himfelf who has droop'd all the Winter, now begins to lift up his Head, and partake in the common Reftauration of ali Things. IF Vol.11!, it SPY** PARIS- 89 If I am capable of guefling at the Occafion of my frequent Sicknefs, I believe it may in part be attributed to the want of frefh Air, in the place where I lodge. There is "a vaft Difference be. tween the Streets of P*m, and thofe of Conftan- tlnople. I feem to my felf to be buried alive in this clofe City, where my Chamber-Window af- fords me no farther Profpeft than I can f^it ; whereas in Cwftantutople the Gardens are fo in- termix'd with Houfes, that it looks like a City in the midft of a Foreft ; and by the Advantage of its Situation, is always refielhed with .Breezes from the Sea. Defines the Impurity of thefe li.fidelt, who em- pty all their Filth in the Streets, ib that the Dire of Paris may be fmelt fome Miles off;, the Un- cleannefs of their Diet, contributes in no fmall meafure to my Difremper ; being forced either to feed on Flefli with the Blood in it, or live on Herbs. They laugh at the Nicenefs of the Ma/- fulmaxr, who will eat no Meat that was knock'd down or ftrangled. They feem to be greedy of Blood, faving it in Veflels, and mixing it with Flower of Wheat make a certain Bread thereof, which they devour without the leaft S'queamifh- nefs. A true Reliever would tremble at the Sight of fuch Impiety. I tell thee, it is impofiible to live among them, and not be polluted : They have no Methods of Purification. They wallow, and hug themfelves in their Uncleannefs : They are worfe than the Hearts. Now the Spring has provided a New Banquet, wherein there is no Impurity, I am refolv'd to ]ive like a Mutfulman, and conform to the Pre- cepts of our koly Lawgiver who when he beholds my Zeal and Abftinence, will fend the dngel of Health from his Parattife, to repair my decay 'd Conftituticn. The $o LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. The F r ech Philofopbert are bulled in an inqul- fition after certain kinds of Birds, which from the fecond Day cf this Mean they fay are not to be found in the whole Kingdom, though the Woods and Fields were full of them during the Winter. Some are of Opinion, That they fly to the Mann ; aflerting, That if their Wings will but carry them beyond the magnetick Force of the Earth, it will be no Pain to glide through the upper airy Region, 'till they arrive within the attractive Energy of that Planet, where they will n*tur.illy feek Reft. Others, with more Probabi- lity, fay, That thefe Birds take their Flight to fome other Region on Earth, whofe Climate is more agreeable to their Natures, at this time of the Year. I wifh I could as eafily once a Year take my Flight to Cottftantineple, where my Heart is Win- tt' and Summer. Adieu, dear Hati, and pity A/<*&- mm, who counts himfelf unhappy in nothing fo much, as in being abfent from his Friends. Paris, '?.' of the qth Mtcw, t the Tear LETTER. XXVIII. To the Tefterdar, cr Lord-Treafurer. IT appears, that F^nce has fome extraordinary I Dtfign by Sea : When and where ^ twill be put in Execution, is not yet known ; but th^ vaft Preparations that are making feem to threaten fome foreign Invafions, rather than a Naval Com- bat : It looks as if they had an Expedition in Hand greater than that of Xoxti j to make a Bridge Vol. III. Bridge over the Ocean, and join the feparated Pares of the World together. New ^rfenalt are built in feveral Maritime Towns, and all the Fo- refts are cut down to fill them with Timber for Ships of War : The Mountains are left naked of Trees; and the ftately Woods are tranfplanted in- to the Heavens . An infinite Number of Men &re cmploy'd in making Cordage, Chains, Bullets, Anchors, Ordnance, and all other NecelTaries belonging to a Navy. This is Cardinal M*xr/i*$ Project, under Pre- tence of fetting the Poor of the Kingdom at Work, and Disburdening the Commonwealth of Vagabonds and idle Perfons. But Mabmut is not placed here, to be amufed with State-Umbrages. It is evident, that this Miaifter defi^ns to render his Mafter formidable on both Elements. Agents are fent to buy Ships in all Parts ; and the very Peafantsare forced from the Vineyards and Fields, to man the greateft Fleet that ever this Kingdom fitted out to Sea. Laft Moon the Sieur fie Quejne was fent to afilft Moxfieur Chanut, in purchasing Vefiels in Swede* land. It feems there had been fome Demurs in his Negociation; to remove which this latter was fent with frefh Infrru&ions. But Monjieur Cbanut rejehd him ; and ten Days ago came an Exprefs from that Minifrer, defiring, that a more intelligent Colleague might be fent him, in regard he foundit difficult to treat fuccefsfully with a People too much elated with continual Victories. Upon this, the C*rt have fent a darter to Stockholm with new Orders, whereby he is for- bid to make any further Overtures in order to the Continuance of the League between thefe two Crowns ; That Frana may not always appear in a fuppliant Pofture, whilft the Swedes feem carelefs 9^ LETTERS Writ ly Vol. Ill . carelefs to conferve a Friendfliip which they themfelves firfr. coveted. Thefe Mifunderftandings may in a fhort time proceed to a greater Alienation ; and in the End, to an open Rupture. Which has the more Pro- bability, ia that General Koningfrnark lately flop- ped fome Fftnck Troops in their March, under Pretence of feeing their Pa/T-ports ; but really, as 'tis thought, to corrupt the Soldiers, and with- draw them from the Fidelity they owe their So- vereign. This is highly refented here ; and they begin to difcourfe of making Peace with Germany. What the Iflue of thefe Thi-igs will be, is yet in the dark ; but G^, from whofe Throne hangs the Chain of Dejiiny, which reaches to the Center of the Earth, will, I hope, fo difpofe of all Hu- man Events, that the Quarrels of the Nazarenet ftall minifter occasion to the Ofwans to ericreafe the Territories of our puifTant Emperor. Paris, i/? / the fth Mto t of the Ti*r LETTER XXIX. To Nathan Ben Saddi, a Jew at Vienna. 1 Cannot but highly applaud the Refolution thou I haft taken, as thy Letter intimates, to enquire into the Greundi of the Religion rhou art of. This ihews, that thou fetteft a Value on thy Reafon^ and thinkefl: thy felf beyond the Pupillage of a Child; that thou efteemeft thy felf of Years to make a Choice of thy Religion, asd not to take it up on the bare Credit of thy Fre -fathers. 'Tis certain, Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS^ 93 certain, that Error may be traditional as well as Truth : and the Pagan Idolaters pleaded a greater Antiquity for the Altars of their Gods, than could the Followers of Mofes, for the Temple of Jerufa- lent, the Tabernacle in the Defart, or the Promul- gation of the Lave it felf on Mount Sinai : Since there was fcarce a Region on the Continent, which had not eftablijtid Rites and Ceremonies of Worjhip, long before Mofet, or even Jacob, the great Father of the Ifraelitei, were born. Among the reft of the Nations, Arabia, my na- tive Country, was peculiarly blefTed with the Footfteps of the illuftrious Ibrahim, Grandfather to Ifrael, from whom the Jews defcend. In this happy Country that renown'd Prophet fojourn'd, converfed with Angels : And, with the Majffy which cannot be utter'd. He preached the Unity of the Divine EJfince, converted the People from their Idolatry, built an Oratory at Meccba, and was taken up into Paradife. ifrnael his eldeft Son, and Heir of his Father's Spirit, as of his Territories, trod in the Foot- fteps of the dffumpt of God. He brake down the Idols, aflerted ne God. the Rrfurreftion, the Day of judgment, the Joys of Paradife, and the Torment t of Hell, His Qjf-fpring multiplied, and peopled all the Raft : The Princes of this holy Line fub- dued the Infidel Nations, and rooted themfelves in the moft fertile Regions of Afia, profcffing themfelves Mnjfulman} or true Believers. Thus pa-fled the Light of Gfrom the Face of Ii>r<*ham t ro his Pofleritf by fucceflive Generations ; 'till at length ic refted on the Face of Mahmut, our holy Lawgiver, n3 was enoreafed with admirable Splendor, by the frequent Vifits of the /ingel Gabriel. He took the Reot of Evil out of the Prophet's Heart, brought him down the dlctran from Heaven, and gave him Viftory and Honour ; call'd 94 LETTERS Writ ly Vol . III. callM him by a new Name, THE S E A L O F 7 HE PROPHETS; carried him to the Throne of God, through Legiert) of Devils, that waited below the Moon to deftroy him. And finally, made his Sepulchre glorious and reforted to, by the Believers of all Nations on the Earth. I fend thee this Abjlrtft of the Mnjfulman Hi/lo- ry, to the end thou may'ft fee what Pretenfions the Children of Ifmtel have to the free Law, which you, of the Poftentjr of ifaac, would monopolize to your felves : As if God had not fent Prophett to all Nations, to lead them into the right Way, and not into the Way of Infidel.'. Nevertheless, take not thefe things on my Credit, but examine the Records of thy own Nation, and the Hiftory of fafl Times. Weigh all things in the Ballance ; confult thy Reafon, which is an indeficient Light to thofe who follow it. Your Law was once pure and uncorrupted ; but in time the Devil in. ierted many Errors : He feduced your Fathers they return'd upon their Steps, and fell back into Idolatry. Then God raifed up the Mejpas, to re. form all Things; but him ye rejected. And when he was taken up into Paradife, ye reported,!^ ke was bang 1 d on a Tree. In this the Nazareani are your Fools, and fight againft themfelves ; Whilftthey aflTert, as you do, That he who is Immortal and Triumphant, among the Hundred and twenty four thousand Pntpheti, was crucifitd bettoien twa Thieves : Thus bringing a Reproach on the Afn. file of God, and on their evn Faith, in believing things inconfiftent with the Goodnefsand Power of the Divine Majefty. Without doubt, Jefui the Son of .Mary, is afcended Body ajid Stul into Para* Jiff ; who, whllft he was on Earth, faid, Wtrfoif One Gfd, yeur Lord and mine, Let Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 95- Let me not feem importunate, or troublefome, Ifeeknotto circumvent thy Reafon, but to di- reft it. Think feven times before thou change once. I will procure the Books of our L*w perufe them with Judgment, and tell me then, whether thou haft ever feen any IVritiv^ compa- rable to the Alctrtn ? The Mtjefty of the Style fpeaks it above Human Original : It is exempt from Contradiction, from the Beginning to the End: It confirms the Old Tiftamcnt, which thou believeft: It is alfo over cloathed with Light. Doubtlefs it is no other than a Tranfcript of the Baok written in Heaven. If afcer all thy Search thou lhalt determine otherwife, follow thou thy L*v, and I will fol- low mine. We both worfhip one God, Lord of the Unlverfe. Paris, iotj) of the $th Mow, of tkt Tear 1646*. LETTER XXX. To the LE T not the Fear of difpleafing thofe_of thy Nation hinder thee from embracing the Truth. Gtd fhall protect thee from the Malice of Unbelievers. Thy Intereft is already great among the Muflulmtnt our Juguft Emperor will augment both that and thy Honour. Take hold of the flrongeft Knot, and adhere not to Taget. T/? ly Vol. Ill We only obey the fmcere Dilates of Nature, which teach us, that ib long as the Scul dwells in this Manfion of Flefh, it partakes of bodily Pollutions. 'Tis to avoid thefe, we abftain from certain Meats and Drinks, which cannot be touch'd without Contamination To this End, do we obferve that fu.perlative Nicenefs, in our Waflungs and Purifications, which difcri mi nates us from all the World befide. Doubtlefs, our Law is but the Law ef Mofet, refined and fublimatcd from the Dregs of adventitious Error. Write often to me, and whatever Reafons may prevail on thee not to change thy Religion, let no Arguments tempt thee to iwerve from thy Fide- lity to the Sovereign of Sovereigns on Earth, the Grand Signior, in whofe Veins run the moft exalt- ed Blood of Human Race. Here is a Report in this City, that the Eleftor Erandenburgh will demand the Queen of Sweden in Marriage. Let me know if it be true, that I may inform the Miniflers of the Itftj Pert, from u-hom nothing ought to be concealed, that occurs of Moment betwixt the two Poles. Inform me alfo, what pafles remarkable in the Afftmbly of the Deputies at Munjler, and whether h be true, that the Danube has lately over-flow'd its Banks, and carried away Four hundred Houfes In its rapid Courfe. Such Stories are told here, by thofewho know not how to pafs away their time, but in hearken- ing after foreign News, to furnifh themfelves with Matter to amuie the credulous, and beget Admiration of their Intelligence. I have fent thee a Watch of my making : If diou accepted it with good Will, 'tis a fui^cient Acknowledgment. t May Vol. IIL a SPY at PARIS. 97 May God, whofe Prefence fills rhe Univerfe, dlfcloie himfelf to thee, in the way of Salvation, and continue to breathe good Motions into thy Soul. Paris, io'& of tJn <$t of the Tear 1646. LETTER XXXI, To the Kaimacham. AD O N A I the Jew has much improv'd him- felf, in his late Progrefs through Italy. He is grown a perfeft Statefman having found out the way to penetrate into Secrets, and to difpatch Bulmefs without any Noife. He may prove very ferviceable at Venice, during the preient War of Candy. His Acquaintance ia that City gives him Accefs to the Cabals of the Senator} , who fpare not, over their Wine, to \hifper the Coun- fels of the State, and to defcant upon the Meu- fures that are taken to defend the Rtpulltrk , againft the invincible Prowcfs of the Ottoman Armies. It is publickly known, that they have feat >. baffidors to the Crown of Mufcovy, that of Poland, and to the Co/acks, inviting them to enter into a League againft the Grand Signior. But few are ac- quainted with the private Treaty, they are making with the Baffin of dleppo. We owe this Difcove- ry to the Diligence and Wit of this Son of Ifrael. He has drawn the Secret from the Mouths of feveral eminent Crunftllon of State and afTures me, That the Sfnatt have made fuch Propo- F lals 5>8 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. fals to the Governor, as cannot fail of inducing him to revolt. This may prove of ill .Confequence, if not timely prevented : The pernicious Example of this Ba/* may incite others to tread in his Steps, eipecially his Neighbours of Sidtn and Damafcuf, who have for a long time meditated a Sove- reignty, independant of the Th>one } which firft eftabliih'd them in thofe Charges. Beildes, the fmgle Forces of this Bajfa will be able to give a powerful Diversion to the Arms of the Em. pi'e, already engaged in Candy, Dalmatia, and ethers Parts , by Sea and Land. He fays, The yemtiau! ipeak much in the Praife of this Bajfas Juftice, whereof they relate many Examples ; among the reft, a certain Cwk among the Franks oftthat City, was accufed of drafting and felling putrify'd Flefh, whereby many that did eat there- of were infefted with the Plagvt. Complaint being made of this to the Baff*, he fends for the Cask, and examines him about it: He reply'd, That ho ibid none but good and wholeibme Meat ; for if it happen'd that at any time he was forced to keep any Flefh in . his Houfe above three Days, h& fo feafon'd it with Spices and Herbs, as made it very favoury, and without any ill bcent. The Bajpt, not < having Patience to hear any more of this fetid Apology, commanded his Arms and Legs to be cut off, and the Veins to be fear- ed up ; ordering, That during the fhort time he had to live, he Ihould have no other tood, but what was made of his own Ltmbs. They relate one more Paflage, of .a Complaint that was made by a Peafant, whofe Daughter this B*Jf* s only Son had ravilh'd : The Bj^compel- led him to marry her, with this - Charge, Let me hear VoL III. a SPY at PARIS. 99 bear no rno^e Complaint! cf thee, except thou art re. filved to leave me without a Son. It is reported here, That the King of Pe--/ia has made a Peace with the Great Magvl ; and that they will both turn their Forces againft our auguft Emperor, Here is alfo a Courier arrived from MarfeiSf.^ who brings News of the Revolt of Cavarra tha Inhabitants of that Place having ihaken off the Obedience they owe to the Sultan, and put them- felves under the Protection of the Venetians ; and that General Grimani has taken four Ships of Ra g*f* t laden with Ammunition for our Army He adds alfo, That Morifini has thirty fmall Veflels, befides Gallies , under the very Walls of the Dardantlh. I long ago fuggefted to the Vizir ^zlm, that the Weaknefs of thofe Caftles would, one time or other, encourage the Chriflians to perform fome notable Exploit in the Hellefpont. But Mahmui's Counfel was not regarded : Now the Event juftifies my Advie, the Port will con- fult the Security of that Avenue. I with they dot* not pra&ife the Trojan Wifdoon. The Vene* riant have a powerful Fleet: If they block up the Hellespont , and hinder. our Ships from failing into the ^ckipel*&o ; and the Ceffacks, in the, mean while, cover the Black Sea with their Barks, committing a thoufand Piracies and Ravages, whacwill become of the Imperial City ? Whence will they provide Suftenance for fo many Milli- ons of People as inhabit that City, and the Parts adjacent. Thefe Things are worthy of Confideration : And thou, who haft the Care of that capital Seat of the Ottoman Empire, wilt not blame Mahmut, for putting thee in mind of the Danger which threatens even the Seragli* it felf at this Junfture. However, I have done my Duty, foge Minifter. H 2 and ioo LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. and refer the reft to thy Wifdom. My Letters are all regifter'd ; and if Affairs fliould fucceed ill, it will be manifefted, that Mahmut, who watches Night and Day to ferve the great Mafter of the World, has not been wanting to give time- ly Notice of what might be advantagious to tiie Monarchy of the true Faitkfnl. Thou, who art celebrated for thyjuftice and Probity, pardon the Liberty which my Zeal for thy Mijler and mine, renders worthy of Excufe, Paris, 19^ of the $tb Mton t .ef the Tear 1646. The End rf tie Firft Rook: LET- 10 LETTERS Writ by A SPY at PARIS. VOL. III. BOOK II. LETTER I. To the mo ft Magnificent and llluftrietis Vizir Azem, at the Pore. OS M I N the Dwarf, whom I formerly mentioned, remains ftill in the Court and continues his good Offices, in com- municating to me luch Padages a$ come to his Knowledge. He has a fubtile Wir, and bears nr> hearty love to the Chnftians, tho* he be one himfelf in Proftjjion. He frequently vifits me, and trufts me with his Secrets. One Day he convinced me by evident Circumftances, that Cardinal Mazurini was projecting to give fome fecret and fudden Blow to the Ottoman Em- pire, for which Ofmin feems to be concerned by a natural Inclination ; being^, as I told thee. born. of Mahemeian Parents, he was uneaiy, 'till he had F 3 acquainted i ox LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. acquainted me with his Apprehenfions ; and I gave him fuch Inftrucrions,. as I thought mofl proper en this Occafion. I fet.my Thoughts on the Rack, to prevent fo dire a Mifchief. And ha- ving premeditated well on this Affair, I pirch'd on a Cour,fe, which would at once clear me from the Cardinal's Sufpicjon ; and by Teeming to fa- vour his Defigns, would abfoluely overthrow them I went to him boldly one Day, and be- ing admitted to his C//f/, I thus addrefs'd that *n. _ .... . * r v HERE are now nine Years elaps'd, great ' J. Minijlir, fince I fir ft _breath'd the. Air o.f ' France during all which time, I have not on- ' ly fhared in common with the Natives, the. Be - * nefits which have accrued to this noble King- 4 dom. under the aufpicious Minifiry of Cardinal ' Riehlieu, and his no lefs eminent SuccelFor ; but ' have alfo received many particular Honours * from that illuftrious Prince of the Church, to * which your Enintnce has been pleafed to make ' fome undeferVd Additions. 'Tis to you both * I owe the Character which has introduced me * into the Acquaintance and Favour of the Nok!- 4 lisy, who on that fcore have thought me wor- 4 thy to inftruft their Children in the Grtck and ' Arablck Tongues ; have vouchfafed to admit ' me to their slt, and to encourage we with the ' Hopes of finding a comfortable; Repofe in the * Bofom of the GtHican Lhurth, after a tedious ' Peregrination from my cwn Country ' When I rtileft on all the accumulated BJe& , fings I enjoy, under the ProteHon of your i r ' ntnce, Bleffin^s equally trar.fcending my Ambi- tion, as they do my Merits ; I apply all my * Studies, to find out feme acceptable way of ' ' Acknow Vol. TIL a SPY at PARIS. 103" ' Acknowledgment to my gracious 1 And becaufe nothing can be more welcome >to * theGuardian of France, than the Means of ad- 1 vancing the publick Good of the Kingdom com- * mitted to his Carg : I now prefume, as a Tefti- ' mony of my Gratitude, to propofe toyoiir.fi- * minence fome Speculations, which if put in Exe- ' cution, will, in my Judgment, not only render ' frame the moft formidable and abfolute Montr. ' chy on Earth , but alfo the whole Catholick ' World in eternal Obligatiotts to her ; and give 4 juft Reafon to change the Style of his /? Chri. * JHan Maj fty, from the the elefefi Son efthe Chitrsh t ( to that of Father if all Chriftendbm. 1 Your Eminence will" not wonder at the Zeal * of a Stranger, or the Care that Tttut of Meld*. 1 via takes for Francs ; In being follicitous for ' this Kingdom, I confult the Welfare of my ' own Country, and of all the Nations which ' profefs the Faith of Jefus j fince it is eafy to 4 fee, that in the Fate of France, that of all Europe 1 is involv'd. ' It is a long time fince fh'd'dilmember'ojRe-- ' liques of the Roman Empire, bordering on x?/?*, ' found themfelves too weak to refift the Puif- * fance of the Ottoman Arms All Greece was ' foon over-run by the Warlike Turks. Tran- 4 fylvania, Watkchia, Moldavia, with the greateft 1 part of the Upper Hungary, quickly became />;' * butaries to the inveterate Enemies of the Cbn- ' (Han Name. And Germany it felf is fo enfeebled * by their repeated Incur/ions, that all the Em. f pe-or can do, is to make difhonouratle and ' coftly Compofitions, buying a precarious Peace ' with little lefs Charges, than would fcrve fome ' more fortunate Prince, to carry on a glorious ' and fucceisful War. Neither is the Stare of t Venice in any bittec Conditioh of Defence, tlie- E 4 ' Turkt j 04 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. II I. Turks having pared away whole Province}, from that once flourishing Commonwealth, and by their continual Invafions and Hoftilities, re- duced her to a Necetfity of merchandizing with the Ottoman Pert for Peace. Which is no iboner concluded, but environ'd with their Fleet by Sea, and her fertile Plains cover 'd with Armies of Mahome- tans by Land. Behold her Cities in the Hands of her Enemies, and her Villages laid defolate ; her Noblt) put to the Sword, and her Mirchantt led into Captivity. In fine, behold that af- flicled CotttncnvPtaltk yet ftruggling with her Fate, and fending her dtr&aff+cttri to all the Pnncci and s:ates of Chnfenjtm, demanding, or rather, in a fuppliant manner, imploring their Afliftance. Yet (he finds little or no help from any but the Pope, and the Knight t of Malta. And his Holinefi has enough to do to preferve the Patrimony of the Church from Violence. 1 he State of Genoua i too intent upon her Traffick, to regard the Cala- mities of her Neighbours. And all the Princes of I:aly have fuch Diversions at home as render their Application to Things abroad ve- ry cold and indifferent In the mean whi'e, the Turks gain Ground, double their Strength, and encreafe their Victories ! O deplorable State of Ckriftendtm \ Is there no Redrefs for thefe Miferies ? Yes furely, there is! And fuch a Redrefs , as only lies in your Power, great Mintfter , to apply j which in th* ' Expe- Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. icy ' Experiment , I dare allure will prove effe- ' fhial ' I do not pretend to the Vifions and Ixfpirtitiotit * of Peter the Hermit, who garbled fecular and ' divine Offices ; and armed himfelf in Habi-- ' liment of Steel, went dragooning up and ' down Chn'ft endow, at the Head of a confufed ' Rabble, to render himfelf popular and acquire * the triple Charafter of Pilgrim , Prieft and ' Captain. The ill Succefs of his rafh txftiRtUk * ihew'd, that he was only ftung with a reti- ' ligtous Caprice, and that God approved not his * Folly. I do not go about to propofe another ' Cruftuts , or contrive a Way to ftied whole' r Deluges of Human Blood, with no other conle- 1 quencc, than to ftain Ht(i.>ry with the fanguine ' Memoirs of Cbrift endows Vanity and Misfortune. ' Bsfides , that would be found imprafticable * in this Age, which was ealie to put in Execu- * tion, Five r Six hundred Years ago: The- ' World is notfo devout now, as it was in thoie Days ; neither are Men fo prompt to run the Rifque of their Lives on religious Errand:, for ' the Honour of being efteem'd Martyrs. 'Twiii * be difficult to find out a new Lift of Godfrty\ ' Baldwin's, G/s, and- other Heroes, to lead the Champions of the Cmfi through all the Hrfrd- fhips of the Sea and Land, fo many hundred * Miles, 'into remote and defolate Reg-ions, to * combate not only with Fkih and Blood, btic '- with Famine, Peftilence, and all the Miseries of Human Life : And, as if this were not enough, to ftieath their Swords a)fo in ach ' others Bowels, for Pf//;o'/, mere Trifle? ot* 4 miftaken Honour , and ill-timed Emulation : 1 And ail this only to purchaie the empry 2/. ' tie of King of Jerufalem ; or the precancii? * Authority of a Grecian Emperor-. JJoch {bore E f ' lived LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. liv'd Honours ; the one to be loft in a little time, with all Ptcftine t to the Saracens the other depending only on the Plea lure of the Multitude ! Such were the glorious Fruits of the Chn'fiian Arms in thofedays ! Such the Tri- umphs attending our Victories ! Thefe the Tro- phies which our Fathers creeled to their own Difgrace ; when after a War of fo many Years they left the Holy Land in a worfe Condition than they found it ; and of fo many Hundred Thoufand Men as marched thither, threatning the utter Subverfion of the S*r*cen Empire ; there fcarce return'd enough to difperfe the News of their own Overthrow. * Waving therefore thefe vifionay r.ifh Expedi- tions,^ now propoie to your Emi-scuce an Un- dertaking, which tho' it may make lefs Noife in the World, yet carries more Probability of Succefs, and will not only promote the Intereft of France, but redound to the Advantage of all Europe. * No Man who is acquainted with Hiftory, can be ignorant what Claims the King: of France have made to the Empire of the Weft, fmce the Days of Charinnaine, the Royal Predeceflor of his prefent Majtfty, who was dignified with the Imperial Title, by the Sovereign Bijhop. Neither is it unknown, by what Artifices the Houfe of Auftria have procured the Travflation of the facred Authority to their own Family. ' Your Eminence is fenfible by what Tyran- nous and unjuft Methods they have main- tain'd themfelves in this higheft Pitch of Hu- man Glory ; and not content with this, how they have afpired after the Monarchy of the whole WerlA ! All the North have groan'd under the Burden of that infupportable Tyrnny. And their Encroachments on the Seuth, have ' render'd Vol. HI. a- SPY at PA R is. 107 renderM that L/e little lefs Infamous. They fpare neither Civil nor Sccltjiaflial Rights, in the Purfuit of their Ambition, not even the Patrimony of St. />**, which has ever been c* fteem'd facred&nd. inviolable by Ch'-ijlian P-ii.c t. They have fack'd Row* it felf. and. Jed the /- preme Pajler of the Church into Cip'i^ifjf. What fhould I fpeak of the HoMando-s 1 Swi:zer: } Gn'foai, and other Nations, which, impatient of the Auftnan Yoke, revolted from their cruel Mafterj j and have ever fince aflerted their Li- berty by the Force of their Arms ? What fhould I mention the frequent Troubles in Bohemia, Tranfylvtmia and Hwg* r y, when the Inhabi- tants of thofe Countries, grown defp erate with their daily Oppreffions, have bravely endea- vourM to redeem themfelves and their Pofte- rity from perpetual Servitude; but for want of a powerful Prttettar, have been forced to yield to their old Maflert 1 That incefluoui Race are ?rown odious to the whole World: Even the rincet of the Empirt are forced to fmother their Refentments, whan they cleft one topof- fefs the Imperial Diadem, whom they cannot buC hate ! 1 That therefore which Ia ; m at in this Addrefs, is, To reprefent to your Eminence, how eafy ic will be in this Juncture, for his moft Chn'/h'an Majtfty to recover the Imperial Crown, which of Right belongs to none but the Succe/on of the renown'd Charlemaine j and which even the greateft part of the Ge mans themfelves, wifli to fee placed on the Head of Lrait XIV. Moft of the Eletfors are already inclining to the Interefts ofF'-ance : It will not be difficult to win the reft. The Hungarians, &c. long for ft Deliverer : And the other Provincti beyond the Danube, will freely open the Gates of F 6 ' their ip.8 LETTERS #>// /!y Vol. III. g 4 their Cities, to Jet in hit Armies, whom they look on as the Hope of all Chrifttntiom. The He/- * veitant, who are Allies of this Crovn, will not ' fail to perform their part. The Suedes have al- * ready pluck'd many Fta'hers from the raie>.oxt ' Eagle. And the Forces of this Cr9a>m in K- ' rope ! Or rarher, let no leen Cknftina, reap * the fole Glory of fo fortunate and profitable a * War ! His Majefy has a formidable f him who is Mafter of us all. We are Mvf- Jinmaiif, and muft net difpute the Pleafure of Hea- ven, or the Commands of our Sovereigns. It is an Argument of their Clemency, when they retrench their Anger, and fpare the Lives of their Slaws. The Sultan is merciful in a higher Degree, in not extending his Haads to the Wealth of our Friend ; Lut has Jeft that: and his Liberty untpuctfd-: whereby he is ftill in a Capacity of enjoying many Pleiures , which are denied to thousands who have their Sight. I do not write this, as if I were void of Com-, paflion toward my Friend- I owe him fliil the lame AiFeftion, as when he was able to read the Sincerity of it in my Face. Bat I would not fiave the Lofs of his Eyes abate the Sight of his Soul, which is his Reafon. Let him remember, that a famous Pbilofrj>h:r has done that voluntarily to himfelf, for the fake of a lefs interrupted Con- templation, which is impofed on our Friend as a Punifnment. There is no outward Difafter can hurt the Opticks of a Mind guarded with Patience, und fhut up within the Circles cf its own Light. Such a Soul is imj r^gnable againfr. all the AfTaults cf Fortune; and Triumphs over Dtfiny it felf. Befides, Vol. III. a SPY At PARIS. 113 Befides, our beloved Eunuch can {till converie with his Friends, which is a Privilege the Deaf would almoft give their Eyes to enjoy. It is hard to determine which of thofe two Senfei would be mifs'd with leaft Regret, efpecially to a Man, who, by his excellent Voice and Skill in Singing^ feems to be the very Soul of Mufi'ck What is it in all this infinite V 7 ariety of vifible Objefts, that afFeftstheEye with fo refin d aP'ea- fure, but the harmonious Difpofition and Symme- try of the Parts, which compofe the who e Scene of the Univerfe ? And may not that Pleafure be tranflated to the Ear, when it receives tjie pro- portionate Meafures, and exquifite Cadences of Sounds? Certainly Mufick is no other than Beauty to the Ear, as Beauty is Mufnk to rhe Eye. But our Friend Egry needs not theie Encou- ragements : He underftands the Way to make himfelf happy, and has Wifdom enough to put it in pracuc. The Grand Signitrs Fury is pacified. Egry lives. He has Houfes and Gardens ; Gardens reple- nifli'd with all manner of Fruits and Flowers to gratify his Tafte and Smell, He is Mafrer of much Treafure in Silver and Gold, and of many Slaves. If all thefe cannot contribute to his Feli- city, he is Mafter of kimfelf, which is ejfintial Hapfineft. Thou who fucceedeft him in that honourable Poft, and guarded the Avenue of the majejfick Chamber, where the AddrefTes and Supplicatiorrs of all the Princes of the Earth are made at the Feet of our auguft Emperor, watch thy Senfes, and obey thy Reafon. Remember thy Prtdectff'jrs Fxtt, and forget not Mahmut but above all things forge: not thy felf. Adieu. Paris, 20 fb of the f htus, whofe Voice, rhou knowefV, infpired the Trees ; and Rocks with Paffion. Belides, he has many other Gifts, which render'd his Perfon and Converfation deleftable to all ; and taught the whole Seraglio, new Leflbns of L-itionick ^Love. When thou haft received this, I defire thee to give him a Vifit : Thou knoweft his Houie at Galtta. .Embrace Jiim in my Name, and give him. a Kifs of faithful Friendfiiip. Forget not alfo n 6 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. alfo to return him my Acknowledgments, for the Diamond^ he fent me. And chear him with this Thought, that one Day his Eyes fkall be renew'd in Pvadifc , far brighter than thcfe glittering Jraels. Adieu. Paris, ioth of the 6tk Moon, of the Tear 1646. ! L E T T E R IV. T& Dicheu Huffein Baffa. * ~T"* I S not eafy to guefs at the Motive, which i induced the Dukeo Orleans to begin this Year's Campaign in fo rigorous a Seafon. It was the iirft Mow, and the Ground was cover'd with deep Snows (an ill-time to march in an Enemies Country./' .And when thefe Snows were dif- folv'd, Floods follow'd. It feems as if he were thirfty of Fame, and would acquire the Chara- &er of a hrdy Warrior ; refolving to fhun no Fatigue, which might advance the Reputation of his Arms. The Duke of Engm'en, fpurr'd on with a glori- ous Emulation, foonfcllow'd with another Army> but by a different Road. There are Four M*rt, ftkuli of France gone with them. Thefe early Marches make a great Noife. But little of Acti- on could be expected, while the weary Flemmi^t knowing the Pafles of the Country, and the Force of the Floods, having kept their Winttf Quarters, Ipending that Time at eafe, in prepa- ring all Things necefiary for a more feafonable Campaign, which they have now begun. la Vol. III. aSpvat PARIS. 117 In this the Sfanijh Policy deferves Commen- dation ; who would not expofe the Health and Lives of their Soldiers to unnecefTary 'Rigors, but waited 'till the Sun had well dry'd up the unwhol- fome Damps of the Earth, and fhedding his be-, nigner Influence through the Air, invited them forth into the Field. But when I thus approve ' the Wifdom of the Spaniard, think not that I con- demn the fprightly Geniut of the French, who feem to approach neareft the Bravery of the Mtff- fttlman Armies The Aftion of a French Officer was worthy of Remark, who being fetit from the Camp -with Letters to the King and Queen, arrived at the Cturt the 24th Day of the Second Moon, whilft the Ground was yet frozen hard. After he had deliver'd his Meflage, the Chamberlain of the Ryal Houjbold appointed him a Lodging for thac Night in the King's Palace, he being to return to Plunders the next Day. But he generoufly refufed it, faying, /* became not him to lie in a Bed of >, ke* hit Gattfal, with the' tehole drmy, were forced to.fleep on the frozen Earth. Therefore, caufing fome Straw to be brought out of the Stables, he took his Repofe thereon in the open Air. The young King, extremely pleafed with his Gal- lantry, order'd him a hundred Pieces of Gold, and recommended him to the Duke of O/e*/, as one of the braveft Men in his Army. I fwear by the whittling of the Winds, and the ruffling of the Leaves, that I honour fuch Ver- rue, even in an Jnfidd, 3P&ris, loth of the 6tJi Mton, tf thi Ttar L E T. LETTERS Writ ly Vol.IIL LETTER V. To Kerker Haffan, Baffa. TH V Letter is come to my Hands, with the Prefent of Ktpb*, which is fo much the more acceptable, becaufe thou broughteft it thy felf from the falley of ^maim, the Place of my Nativity. It is an evident Sign that thou haft not forgot thy Countryman, in that thou condefcend- eft to oblige him in fo peculiar a Manner. The Place where we drew our firft Breath, is always dear to Mortals ; and the Remembrance of that ildicious Vale, affefts Mahmut with fmgular De- Hght. 'Tis true indeed, I was brought from thence before I could diftingulh once Place from another ; but I have vifited that Region fmce, and have Reafon to pronounce it the moft deleft- able Part of Ambit. Had the Grecian Potts feen that Ptradife, they would not have fo extoll'd the celebrated Fields of Temft in Theffaly. This hap- py Vale is the ElyxJum of the WirM, blefs'd with an eternal Spring. Thou art highly oblig'd to the Sultan for the Liberty he has given theeto vifit tha Placeofthy Cradle, and to fojourn fo long among thy Kin. tired. Thy Father was famous in that Country for hunting of Lionr, and other B>afts of P f ey. I have heard Ibme of our Trite praife his Valour and Dexterity, in the chafe of thofe fierce Ani- mals. They told me, That in the Space of twa Years, he had prefented the Btglcrberg with twenty Lions Heads, kill d by his own Hand : That he had three tame ones in his Houfe, which he had .taken whea Whelps, from a Lionels of prodi- gious Bulk. That the Walls of his Houfe were hung Vol. III. 4 SPY at PARIS. 119 hung with the Skins of Tigers, Pant hen an d Lior t the Trophies of his indefatigable Diligence, Skill and Courage, in Purfuit of wild Beafts. In a word, they laid, He was the moft fuccefsful Hun- ter in all Arabia. If thou inheriteft his Inclination as well as his Blood, (for they commonly go to- getherj thou haft had a fair Time to range the Foretb, and purge the Defart of thofe ravenous Creatures Were it not for the Enmity of the Gnat i, the /? would be over- run with thefe Sa- vages. They fay, This little defpicable Infetf de- ftroys more Lions than all the Huntfmen in Afia. For fwarming about them in the Heat of Summer, they chiefly faften on their Eye-lids, which they fling fo vehemently, that the Lions thinking to eafe themfelves by Scratching, often tear their own Eyes out, and fo are famifli'd. To underftand well the different Natures of Beafts, is a Study fit for Kings. 'Twas the Glory of Solomon, to be accurate in this Knowledge: And Alexander the Great had fuch an Efteem for it, that he beftowed on Ariftotle the Philofopber -Eight hundred Talents, only for writing a Trtatife of '-Aninials. Our holy Prophtt was eminent above all other Mortals, for his Familiarity with the Brutal Generation, understanding their Qualities and Language, and often difcouding with them. When he lived in the Defart, a Libard continually waited at the Door of his Cave, and did all the Offices of a kind and faithful Serrant. Such Grace is given but to few. But I forget my own Opportunity, of venting my Affe&ions to my Country and my Friends. I forget that I am writing to one who is newly corns from Arabia. Would to Gd I could fee thee, were it but for an Hour. I have a thou- fand Queftions to ask about my Relations, and what Changes have happen'd fmce I was there. gut no LETT EKS #>// ly Vol. III. But I muft facrifi.ce thefe natural Fondnefles to the Will of Dttlinj. I am a double Exile: And fince it is for the Service of the Grand Sig- ntor, I am refign'd. Adieu, happy Minifter ; and if Mthmut may be admitted fometimes to mingle with the Tiain of thy better Thoughts, he fhall count himfelf hap. py where ever he is. Paris, -id of the ^th Moon, of the Ttar 1646. LETTER VI. To Huffein Baffa TH E taking of Retimt in Candy, had fillM the N*z*rens with Apprehenfions of great- er Calamities. The firft fortunate Strokes in a War, make deep Impreflions on the Enemy ; the Vulgar look- ing on them as the Index of their future Deftiny. But repeated SuccefTes chill theirVitals, bereave them of Courage and Hope, leaving them^no- thing but ominous Portents, and fuperftiticus Prefages of their approaching Ruin. So hard a thing it is to judge of Humane Events, without being carried into Extremes. They already give over the whole IJlandfm loft. I wifh and believe it may prove true. Vet at the fame time I know the Fortune of War is uncertain , and another (Campaign may repair or revenge the Damage they have fuftained in tbii and the /r- mtr. The yenetians loft Five thoufand Men before the Walls of that Town , among whom was General Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 12,1 General Corrtaro, the Viceroy of the I/land, (lain in the firft Onfet, befides what were klil'd by cur Soldiers when they enter' d with the retreating Candiots, and facrificed all to the Heat of Martial Paffion. But that which appear'd moft ominous to their Caufe, tho' the prefent Damage were lefs, was the falling out of the Sup>-avedno>-, and the Provs- ditor of the Ifle : Who not agreeing about the Extent of their different Commiflitn-, form'd t\va Parties; between whom there happen'd a furious Encounter, in which Four hundred were {lain on both Sides Theie fmifter Events occafion'd the Rtpvblick to make frefh Applications to the Court of France ; and an Ambajfador is fent from this Crown to Con. ftantiHOfle, in order to meditate a Peace. They call him Mozjtenr de Varannes^ a Man of a pre- fumptuous Difpofition, and who delights to at- tempt difficult Things. When there could not be found a Perfon, willing to undertake a Nego- ciation, which carries fo little Probability of fuc- ceeding, this Gentleman, in a B'a-va-h, offer d himfelf; telling the Queen, that he made no doubt of fo reprefenting Matters to the Grand iignior, as would infallibly produce a Pane. It had been eafy for Cardinal Mazarini (whofe Counfel the Queen follows in all Things) to have hinder'd this Man's Voyage. But thofe'who are acquainted with the Pique that is between them, conclude, Thac the Cardinal conlented to. his Ccm. mffin, on purpofe to Jay a Train for his future Bifgrace ; as knowing the Eoldnefs of his Tem- per, was far from being feconded with eoual Wifdom and Conduft ; and that though h? was prnne to undertake great and hazardous Actions, yet he never had the gcod Fortune; to accomplifh -any thing of Moment. G They ; 1 1 2, LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. They that know this Gentleman's Character, fay, That any Example will encourage him to rufh into Labyrinths and Perils. And where Ex- amples are wanting, he is ambitious to be made one himfelf. He fears not to tread in the Foot- iteeps of fuch as have mifcarried in the moil def perate Enterprizes ; but promifes himfeJf Suc- cefs, where a Thouland have fail'd. In fine, he is efteem'd the rafteft Man living J fend thee this Defcription of the French Am- bujfador, that thou may'ft communicate it to the Sovereign Divan. It will be no fmall Advantage, to know the Temper and Qualifications of foreign Mimftcrs, refiding at the auguft Po>t : Efpecially at this Juncture, whereon the Fate of Chnjttndom depends. Befides, there cannot be too great Cau- tion us'd, to obviate the fubtile Trains of Cardi- nal MaztrtKi, who, I fear, is contriving no kind Offices to the Ottoman Empire. I kifs the Hem of thy Veil, illuflntus Ba/*, and bid thee adieu. Paris, i in Military .Affairs, and are noc fo partial to the Honour of Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 113 of ths CbriRianf, as to deny the Praifes that are due to an expert Leader among the M^/itlmans. Yet they are inconftnat, and feldom retain the fame Sentiments long. Every Circulation of their Bloods, begets new Friendfhips, new Opinions, new Cenfures. In this they feem to inherit the Vices of the ancient Gauls, as well as their Country. A Rvnan Emperor, who made War in this Na- tion, hath lefc excellent Memoirs behind him : wherein among other things, he defcribes the Na- ture cf the Gauls, their Difpofitionr, and genial Inclination!. He that (hall read his Writings which were penn'd above Sixteen hundred Years ago, and fhall converfe with the prefent French, will eafily conclude, That the latter area living Tran- fcript of the former ; and that their Humours and Actions are exactly copied from his Words. Yet in nothing does the Character of the pri- mitive Gaulf, luit more truly to the prefent In- habitants, than in their furious Onfets in a Bat- tcl, and their equal Readinefs to Flight. Their f ft Aflault feems to fpeak 'em more than Men t their fecoed, lefs than Women j and they feldom Venture on a third. Wilt thou know then, how they obtain fo ma- ny fignal Viftories? It is by Stratagems and Money. Where they cannot circumvent their Enemies, they corrupt a Party of 'em with Bribes and Penfions. Thus they purchafe their Con- tjuefls, with a more powerful Metal than Steel. The Force of Gold, to which all things yield, lays Cities and P/ ovincet at the Feet of this invin- cible Monarch. But, I pray Utaven, fo to profper the Armies of the Empire founded on fertue t that this bfidel Prince, and all the Nazarenes, may experience their Gold to be as ineffeftual as their Swords, a - H4 LETT ERS Writ ly Vol. III. againft the Valour, and jufl: Revenge of the true Be:iei/;rj. Faris id of the of ike Ttar 1646. LETTER VIII. To tit Venerable Mufci, Sovereign Guide of the True Believers. , who art all Goodnefs, the Arch-Type i of Clemency and Virtue, wilt not number me among the importunate, for fo often troubling thee with Difputes of our holy Lav. I ask thee no common Queftions, neither am I captious, ieeking Occafions to darken what is apparent, or invalidate the Teftimony of him who touch'd the HandofGoi/. I revere the holy Oracle?, and the Book not 'diftated on Earth Every Chapter I read in the dlchortv, makes me blefs the Avgd who took fo many Hights, to bring down the fa- cred P'%fi from Heaven. And -my Reverence is encreas'd towards that Volume -of Glory, when I confider it was not haftilycompcs'd ; "every Perf* ci*. being the Produft of Divine Premeditation, Doubtlefs it excels all khe'-WnV/r^/ in the World. No Scripture, before or ilnce, has approach'd to the mjjttrittii Elegance of thofe Cy?;W Lines. Vet methinks I find a great Profundity of Wif- dom in the Tre.fi fat of the dncfentr. Thou wilt fay, my Station requires ~jnt -.to read Men more -than Books, being not fent hi- ther to contemplate, but to aft for the krterefl: of my Mafler, and the Often tn Em fire. 'Tis turc Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 115- true, my Bufmefs now is to unravel the Defigns of the Irfdeli ; buc bear with me, if I tell there, that in order to this I took no wrong Courfe? when in my younger Years I apply'd my felf to Books, which are but Men turn'd infide out, or rnetarnorphofed into Letters; againft whom, thus furviving themfelves the Stroke of Death cannoc prevail. Thole who have erefted Statues of Gold, Sil- ver, Brafs, or Marble, to the Memory of departed, Herom, can but tranimit the Effigiej of their Bo- dies to Pofterity; which, thou knoweft, is the ignobler Part of Man. And herein they come Jhort of the jEgrptiam, who have the Art of pre- ierving the Bodies themfelves incorruptible for a thouiand Generations. But they who Jeft their W'iiings to Pofterity, have obliged the World with an immortal and lively Image of their Mind- This is properly the Man, and lives for ever ; when the Body is coniumed in the Grave, and the Statue perhaps is eac up by Time, or de- inoliih'd by Huvy. Pardon this Uigredlon, r*culout and unerring Mouth of God. I have a dreat deal to fay, and cannot comprehend it in a few Words. It has been enjoin'd by our holy Djfiorj, That a w*jj*ult*an fhould not read the Booki of prophane l^fidilt. But tell me, thou who art the Refolver of Dmbt^ whether this Precept is extended to all, without Exception ; or, whether a Difpenfatitn may not be allow'd to fuch as read thofe Booki with one Eye, whilft the other is fix'd on the Law, which balances the Mind with Truth ? The /ilcyan- tells us, that the Devil has inferted fome F*:ft-i ft in the beft Writings : But, is it net poffible tor A Man to feparate the gotd from the b*4 ? I rend in the Book of G/o-r, many remarakble Things- concerning dltxtndtr the Great But is it unlaw- G 3 ful i i<5 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. ful alfo to perufe what has been writ by others, of the Life of that famous Warrior, and holy Pro- fhet ? Both Grecian and R.om*n Hiftorians have re- lated his Adventures in Jjiir, his Battels with Darittf the Pejtan Monarch, and Porus the Indian. They praife his Continence and modeft Regard to Sijigambu and her Daughters, when they were his Captives; his inviolable Friendilip to Ephe- jlien, whilft living, and the affeftionate Tears he ilied for him after his Death. Yet they condemn him of cruel Ingratitude, for facrificing Clitus to his Gholer, and the Fumes of Wine, who was a faithful Friend, a valiant Soldier, and once had faved his Life in a Battel. They cannot pals over the Burning of Perfcfolii, without fome RefleH ons on the unmanly Softnefs of this Warrior ; who, to pleafe his Concubine, gave Orders, that the faireftand moft magnificent City in /ijl* Ihould be let on fire. The Peijtans boaft, that that City was built all of Cedar ; that C)iui had wholly oil- planted, not only Mount Lib trim, but the choiceft Nurleries of that fragant Wood, through all ^fi > to build this glorious City, in Emulation of Solo- mon King cf the7*n", who was by other Princes thought to value himfelf too high, for building the Temple of Jerufilem of the fame Materials. They add, That Alexander found in this City nine- ty Millions of Caracks in Gold ; that after the Debauch was over, and the Flames had confum'd to Afiies this Pbtrnix cf rfta, the Conrus, a City fo ancient, That 'tis faid to be firft built by one of the Grand Children to Nsah, of whom, thou km weft, the jlcwan fpeaks often. They tax him alfo with Cruelty, in caufmg Two thoufand of the chief Tyrlans to be crucified, as a Sacrifice to Htrcuie<. Thau art bed able to judge, whether this be agreeable to Truth ; foTr what Mijfutman will believe, that the viftori- - ous Prophet was guilry of fo barbarous an Ido- latry ? The Method he took to fubdue this impregna ble City, is an Argument of his invincible Cou- rage ; and that there is nothing impracticable, to a Mind arm'd with Refolution and Perfeve- rance. Tyrus was fituated above half a Mile in the- . Sea, when the Macedonian demanded a Surren- der. The Citizens trufting to the Strength and Height of the Rock whereon they liv'd, ( for 'twas a perfect IJIand) and to their Diftance from the Shore of the Continent, bid Defiance to him/ , whom God had ordain'd to fubdue all Nations, becwen the Extremities of India, and the PilUrf of H'rcules. The Conqueror , enflam'd at their Refu- fal of ofFer'd P(0ct, prepires far an AfTault He attempted, without the Miracle of Mif'S, to make a Path for his Army through the Sea. He fol low'd the Steps of the Bgtyftnfav Monarch, who, not three Ages before, had join'dthis proud Nefl of Merchants to the firm Land. 'Twice his in- duftrious Soldiers raifed a Caufey above the Waves to the very Walls of Tyrus ; and as often was their Labour defeated by the watchful 7> ri*t. When the third time he proved fuccefs. G 4 fulj. n8 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. ful ; and in fpight of all their Refinance by Fire and Sword, after a Siege of Six Moon , he fcal'd the Walls of that Queen of Maritime Cities ; and convinc'd the World , that no Human Force could put a Stop to his Conquefts, whom Deftiny bad appointed to chaftife the Nations of the Earth. That Chapter in the Alcoran, which fpeaks of this renowned Worthy , tells us, That he marched fo far Eaflward, 'till he came to a Country where the Sun rifts. This Paflage the Chnfttam ridicule, faying, that the Sun rifes and fets in all Countries; and that there is no ftated Point of Eafl and Wtjl, in the Fabrick of the World ; fince the .fame Place which is Eafl of one Country, is Wefl of another. Thus the Defpifers cf our holy Law cavil at the J/cxran, and fay, 'tis compofcd of old Ww.) Inlet ; a rude indigefted Collection of Eaflern Romances, and fupeiftitious Fables, calcu- lated for the Meridian of Ignorance, firft pro- mulged in the favage and unpolilh'd Def.ir:i of Arabia, and afterwards propagated by the Sword through thofeCountries,whofe Vices had banifh'd their Learning, and render'd them flexible to a Religion, whofe higheft Pretenfions conftfted in gra'if)irg the Seitjes. Thefe Gri ticks confider not at the fame time, rhat they argue again ft the Old and New Tc- ftament, (which is efteem'd the Alco>** of the, Ckrifiians) wherein there is often Mention made, of the ri(tig and gn'fig down of the Sun ; of Eafl and ffizon where the Sun daily firft appears. It has not without Vol. III. tfSpY*/ PARIS. 119 without Reafon, gain'd the additional Epithet of E-aft. And 'twas here the Madd^ ian He*o* fweac r - becaufe he could conquer no further, unlefs he would have begun a War with the F./h of the Sea There are many other Paffages related of Alexander's Temperance, Moderation, Juftice Y Fortitude, and fuch like Virtues, and fomerhing of his Vices. But I will nor tire thee with all that is laid of this invincible Monarch ; nor trace him in all his Marches through //,. I will noc trouble thee with what they fay of his Journey into Egypt t and afpiring to be call'd the Son of Jupiter Ammon ; his being poifon'd at Babylon, in the height of all his Triumphs j and the cantonizing his Empire, among his chief Captaint. Whatibever in theft Ht'fioriet is agree- able to the holy Alcoran, I acquiefce to ; what is repugnant to that Summary of Truth, I rejeft as a F*ble. Tell me, thou ftvereign {Revolver of Douktr, whether on thefe Terms I may not read the Wri- ting! cf Infidilsl Books are a Relief to the Mind opprefs'd with melancholly, and efpecially Hi/lo- ries, which alfo bring Profit, by rightly inform- ing us of the Tranfaclions of paft Ages : So that Things, which were done thoufands of Years a- go, are made prefent to us. Where then is the Grime in reading thefe Memoirs of the Ancient i ? Is it not confident with the Faith of a Muflulman to read thefe Hi/lories, becaufe they were penn'd by Heathens ? Muft we rejeft all that the Paganj did or faid ? Why then are the Works of Plutarch had in fuch Veneration by the Prince s of our Lav ? I tell thee, I not only read Plutarch, Li-vj, Ta. cifui, Xextphon, Peljphius, with many other Hifl*. riam that were Pagans^ but I improve by the it Writings, Such rare Examples of Virtue, fuli G 5 illuftrious 130 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. Ill, illuftrious Patterns of Juftice Such folid Pre- cepts of Morality as theie Authors abound with, cannot in my Opinion, hurt any Man, who de- fies to fquare his Life by the.beft Rules. I read alfo the Potts, whofe Fabla and Para- tlei, feem to me but to veil many excellent and profitable Maxims of Human Eafe. The Sto-y of the Birth of Trfhon, his warring with Juplnr, and his final Overthrow, denotes the monftrous Rife of Factions in a State, and their Ruin. The Cyclops being employ'd by Jupiter in ma- Jcing Thunderbolts, and kiiikig &fctt!at>!u.<, for which they themfelves were afterwards flain by ^'po'lo, intimates the Ufe which Sovereign Princes make of cruel, covetous and unjuft Officers : who when they have fulfill'd the Pleafure of their Matters, are abandoned by them to the Re- venge of the opprefs'd Subjects. This is com- monly experienc d in all Monarchies, and efpecial- ally in the mighty Empire of the Ofmans; where the Baffa^s, though the Grand Signior, for the Ends of State, connives a while at their unjuft Op- preffion of the Mujfulmant under their Govern- ment, yet in due time, to Ifcew his Abhorrence of their Villanies, configns 'em over to the Exe- (uticer. Thou knoweft to whom the Bow-ftring was fenr laft ; I wifli his Success may not equally merit it. Jff*}n*s being devour'd by his Dogs, only for feeing Diana in a Ba:h, might have ierv'd as a Warning to Ufifh the Black Eunuch, who cculd not reftrain his Tongue from babling out the private Amours of Sultan Ibrahim. It was -Dan- ger enough to know the SecrtC; but to divulge it, was a fure way to incur the Revenge O f tho Prince. Vol. III. a SPY af PARTS- 131 Not mtich unlike was his Error, \vho tho' he did not report it to others, yet had the Prcfum- ption to check his Sovereign to his Face, and ic- jj roach him with Luxury. Had he been acquaint- ed with the Fable of Endjrmioa and the Mceit, it would perhaps have taught him, that it is not the part of a Favourite to to take notice of his M--fter'r ftolen Pleafures, but rather to invite him fome- times from the Toils of State, and unbend his Mind with Recreation}. There are many other profitable Remarks hid. den under the Fictions of the Poets ; which, tho* they may feem myftcrious at firft View, yet being, examin'd with a little Attention, proves as eafy to be underftood, as the Htero'lyphicki were of old to the Egjpn'ans, who knew no other Letters God, the/'/? Intellect, who imprinted his Mind on Tablet} of Marble, in Letters of A abick, and writ the Decalogue with a Beam of his Glory ; ha- ving alfo infpired all Nations with the knowledge of Letter;, grant, That whilft I read the Records of the Gentiles, 1 may not forget the Precefti of the- Paris, -i^dtf the ith Mton t ef the Tear 1646. LETTER IX. To Murec Bafla. A Courier came to this City laft Night, bring*, ing News of the taking of Cturtray by the French Army. This is a cOnfiderable Town in Flanders, and commands ti great part of the Coun- try. The Dttkt of Orleans invefted it on the G 6 ninth 132, LETTERS 'Writ ly Vol. Ill ninth of the laft M on and on the eighteenth lay down before it with the whole Army. The S/M- ttijb General haften'd to its Relief, and brought Thirty thoufand Men of Six Nations, to combat with the French. But they quarrel'J about Pre- cedency of Poft. High Words pafs'd between the Duke of Lorrain and General Lambs], Thus, while they fpend their Time in needlefs Contefbs, the F.-ench took the Town : And having left a ftrong Garrilbn there, part of the Army com- manded by the Marefcbal di G'amrnant, is march- ed to join the Hollander i, with Defign to attack Antwerp ; and the reft follow the Duke of O- leant, who' they fay, intends to befiege Mardjke. This Is a Sea Town that has nothing in it conli- tlerable enough to tempt a Ctnyuerer, fave the Haven, which is of great Importance in thole Seas. We have had no Rains here thefe three Moons, which makes the People fear a Famine. Pro- vUions of all forts are very dear ; and thofe who Kave great Quantities of Corn will not bring it to the Markets. The Fruits are all blafred, and a Diftemper rages in the City, which fills all PI ces with Death and Mourning. The Cattel drop down dead in the Fields, and the Rivers are al- inoft dried up Men languifh and wither, as if p-rch'd up by ibme inward Tire Fearful J/pf>a- riticns are feen in the Air ; each Night brings forth new Prid'giet. The People lament the prt. /?*?, and prefage greater Calamities to come. While M*kmut perfeveres unmovd, and neither molefrs himfelf nor others , about the inevitable Decrees and Diftinj. I keep in the Path of my Du- ty, without turning to the Right Hand or to the Left. I ferve the Grand Sigaitr faithfully : I pry for his Health, and for the Welfare of the m?!rt. I neither give Alms to the irfJelr, nor Vol. III. ^ SPY at PARIS. 133 nor do them any Injuries. In fine, if I cannot reap any Profit from other Mens Virtues, \ take care their Wets fhall Jo me no harm. 'Tisfaid there will be a Prtceflim here fhortly, whereat the King, the Quifn Regent, and the who'e Court will aflift bare foot, for an Example of o- thers. The Body of a certain Female Sair,t, whom they efleem the Pttronefi of this City, will be taken out of the Church where it lies, and will le carried with other Reliqurt of Saints thro 1 the Streets of Paris, to atone the Wrath of Heaven, which fe;ms to be kindled againft them. In the mean time I pray Heaven to fend down its Blefilngs on the Ottoman Empire , and pre- ferve the true Faithful from the three Scturga of Gut. Paris, 23<^/ tht l*b Moon, ef the Tear 1646. LETTER X. To ihe Aga of the Janizaries. I Perceive thou haft follow'd the Advice I for- merly gave rhee , to read Hifion'es , wherein thy Letter fpeaks thee very converfant. Thou wilt have no Reafon to repent of a Labour that affords fo agreeable a Diverfion, efpecially to a Soldier and a Statefman. They open the Graves, and call forth the Dead, without difturbing their Repofe ; and prefent to us thole Heroes Jiving, talking and acting great Things , whofe Bodies have lain buried in Silence and Obfcurity many Ages. They introduce us into the Clofets of Princct, 1 3 4 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. ITT. p and Sc:encet are taught. The Plough men in the Field fpeak L*tin and Greek, which thoa knoweft are now grown obfolere , and no where to be learn'd but in Books. The Meckanicks are Pbiliftphers ; and every Man fets up for an Hflorfan, or an ^nttqua-y. It was not fo in former Times, when the Eccttjiejticks had engrofs'd all manner of Learning to themfelves, except fome few of the Kebiliry and G-::tt-y, who had the Advantage of Putrimtnitt Libraries, and Leifure to apply them- felves to Stucy. For then it was difficult to purchafe Btok;, there being bur few ; and for thofe, they were obliged to the Labour of the Strike. Hence it came to pafs, that only fuch as had Plenty of Money, and a ftrong Inclination to Knowledge, monopoliz'd the chiefell Mann, fcripts into their If ands, and bequeath d them as a Legacy to their Of-fpring. But, fince the In- Vention^of Printing, Botkt are infinitely multilpi- ed, Vol. III. *SPY at PARIS- 135- ed, grown cheap and common : And thofe Hi/ft- ries and Sciences, which before were ihut up in the Latin, Greek, .or fome of the Oriental Language?, are now tranflated into the vulgar speech of every Nation ; whereby the lowed fort of People who can but read, have the Privilege to become as knowing as their Superiors, and the Slavs may vie for Learning with his Sovereign. This makes the Nazartnet upbraid the true Faithful with Ignorance and Uarbarifm , becaufe Printing is not fufier'd throughout the Mvfjllwan Lnr^f. They confider not the bad Conferences cf rirs dn, as well as the good -. And, that the Liberty of the Prefs has fill'd the World with Errors and Lies : Befides, they are Stangers to the Educa- tion of the Muffxlmws, who are generally taught the A^aiick and Perfian Tongues from their Child- hood : In which Two Language!, how many fa- mous H'ftorits have been writ ? There is no point of ufeful Wifdom, which is not compriz'd in the of the E*ft;ra Sages. And as forunpro. Arable Treatifes and Pamphlets with which the European! abound, they are fuperfluous and bur- denfome, bringing a double Lofs, both to Wri- ter and Reader; while they rob them of their Time and Money, and commit a Rape on their Underftandings Add to this, the fatal Effefts- which this depraved Indulgence of Printing has. produced i a Ch>iJ?endam. What Sacrileges, Maf- facres, Rebellions and Impieties. , have over- flow'd moft Parts of the Weft in this licentious Age ? What Hatred among ChnJHans, what Se- ditions among Subjefts , Diverflties in Religi- on, Contempts of all Lam, both Divine, .Na'uraf, and thole of Nations? The Vices, at which for. mer Times would have blufn'd ; nay, at the ve- ry naming of which our Father; would have flai t- ed, as at a Prodigy, are in thefe Days committed openly, 136 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. openly, without Shame, without Contradiction * whilft there are Authors who dare publickly afTert the Caufe of Impiety, and patronize all manner of Prophanations. But thou, who hafl the Honour to guard the in- corruptible Seat of Jujtiee and yirtut, the bright Throne of the Ofman Emperors, who are the Sha- dow of God on E*rth, haft made iuch a Choice of Books, as commends thy Wifdom, and the Since- rity of thy Morals. Thou wilt not fuffer thy Ima- gination to be tainted, with thofe enchanting / dean of Evil, which are drawn by the Pens of fome elegant Writer). All that thou feekeft in Books, is to inform thy Underftanding, reftify thy Judg. ment, and enflame thy Affections with the Lcve of Virtue. To this end ferve the divine Precept? of our My Dtfton, and other learned Sages ; the Writings Q Philoftpbers, and the Examples of renown'd Heroes. From thele thou gathereft Strength, to praftife the four material Virtues, aud all the good Qualities that fpring from thofe Roots. Go on, and increafe in the Graces and Accom- plilhments, which {hall render thee worthy to be made the SubjeEf of a particular Hi flu y ; while the old ftiall recommend, and the young ihall co- vet, nothing more pafllrmately, tlian to read the JJje of Cajjita Halt, Janiz^r /Iga. Mahmut falutts thee with a Rifs of Affeftion. Reverence thy feif, and all Men will honour thee* So taught Pjth*gori. Paris, ijtb of the %t1t Mttn, of tht r ddo'phur, the rnoft victorious Prince that ever govern'd that Nation, and one of the moft fuccefsful Warriors in the World. As his whole Life was led in the Field, fo there he received an honour- able Death, being flain in the Battle of Luiz.en-. Some fay, by the Treachery of Duke A.bert, who- had in Appearance deferted the En.peror, and offer'd himfelf a Voluntier to Guftwut .ddolphus, I formerly mention'd this Duke, and that he was kill'd by a Svedi/b Lady. If the Sufpicion of the Svoedst be well grounded, and that Duke Albert was really guilty of the Murder of Guftavnt, it may be this was the Motive which brought thofc rfmazam into the Field, to revenge the Death of their Prince. But it is impoiTible to be aflur'd of the Truth, among fo many different Opinions. When- 138 LETTERS Writ fy Vol. III. When the F r excb fpeak of Gufl-vtts they cannot reftrain their Words on this fide a Pwriyrick. They fay, he was a Pritct above all Praife. 'Tis certain his very Enemies admired his unimitable Courage, and matchlels Fortune. I have fent thee the true Effigies of his Face, where thou wilt fee a moft agreeable Mixture of Majefty and Benignity, creating Refpeft and Love at the fame time in the Beholders He waj fo familiar with every one, as if he had forgot himfelf, as well as he was a Stranger to Pride. He \vas a great Student in his Youth, and made himfelf Mafter of Lain, Fnnch and Italian ; be- ing alfo perfectly skill'd in Ancient and Modern Hlftoriet. He had a wonderful Faculty in difco- verirg Impoftors ; a dextrous Wit in Time of Danger and Difficulty, bting ready at Counfel, and fwift in Execution ; a- d as cunning at a Stratagem, as he was bold at an Onfet. He was liberal to his Officers, ad to all Men of Merit ; but a fevere Punifher of Diforders in his Army. And that hich crown'd all the reft of h : s Vir- tues, his Piety to G;d was flngular, and worthy . cf Remark. The fitntlj relate a memorable $*j!*g or this King, when he was once in his Camp before Werben. He had beenfolitary in the Cabi- net of his Pavilion fome Hours together, and none of his Attendants durft interrupt him ; till at length a Favourite of his having fome impor- tant Matter to tell him, came fofdy to the Door, and looking in, beheld the King rery devoutly on his Knees at Prayers. Fearing to moleft him in that j 'acred Exerci/e, he was about to with- draw his Head when the King fpied him, and bid him come in ; faying unto him, Thou wonder, ft to j(e me in ibis Pojtu't, fer.te 1 bfui / many th~ f*r.d} of Subjects to p>ay far me. But J teS thee, ik*t at Mn k*i more mid to frj fsr bimfelf, than. he, Vol. III. a SPY At PARIS- 139 he, wb9 bting to render an Account of his 48iom to rone but GOD, is for tht Reafon mure clofely <*/- faulted by the Devil, than all other Men b'fide. Gafta-vu! was born in the Year / 594 at which time, they fay, a Comet was feen in the Form of a Sword, with its Point direfted toward G^-mnny ; which the Aftrologers of thofe Times interpreted as a Prefage of that King's Warlike G(mu>, and of his future Conquefts in the Etntirt. He came to the Government before h had Teen full feven- teen Winters, and was cor'off in the eight aad tkirtieth Year of his Ago It is faid, That a few Dr.ys before his Death, whera his Soldiers received him with infinite Ac- clamations and all the Marks of an unufal and intemperate Joy, he feem'd to be troubled at it, liaying That he took iha' txe-ffive Dfmtnft'att'gn of hit A'oW/Vr; Love, ftr ait Omen of feme app caching Difafler ; Jnd th.-.t he wan afared GOD would, ly raking him away, teach th-m, tha: theieii neCott- fidence to be repifngdt-m t who alib took on them the whole Care of the Commcn-ycaith. She is perfeft in Seven Languages ; well vers'd! in Ancient and Modern P&tofytty, and a com- plete Hlfian'an. In fine, fte has acquired the Title of the moft learned Princefs of her Time. She is- of a graceful and majeftick Afpe> ; has a piercing Eye ; wears part of her Hair loofe about her Temples , and flowing down in Curls to her Shoulders ; the relt braided up behind, in Form of a Wreath, Thus is ihe re- prefented by her Pi&ure, which I have feen in a Gallery of Cardinal Maz#rjn?s Palace, who pro- feffes 140 LETTER* Writ ly Vol. III. feifts a great Veneration for this Queen. Could I have purchafed this Partraiffure, as I did her Father's, I would have fent it thee : But all the Pencils in Pur it are hardlv fufficient to fupply the Clofets and Galleries of the Nob/e.', with this admired Figure. She is become the Idol of the trench Many great Matches have been offer'd her, but fhe refutes all, either for Reaibn of State, or Difltke ef the Perfons, or an Averfion fhe has for a married Life; or through Opposition of her Neble;, who feem to covet to be govern'd by a Maldett Queen. Soon afier her Father's Death, the King of D< >/>> attempted to make her his Wife ; but his Addrels was abruptly re- No better Encouragement did the King of />- land lately meet with, who twice folJicited the fame thing for himfelf. and was as often repulfed. But this, 'tis thought, proceeded from fome poli- tick Reafons, he being defcended of Stgifmund^ a former abdiia-ed King of s&erfcn ; all whofe />- Jierity are for ever excluded from enjoying the bindifa Crew, by a Law. The Englijh alfo gloried in a Virgin Quern the laft Age : Her Name was Elizabeth, whom thou canft not but have heard of She was the Daugh- ter of Hmry VIII. King of that Nation. She was a Princifi of an extraordinary Geniut, remark- able for her Wit and Learning. 'Twas one of her Subjects, who the firft of all Mortals, fail d round the Globe : And, by his fortunate Service, Ihe vanquiflj'd the r< puced invincible j4*meil* of Spiin. Jhe govern'd her Kingdom with fuch ex- tjuifite Conduct, as made the greateft- Ptenra f es revere her U ii'dom. 'Tis to her Bounty the United Province! owe the Rife of their prefent Grandeur and Riches j when they addrefs'd tins potent Vol. III. s* SPY at PARIS. 141 porent Queen in Form of humble Suppliants, en- titling rhemfelves, The Poor Diftrtfrd Stater. But now they're High and Mighty, pufhing for an E- quality with Sovereign Princes. I cannot comprize in a Letter all that may be faid of this great Queen. Belldes, tiiftvn'an vary in her Character. Thofe that fpeak moft impar- tially, fay, That fhe had extraordinary Virtue;, ; yet was/ nor. free from great Vices. We muft not ex peer, in any Mortal, a Temper exempt from the common Malediction ; much lefs in that Srx, whofe natural Weaknefs claims our Indulgence and Excufe. It is admirable to fee or hear of a Fenate, whofe aftivc Soul can difingage it felf from the common Frailties of Womm. and per- form things, fcarce below the Power of Marline Virtue. If thouthinkeft my Letr&r too tedious, accufe thy felf for commanding me to write of Pcribns whofe uncommon Gifts and tranfcendent Virtues, the moft accurate Hiflorians can but render in . fi f eme ; and the moft durable Record; of Paine will injure, in not being capable to tranfmit them to Eternity. We ought not to contemn the Excellencies of the Naziftnef ; who, though they are un- happy in not knowing the ^''cra, yet they have a Lav engraven on their Hearts; which if they obferve, they (hall be in the Number of the BltftJ I am no Stranger to thy Moderation and Juftice, being fully fatisfied. that thou honour- eft Virtue, even in the moft prejudiced E-- nemy of cur kaly Pref ffion. Let the FMriefo'i among the Majfalmans or Chnftians fay their Pleafure , thou and I fl-all be conformable to our holy Lawgiver, in believing, That the fa- me ent nd gwd of all Religions foall have no Reajta 141 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. Reafcn to trcamtle at the fecond Sound of the Trumpet. Paris, 17/6 of the %tk Moon, of the Tear 1646. LETTER XII. To tie Seli&ar Aga., or Sword-Bearer fo the Grand Signior. TH E Duke of Orleans is newly returned from the Campaign in Flanders. He feems to be either tired with his Fatigues of War, or at leaft to be fatisfy'd with his Exploits this Summer. After the Conqueft of Courtraf, of which thou haft heard in the Divan, this Prince march'd di reftly to Bergue.', which he took, after a Siege of Six Days. Then being join'd by the Duke of Enguittfs Forces, he lay down before Mardjkt. This Town had been in the Spaniard t Pofleffion ever fince laft Winter. New it held out to a Mi- racle ; but, after a ftout Refinance, was at laft forced to furrender. There were flain before it, many of the chief Nobility of France. The French cnter'd it, on the four and twentieth of the laft Moon. > The Cbnrckei here are hung with Mowing, and the Efcutchcons of the Heroes, who loft their Lives in the Bed of Honour. The Bullets which know no difference between the *eble and vulgar, ieem in this Battel to have been directed by Art or Envy : As if the Flower of the Army had been cuITd out for Marks. la Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 143 In a Letter to Murat B*JJa, I gave an Account of a grievous Drought: and Mortality in thefe Parts. Now Heaven icems to be pacify'd ; and the Angel of Death has put up his Sword. Yet the Scarcity of Corn, and other Neceflaries, continues (till ; only there is Plenty of Wine ; which the poor, who have mod Need of it, abftain from, left ic fhould enrage their Appetites, already lharpen'd with Hunger, whilft they have little or nothing to eat. Thou wilt wonder at the Die: of thofe mife- rable Wretches, whom Oppreflion and Poverty has forced to feed on Frogs and other f^trmin ; yet they extol it for a dainty Difh. Both poor and rich reckon it a Feaft, when they can make an Addition of a few Mufbromt!, which they com- monly gather ihemfelves. This is a Vegitable, of which the Italian Proverb fays, Mufhromes roeS pickled with Spicet, nay dt no Harm, but can do no Good. God, who has commanded us to feparate the clean from the impure, and has taught us what we may eat without Pollution, grant, that we may not, either through Neceffity, or to indulge our Appetites, tafte of any thing, which has in It the leaft of the feven Maleditfiont. Paris, \0ftb of the $ f the Tear 1646. L E T- 144 LETTERS Writ Ij Vol. III. LETTER XIII. To Abubechir Mali. Merchant, in Aleppo THOU telleft me a frag ical Story of one of thy Wives, that fhe is become a Fugitive, and gone away with thy Slave Lorenzo, \vh. m I remember to -have feen at thy Houfe at Con/Ian, ifnople. Either thou wert too unkind to them both, or gaveft them both too much Liberty: X* hlchicever of thefe Ways thou haft exceeded, thou art in the Fault Too great an Indulgence, either to a Wife or a Servant, makes them pre- fnmptuous : And too great Severity , hardens them to Defpair. However, fmce it isfo, I ad- vile thee to comfort thy ielf with this Thought, that thou art rid of two Evils. Had they prov'd faithful, they would not have merited that Title ; but now they are neither worthy of thy Grief, nor of thy Revenge. But if thou art refolv'd to purfue them, ask not my Counfel or Affiftance in this Place, where I fliould have as much Reafon to apprehend Dan- ger, as they. 'Tis true, I know thy Slave ; but were I to meet him in the Streets of this City, I fliould be very unwilling, by difcovering him, to be made known my felf Belldes, thy Paflion has made thee forget, that the Nazarcne; would com- mend his Wit. and rejoice in his Fortune, who being a Slavs to one whom they efteem an //- eiti. has now, by his wife Conduft. purchafed toth his Liberty, and a beautiful Mate, with no finall Treafure. I rather advife thee, to apply thy felf to Jafmir Sghe Rugial, the little ^ftretogtr in dleppo, who perhaps Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS- 141 perhaps may tell thee fome News of 'em- There is not a Scar in the eighth Sphere can flir, with- out his being privy to it. And he pretends to behold in their Motions, whatever is done on Earth. But to be ferious, thy Slave was an ungrateful Fellow, thus to abufe all thy Favours Thou hadft made him in a manner Matter of all thy Riches, only referving thy Wives to thy felf. And if the Defire of Liberty tempted him to efcape, he ought in Juftice to have facrificed his Luft, to the Regards he ow'd thee. Eut every Slave is not a Jtfcfh. Lortnzo's Villany puts me in mind of the Continence of an Italian Mar. This young Lord fell in Love with a Dutcheft of fingular Beauty, but knew not how to make her fenfible of it. At length Fortune favour'd him with. an Opportunity, beyond his Expefta- tion. One Evening, as he returned from Hawk- ing, he pafs'd through the Fields of that D.utchcfs t bordering on the P*l*ce. The Duke her Husband, and fhe, were walking together, as the young Lord came by. The Duke ieeing his Train, and what Game they had been at, ask'd him fome Queftlons concerning their Sport, and being of .an hofpitable Difpoiition, invited him into his Palace to take a Collation. Nothing could bs more agreeable to the ypung Lover. He accept- ed the Offer, and here commenc'd an Acquain- tance. which made way in Time for an Afligna- tion between the Dutcbefs and him. He was lee into the Gardens one Night, and fo conducted privately to her Chamber, where ihe lay ready in Bed to receive him. After fome Compliments, the Dutch? ft faid, My Lord, T*u re ol> iged to my for [this Favour ; who, as foox as you were from our Hoitfe, (fre ft ft time we fate you, H 146 LETTERS Writ ly Vol.111. gave you fuch Commend 'Mitts, tts made me conceive a* immediate PuJJion for you. Is it true, Madam? (reply'd the young Lover already half undrefs'd) f lh*n jar bt it f om we, to -be fo ungr*t?ful tt my Friend. With that he put on his Garments again, and took his Leave. But it cannot be expefted that fo much Vir- tue fhculd be found in a Sltatc. I would not have , thee vex thy felf, for what cannot be recover*!. 'Adieu. Faris, 1+th / fhe gth .*/ the Tear 1646. L E T T E R XIV. To Sclyman his Coufin. I 'Cannot approve thy Singularity, in prefcribing to thy felf a Rule of Life, different from that wherein thou wert educated, and from the lau- tJible Manners of all trite Believer}. Thou haft .mt done well in deferting the publick Cor.g'tga* ti nt of the -Faitbfal, to follow the Supervisions of new upftart SeRs ; who. whilfl: they profefs greater Purity than others, do fecretly undermine the Credit of our- kolj Lawgiver, reproach all the Myffulwam- throughout the World, and introduce Libe r tinifm. and a Contempt of the Mtjefty which cannot behold Undeanneft. Are they wifer than their *Father<, who for fo many Ages have obey'd the facred Traditions? Or, Will they pretend to correft the Me/lnger of {ltd ? He commanded us to obferve the Purifi- cttiotu taught by the ^ngel : U hence do thefe derive their new- founded Authority, of Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS 147 of difpenfing with the pofitive Injunctions of H.-a. tie Lei fie. This Gwerntur did fo many brave Things in Defence of this Place as even lurpafs'd his own Fame, and the Expectations of ethers, though both were very great. Yet at length he \vas forc'd to yield to the Courage and Fortune of the young Duke ; and that at a Time when the other Spam'Jh Geaerah were coming to his Relief. The Town was furrender'd on rhe 7th of this Moon. And the Duke having left the necerTary Commands to the Mre.fchts his Lieutenants, to come home to receive the Acclamations of ths People, the Honour of a publick Triumph, and the particular GarefTes of the King, and the whole Court. Amidft all this AppLufe and Glory, he mud be content to fraud the: Shock of Envy, which always endeavours to letlen the Reputation of the brave and heroick. As for M-tbraut, he neither envies nor admires the fading Honours of Mortality : Knowing, That when a Man is on the higheft Pinnacle of Hu- mane Glory, he {lands uneafy ; nor can he de fcend from thence, but by a Precipice. Paris, 24^ of the totb Moon, of ths Tear 1646, H LET- 150 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. LETTER XVI. Te Ibrahim Hali Cheik,, A Man of the Law. IF it be a Sign of a fiourifhing Statf, when Mat sue fupprcfi'd, cne would preface, That P*rif is in a thriving Condition. The Govcrr.our of this City has newly publiih'd unEdiff, Forbid- ding all te*>} and Brothel. Honfa under leveie Penalties ; banifhing all Harlot:, and fach as by the Toleration of the Government have hither- to made a Profeflion of Whoredom, getting a Live- lihood by debauching the Youth of the City. This appears a great Novelty to the French, who in this Matter have been permitted" all along to live in an unbridled Licentioufnefs. The lewder fort exclaim with opea Mouth againft this unfea- fonabie Rigour, (as they call it ;) and thofe who are afhamed to appear public k Advocates for Harlots, yet privately murmur againft the S. fen'on, for retrenching a Liberty, without which, they fay , their Lives would be uncomfort- able. They give a very favourable Character of a Wlare; calling her, A certain kind Creature, born to innigte the Lafaurs, and frften the Caref, of Ha. tna*e Lift. They plead, That fuch Women are necefTary Members of a Cammonwealth ; whilft with their CarefTes, they reftrain libidinous Youth from falling ir.to greater Enormities : That the States receive no fmall Profit from the Tribute, which is levied on thele Houfes of Plea- fare ; and that therefore they have been, and are permitted in all Countries. That the holy Father liimfeif tolerates an infinite Number of them in Rime, which nevertheleis has acquired the Vol. III. a SPY at' PARIS, ifi the Title of the Holy City. That all the Prince* in I'-.alf have follow'd his E'x ample, there being no other way to prevent Adulteries, Incefrs. and the Vice which ought not to be named. That the State regarded not the Morality or Immorality of Mens Actions, any farther than they tended to the publick Welfare : And in fine, that fo vaft a Number of Prieftf, and Reiigiouf, ferved for ncl other End, but to atone by their Sacrifices , Prayers, Alms and Faftings, for the Sins of ths People Thefe are the Difcourfes of fuch as patro- nize the Corruption of Government ; and are unwilling to be wean'd from a Wickednefs, eftablifh'd by immemorial Cuftom in the Ci- ty. But thole who cherilh an Efteem for Vir- tue , and an incorrupt Life , applaud the Wif- liom and Refolution of the Magiftrate , faying. That he deferves a Statue to be erefted to his Memory , who firft had the Courage to check this popular Evil, and introduce an Integrity of Manners. I, who was bred in the Profejjitn of Purity, and the Law which admits no Pollution, cannat but acquiefceto the Sentiments of the latter ; our holy Lax-giver having exprefly forbidden the Practice of Uncleannefs and Fornication with Strangers, and Women that proftitute themfelves to all Lo- vers. It being fufficient, That to gratify Human Pafllon, and to fweeten the Toils of Life, he has indulg'd us the Ufe of four Wives, and as many other Females as we can purchafe, either by tha Sword, or Money. Adieu, fage Cheick', and, if I have interrupt- ed thy more important Studies with fo tri- vial a Subjeft, believe, That it is for waut of a proper Occafion to fignifie to thee, how much thou art in my Thoughts ; and that I would H 4 noC i^i LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. not have our Friendlb'p die, through too long iilcnce. Paris, 2+rt> of the of the T.ar 1646. LETTER XVII. To Muftapha, Baffa of Siliftria. THE Fortune of War has ravifh'd Jfac frcm the Grand Sigm'or, but has not robb'd thee of the Glory thou acquiredft three Years ago in the Ccnquett of that City, nor fullied thy pi cfent Arms with any Marks of DiTgrace that were of late ib vigorously employ 'd to relieve it. Had the Mufcovittf perform d the fame part, when thou didft encircle that Neft of Pyrates with the Ottoman Forces, as they have now done , the Cr/acks would not then fo tamely have abandoned their native Scat, and left the Characters of their Defpair, imprinted in the Ruins of their Habita- tions The Protection of that potent Crown, has given them new Vigour ; and tis to the Va- lour of thofe Northern Salvages, they owe the Liberty they now enjoy, to fit by their own Fires. The Mufcovt'res ure a fierce and warlike Nation, inur'd to Hardfhips from the Womb. The Mid- wives plunge the r.ew-born Infants in cold Wa- ter ; and if they out live not that Tryal, the Mo- rl.cr thinks iier Child not worth a Tear. Tlife XVcmen have no partial TendernefTes for their Babes, but cheriih all for the Service of their Country. They teach them, when young, to row! Vol. II L a SPY at PARIS. 15" 3. rowl in Snow, and bathe themfelvcs in Ice dif- folv'd to Water. They make them familiar wirh. the Extremities of Heat and Cold Hunger. Tiiirit and Labour, that when they come of Age. and can bear Arms, they may go boldly to the W and bravely throw their Lives away to ferve rhe publick Good. In this they feem to revive the Wifdom of the ancient Spartans, who gloried in nothing fo much, as in educating their Youth hardly, and free from the effeminate Softnefs of other Nations. They efte'em'd Infancy and Youth the Spring time of Good Manners, when Virtue is in the Bloilbm : If that be nipp'd cr Wafted, the Fruit muft prove abortive, and unprofitable. Therefore they took Care to feafon their early Years with \vholfome Inftruftions, and matcu- line Exercifes. Who, among the Warlike O r ?;.'~:r, t'oes not Jaugh at the unmanly Education cf the Ptr/?*?* who being for fo many Years onfin'd ft> the Company and Difcipline of Females, feetrs firrer to be made Overfeers of a Nurfery, than to f.fcend a Throne ? But thou wilt fay, I take large Leaps from rh'e- rh of Europe, to one of the rnoft Sonrb,-tn ,h in Jfia. I was difcourfing o-f the A/v/ir- vife'jtind the Afflftance'they afforded the Ctfac&s in recovering Jfxc. I pafFed from thence tu thi Manner of their Education. Permit 'ir.-e no-y to- -rt thee with fomething peculiar and uncom- a, in the Character of the ' R.ufl*n Women I nm acquainted with a Gentleman in this dry, \vho has.trav,eird through all that Part of -?7>, . iome Ye;;rs at Ms!';'^\ He \. rhe Ri-j/ii'i Wives thinks tlieruliivr^ n( ; . by their Husbands , unk-fs they bear rh.*m ;y Day. They take his toiTettioh a l;is Favour and Efteem If thefe fijlv i 11 f 15*4 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. are angry or peevifh, he has no other way to court them into a better Humour, but by Stripes. This is the only convincing Argument of his Sovereignty over them, the Demonilration of his Manhood, the Charm which faftens both their Love and Obedience. He highly applauds the abfolute Refignatiort which the People fhew to their great Duke, in that they pretend not to pofTefs their Eftates and Lives, buc through his Favour, and during his Pkafure. He fays, the SuccrJJtw of the Czarj, or gr t at Dukes of Rajfia, was in former Times de- termin'd after this manner. A great Stone was placed in a large Field belonging to the City of Mafcw. When any Czar died, his Sons, or the next of Kin, were conduced into this Field, and placed all at an equal Diftance from the Stone. Than, at a certain. Signal given, they all ran to- gether toward it ; and he that firft reached it, fo as to ftand on the Top of it, was eftablifliM in the Throne. The Reverence which thefe People pay to their Pnnct, may, in part, be afcribed to his fel- dom appearing in Perfon to them, and then fur- rounded with his Btyars or Noblet, in the moft magnificent Equipage that can be fuppofed pro- per, to ftrike a Terror and Awe into his Sub- jefts , and caufe them to honour him, as little lefs than a God. The Eyes of the Vulgar are dailed with fo many Splendors, of Silver, Gold and Jewels ; and when the great Duke makes his folemn Apearance, or Cavalcade, they are al- moft ready to think, that Heaven has defcend- ed to Earth, to do them the Honour of a Vifit. Thefe are the Arts of Ru$*n Policy, by which fuch an infinite Number of People are charm'd into an Obedience to the Sovereign. Doubtlefs the of a King, receives no fmall Luftre from external Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 155 ' -'external Ornaments ; the Multitude being cap- tivated with whatfoevcr is gay and glittering. Yet our glorious Sal-ant fcorn to borrow Advan- tage from, or owe their Grandeur to, any thing but their exalted Blood, and fublime, innate Vir- tues. But every Nation have their peculiar Cuftoms, and diftincl: Reafons of State. The Conftitu- tion of all Government is not alike The Mo- del of Laced*mtnian Policy, would fuit ill with Athens. Thou, whofe Education was in the Royxl Sera, glio of the Ofwan Emperor) ; who haft been in ftrufted to imitate the Bee, which fucks Honey from ever Plover : Thou, that knoweft how to make a Choice of good Examples, and to rejeft the ill ; praftife the Valour of one Nation, the Prudence of another, the Frugality of a third fo flialt thou be confummate in Virtue, said acquk thy felf a good General, Paris, i yh of the i \tb tdttn, of the Tear 1646. LETTER XVIII. To Solyman Kyzlar Aga, Chief of the Black Eunuchs. I Am juft now return'd to my Chamber, from the Palace of the King. As I pafs'd along the Streets, I faw in every Face the Signatures of a profound Sorrow, which feems to have difFufed ic felf oyer their whole Bodies; for both the H 6 Courf LETTERS Writ ly Vol. Ill, and City have put on Mou.nixg y for tl Death of Henry Bmrfren, laie Prince c. He was not full fixty Years of Age, when he left this vifible World, to be new born in a Re- gion utterly unknown to Mortals. The Fr-cncb, rioc without Reafori. lament the Lofs of a Man, vlio, to fpeak the leaft of him, buoy'd up the do- jrniHck Intereft of this Kingdom, which feem'd otherwife incliniiig to totter. He was the E:> Jance which pols'd the different Pafuons of the ;\nd City ^ by his Prudence and jfuftice, caJm- i.g both into a peaceable Mediocrity. He was born fome Mocnr after his Father's Death, v-hom the moil execrable Method of mur- tiering would not fuffer to fpin out thole Years which N*:ure would have indulg'd him, being ii;Utch'd away by Poifon. H(nry IV. fo long as heremain'd without UTue, .1 his Eyes on this pofthumous young Prmce t sn3 gave him an Education fuitable to one whom fjte had defign'd to be the Heir of the Crown. Yc't afterwards Jealouiy cool'd his Afieftion , u hen the Prince had married .Char 1st te the Dake Mtmnerencfs Daughter, whom Henry IV. lo- -veci to a Degree of PalTion. It is (i;uii,ei-rus to have a fivereign Prince one's Rival in Love That Match had well nigh ruin'd the young Prince of Conde. He was for- I to fly into HilltnU with his Princefs, and make that Province the Sanctuary of her Honour. m thence he travell'd through Germany, and return d not to Frince, 'till after the Murder of H y IV. During the Mincriry of lewh XIII. cd the factions, afFeitirig to become pop Were it not this Ambition, his Life had been v '.rhout Bltmiih, and he might nave blown out Divtn(t his tdid-Xfljr Candle, Sut no Man is free Vol. HI. a SPY at PARIS. 15:7 free from Fault. All the Difference between the virtuous and vicious, confifts in this, That one commits fewer Crimes than the others, and thole not by Intention or Habit, but through the infu- perable Proclivity of Nature. Every Man ha& his genial Vices, his confiitutio'riaj Errors ; and tho* he may appear a Saint in all things elfe, yet in the FC he will {till 'be & Sinner. He faffer'd Five Years Imprifonment in the BtJlHe, which is a Place. put to the fame Ufe, as the Caflle of the fevtn T'overs in Ctvftantinnple. The Princ(fs his Wife was his Companion all the time, and fhared in his Misfortunes, as well as his Prosperity. During that tedious Confinement he became Father of a Daughter, who was afterwards mar- ried to the Duke of Lengueville. And when 'fti was fet at Liberty, he begot the Duke of guicK , now Prince of Conete , and the Prince 'of Ctn'i. The Frsnch fpeak well of the departed Prtvcf. He was of a lively Spirit, chearful and affable iri Converfation, mixing daily Recreations with his ieverer Bufmefs, regularly obferving Order in all Jiis Affairs. Yet they lay he was covetous, ha- ving heaped up_ great Treafure's by a Pariimony, .which none of that Bh'jd had 'ever before pra- On his Death-bed he recc:rrnenaoJ two things to the Practice of his Son, the Duke of Eng'uien j tfeifir to revexge a private hijury ; uudj Freely to kaz&rd kls Li'/e, for ihsfubliik Good. . I chofe to traninul" to thcc the News of this JV/?uVs Death, with this brief Ac" count of Lif^. and Charalerj, of h' ;j;i, .i;j re] thou hall feen. him iu Ge \ [ I remember to have heard thee fpeak ir. Iu rraifc, Conrl- 1 5 8 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. ITT. Continue to love M*kmut t who is never forget- ful to oblige his Friends. Paris, i ltb of the nth Mton, of the Tear 1646. LETTER XIX. To the Kaimacham. H E Poftt from Cttalonia came in laft Night, laden with ill News from the Army, which has been forced to decamp from before Lerida, leaving the greatelr. part of their Artillery to the Spaniards. That Place was always fata] to the French. Yet the Paffion of the Court vents its felf on the Count d'Harcoun, becaufe he could not reverfe the Decree^ of D ftiny. All his for- mer meritorious Actions feem HOW to be cancelled by this one Difgrace, though it was unavoidable: So peeyith are Princes, when their Expectations are crofs'd. Some fufpeft him guilty of private Correfpondence ; others tax him with Cowardife. All this is during the Heat of their Refentments : 1 he fame Perfons, it may be, will change their Cenfure,when they confider,That he had lain be- fore it feven Moont, even 'till t.he Trenches of his Camp were fill'd with Snow, and that his Soldi- ers died of Famine or Cold : For the Winter be- gan to be infupportable, and the Country was barren of all Things neceflary to fuftain fuch an Army. I cannot fee wherein this General de- ferves Reproach ; unlefs it be a Crime to be a Man, and to have the Command of fuch as are made of Flefhand Blood, as well as he. In Vol. III. 4 SPY at PARIS. 159 In Itttly, the French have taken Pitmbino and Ptrto Lengone. This latter is the moft important Town in the JJle-of Elbe, yet was not able to fu- frain above nineteen Days Siege. They fay, There is a Fountain in this I/land, whofe Waters flow at the Sun.rifmg, but in the Evening are dried up. The faperftttieus have odd Conceits of this Fountain, relifhing of the anci- ent Pagan Vanities ; but the learned attribute ic to tfatural Caufes. So the Jew tell of a River in the Eafl, that ftands frill on the Seventh Day of the Week. This they adduce as a Confirmation of their L*w, which commands theqfi to reft from Labours on the Seventh Day, becaufe on that Day God refted from forming the Creaturei of the World. They fay alfo, That the Satyrs, and other Monften of the Deftrt, ihun the Light of the Sun that Day, hiding themfelves in Caverns of the Earth, and curfing the Sabbath becaufe it fur prized God before he had quite finifh'd their Ftrms ; for which Reafon they are Imptrfctt and mwftrotts to this Day. The Divine Unity, who is the Root of all Num, kerf, and has confecrated the Number Seven to many myfleriout Ends, grant, That neither thou, nor I may forget the Anfwers we muft give to tho Stven Queftions of the Porter of Paradife. Paris, 1th of the i it h Mow, of the Ye*r 1646. LET- 1 6o LETTERS Writ ly Voh III. - LETTER XX. To Bajazet, B a flit of Greece. IT appears to me, by evident Symptoms that there is fome deep Defign a-foot in this Court. The Grandees aflemble often, and fit late. Ex- traordinary Couriers are lent our, and come In, at all Hours of the Night. Strange Reports are in- duftrioufly fpread about the City. Trading is at a Stand, the Banquiers referv'd and little Money ftirring, which makes the Populace murmur. They complain of the Times, as is ufual in pub- lick Discontents: The eWdifcourage and incenfe the young, by making Companions of this Age and Reign, with the happy bays of H.vr-y the G'cat. They fill their Lars with golden Stones of former Times; and infpiring into them a Love of the paft, they equally introduce a Ha- tred of the prefent Government. The (a are .the common Artifices of ration; and though none appears yet under any dhHnci Name or Tr- tle, yet ''tis eade to prognofticate, from tlu:fs Preludes, that e'tjr Ion: -k uill ; ken oil" and Sedition v. her felt'- bare- faced T other Day a Fellow run crying through the Streets, God fstvt the King, bu' :;>; Devil t Italian. He was follow'd by a few, and thole of the moft contemptible. Yet no Officer or Magistrate in this City would caufe him to be apprehended, or attempt to fupprefs the Mu- tiny he was railing. The Citi/.ens fmil'd at his Boldnefs. and Money was brought him from un- known Hands: The Women blels'd him Prepktt, and the Virgins fell down befo; Al Vbl. III. aSvvat PARIS. itfr Altars, on Ins Behalf: The Temples were crowded with Votaries, or 'rather with the Fautors of this new Seditioh ; as if they ftrove to draw their Gad; into ths Cabal, and would make Haven it felf \ibet their Tumults. His Train increased as he meafur'd the Streets ; 'til] at length he was feiz'd by the Rojal Guards, the Rabble difperfed ar.d all things reilorcd to Quiet That Night a dou- ble Watch was kept throughout the < ity ; the Fellow was ftriftlyexamin'd, and put to the Ra:s ; yet no Confeflion could be extorted from him, fave, That the Pubtick Good induced kir to take >hit Courfi ; That the Tyranny ' and Qpprrflivn w>hi<,h Cardinal Mazarini exenifcd, v-ere int'vppo'-tAble; And) That he was ready to ftcrifice hi.< Life for the Welfare of his Country. He is c^mkrrm'd to the Gallics, during his Life. And reat Endeavours are ufed to find out the Author's of this Novelty. For he is looked on but as an Jhflrument. fer at work by ibme Male-contents of higher Quality, and the For*- runner of fome mere formidable Infurreftion. Proclamations are iflued out. to forbid all Dif- courfe of State Matters : But the People fpar<3 not to whifper their Sentiments The young King is taken ill, whieh augments the publick jfealoufie: Men make their Heads, and look dejefted, as they walk along the Streets. Some menace Revenge with their furrow'd Brows ; others fpeak openly, That th; 'Kiftz&w is fold to Strangers. A general Ccnfternation and Diforder has feiz'd all. while their Fears prompt them daily to expeft a Change. To obviate the Mifchiefs which thofe popular Paflions threa- ten , Soldiers are drawn from divers Parts of the Country by Ataz.#n'wz's Order, and by infen- fible Companies quarter'd up and down. Paris, Between thefe and the Citiicns, there happen divers LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. divers Quarrels, frequent Murders are commit- ted : While the Night, which covers all Things with Daiknefs, ferves to fhroud their mutual Outrages, and private Revenges Thus tke pub- lick Calamities are cherifh'd : What will b the JlFue, '1 ime will evince In the mean while, the Affairs of Germany and bwtd^and, feem to Le in a fair way of Cornpo- f'uie. Divers Trc/ttiet are on Foot, in order to a general Peace in Chrijiendom. The Embajfadtrs and Depuuei of the feveral contefting Crtwns , have frequent Conferences But each Party in- fills ib vehemently on Circumftantials, that no- thing but fruitlefs Demurs conclude their Meet- ings. France has a reat Stroke in all thefe Af- fairs : And 'tis grown to a Proverb, Th*t Cardi- nal Mazarini c ries all the Courts of Eurcpe in hh Bofjm. The Swtdei treat like Differs and the Germany tho' much enfeebled, yet cannot forget the A/- jejiy of the Imperial Sceptre. The D*net have ,ia Jntereft to profecute, and the Poles are not with- out their Pretenlions. Rational Pride and Honour have a great Influence on thefe Crowm. But the Hollander?, like Merchants, aft according to the Rules of Profit. They ftand on no Punffilio's, but fuch as advance their Traffick, knowing that Money ij the Nerves of War. In this they are to be efteem'd wife, their Commonwealth being, as yet but in her Nonage : her Strength not knit, nor fl.e in a Capacity to wreftle with her potent Neighbours. Ei'ttand finds Bufinefs enough at home, to cmjl^y both her Money, Wit and Arms. Nor can II. e Le at Leifure to attend.to freign Tranf- aftions. sp*in ever follows the Intereft of the G-rmnn Court, it being the unalterable Maxim of the Vol.111, a SPY At PARIS. 163 Hwje of /tuflria, to remain united, and aggrandize it I 'elf Italy has various Tntereffs ; and frnt'ce in parti- cular, is in ftrift Friendftiip with this Court. Portugal is Rill upon her Guard, againft die reft- lefs Spaniards : And Dan Juan de Bragat.za , makes foreign jilmncet. The fvpreme Monarch cf the vifihle and in'u'jtcle World', who fits on the lh one of ddamai.t, un- der the Coven of the eternal Tree grant, T..at the Diftraftions of thefe bfid I Princes and Sta-er may continue, till the Time appointed by Fare ft all come, wherein the faithful Ofntm flail pof- feis the Red Paris, i<}th of the \ft Moon t of the LETTER XXI. To Peitelihali, his Brother. I Thought my >felf forgotten ty the Sin of my Mother, who has fufter'd fo many D:cadi of Mews to meafure out the Term of his unkind Silence , and of my Melancholy. 'Tis now three Years fince I heard from thee .- But I will not complain of a Fault fo ingenuouily expia- ted, though late. Thou hall made me ample Amends, in fending me fuch an elaborate and fuccinft Hiflo'jr of thy Travels : In rending of which, I know not whether my Pleafure or Profit is i/eater. Thou haft fo interwoven de- lightful Adventures of thy own, and pleafant PaiFages of others, with curious and folid Ob. fervatlcns 1 64 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. fervatirms, that a Man improves lamfelf infen- ; , whllft the charming Language and Mifcel- kny, ferveas a Spur at once to rowze and faften. his Attention, to Points of moil ufeful apt to defpife the t>u; Belle. Vef'i as a Company of ignorant People, unac- quaintel with rhe World, unpoliih'd both in thair Uaderiranciings and Manners, not vers'd in the liktral Sc encn, nor, addifted to the Study of any th.'ng but Riches and Honour, and how to aug- ment tlie Majfalman Empin, They confider not ac the tani3 time, That Gj^has made us rationat ('features as well as them ; has endued us with the fame natural Faculties ; and, That in all Na- tions he has in r pir'd fome with a Thirft of Know* ledge, fui'nilhing them alib with the Abilities and Means to attain it. They confider not, That if Pnittixe. be prohibited among us, 'tis to fupprefs the Multitude of unprofitable Baokr, with which Europe too much abounds : And That in their fteaJ \ve have many thoufands of induftrious Scribcr, whole whole Employment is to tran flare the mod excellent and learned Trettifej of the /* e tents. And, That consequently, a ftudious Maho. m*ne or Divine Learning, yield the Palm to the mod emi- nent Dctf*rr, Philosophers, Orators and Poets, a- m^ng the C',i'ijtian>. ' to this the equal Benefit fome of our teilief reap, I/ travel!. ng into foreign Coun- tries, which crowns all their Studies with expe- rimental Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 165- rimental Knowledge and Wifdom ; rendring them as familiar with the different Natures of Mm, and the various ConfHtutient of Gnjernmtnt, as before they were with Books. This appears evident in thy Letter, which is replenifli'd with fo many folid Remarks and lags Comments, on the Laws and Cuftoms of the /<'i p.-} 1 ., and all places where the Faith of the Mtjfiwer of' GW is p:ofef!ed. ' I am 1 66 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. I am extreamly pleas'd wkh thy fortunate E- f capes from R'hben on the Road, whofe Malice, rarely extends farther than to deprive a Man of thofe ou'vpard Good?, which, if he be wife, he will not. call his own. Much more am I delighted \virh thy Deliverance from thcfe Female Thieves, uho fteal frcm Men their Hearts and Reafon, which !aft is our noblefh and only proper Inhe- ritance All Ptrfi* and the Indies abound with Co'Y at PARIS. 167 flie never ceas'd folliciting the King, with ail the Arts of Female Policy, till fhe had prevaiTd on him, to furrender up his Authority to her for the Space of a Day. In which 'lime (having prepared all things before hand ready for her PurpofeJ ihe caufed two Millions of Roupie*, in Silver and Gold, to be coin'd and framp'd with the twelve Signs of the Zidiack, contrary to thefuvJavi'ntat Law* of the Empire, the exprep Prohibition of our holy Prophet, and the univerfal Praflice of the Muf. fuhnans throughout thePTorW, who admit not the ReprefentatitMf of any Creatures that have Life, This Relation I had from my UncJe Uftfh, v, ho refided.in the Indian Court Eleven Years He added moreover, That during this fliort finale Reign, fhe cut off the Heads of Seven Grand es t the moft zealous for the Mujjulman ptitb among all the Indian Princes, and eftablifh'd as many Idolaters in their Places : And that, if her Or- ders had been fully executed, fhe had quite changed the Government, confecrated the moft beautiful Mtfques to the Service of Idols t extermi- nated the true Faithful, and reftored the ancient JbominatitHtt of the Infidels ; which thou wilt not think impracticable, when thou confidereft, That the Number of the Uncircttmcifed in the Indies, far exceeds that of the M*ffulmus, there being ten thoufand of thofc, to a hundred of fuch as profefs the Unity of the di-vint Nature. But how- ever, there was Loyalty found even among thofe Pagans; and they would not fuffer a Mind Zeal for the Woi-fbip of their Gods, to fupplarrt the Duty they ow'd their King. The Defcription thou haft made of Canefafra^ and the Method thou had projefted to take that imfrfgnabte City, difcoVer at once thy Conduft and Diligence, in procuring Liberty to furvey ib narrowjy, the moft important Place of the Indie; 5 1 68 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. jfiiiet; and thy Skill in Fortifications, with the Quicknei's of thy Invention, which has fug- geircd to th:e that which all the Engineers of jjfia have never fr> much as dreamt of. This is the right Uleof Travelling, when a Man returns fiom foreign Afo;/e-, cultivated with experi- mental Knowledge, and ftock'd with Improve- ments, that may render him ferviceable to his Country. Thou condemneft the Injuftice and Avarice of the Indian Moguls ; who, as foon as any of the Omraht, or greet Men die, caufe all his Eilate and Goods to be feiz'd, to their own proper Ufe. Whereby it comes to pals, that the Widow and Children of the Deceafed, are reduced to the loweft Condition of Poverty, being many times forced to beg fora Subfiftence 'Tis true, this is an Oppreilion not to be juftified, efpecially in thofe who profcfs to believe in one Gnu Greater of aH. 1k-ftrit:g ? Thefe are Rtjal Vio- lences : Thovgh the Refignation of Suijefts muft not tax them. with, any Crime, who are accounta- ble to none but Gid. It was however a notable Piece of Railkry with which the Widow of a rich Merchant re- proved this unreafonable Cuftom in the prefent Mogul. Her Husband was nn Idolater, who had heaped together an infinite Treasure by Trading and Uiu'y ; and when he died, left her worth Two hundred thoufand Raupiet. Her Son, fome Years after coming of Age, demanded of her a Stock to -1st up with as a Merchant. Which lie. e^ber cut .vf Avarice, or for other Ends, refufed Vol. III. a Spy at P A R i s. 1 69 refufed him; form tiling him only with fuch fmall Sums, as fervcd to nourifh his Difconrent, and tempt him to a lewd, carelefs Life. But at length, not being able to prevail on his Mother, to part with fo much as would anfwer his ExpeSations, lie complained to the Mogul, difclofing alfo what Eftate his Father had left. The Mogul being in- formed cf fo much Riches, fent for the young Man's Mother, and commanded her to fend hint half her Money, ordering, That the other halt' fhould be divided between her felf and her Son. The Widow, not being at all furprized, or caft down atthisunjuft Propofal, made the Mogul this Ihorc Reply: O King, may the Gods make th-:s happj. My son has fime Reafon to require his Share of his Father's Eftate, having his Blood running in hit Feins ; but I dejire to h;ov>, what Relation than a>-t to tnj Husband or me, that ihou claimtft ct Share in hit Inheritance. The Prince abafh'd at fo fmart and bold an Addrefs, commanded her to give half her Eftate to her Son, and fo dif- miffed her. I have heaid fome of our Chiaufes praife the Magnificence of the Mogul's Cowt, the infinite Number of his Attendants : But above all, they extol the inimitable Grandeur of his Throne , which is aciorn'd with fo many Topazies, Rubies, Emeraulds Pearls, and Diamonds^ as amount to thirty Millions of Roupies. But were it not much better, if inftead of all this needlefs Glory, he could bcaft, That his Empire is founded in the Hearts of his Subj'tfs : He does not confider, Thac fuch prodigious Heaps of envied Treafure are but fo many glittering Snares, golden Mana- cles, which ferve for no other Ufe, but to chain him up from that Freedom, and thole more in- nocent Delights, that the meaneft of his Subjects cajoy. I Thou 1 7o LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. Thou haft, I perceive, difccuvfed with the / ti>av B'-amins : Doft not thou difcover, even in thefe Idolaters, a Contempt of Riches ? What mean Thoughts have they of the Splendor and Gayeties of the Court ? What a low Efteem of the'longand proud Serie; nfTttta, with which they are called the Lights of the World, and Cow. ^.ir.idns cj tke Suv ; thefe poor Pbitpfdfhfiff know, That in a little time they fhall be laid in Dst-knefa and have no better Socie.j than that of Worn,?. What lignifies their Pedigree, or, That the prefenc 'Mogui is but the tenth Defendant from the mighty Temu>I(n, who made all 4fia tremble, if he has loft the Virtue of his glorious Anchor ? 'Tis that alone makes all Men truly noblf. Trou tellcft me, That the En.ptre of the 'MrgtH aflbrds him more Revenue: than the Doninitr. any two the moft potent Monarchi en Earth. I have Keard as much from others, which convinces me, that thou haft inform'd thy felf rightly of the f'-t^nt State of the Indies. But doft thou therefore eftecm this Monarch the richer ? Conlioer the v ft Extent of his Dtminiom, which are (aid to contain more than Six hundred Leagues in length, and thou wilt find, that to maintain fo great a Traft of Ground, both again ft his firt-gn and tiomeft;ck Enemies he is oblig'd to keep in conftant Pay, fome Millions of his Subjects and Strangers: For he is in the midft of Enemies, even among his own Subjefts. There are above an hundred i'o-uc. reig>-i in his Empire, who perpetually by turns mcleft his Govctnmtnt , rcfufuig to pay Tribute, and raifing Armies againft him:Wheieby it comes to pafs, that he is at an infinite Expence to de- fend himfelf, and carry on thofe endlefs Wars ; tlv-'U thy felf having obfervU that once in two there is an indifpenfable Neceflfity of paying thefe Vol. III. a Spy at PARIS. 1711 thefe prodigious Armies: Not a Soldier through- out his Empire having any thing to live on, fave the Wages he receives of the King. Confider a lib, that this Monarch always keeps f orne thoufands of the fiaeft Horfes in the World near his Peribn, fuch as coft him thoufands of Roitpi'e; a-piece ; beiides a thoufand Elephants ; with an incredible Number of Mules, Camels, and other Beafts of Burden, to carry his Wives, his Goods and Provisions, when he takes the Field : That whole Cities, even as large as Ccnft/tntinop/e, are obliged to follow the King's Camp for Subfi- ftence, their Livelihood altogether depending on the Army. Add to this, the immenle Charges of his Seraglio, his Caftles and Sea-Port Towns, with all the, other necelFary Expences of the stste, and thou wilt conclude, That when this Pottntste comes to caft up his Accounts, he will find him- ielf a poor Man. But I fhall cloy thee with a Rehearfal o^ fuch things, as thou canfl not be a Stranger to. Only tell me, Whether one of the Ratat or Printes fubjecl: to the Mogul, be the real Defcin- dent of Parut, the ancient King of Indi,*, in the Time of Alexander the Great ? I have been told by feveral Travellers, That there is fuch an one, that his Name is Rna, and that an hundred of the idolatrous Princes pay Homage to him, as to their natural Sovereign. Thou confirmefrthe Truth of what has been fo often reported in thefe Parts, That the Prince of Java had fix Fingers on each Hand, and as many Toes on his Feet But that feems very ftrange which thou related, of a certain Language among the Indians, which is not vulgarly fpoken ; but that all their Btoks of Theology, and Pndcfts of their Lays, the Records of their Jjftnion 4 and the Trea'ijes of Human Arts and I 2 Sfisnset 2. L E- T T E R S Writ fy Vol. Til. Sciences are written in it. And that this Language - Bot>kf of the Law-, which according to their Chronology, was a- bove Thirty Millions of Years ago. I tell thee, my dear Brother, this News has Oarted fomeodd No- tions in my Mind : For when Iconfider T That this Lat.guagr, as thou fayed, Has nothing in it common with the Indian that is now fpoken nor with any other L*nguage?of /*/, or of the World ; and yet, that it is a copious and regular Language, learn-d by G'amtxar, like the other material. Languages; and that, in this cbfelcte Language, Bovk< are writ- ten, u herein it is afferted, That the World is fo many Millions of Years old ; 1 could almoft turn Pjtbjgorean, and believe, The World to be within a Mintt'e of Eternal. And, where would be the Abfurdity ? Since Ged had equally the fame infi- nite Power, Wifdom and Goodnefs, from all Eter- nity, as he had Five or Six thoufand Years ago. What fhould hinder him then from exerting thefe divine ^tributes fooner? What fhould retard him from drawing forth this glorious Patrick earlier, from the Womb-of -Nothing ? Suffer thy Imagination to ftart backwards, -as far as thou canft, even to Millions of Ages, -and yet thou canft not conceive a Time, wherein this fair unmeafurable Expanfe was not flretchM-out. As if Nature her felf had engraven on our Tnrellefts, this Retard of the Woi Id s untraceable -Antiquity, in that our flrong- eft, fwifteft Thoughts, are far too weak and flow, .to follow Time back to its endlefs Origin. The Vol. TIL a SPY at PARIS- i?3< The Revolution in China, furpafTes the comma*-, Changes in Kingdoms and Empires. There is fome-* thing excellively tragical, in the Cataftrophe of> that R.oy&t Houfe. Brother, in beholding that, them haft feen H-* tnan Mature In a J'rai:ce : And thon art fo thy felf, if. after this, thou canft-be fond of any thing on-- Earth. Traveller, Adieu, Paris, ay*& of the ifl Moon, of the Ttar 1647. LETTER XXII. Jo Ahs Baffa. SEveral Difpatcbes have been lately fent between*- this Court, and that of Swedtland, containing- rather Matter of Complement, than any thing of great Importance, Sixteen Ckrittina has been very ilj, which has occaiiond Letters of Condoleance- from the Quttn Regent of F-anct. Thofe which come from that Part, fay, That General Tgrflenfin is made a Count ; and the Dig- nity entail'd to his Po/en'ty, in Rccom pence of-' his eminent Services to the Svtidijh Crow?/. Thefe Letters add, That there have pafs'd ibme high Words between Mo*ftcur Chanut, and the'' Swed'fh Secretly of State. And, that the latter, in going out of the Chamber where they difcour--- fed, laid his Hand upon his Sword, with thefe- Words: Monjieur Chanut, were it n-it for the Fence- which the Law of Nations has rais d abov )our- Pe>- fin, I would anfwer you in another Language. To which Monjifur Chanut replied, That he were a Sword to defend bimftlf and hi.< private Honour, at- wtlt } any Swede ' the Kingdpm, I 3 Tfie i 74 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. The Occafion of this Quarrel was, The great Refcrc of Reman Catholick Strangers to Motifieur Chanuis Chapel, which gave Diiguft to the Swede t, who allow not the Exercift of the Re-man Religion within their Territories. They caftrate all the Priefts of that Communion whom they find, and profecute the Laity with rigorous Penalties. Cut Monfieur Chanut pleaded the Lav of Natiom : And when the Secretary told him, That the Qucev per. mitted him and his Family the Liberty of tin ir Religion, but deflred him not to admit any other Perfons of uliacM*f foever : This Minifter re- plied, That he could net receive us a Favour or fermijjion frtrx her Majefty, the Liberty of exerci- ilng his Religion Jince he held It only of hi; Ma- iler, the King of France, bo had fent him thither^ and that he would nut font the Door ef his Chapel any that would me in : That their Law, accord : 'rg to their wxde Two thziifand Tfn after tke Fcundation ef Efrate, cwlii mi abrogate the Law of Na- tions, which t! eternal ; That thii perpetual Law gAvs pa'-ticuft*!- Privileges ts certain Perfcru, and ffpea'a/h ft the Minifters of foreign Princes : That their new Law, fach *t it va: } being snly made to maintain th; publick VVorlhip, refpelted mt vhai tvtt! dont in the Houfe */ a foreign Minifter, dy *- Iffcial Privilege, it being of no Confetptekt'e t* the State, whahtr ftich Fo> c ign- rs ferve God tf *ot t cr whether they v>r (hipped him in a right or wrong Way : lk*> no Swede came to his Chapel, but on, ly fvmt French, w^o were Sojottrners in the Land: That tbej diet no: nft the Swedilh AmbafTadors / in France, "a>hi admitted whim they fleafed into ih>ir Chape's : That the Houfe where he wso d-wlt, teas the Hi'ift ef ;he King of France ; **d th*t th'rtfcre he could not by Confeyueitce rcfufe *j Cathclicks an Entrance ?' it, t facial?? f'tch at Vol. III. a. SPY at PARIS. 175* as itfe hern Subjcfts ff bis Matter : dnd in fins,-. That it vat very rule to ojrligs him to be the Exe- f'.i^Jgnir of tins fevers aw, in rt quiring bfm.tt fint hi-i Doors utn his Country. men. agatn/i tat' common Laws / Hofpitality, the Honour of <*' publick Minifter, and the Pleafure of the King k*s Sovereign. To this the Secretary made fomething too tart a Reply Whereupon Words increasing between them, and the French dmbuffadw being refolu e to 1 afifert his Privilege, the Secretary broke out into a Paflion, as I have before mentioned, laying his Hands upon his Sword, as he was leaving the Room. The Swedes are naturally a rugged, furly Peo- ple as are all; the Northern European*. They are Strangers to Civility, and the gentile Addrefs of' the French. Yet the H%u;en, when me Ireard cf this Paflage, was angry with her Minifter, and excufed his Rudenefs to Menflsur Chanat telling, him, 1kat the Secretary toai a. faithful Servant, buf had bteit educated among the Bears of the Foreft. This puts me in mind of a Story, which the French tell of another jt&gfffot , whom Lewit XIII fent to the Court of Spain. The Spaniard; are of a haughty Temper, expc&ing mor,e thai ordinary Submiflloas, from thofe who approach, the King's Prcfence. This dmba*de--', on the fam Ground, was required to do fome Homage, which would not conilfi: with the Infractions of his Mafler, and therefore he refilled to comply. The King of Spain thinking to put him out of Coun- tenance, faid aloud, What ! has :bt King of Francs n j etbir Men in his Court, That he fend to me fitch A Fool as this ? To which the ^mbaffador replied, Mj Mailer has many veif.r Mtn than my feij about him j but to fitch a King, fuck an Ambaflador. I 4 Thou 176 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. Ill Thou wilt not perhaps approve fuch Raillery as this to Grown d Head% who ought to be treated with Reverence and Gravity. Vet, I lelieve, thou wilt condemn the Cruelty of a Duke of Muf- ro'i/y, who caufed the Hat cf a F> ench Jmbaffador to be nailed to his Head , for fitting cover' d be- fore him. This is contrary to the Genitt; of the E*ft, who abhor to fee a Man bare headed. But every Na'ion has its Mode : And I accord- ing to the Fafcion of my Country, kifs the Bor- der of thy Veft, in Token of my SubmifTion and Refpeft. Paris, Tth of the -id Mac, of the Tear 1647. LETTER XXIII. To the Mufcij mnf Vemrable, and Worthy of all Honour. THE Cn'tickt, who fpend their Time, and manifeft their Wit, in defcanting on the Cou>-t and the Grandest, find perpetual Matter of Difcourfe concerning Cardinal Maz&nnt His dai- Jy Aftions furnifh them with new Themes, and fometimes theyrehearfe the old. They compare him with his Predeceflbr Ricklieu, and with Cardim nal Ximtnts, a Spanijb Minifter. They term thefe three, the Trinity of Chriftian Starefmcn j thus di- ftinguifliing their pe>-fotial Characters. Rich/ieu, they fay, was crafty, cove?ous and revengeful ; Xiixcne- was politick, feverc, and valiant j Maza- riui is wife, merciful, and liberal. The Vol. III. a SPY *f PARIS. 17 % The firft made good his^Charafter, they fay, in heaping up luch prodigious Treafures ; in raifing a 1 thole of his Pmilj or Dependence, to the higheft Honours ; in occafioning the volun- tary Banifhment of the ften.M9tker - t j n ruin- ing whomlbever he fufpefted ; and fina Jy, in making himfelf fo much the Mafterof all Secrets, that the King, however difgufted and averfe from him, yet could never fit fafe on his Th-one without him, when living, nor venture the Ma- nagement of rhe Publuk to any of his Creatures, when dead. Thus fpeak they of that great Mi. niftcr. As to Cardinal Xime nes t they fay, He difcoverM the Qualities which they afcribe to him, in the Method he took to raife himfef to that envied Greatnefs ; which was, by feeming to fliun the Honours at which he fecretly aim d. For being a devoted Dervife, or religious Fiar, he appear d to. be the moft morcify'd Man of the who^e Order.- Which being taken Notice of, he was made Pw viticiol ; frcm which Dignity , he made but one Sep more to the Purple! And, growing emi- nent for his Abilities, he was made the fi-Jt Atfwi. Jler jn thr Court of Spain. He levy'd Sixteen thoufand Men at his own Coft, invaded Barbary, ftorm'd their ftrongeft Cities, and reduced the whole Kingdom of Tripo- li and Jlpierj, to his Majler's Obedience. VVhilfi he was at the Head of his Army, orre Day there happen'd a Mutiny among his Soldiers. A certain Fellow, running up and down between the Ranks and exciting them to chufe a new Genf-al, faying. / was A bhamt to ferve .J pt<;r foiri'tA Friar : The Cardinal perceiving thrs, ftepp'd to the Fellow, and, with one Bloor, fever'd his Head from his Body This ftruck fuch a Terror into all, tliat from that rJme. I 5 there 178 LETTERS Writ by Vol. III. t here was not theleaft Tumult or Diforder in his Army. They fay, he was in the End poifon'd by eating of & F'jh, of which a Friend of bis receiv d Inti- roation on the Road, as he v;as riding to the Place where the Cardinal was at Dinner But he came too late, to prevent the Effefts of the Poi- l*on : For though the Cardinal was but jutt rifen from the Table yet he began to void Blood by his Ears, and the Extremities of his Fingers; and in a few Days drew his laft Breath He was tall, and well limb'd: His two fore Teeth of the up- per Jaw grew fo far out of his Mouth, that he wascall'd, The E clefttfiictl Elefhtnt. The Sutures of his Skull were Ib clofely indented, that there vas no more room for Tranfpiration of the grof- fer Vapours, than through the moft iblid Part of r>e Done. On this account he was ever troubled uith the Head. ach, contrary to Cardinal Ricblieu, v/ho never felt any Pain in that Part, becaufe he liad two little Holes in his Crown, through which the Fumes exhall'd. Thefe are the Remarks which are made on Card'ntl Ximtnet. As to Mtzarini, they fay, he iurpaffes both thefe Miniften, in the exquifite jModeration of his Temper : And comes fhort of neither, in the Contrivance or Succefs of Affairs, being folid in his Counfels, fecret and 1'wift in their Execution. He has this alfo pecu- liar in his Conduct, that none are more fure of Ills Favour, thanthofe who have done him Inju- ries. He is magnifi -k in his Expences ; building Ptltcff, that may vie with the moft celebrated Structures of the ancient Rimans : A curious Collector of choice Paintings and Sculptures j furnifhing the Houfes with Utenfils of Cedar, Ebony, Silver, Gold, .and other Ornaments, be- fitting the P*l*te of a King. Liberal beyond the Vol. III. * SPY uhatfoevcr is done on Earth and records all Human AcVions in the Book of Judgments, never difcern any thing in M*bu*t t which Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 181 which may render him worthy ta be excluded the Pn 'fence of God. Paris, tithofthe idMoon, of the Ttar 1647. LETTER XXIV. To Danecmar Kefrouj Kadiiifquer of Romania. TH O U, that art Principal among the Judges of high Dignity, the illuftrious Ornament of three Empires, the ftrong Support of Equity, \vho picferveft Reafon, and correfteft Vice, I congratulate thy deferved Honour : And in do- ing fo, I wifh Increafe of Joy to all the faithful Qjmnns. The Knowledge which thou haft acquired in the Lam of Natitnf, and in the moft perfeft San. clions of our auRuft Mn*rchy, has made rliee fa- mous through the feven Prect'ntft of the Ea th j and has vefted tliee with the Robe of fublime "Honour, the Gift of the Lieu'.want of God. I made Choice of this Occafion at once to perform my Duty, and to acquaint thee with a Rational Villany, fuch a Violation of the publick. Fatth of a Kingdom, as it will be difficult to pa- rallel. The Civil Wars of England are known through, out the World-. And thou art no Stranger to the particular Intelligences I have fent to \\\z fublime Port, concerning that Nation. Since that time the Rebels have by degrees gaia'd Ground of their unhtppy King, diafing him 181 LETTERS tf'rit ly Vol. III. him from one Place to another : 'Till at length, finding, That neither Ly ;.<*" cr / -<.etie> t ha could reduce them to any Terms of Reconcili- ation, and being befieged in one of his Cities, which was not in a Condition to hold out long, this unfortuntre Monarch was forced to difguile h'mfelf, and.efcape by Ni.ght ; uandring through unfrequented V\ ays, and enduring much Hard- fhip He at length threw himfejf up:n the Faith of the Seat i, who had 1 folemnly engaged them- felves upon Oath, To defend him againft all his Lnemies whatfoever. The Sot'ifh Army was then in England, being hired to arTift the Rebels. VV hence lome take Oc- Crfion to accufe this Pnnct of Rairmefs, and too jnuch Credulity, in feeking Protection from thofe ivho /irfl: began the Rebellion, and who had flain'd the Records of Scot .'and with ths Elwd of many of their K.ngs. Hu,t Innocency is void of Sufpi- cion ; and therefore, lecai.le h's own Intentions were fmce're, he knew net iiy.v to be jealous of Others-. However, the Scots at fir/1 feem*d to a^l the Parts of loyal Men And when they were threat- ned by the E-gHjh Rebels, and their Pay was flopp ? d. with D+la r a::oni alfo i/Tued oyt againft their Proceedings they continue to affert; the Ju- jlice of their L x epcrt;neat, in receiving and de- fending their injur'd King, wno had fled to them for Succour. They detained him thus, from the 4th of the yth A-/JOW, of the Year 1646, to the 3oth Day of the ill Mosn of this prefent Year. At which time having agreed with the Hnglifo Parliament, for the Sum of 4Cocxo S-.qxins, as the Price of their 'iw.reign, they deliver" d him up to the Eng- lijkcemmijfimtr!) deputed by the Rebels for that Purpofe. The Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 183 Ths French dmbatfador was at that time in the Scatch Army ; who having been a Witnefs of their deteftable Perjury, took his Leave : And being attended with a Guard of Light. Horfe to the J>ea Port, at parting he pulTd out a Piece of English Money, valued at Half a Grovn ; and ask- king the Captain of the Guardt into how many Pieces of coined Silver that Half Crovn might be divided, he anfwered, Into thirty. For fo much (replied the dmbajfa&ar ) did Judas betray hit Matter. Thou wilt better comprehend the Force of this Repartee, when thou coniidereft. that accor- ding to the Chriflian'i Belief, tQis Juiien was a Slave of jf efut, the Sen of Mn r y\ and that for i bitty Piecis of Silver, he betray'd that Prophet to the Jtws. But thefe Infidels have found out Ways, to e- ]ude all Engagements and Promifes. They couch their Oaibi, in. Words more ambiguous than the Oreclei of Ddphos. As if they thought, not on- ly to circumvent Men by their Lquiv.ocaticns, but alfo to deceive him who formed the Tongvt and rhe Ear ; even. Gad, who is ferfift in Know- ledge Such a S'trj I have read of one Ha:ts a German Bljkop, whofe Perjury is recorded. This Prelate Lad a Couftn who was acculed of Treafin againd the Emperor. On which Account he was clofely befieged by the Imperial Forcees, in a Caftle feated on the top of an impregnable Rock- So that the Emperor, defpairing to take him by Force had withdrawn his Army, when this Bijbop came to him, and for a Sum of Money promifed to be- tray his K-nfman into the Empires Hands. The Bargain being concluded, the Bifaf went to vifit his Ctuftn-at the Caflle, perfwading him t;o go and humbje luaifejf to the Emferor, and he would 184 LETTERS Writ fy Vol. IIT. would engage to procure his Pardon; Binding himfelf v/ich a folemn Oath, That if he would rely on him, as he carried him fafe cut of the Cafile, fo he would bring him back alive and fafe again His Kir.fman, deluded with thefe fair Pretences, and fecured by the Sanftion of an Oath trufts himfelf to the Conduct and Fidelity of the Pre- late. When they had rode about half a League from the Ca/tie, the Bijbjp pretending he had forgot fomt Papers of Moment, which he had left be- hind him in his Chamber, they return'd back to the Caftte; and when they had found the Papers, they fet forward again toward the Ewperor's Camp Being arrived there, the impiousW retch deliver' J his Kin/man to the Emperor, who con- demn d him to die. He fending for the Bf/hip, reproaches him with the Violation of his Oarh. But the perfidious Rijhsp fought to acquit him- felf, by faying, He btdf ferjotm'fl his 1'rnmife, in carrying him ba.k fafe tt the Caille, when he return' d to f'tk his Pfffrs Thus was his Kinsman be- tray'd by a Quibble, and loft his Head The S;/J>-/> acquiring, for that impious Deed, the odi- ous Title of Hart* the Trayto-. And the Germant report, That he was afterwards carried away by >fv./J, and thrown alive into the Hollo v of Mount &'* : A Voice being heard at the fame Inftai.t in the Air, faying, Thli it the Reward of Perj't>y. The Nazarenej believe this fl/unlng Mountain to be one of the Mouth of Ht U : The fame Opinion they have of Strombolo and feiuviu ] am noc curious, 'to pry into the Truth of fo coftly a Se- cret, but leave the Experiment to the forfworn, treacherous s.o'/^ who by this barbarous Aftioi, deierve to follow the Fait of Hatty. Mucji Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 185- Much greater was the Integrity and Virtue of the ancient Romany whom th&fe Itifidtls number among the damnd. They efteem'd nothing more faved, than the publtck Faisti ; building r.up!if to its Honour, and ftamping their Money with the Figure of two Hindi joined togetker, having this Motto THE FAITH Of THE ROMANS. But the Scats fhew themfelves to be of Lyfjudtr's Mind, who uled to fay, Children mujt be circum. vented vi'h gcd Words, and Men v>!:b Oaths. This MOTHH ch is now led in Triumph, like a Captive, by his rebellions Subjects, who have con- fin'd him to one of his Country Palates, fuffering none of his Friends, or faithful Servants, to come near him, but in all things endeavouring to ren- der his Reftruint infupportable. Thou who art accurate in interpreting. the Lttoi of Jupice, wilt condemn thefc hfiicls of horrid T-cafon, yet canft not acquit the Mu/ul- t/mnt t who have often depofed oar moft nguft Emperars. I divide my Intelligence among the Mtn'fters.cf the fuMime Port, arid the other Grar.dcei of the State praying Gd, To guard the Sultan from fe- cret Machinations, and open Enemies ; and, To grant, That an Excefs of Good-Nature may not betray him to fuch Misfortunes, as have befallen this imprifon'd Monarth. Paris, lift of the ^d Mton, f tht LET- LETTERS Jf77//X Vol. Ill LETTER XXV. To Ragel Hamet, Antiquary to the Sultan. I S City is pefter'd with an innumerable 1 Multitude of Bats, and a kind of Sr \vhich they call Liza-^s or Ne*>t.<. They breed in the Walls of their Houfes, and moleft the Inha- bitants Night and Day, f warming more than or- dinary every ninth Year. The Pa-ifiant give an odd Reafon for this P'agite. They fay, That in former Ages, a : tain Marian had undertaken to free this City from all "venemaus Creatures ; and that, according- ly, he had made fcveral Imag/i of tho'e Animal'.', annexing to them Enchantment s t and hiding them in obfcure Places under the Earth ; promiiing al- fo , That fo Jong as thofe Imaga remain'd un- touch'd, Paris fhould not be molefted with : hurtful Thing. This fucceeded according to his "U crds ; 'till at a certain time, as they were dig- ging up the Foundations of an old Temple, tlia Workmen found feveral brazen lmsgt<, fome re- prefenting a B't, fome a Lizard. They making fmall Account of thole irngical Reify ve , fold tl em to the nert B-*/?--r for a Pierce of Money : \\ : ho being ignorant alfo of -lie Ir.dden Fore thcfe Images, melted them do\va fc.r his.o\vn Ui'e. And, ever fmce that thne, the City lias te~.i over- run with Bat; and Lizards I relate this to thee, in regard I have ofcen heard thee fpeak of the ancient Stutues , that vere in the d'.midam at Ctn/taminoplt, and in ether Farts of the City ; particularly of that P/V- /", which had three B"a\en Scrp-r,n winding a- bout it ; which when Muhtmct the Grttt beheld, the Vol. III. aSpvat PARIS. 187 the Conqueror ftruck one of them with a Battle* jJxe, and fmote off the lower Jaw, Upon which a multitude of Serpents infefted the City, but were foon exterminated, in regard the Sultan, being warned by the Citizens, forbore to do any farther Injury to thofe Images, which were the Gua-filam of the City. Th Annals ot the Muffii'msn Empire make Mention of thefe Statutes , as alfb of Horfe of Brafs , and a Bull of the fame Metal The one erefted as a Cha>m againft the Peftllence ; the tthf>- t as an oraculous Sign, that the Enemies of the Grecian Monarchy fjionld in that Place be repulfcd, and driven out of the City. Vet it proved otherwife: For the victorious Mnff'u'm^nf againft whom the Encaantraents of the Ir.fidelt could not prevail , enter 1 d the Mit>-ket-Pice , where this Image flood, and drove from thence the timorous Grecian' ; curting in Piecfs all that made Refinance, and renJring themfelves lordt of Cwft*r.thuplt, at that time the richeft City in the World. The Romans were extremely addiftecJ to thefe fnptrftitutu Vanities ; believing the Safety of their Ci y and Empire^ conftfted in the Prelerva- tion of the Palla.diwn , an Itmgs which they thought fell down from Jupi':e y , and was rranf- ported from Troy to /:/*/; by sEneis being after- wards repofited in the Temple of f'Ra, bur barnt in that dreadful Confluent it*, which happen 'd in- the Reign of Niro. They had in no lefs Genera' ten the Sackl r % which they were taught dropp'd down from Heaven , into the Hands cf Nxta* P>n.pi!ius ; uhereon the Fate of Rome was engraven, in Sba'afiers which none could read. Fearing left this Sacred Shield might be ftoln, they caufed others of the fame Figure to be made, and LETTERS Writ ly Vol.IIF. and all to' be hung up together in the Temple o* Mars. And, to the end, the Guardian Genius of the C/' y, Ihould not be enticed from them by the En. iaon Geds-, knowing, that thofe Spirits would not forfake rhem, till they were call'd forth by their fopcr Nsmer. They us d alfo to chain the Imaget of their Godt to the Altxn, left they fhould depart from them by Stealth. Thus the Tjrisnu, when Alexander be- fieged their City, and they underftood from the pri-.ftt, that dpolh, the Guirdiau of Tyrt, was dif- pleafed with 'em, they faften'd his Image with ftrong Fetters of Iron. So dealt the Sttrtans with the Image of Mart. And this was the common Practice among thofe idtlat rou t Nations. As for us, who have received the Law clear and intelligible, and believe in the Unity of the Divine Effince : We ufe no Charms our-felves, nei- ther do we fear the Magici of the uncinuntctfed. All our Confidence is in Gei, and tl.e Proteftion of his Prophet . We go boldy to the Wars, wh'ilft we fight in Defence, neither of Statue:, nor-fi&f- tus Retiyuei, but of the fvlinne repleniOi'd with Truth and Light, the Bwi -brought down from Hetven by an Paris, \-jtiJ of the ^th Moon t f tk * K* r *47- _. _ LET. Vol. HI. *zSpy at PARIS. LETTER XXVI. To the Vizir Azem. I A M now returned from Orleans, whither I went in Obedience to thy Appointments ; and not without abundance of Pleafure to my felf. it .being the Time of Year when all things confpire to make a Traveller pafs his Time away with De- light. Vet my Return was melancholy, in regard I .could not accomplifh what I ainvd at, .nor be in a 1 Capacity to render thee that S'atisfaftion thou re- .quivcft, either in buying the Jewels, or in efta- blifhing any Correfpondence. Thofe who in- fbrm'd thee of the Ge rnnns inhabiting that City, were miitaken in their Charafter, they being only .a Society or Cap oration of Students, and no ways concerned in Traffick or Merchandize. They told thee right, in faying,. There are a .great Number of Strangers in Organs \ I thin-k the Imperial City, which commands the Wtrld, cannot boaft a greater Di-vedity of Languages, tlian are fpoken daily in the Streets and Houfes of Orleans. There are fome, almoft of all Nati- ons, refiding in that City. Would'ft thou knew the real Occafion of this mighty Conflux of Foreigners. It is, That they may ftudy that which the Nazarenes call ti.e Civil Lato which is there profeifed as in an /fr.adcir.y, erefted for that Purpofe by Philip the Fair, one of the King! of France. If thou knoweft not the Meaning of the Civil it is, A Collection of the ancient Roman L*iof % drawn from above Two thoufand Book' of j 90 .LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. of their Scrlbet, by the Command of the Emperor yujltr.i.-n, for a standard of Equity in thofe cor- rupt Times, in that univerfal Relaxationand De- cline of good Government. This is the AttratKve, which draws fo many Strangers from all Parts of Europe, to that plea- fant City : Where, beildes the Opportunity of improving themfeives in the mofr honourable Pro-, jifliyn among the Nazannts, next to that of the Frlffliroed; tney enjoy a pure and ferene Heaven, a fruitful and delicious Part of the Earth, and the Company of the mo ft obliging and courteous People in all F ancc. 'Tis for this reafan the Get-mam, among other XfU'.M!, flock to Orleans and, through the Fa- vour of the French Kings, have obtain'd a Privi- lege beyond other Nations ; that is, To incorpo- rate [themfeives into a Society of Student}, Nei- ther is there any fuch thing as Merchandize known among them. If I have not anfwer'd thy Expectation, fupreme Prince of the Baffas. blame not Mahmut, but ac- cufe the Germant of Oceans, for not exchanging their Smctiet for Traffick or rather blame thole who prefumed to tell thee this far fetch'd Fable. In finiftiing this Letter, I bow my Head to the Floor of my Chamber, and kifs the Paper which ihall have the Honour to be touch'd by thy illu- frrious Hands. Paris, ifl ef tke 6tb tf tbt Tear \ 6+7. LET- Vol. III. A SPY at PARIS. LETTER XVII. To the Aga of- the Janizaries. *-pHOU haft heard of the 4f?rian, Scythian, . 1 and Roman He-oines. Thefe were all valiant Leaders of Armies, Women of Honour and Re- nown. New I will inform thee of a Female which France has brought upon the Stage of War. According to the Orders which I received from the Vndr Az,tm, \ took a Journey to Orleans laft Idow; where, on the third" Day afcer my Arrival, beholding a Iblemn P'ocr/fi.n in the Streets of that populous City, attended with fome uncommon Ceremonies and Rejoycings.my Curiofrty prompt- ed me to enquire the Occafiou of it. Thou may 'ft imagine I did not apply my felf for In- formation to the Multitude, who take up Things on the common Credit of Fame, which does not always deliver the Truth. I addrefs'd my feif to thole that were acquainted with, the Records of the /<>#; who told me, That this Solemnity was yearly obferv'd on the Eighth Day of the Fifth Mw, in Memory of their Deliverance from the 'Engtijb, who befiged this City, and were beaten from before it by Joan A"" A*c, a Maid of Lor, rain, in the Reign of Cbartet I. This Virago feem'd to be the tutelar Ang>l of Prance : For to her Va- lour and Conduct, that Monarch oVd the Recc- 'v.-.-ry of his Kingdom, almoft loft to the K ; n^ erf E-nglanJ ; this being the laft Place of Importance which had not received Englifh Garrifons. After fhe had rais'd the Siege, fhe purfued the Ene- my, gave them feveral Battels, defeated them, took the Generalj Captive, reduced 3]! the Cities to their former Obedience, and never Iheath d her jpi LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. her Swojd, 'till flie faw her Mafier folemnly crown'd at Rbemes. Yet at length fhe her felf vas made a Prifoner by the Englifo, and was pub- licky burnt for a Witch at Rotten. The Inhabitants of Orlian, have creeled brazen S-auei in her Honour. They celebrate her Prai- ft-s, and efteem her a Woman divinely infpired to ilive her Country. Yet the more intelligent fort fay, That flie was neither IVitch nor Prophaefs , but only a Ate/^ of good Wit and Courage, whom fome of the Piinces of the Blood Royal , had inftru&ed to act the Part of a Mijfionary from Heaven ; that Ib, by pretending Vijionj and Revelations, flie might raife the Courage of tfle French, now a'moll difpirited by their many LoiTes ; and whom nothing lefs than a Miracle cculd pcrfwade to abide the Field againft the victorious Englifo This is certain, That flie cliftinguilh'd the K>ng, though difguifed like a P*cle in the general Diftreis. She bad him be of good Courage, Vol. III. a SPY at PARI'S^ Courage, and follow her. They went out toge- ther to the Door of her Tent, where at a little diftance, there grew a Knot of Flowers. The admirable Mid {truck her Spear into the Ground amidft the Flowers, and incontinently their fprung forth a Fountain of Water, to which the whole Army repaired to allay their Thirft. They fay, the Place is fhewn to this Day, with an l>n*ge ot" this Maid ftanding in on Oratory dole by it ; a Place of Refreshment and Devotion for Travel- lers that pafs over thofe barren Plains. However, whether it were Artifice, or that Ore was endued with fome fuptrnamral Gift, it had a marvellous Influence on the Soldiers, who began to re-aflume Courage, and feared nothing under the Conduct of fuch a General. 'Twas Revenge without doubt, rather than Ju ftice, that extorted that cruel Sentente from the Eng.'ifi, which put a Period to the heroick Aftions of this illuftrious M!d, whofe Fame will live for ever. It is recorded, That whilft fhe was bound fall to the Stake with ftrong Cords, they would have kindled the Fire upon her before Ihe had fpoke to the Spectators; but that fhe fuddenly became 'loofen'd, and fnatching a Lance from one of the Soldiers ; me drove the Guards before her : Then returning of her own accord to the Stake, flyc made her lafl dying Speech , foretelling many Things to come, which afterwards proved true. And having made an end of fpeaking, {he bid the Executioner fet fire to the Wood ; which he did accordingly, and fhe was burnt to Aflies. Certainly every Nation may boaft of fome F-.malt Warriour, that at one time or other has done remarkable Service to her Country. And thou art not a Stranger to the Hiilory of K the 194 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. the /fmazonf, who excluded Men from their So- ciety, yet became formidable to aJl the Regions round about them. Adieu, brave Commander of the Mujfalmtn Forces, and let the Memory of thefe valiant Ft. malei infpire thee with frefh Ardours, when the Ottotxan Empire is in Danger. Paris, ifl / the 6th Mien, of the Tear 1647. LETTER XXVIII. To Dgnet Oglou. art the Man that muft participate in J[ all my Adventures. And I mould be a Churl, in not letting thee fhare with me, the Plea- fure I found in a late Journey to Orleans, one of the prefiJary Towns in frtnce. It was by the Order of the Hzer 4z,tm, I undertook that Jour- ney. Some body had inform'd him. That this Town was full of Merchant. Travellers of feveral Nations, but efpecially in Germany, who brought the choiceft Jewels of the /?, to vend in this PJace at ordinary Rates. That Minifter gave me Commands to buy certain Stones, with Inftru- ftions to treat of another Affair, which it is not necefTary for thee to know. I accordingly fct out from P*rii, the third Day of the fifth Moon and Eltachita the Jew (of whom thou haft heard) bore me Company. I need not defcribe to thee, the Country through which we pafs'd : It exaftly refembleth the Plaint of S. Ifidore, not far from Palermo in Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. Sicily. Thou and I have reafbn to remember that Place of our Gxpiivity, carrying the Marks of our Ma/leSs cruel Anger yet in our Bodies. Thofe />/*//, thou knoweft, afford a very agree- able Profpeft, ^efpecially at this Time of the Year, when the Verdure of the Trees, mix'd with the JBrightnefs of the Corn-fields, and the Party- co- lour'd Meadows, tempt the Eye into a Contro- verfy of Pleafure, a Man neither knowing well how to take it off, nor yet where to fix it, in fuch an orderly Confufion and Medley of charm- ing Objecls. Such is the Province between Paris and Orleanf, which has this Advantage of thofe Sicilian Plainj, that here all the way one rides, innumerable mag- nificent and beautiful Palaces appear, (hooting up their glittering Turrets above the lofty Groves, which environ thofe Seats of Pleafure, Indeed this is one of the pureft Airs, and the mofr. fertile Soil in all the Kingdom, which invites the Nablct and Gtv f ,ry to refide here during the Summer, and occafions much travelling on this Road. About Mid day, we came to a Town called Ck*jl"-es, where we alighted to refrefh our ielves. Travellers, in thefe Wtflem Parts, are better ac- commodated with Provisions than they can be in dji*, where they muft carry their own Beds with them, and drefs their own Visuals, or lie on the naked Floor facing. This makes the Naiarenet call the /? inhofpitable. They con- fider nor at the fame time, that 'tis the Nicenefs and Delicacy of the Mabsmetant, which occafions this ruftom. For the Eaflern People are fearful of defiling themfelves, by eating Meat prepared by other Hands than their own, or thofe of their Servants : As alfo to He on a Bed, common to all P-afiengcrs. K a But, 1 96 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. But thefe lufidelt are like the S/f, to whom all Meat is welcome, and every Ditch an accepta- ble Bed. Here are Inns all along the Roads, \vhereinto when you enrer, the Hcjf provides you both Bed, and all other NecefJaries A Man muft venture to fleep on the fame Pillow, where per- haps a Leper has lain the Night before, or fome Pcrfon inftcled with a worfe Difeafe The Hft exam nes none, but harbours all alike, provided they have Money to pay him And as for Victu- als, 'tis the Cuftom of all Travellers to eat toge- ther at one common Table, where feveral Difnes of Meat are ferved up and every Man is free to eat what and how much he pleaies, paying a fta- tej Price for his Dinner. Thus no fooner were we come into our Inn at Chi/tret, but the H the Rowan Catkoliik Religion that fhe has had icreral Conferences with Mon/i:ur c};:ut, n^ that Vol. III. * SPY at PARIS; 20 r that Subjeft, as alfo with his Prtrfts ; that .her Refidcnt in Portugal has openly embrac'd that F*:'th. net without the g>ten's private Conferit and Approbation. It is material to us. what Religion the l*fidds profefs, \vhilft they aiTert Do. firings repngnant to the Divine Unity, and the Truth of the Stnt of God. I behold, at this time, an evident Sign of his Unity in the fravtm-, it is the Kt Moon, juft rifing from the lower Hemij- fhere. At the Sight of this Pltnet, the M./>gcr of God has commanded me to fall on my pace, and adore the Eternal. Wherefore praying, That her Influences may- prove propitious to thee, whiift thou art en the Oce*n, I bid thee adieu. Paris, 23^. of the 6th Mton t of the Tmr The End of the Second Book, E T% 2,0 1 Writ by A SPY at PARIS. VOL. 111. BOOK. III. LETTER I. 70 Bedredin., Superior of the Convent of Dervifes, at Cogni in Natolia. NO T more welcome are the rich Per~ fumes of 4rabit, to a Soul alrnoft ex- expiring through Griefand Melancho- ly, than is thy Letter to Mahmut, where- in is contain'd theC<>r:ifoa!e of thy being yet on this Side the Sta:e of Invifib'-t- . Methinks all Nwe fiourifhes, while thou art alive And I feel a Spirit within me, prompts me to prefage, That thy Death, like the fall of Leaves in AV- jumn, will prove the Hartixger of the Winds laft Winter. U hilft thou liveft, thy Prayers and Merits, fupport the drooping Eltmextf, which are Vol. III. jSpY At PARIS. are now almoft ready to fall, into their primi- tive Chaos and Inactivity. The A* gel cf the 7'n.mte:, in Contemplation of thy Virtue, delays to found the grand tiemtndoui B /<*/?; which, at an Inftant, (hall puff out the Light of the Sun, Moon and Stars, and blow the Breath out of the Noftrils of all the living Generations. That Day lhall be a Cay of Darknefs, Horror and Silence, 'till the Hour of fr**ftigr*titn comes ; When at the feeond Elan the Firmament fhall rent afuader , like the opening of Curtains ; this o'dWtrli fhall fly away like a Shadow, to the Right Hand and to the Left. Then (hall naked ivulr hang hovering in the ett/pty Space , 'twixt Partdije and Hell. The Thron; (hall be placed, Judgment fhall be given : And, to vi d up the M)ft riei of Fate, a new and immvttl World fhall at a Moment fpring forth from the Womb of Eternity, and pofiefs the Place of the firmer. I write not this to interne} thee, Venerable B*. dridln, who art a Mine of Knswled^e : But to fa- tisfy thee, that tho' I live amongft Injilels, yet I conferve irrvtuUre the F*ith of my Fathers, be- lieving the Book brought down from the eternal ^rchivet. Thou feareft that I fhall turn Chriftian, being accufed by fome, of Levity in my Opini- ons ; by others of Prophanenefs and Atheifm ; by all, of difcovering too favourable an Inclina- tion to the Nazarenes. Suffer me O My President of the Servants of Qid, to purge my felf of thefe falfe Imputations the Produft of Envy and Malice. Permit me to lay at thy Jtcred Feet, a nodeft dgolcgy for my Faith. Let not that Defcription of the Ghfiflians MJJii< t which I fent thee in my laft Letter, create in thcc ari Opinion to my Dlfadvantage $ nor pre- K //, the Son of Mary ; and fo I do all his Brttkreri) the Prophets in Partdije . This I am r.Tught in the Alco an. Where is then my Crime ? If 1 give Virtue its due Praile, even in the In- fiielsi I am therefore a Nazareng ? If I fpeak with Reverence and Modefty of Chrijiian Princes; am not I therefore a Mvfrulman ? Or, does the Book of Glory teach us Arrogance ? Surely my Traducers will blufti, when they fliall confider, that our augufl Empcren themfelves, (who are Ho. vertigns of all the K-.ngt on Earth,) when they vouch fafe to write to Chriflian Princes, they diftate their Letters in a Style, full of Affeftion and Regard They give them magnificent Title} at the Beginning ; and at the Conclufion, they wifh them Encreale of Felicity, both hire, and in Pa- rad:fe f And would it become a Slave, to treat crown d Headi with lefs Refpea, than does the Mafler of the Univerfe ? if I have contracted Friendfhip with fome of theChn'ftian Deri/ifes, it was to ferve the Ends of the Jutlime Port, and perform the Rites of Gratitude I thought it no- Crime, to receive a Kindnefs from any Man ^ or to return it, without examining his Rc/ighn. But perhaps they fufpeft the Intimacies I had with Cardinal Richlicu, and ftill have with his Suc- cefibr Mazarini. Reft afTured, O holy Dgrvi'ft, that my Accefs to thefe Princes of the Reman Church, is fo far from being criminal, that with- out it I never had been capable- of penetra. ting into the Counfefs of the Infidels, nor of do- ing any ffe&ual Service to the Grand Signior. The Countenance which my Familiarity with thefe two great Mini/ten affords me, has all along facilitated my Defigns: And, whilft under their Umbrage, I am taken for a zealous Chriflian - tfc- Vol. III. 4 SPY at PARISH I fecretly lay a Foundation, whereon, in due time, fhall be built, even in the Heart of Chri~ Jienetem, triumphal Arches, for the vi&orious Muff'ulmant. 'Tis ftrange, methinks, that after all this, I fhould be fufpe&ed ! That nctwith- ftanding I have patiently endured nine Years Confinement, to an obfcure and private Life; a. melancholy Banifliment to a flrange Country; yea, to a City for which I have a natural Aver- fion ; a City the mofr. unclean, noify and vain, in the whole Earth ; to be fliut up, for the fake of avoiding Difcovery, in a Chamber fo narrow, that Sufpicicn it felf; nay even Thought, the Mother of that little Pajfi, would fweat and be fH. fled, when once circumfcribed within thefe Walls ; and after all this, to be made a Prifener of State, on Jealoufy of being a Mabotxettn ; To abide, that Punilhment fo many Moons unmord, un- corrupted, and at length to be releafed, to the Advantage of the Ottoman Intereft, and yet to be traduced at home, for a Traytor to God, his Pro. phef, and my Soverei'&n, has furely fomething in it inconfiftent. What is then my Crime ? Or, why am I thus afpers'd ? Let my Slanderers hereafter be fi- lent. Unlefs they will lay it to my Charge, That in fome of my Letters I have difcover'd a Mind free from Superftition ; That I put a high Value on Reafon, and have no low Efteem for fome of the ancient Philosophers that I endea- vour to guard my Senfe, and will not fuffer it to be muzzled with the Impofitions of Ignorance and Prejudice ; that I do not think it a neceffary Qualification of a Mujfulman , to purfue with inexorable Hatred , all Men that differ from me in Opinion. In fine, That in all my Con- Verfation, I ftrive to comport my felf, as one who aflerts the Unity of the Divine Efence , the Ptttrttiy io6 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. Ill . Plurality of his Prophets, the det'.rtnina e Number of the /*# ; and who is refolved and prepared, rather to die aThoufand Deaths, than voluntari- ly to commit an Impiety againft thefe Principle', or the Iu:erefl of the G-and ^ignio'-, who has a Right to command all Mank:sl If thei'e be Crimes, I rnuft own my fe]f culpable : If not, let my Accufers Jay their Hand upon their Mouth. And continue thou, [agt D.ti.r of our holy Law, to inrtrucl: me with thy Counfels, to a Hi ft ms with thy Prayers, and to protect we with thy Friendfhip Then fhall Mahmut perfevere a t ue Believer, a faithful Staw to the O/n Empe or, and a devout Admirer of thy Longevity and Vir- tue. I fhould fear this might be the laft Letter I fhoul.i have the Honour to fend thee, were I not convinced by fame near Examples, that eld Age, was m t reft'ain'd to the Times before the flood Though thou haft far out-palVd the ordi- nary Years of Men, ytt there is at this time, not far from P* is, a Alan who has near doubled thy Age He is an H ami:, living on a Hill, where all things neceflary for Human Sufte- nance ieem to be wanting The VValb of his Houfe are built of Mud, with his own Hands. ( a weak Defence againft Wind and Rains ) His Bed is- tompofed of Leaves of Trees. A Stone ferves him for his Pillow. His Diet confifts of fuch Herbs and Fruits, as that Mountain affords him. A neighbouring Well allays his Thirft. He has dwelt in this Place, and in this manner, Eighty three Years, after he had travelled moft Parts of Europe and rft* Ask him by what Means he prefer ved his Life foJong, he anfwers, By living free frtm C*re, and by being indifferent to a. I Things. He foretels Things to come with mar- VeUous Succefs , as ha? often been obferv'd ; which Vol. III. a SPY At PARIS* 207 which makes the People efteem him a Pro. fhet. The finch tell me of another who lived lon- ger than he, being Three hundred fixty and one- Years old when he died. He was calJ'd, "John of the Time-, in regard he liv'd from the R'ign of Charlet the Great, to that of the Emperor Cvnradt. And being ask'd what Diet he ufed, his Anfwer was, Honey within, and Oil vithout. This comforts me with the Hopes of feeing thee on Earth, tho' many Years hence .- Since no- Man can exceed thee in Abftinencev Sobriety, and the Calmnefs of thy Mind The great du'bor of Life fo grant That if I may not enjoy this Felicity here yet I may not. by a- ny enormous Crimes, merit to be excluded thy Society in Paradife. Paris, nt b of the jth Mee loft two thoufand Men, feven Gal.eys, and a Bafa ; that in the latter, the Ytne. tian> took forty GaUiet, fix Coramufals, and fifty Stfyues, laden with Men and Ammunition for the Relief of our Army in Candy The Honour of this laft Victory, is afcribed to the Valour and Conduct of Bernard Marrfwi, and Gsneral Gnrntni ; Berna-d fucceeded his Brother Tktmat Uorojini, who was kill'd, as they fay, in thefirft B.-ttel. The Chriftiant every where exprefs great Joy for thefe Victories. The open Streets are fill'd with Tables, cover'd with all manner of Dain- ties, at the publick Coft. They feaft and revel Night and Day. The Bells ring continually, and Bonfires are made, to celebrate the Triumph of the Nazarenes. They prefage to themfelves, the Conqueft of the Otiotaatt Empire, and eternal Vi Series From D*Imatia, the PcJ}, bring daily News of our LofTes and Difgraces. It is known here, That the Caftles of Xtmonido, Novigradt, Nadin, Ctritt and all the Place, of Strength which we had in our PoiTefllon, except Cli/*, are taken by the fixe, tians They laugh at our Siege of Sebtnico, where we loft two thoufand Men and at length were forc'd tojeave our Camp to the Chnjtians, our General being frighted away by a few Women. Is Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS- 209 It feems Orange and ominous to me, Thatthofe Arms which have formerly crufh'd the greateftr Monarches to pieces, and have changed the Face of the who'e Harth, fhould now be foi] d by a few Dflperacta j .' j dare be thus far a Prophet, that ei- ther the Soldieis are difgufted, which will pro* duce a Revolution, or the mighty Empire of the Ofman- is in ks Decline, which Ged avert. The Cbrifliam, (who are not ignorant of our Affairs, nor of the very Secrets of the Seraglio) by an odd kind of Charity, pray for the long Life of Sultan Ibrahim : For, they fay, our Armies muft needs mifcarry during his Reign ; moft of thi Officers, being offended at his licentious Life, and cruel Aftions. Befides, they tax him with Profufenefs, in that he has not fpared the private Treafury of Gold, which, by the Frugality of his Prtde:e$"s, had been hespe.l together; and, which it was not counted lawful for them to touch, unlefs in the utmoft Peril of the Emfire. They fay, That by the Additions which Suttan dmt' a; had made, this Treafure was augmented to above Thirty Millions of Statins . But that our prefent Emperor has fquander'd moft of it a- way on his Pleafure. They compare him to Ht- HO**II*/KS, the moft efFeminate Prince that ever reign' d ; praiilng, at the fame time, the Magna- nimity and Valour of Sultan Amu,r*t ; who, they fay, was the ftoutefi: Man on Earth They high- ly applaud his Bravery at the Siege of BjbjUn, when he accepted the Challenge of the /*da In fine, they extol his'Juftice: Whereof he gave a re- markable Inftance, in punching a certain # Id. What if thou didft lofe Two- thoufand Men be- fore the Walls of that Fort ? Is that a fufficient J unification of thy railing the Siege ? Our glori- ous Sultam do not ufe to win Cities and Caftles without Blcod ? Neither do they fparc to facrifice the heft part of their Army to the Honour of their Arms, whilft our indefatigable Soldiers have mounted on Heaps of flaughter'd Spthfs, and fcaled the Battlements of their Enemies. Where, as thou wert afraid of a few Stones, that the; Women hurl'd on thy Men from the Walls : Thou art more effeminate than S*rdan*pa J Hi ! It were fitter for thee to handle the Diftaff, and fpin for thy Bread, than to draw a Sword in the Field of Honour, ft is a wonder thy awn Soldiers do not abandon thee being aiham'd to ferve under fo weak a Commander. I counfel thee, fpeedily to recover thy loflr Reputation, by fome notable Service. Let net Perils affright thee ; but remember, That true Fortitude furmounts all Difficulties ; and that thou can' ft not pafs into the Ttmpl- of Honour, but through that of Vi*t*e. It is not my part to pro- ject for thee: The whole Country is before thee : Thou knoweft, or at leaft oughte!t to know, the Motions and Strength of thy Enemies. Do fomething fpeedily, that ihall fpeak thee wife and valiant. Thou hadft better lofe thy Life fo, than by a &>y-Stri?\<, Take LETTERS writ /y Vol. III. . Take this Advice as a Mark of my Friendfhip, for Mahnut ufes not fo frankly to reprove thole whom he efteems his Enemies. Adieu. Paris, edeli*nd ; and he was efteem'd no gcod Svb, jc&, who did not repair to the fublick Solemnities. The Queen, to give an Example, went at the third Hour of the Day to the A7a/j* of her Palace, attended by the great Cffi.en of State, and a nu- merous Train of the liability. When the Pseacker (as is the Cuftom) had made an end of fpeaking, all that were prefent fell on their Knees, ro per- form the appointed Devotion). But it being the Fa ft, ion of the Nazarene* to utter fome fecret pre- parative Oraiftn.', the Men cover'd their Faces with their Hats, to be more recollefted, While Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 113 While all Eyes were thus veil'd, a certain Pel- low fnatching the Opportunity, fleps from his Place, and, without making any great Noife, by large Strides, advances unfeen to the Rails which enclofe the Pavtmfnt next to the <*ltr t where the Qzeen was on her Knees. But In leaping over, he was perceived by a certain Kableman, who imme- diately cry'd out to the Guardt, to [ftp '.kg s?jf*jjix, They crofs'd their Partifans, but the VJlain hurl'd them one againfl another with fo great Violence, that while they were flriving to recover their en- tangled Weapons, he got quite through them. At which time, the Queen alfo railing her felf up at the Noife, puth'd t\\QCa}t*ln of her Guard', who kneeled befide her. He darting from his Place, leap'd between the Queen and the Murderer , who was now within two Paces of her. He feizes the "Wretch ; ; and, upon immediate Search, they found two long fliarp pointed Knives about him, without Sheaths ; one In his Bofom, the other in his Pocket. The Prifon being in the Caftle or Palace of the Queen, under her very Apartment, fiie was not wi.ling he fhou'd be carried thither, but order d him to be re-condufted to his own Chamber, which was in the College of Stockholm, he being an Ecclejiajitck of the faid College; com- manding alfo a good. Guard to be fet over him, which was perform' d accordingly. As fooa as the Wretch faw himfelf in his Cham- ber, he faid aloud, That vhtn he vent out in the Nsrnii,g, he little thought / ever returning agai'a, having undertaken a siftitv, iv dtittg (f which be txpcft d to life hi i Life. They ufed all Diligence imaginable in difcover- ing the Authors of this intended Murder ; but could learn nothing more, Than that 'this Fellow was a Lunatick, whom at certain Seafon: an unaccounta- ble Fury fpurred onto many Extravagancies. Ycc H4 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. Yet feme fufpeft, that he was hired by the Lu- theran O.e-fj to give this execrable BJov ; who were apprchenfive, That the guan heark'ning too much to the Infinuations of her Tutor, who was a Cihitrift, would innovate the efltblijtfd Religion of the Country. If this be a well-grounded Sufplcion.it follows at thebeft, that Religion whick ou^ht to correft the Wo-/;of Men, and have an Inluence in re- draining their exorbitant Paffions, i s become the Corrupter of their Manners, and the Fomenter of the molt enormous Crimes. But this is common among the Chriftiani, who being divided into in- numerable Partio, diftinguilh'd by as many feve- ral Names ; yet each SeS is fo fure that their Way is the only right p a >k to Salvatim, that they fpare for neither Murders, Sacrileges, nor Treafons, to profe'yte the reft to their Opinion, being unwil- ling that any Ihould Jive, who are not of the fame Miud with them. The King of Prance, and the Quten R^,',receiv'd the News of gaeot Chrtftiva's DeKvery from this delign d Bldw,with much Joy ; the Interefts of both Crowns being at this time clofely intermingled. I can inform thee of nothing more remarkable at prefenr, fave, that certain Letters are intercept- ed, which the Duke of'Bavarf* had written to the Duke of Winewhrg, and the Elector of C-. logne: The Contents of which difcover, That ths Duke of Bavaria is not far from a Reconciliation with the EtHfertr- and that, in the meantime, he rnly waitsthe Event of Things, to direct him an the Choice of his Pany. ' ^confirm thee in thy Integrity, That thoa may it never waver or fwerve from the Service and Duty thou oweft the G^nd Signitr Paris, 28rh cf the yh M.o*, ff tiit Tear 1^47. LET- Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS. 2,15- LETTER V. "to Cara Hali, a, Phyfician at Con- ftantinople. THOU haft heap'd many Favours on me ; yec I have never had an Opportunity of making the leaft Acknowledgement. Accept now -a /?*// Prefent from Makmut's Hands, who being not Matter of Wealth, can make no great ones, t fend thee neither Silver, Gold, nor Jewels, which the infatiable Avarice of Mortals, has violently torn from the Bowels of their caramon Mother. Neither fhalt thou receive from me any of the more familiar Produfts of the Earth, fuch as grow on her Surface. Expeft no choice Fruits, or Wine, or Oil; nor any thing framed by the Art of Man, whether for Delight, or Ufe. What I fend thee is the Dtv of Heaven, a certain ^/- tfJfcMce of the Element, an ^Ethereal Spirit, firft condensed into a Vapour, then into a more liquid Subftance, and afterwards congealed into a Gum. It is the celebrated Manna of ^alabri. . Adwai the Jew fent it to me out of It*lj as a Rarity. I knew, not whom fo properly to oblige with this prefent, as the Studious of - tu<-a! Things, Hli the fage Phyfician, and my Friend The Pbiltftpktr jverroes, our Country man, has written much of this excellent Subftance. He calls it, The Fcd of the diry Angels and fays, The young Raven.' crying in their Nefts, are nou- rifli a by this heavenly Diet, when the old ones forfake them : And that the Chamelitnt feek no -ochcr Repaft during their Lives, but the invifi tie Manna, that every where floats in the Morn- ing a,i6 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. ing Air. He holds it pofuble, That a Man, after he has pafi'd his great cl<'n?afler, may live without any other Suftenance fave what he receives from this kea-ueniy Dittillatien ; that he may thus pro- long his Life for the Space of feven Years, 'which will complete the appo nted Age of Mortals. jV.any of the fublimely inftrucied among the ^ abiani, are of the lame Opinion; fa are not a .few of the Hekrev Rabbi's : But the Chn'Jiianr, "who are Gluttons, laugh at this Doftrine as-ridi- culous and impracticable, forgetting at the lame 'time what they read in their Bible, (which they pretend is the Rule of their Faith) that the Ifrae- iitcs had nothing elfc to feed on for a conlidera- Ve'Time in the Defart, when they were alir.ofl Eight hundred thoufand Souls, and the greateft part of them in their full Strength, Men of Arms, .and inur'dto the Toils of War. -Certainly it were a deilrable Thing, That this divine Largos were diftributed to all the Regions en Earth. But God fends his Blefllngs to whom, -end when he pleafes. 'Tis he th--.t direfteth the Clouds when they move through the Air, and reft not till they arrive at barren and dry Places, where they pour forth their Water , to refrefh the Earth, and render it fruitful. God! There is but one Ged, Lord of the War Id ! Thefe are Signs of his Unity to true Believers, but ^he increduloui have harden'd their Hearts. It is recorded, That in former Times, the Ground whereon this Mtfdefcended, belong'd to a certain Nobleman of the Country , who, cove- tous cf the uaufual Eli fling, undertook to enclofe I'll that Land within a high Wall, to the end that fo rare a Gift might not be made common to eve- ry one But, as fcon as the Workmen had be- gun to lay the Foundation cf this Enclofure, the Manna ceas'd to fall, and fo continued; as lone as they Vol. III. a. SPY at PARIS, it 7 they proceeded in that envious Work. Which when the Lord of the Ground was made fenlibie of, he commanded the Workmen to defift, fay. ing withal, The Almigty givts, and the Almighty lakes avay. Hen (forward, I will not feck to re, Jlrain the free Gift o/ Heaven. Upon which, the Manna defcended daily, as before, and fohas con- tinued to do ever fince. Doubdefs, this is a Sign of God s Omnipotence. It" thou wilt permit me to play the Pk!!efopher t I will tell thee my Opinion, why this Mann* is 'feen rather in the Kingdom of Naples, than in any other Regicn of the Earth Ir is well known, That the Earth of this Coun- try abounds with Veins of Sulphur, which are diffufed up and down through all Parts, and heat the Soil to an extraordinary Degree. Hence it follows, That the lower Regitn of the Air, in 'this Country, muft needs acquire a greater Degree of Heat and Drynefs alib, being perpetually rati- fied by the fiery dtomet t which every where tran- fpire through the Pores of the Earth, as from a Furnace. This being fo, it is not hard to conceive, That the Vapours which are exhaled by the Sun Into the upper Region, in the Heat of a Summer $ Day, and there become impregnated by the jEtkereal Spirit, (which remains pure and un- cleath'd in thofe ferener Trafts, and confequent- ]y, is apt to incorporate with any proper Vehi- cle,) naturally defcend again in the Cool of the Night ; but not meeting with a congeneous Body of Vapours in the tower Region, that Air, being over purify 'd, and grown defecate, through the too near Neighbourhood of the burning Soil ; fo that they cannot diffufe themfelves through the Air for the want of a fit Medium, they confuting of homogentm Parts, and following L . tfe a, 1 8 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. the natural Pofition of the Element , and the Lavs of O-v:fj ; contract themfelvcs into little globular Forms, the lower they defcend ; thus fettling on the Leaves of Trees, on the Grafs and Herbs, on Srones, and any part of the Earth, appearing like Grains of tranfyarent Gum. Hence alfo I conceive, That the fame Manna, (which is nothing elfe but an M'-iotreul Spirit, em- bodied in light and dulcied VapoursJ abounds in the Air of moft Countries, but remains invifible, .rarely lb far ccndenfed, as to fettle in a grofs Bo- dy on the Ground, becaufe the Air of thofe Re- gions is not fo rarify'd as is that of Calabria, ha- ving no fuch fitkterranean Fires to drink the Va- pours up ; but being moift and thick, the defcend- ing Manna, inftead of contracting it felt into glo- bular Bodies, and through its Weight finking to the Earth, dilates it felf, and incorporates with the floating Vapours; Juft as if you pour Drops of Water into a Veflel full of the fame Element thofe Drops do not fink to the Bottom, but find- ing an homogeneous Body, they mix with it, and, are difperfed every way; whereas, if there be no- t'ling in the way to ilcp them, they immediately fall to the Ground. ,B.ut I fhall tire thee with my Phihfohy forgetting that 1 fpeak to a Man confummate in all Scitncei. sfjonai reJates many remarkable Paflages of this -Country, too tedious fcr a Letter. I will only tell thee in ihort, That the Kingdom of Naples isefteem- ed one r f the moft deleftable Region.- on Earth, the Trees flouriftiag twice a Year and the Soil a- boundinii; to Prodigality with Corn, Wine, Oil aad Fruits, and all diings neceflary for the Life of Man Yet the Inhabitants have this Proved com- riong them ; Tke Kingdom of Naples is * Pa r *d'fe tf D(!ightt, but it is inhabited wirh Dcvili : So corrupted are the Manners of the People, Adieu, Vol. III. a SPY at PAIUS. 'xi? Adieu, dear Mali, and think not Mahtnut tedi- ous in his Letters, who has no other way, at this difrance, to converfe with his Friends. Paris; i$tb of the loth Mton, of the Tear 1647. LETTER V-L To Kerker Ha {fen Bafta. \K THEN this Dtftatck ft all come to thy VV Hands, be allured, That Mabmut thy Co-untry-man, and Slave to the Slaves of the G'and signior, wifhes thee Multiplicity of Hap- pjnefs I have many Reafons to honour thee, be- iides the natural Aife&ioo, which is, or ought to be, between thofe who were born in the fame ~Rfgln. The many Favpnrs fhou haft done me, far exceeded the Obligation which antes from the Vicinity of our Birth ; though that wa* fo near that a ftrong Man would have meafured the DI- ftancre with one Flight of an Arrow. The Prefent of Kapha , for which I return'd thee Thanks in my laft, has wrought wonderful I-ffefts on me, 'being a perfeft Cure of the M- Jancholly, to which I was before fubjeft. It has Treed me from many Diftempers ; and I owe t'-e prefent Eafe and Checrfulnefs I emjoy to this generous Gifc. Methinks, while I am drinking this excellent 'Liquor. I am at Cnnjlantinaple, converfing wich my Friends. It revives in me the Gtnins of 4fi*; and fo advantageoufly transforms the Ideas of Things which J fee, that the Cro/*/ 0.1 the Tops L * of ,210 LETTERS Writ fy Vol. III. of the Chrifiian Temples, appear to me as Hlf. Moons ; and my Imagination prefents to me Tur, bunts --inftea'd of Hats, as Men walk along the ' Streets of Paris, Doubtlefs, great is the Force of what we eat or drink, which has occafion'd all wife Law-giver , . among other Sanctions, to prefcribe certain Rules of Diet: And the Care of our htly Prophet has been exquifite in this Point, his Prohibitions ex- tending to all unclean Meats and Drinks, fince they deprave the Conflitutions of Men, and en- clinethemto Vice. But, by his own Example, /fie recommended to us the Ufe of this admira- ble Berry ; -impofing a new Name on the Trie that bears it, whence called it, the Tree of Puri- fication. , Hence it is, That all the Mujfultnans affecl to partake of the ftnttified Benefit, it being the univerfal Beverage of the Ofman Empire. Were the Virtues of it known in thefe-Wcftrn Parts, it would match, if not fupplant, the Cre- dit of their Wines, fince it equally refre fb.es the Spirits, without intoxicating the Brain, I know not whether thou haft feen Pcflcli-hali t my Brother, 'fince thy Return from Artbi* : Or, - -whether thou hair, heard the News he brought \vith him out of the <*/?. He has furvey'd the /- aict, Tarrjtry, China, Tttnejuin, Perfia, and other Rfgfcti', whofe Nanies are hardly known in fonie Parts of the Ottoman Entire. Indeed, we have formerly had but an odd Idea of thofe remote Countries ; but efpecially China has been hid from :the greateft Part of the Earth. In my earlier Years, I have heard Men of Gra- vity, who would be taken for knowing Perfons, f; y, That China was but a tributary Province of fhe T*nars, a contemptible Corner of /ia, and fo barren, as it could hardly afford Suftenance for its Inhabitants, which is a Sign it is well Peopled. Vol. III. aSpY*/ PARIS, irr Peopl'd. Afiuredly our Fathers were ignorant oi' this Ctuntry, which after the perpetual Monarchy of the Qfmam, may be efteem'd thefeeond Empire Cn *r;h. My Brother fays, Ic contains Sixteen Prwirt- tf- 1 , each as large as a Kir.gdjm -. And, That all together they fill up a Traft of Ground as big as Europe, vifi'ch, thou knoweft, is one of the Four Quwteri of the World: And that this vaft Domi- nion contains above a Hundred Millions of Inha- bitants. The Emperor who reign'd when Pefleli-'hl; was - there, was call'd 9uchia, a young Prince, not above Thirty Years of Age j in whofe Veins ran the B/W of Sixteen Emperors, his Progenitors. In the Year 1640, two great Officers in his Army, having drawn to their Party an innumey Aibfe Company of the Soldiers, and being encou- raged by Tome Grandees 'at the Court, made a Re- Volt. The Names of thefe Rebels were Lycuttg^ and ^kavgicn. They loon became Matters of Five- Provinces-. But, quarrelling about their Shares, Lycungz caufed his Allbciate to be poifon'd ; and ^aking on hirhlelf the fole Command of the R<- tclr, war proclaim'd by them, Emperor of China. After which, he'march'd direlly with his whole Forces agarnfl .Petjuin, a City where the Emperor kept his Coxr: : Knowing that tf-e Conqueft of this Place wou.'d fecure to Mm all the remaining Province! of the Empire. The Cblnefe are rep.uted a moft ingenious Peo- ple excelling in all manner of metbanick Inven- tions, and the bold eft drchite&t in the World. They build Bridges from one Mountain to ano- ther, to Ihortcn the Travellers Journey o'er the Plain between them, and raife Towers almofc up to the Clouds Some of their Cities are faid to be. near Thirty Leagues in Ccmpafs, ha- L 3 virg. LETTERS Writ ly Vol. 111. ing double VValJs and Ditches. And, my Brother fays, That Pcquin wants not much of this fcitent : And, That the Palace of the Emperor is near a League in Circuit, environ'd by three Walls, and as many Moars, befides Bulwarks, and other Fortifications. He adds, That this mighty City and Palate, is guarded by an Hundred thoufand Soldiers. This impregnable Place the Rtbeh took by Stra- tagem, v.'hich was able to have refitted all the Force of dfia. Ljcwgz held a private Correfpon- dence with feveral Grandees within the Town and Palace By whofe Connivance he fent great Numbers of the fiouteft Men in his Army, dif- guifed in the Habit of Merchant], who^lodging themfelves in divers Quarters o-f the City, on a Day appointed, fuddenly appeared in Arms; and furpnzing the Guards who defended the Gates, ilew them all, and open'd the Gates to the Rebel'. Who can exprefs the Confufion and Slaughter that filled all Parts of the City with Mourning and Blood? The barbarous Conqueror facrifkei all the Loyal and Brave to his unpardonable Ambition ; difarmM thole who efcaped the firrt jVTafTacre ; and having made himfelf abfolute A-Iafter of the Citjr, lays a cloie Siege to the 1m. pert'*} Palace. The Emperor now finding that he was betray'd, and that it was too late to defend himfelf from the cruel Perfecution and Ir.fult of the Tray- tors, takes Advantage of the fliort Refinance which feme of his faithful Servants made, to confult his own Honour, with that of the Ewprfj't and his Daughter. He had above Three thou- fand Wives, for whom he could not provide in that Flood of Calamities , all his Care being cmploy'd to prevent the laft Triumph of his Enemies. Vol. III. a: SPY at PARIS. 113 Enemies, in not fuffering the Royal Blood to be ilied by the prophane Hands of thofe Villains. He enter 'd into the Gardens of the Palace, accompa- nied only by his Ewprefi and Daughter, with three faithful Eunuchs. The young Prince ft t (who was a Lady educated in all the Cbinefe Learning) fee. ing the great Afflifton of her Royal Parents, the inevitable Ruine of her Family, and the univer- fal Delblation fell on her Knees, and fpoke to her Father, as follows : A// Lord, SINGE it is the Will 'of the immirtal God, thus to extinguish the Luftre and Majefty ofouf/&'*M Race, let their Decrees be fulfill'd,- But Jet not me be a Spectator of my Parents Fall, or furvive a Tragedy, at which the Earth in elf muit tremble. Have this Compaflion on my- tender Yea*s, and let tnefe Eyes be clofed, before Death i'eal up yours, from which mine borrow'd all their Light. Think not, becaufe I am young^ I fear to die : I long to fee our Kwdrid Goat, and represent the Fate of Chin*, ib as to provoke their fpeedy Vengeance. Sure* ly our dtfiled drifcjlors, at my Complaint, would gather all the Thunder in the Heavem, and ihower it down upon thefe ferjur'tt and uvg'at-- ful Trayeors. Or elfe, they'd play the Chymifis, and extract the moft envenom d Influence of the the Stars, and dart the heavenly Poilbn on the Re- bels, as they lie before thefe facred Walls, and thus would put a Period to their curfed Treafon. Make no Delay, my Royal Father, but try the - Experiment ; releafe me from thefe Chains, which hinder my Efcape to Paradife : And lee * me be the Herald of fuch News, as ne'er before *- forpriz'd the Blefs'd above. .L 4 The- LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. The Emperor, mov'd with this pafTionate Ad* drefs of his Daughter, drew a Dagger from hi s Girdle, and therewith ftabb'd her to the Heart- And then, ftruck with Remorfe at fo unnatura^ a Deed, cover'd his Face with a Veil of Silk. Thus Afting Jg**acnmoifs Part, when to fulfil the Oracle, he facrifced his Daughter Ithtgcma. After this, the Emprefs, over whelm' d with fo many Sorrows, retired into a Grove, and hang'd her felf with a /ilken Cord on a Tree. The Em. fertr, feeing this mournful Speftacle, was relbl- ved no longer to delay his own Death. Where- fore following her Example, he difpatch'd him- felf likewife by a String. But he firft bit a Vein, and with his Blood writ the following: Words : * What is there now defiraMe on Earth, after I am thus betray'd by my own Suhjefts ? I accufe net the inferior People : They are innocent ! Tis to the Mandarins I owe my fudden Fall, with the Ruin of this mighty Empire. Behold in me, the Royal Line extinft. I am the laft of fixteen Emperor}. J, that was Lord of fo many fpacious Rrgt'ctif, Gunrdian of the Bed-ckamher of the Sun, fole Monarch of the Orient, Lieutenant to the God; of the Mimt t PofTeiFor of infinite Treafures, at whofe Name a hundred Millions, of my Subjects touched the Ground with their Foreheads am now read y to be trampled under Foot by the baled of ny S!av?s. I^ut I will -prevent my own Difgracc, and carry this maje- ft ck Soul inviolate to my renown'd Fathers ; whofe Vengeance, join'd with that of all the Gtds, ft,a31 fall on the perfidious Manefannt, who have betray'd both me and this exalted Stale to Ruin. Vol. III. j S p Y "at P A'R is. 115: A Narrative of thefe mournful PafTages was printed in the Chinefe Language, fuppofed to be done by the Order of the Emperor's Attendants* who follow'd him into the Garden, and were XVitnefies of what was laid and done. A Copy of which my Brother procured to be tranflated rnto Ambick, by a Mtrckant of our Nation who underftood the .Chinefe Language, and rtfided in Peqttin. In fine, my Brother fays, That when he de- parted from China, he left the Tyrant LycKn^x, in roflefllon of tlie Emperor's Palace where he found an Hundred Millions of Ingots in Gold and Sil- ver, befides an ineftimable Treafury of Pearls and precious Stones. All which Wealth had teen- heap d together by the Frugality of the Chineje Erxpsrors. By this thou may'ft take an Eflimate of the Grandeur and Strength of this formidable Mon- *r;ky, of which we have had fuch contemptible Notions. Neither (halt thou have Occafion to be Jfurprized at the monftrous Rife and Fortune of this Rebel, who in fo flxort a time was lifted to rhe Height of Human Sovereignty, when thou confrdereft, That all Things are fubject to Viclf- fitude and Change. That God, who eftablifiies whom he pleafes on the Throne of the Earth, and, at the determinated Periods of Empires, depofes fuch as truft in their Strength and Riches, defend our Sovereign from Tretfint, and from the Arrow that fly in rity. Paris, I yJ) of the n tb of the Tn throughout N*ple<, commanding all to take Anns, on pain of having their Houles burnt. So that in a little Time he had above Fifty thoufand arm'd Men at his Heels. Thus accompanied, he marches direftly toward the Piferty's Palace, vefted in Cloth of Silver, with a naked Sword in his Hand. He was ac- companied by a Cardinal, who undertook to be a Mediator between the Viceroy and the People. His Prefence reftrain'd the Multitude within Ibme Bounds of Moderation, for they reverenced him as the F*tb~.r of the City. Vet they burnt above fixty Pa/aas of the NtHei to the Ground , with all their Furniture and Goods ; and it was prefent Death for any one to refcue or purloin any thing from the Flames 5 fo rigoroufly jfl was Vol. III. a SPY At PARIS. 119 was this new Law-giver, this Mofes of the Neapo- littni. It '.was in vain for the Metro? to oppofe Force again ft fo formidable an Infurreflton. He entertain'd the young Ftjherman with Ceremo- nies due to a Prince -. And having concluded a Truce, gave him the Title of cki-f Tribune tf the ftithfett People. This increafed the Veneration the Citizens had already conceived for MaffianeHo : So that in a Day or two more he law himfelf- at the Head of an hundred and fifty thoufand armed Men. He gave out all Orders for the Rtpublick, publiftVd new Edi&s, and all Commiffions were iilued in his Name. He procured the Gabdi to be for ever abolifh'd, reftored the People to their an- cient Liberty : And in fine, was murder'd by k his own Followers. Let me not leem an Advocate for Sedition, when I tell thee there was fomething brave and heroick in the Actions of this Tenth. So firange a Revolu- tion, in fo fliort a Time, has fcarce been heard of in the World : For a beardlefs Slave to raife him- felf in fixty Days to as abfolute and uncontroulable a Sovereignty, as the greateft Monarch on Earth enjoys ; to be obey'd by an infinite Number of People, without the leaft Hefitation or Demur, were it for Life or Death ; and all this, without any Motive of Ambition or Intereft, but only to aflert the publick Liberty, is a convincing Argu- ment of his Virtue ; and fhews, That lisaven ap- proved his Enterprize. But then again, For him to lofe all this Power in four Days more, to be murder'djn cold Blood by his own Party, by the People whofe Caufe he had fo fuccefsfully vindi- cated ; this Ihews the Inftability of Human Af- fairs, and that there is nothing permanent on this Side the Mow. I pray i } o LETTERS Writ ly Vol . III. I pray Gd to infpire the Minflers of the /"- line Part, to take fuch Meafures as may prefer vc the Mu/ulman Peace. Adieu. Paris, Jj'i of the i \th Mtott, / tht Tear 1647. LETTER VIII. To Solyman bis Coufirv* Ccnftantinople. WH E N I clos'd up my laft, the Hour of the Peft was near expired, and the MefTen- ger who carries my Letters to him, haften'd my Difpttth, preventing what I had farther to fay to thee. I am follicitous for thy Welfare, both, as thou art a Mu/lma t and fo near a Relation- Do not forfeit thofc Titles, by degenerating from thy Kindred, and from all the 1'duminaitd of Goal. Truth is compri/'d in a little room, but Error is infinite. Thou makefta wrong Inference, from the Moderation and Charity of the true Believers, when thou concludeft, That becaufe they believe, it fhall go well with all honeft Men, let their Opi. nion sand Ceremonies be what they will ; there- fore thou fhaltbe fafe, in retrenching, the endlefs and burthenfcme Wajhingi (as thou termeft them,) of the Mu/ulmarn, fo long as thou leadeft a good tKtral Life Art thou fuch a Friend to Idlenefs and Tmpu. rity, that thou wilt by a moft pitiful Sophiftry, cheat thy feif of slvinion > rather than take the Fains to wa(h thy felf after t^e Manner, and at the- Times, appointed by the Prophet of God, and praftifed Vol.111. ffSpYat PARIS. i}i praftis'd by our Fathers, and all the Faithful throughout the World* If it be allow'd, That fuch as either out of Ignorance, or hinder 1 d by fome other invincible Caufe, do not embrace our holy Law, are not circumcised, and repair not to the sjfimbliet of the Faithful, lhall neverthelefs enter into Paradife, provided they obey the La a of #<* ture, imprinted on their Hearts ; does it follow therefore, That one who has been bred up in the und filed Faith, who has been circumcised, and lift- ing up his Right hand to Heaven, has pronounced the Stvm myjierious Wwdi, which cannot be re- peal d ; does it follow, I fay, That fuch an one lhall be regarded by Godot his Prophvt, any other- wife than as a Heretick or an Infidel, if he live not up exactly to- the Graces that have been given him ? No, afTure thy felf, if tfeou art in the Number of thefe, thou art an ^pojtate; thy Vir- tues are Vices, and all thy good Works are an Abomination. Remember the Piety and magnanious Zeal of dffan H*li thy Grandfather; who, when he was taken Prifoner by the Cojfacks, was enter- tain'd with extreme Rigour and Severity. Ne- verthelefs, a certain Jew In the City who knew him, brought him every Day, by Permiflion of the Keeper, as much Water as would fuffice to wa(h him, a;nd to quench his Thirft. But one Day, as he went with his acctiftom'd Load, and was entring the Gate of the Prifon, the Keeper, either out of Malice or Wantonnefs, fpilt moft of the Water on the Ground , forbidding the "Jew, at the fame time, to bring any more that Day. The honeft ttebrtv went in with the Remaind- er of the Water, and deliver'd it to the Prifoner ; who prefently prepared to wafii himfelf, af. ter the accuitom'a Manner of the Mufxlm*nt. The 2.32, LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. The Jew feeing that, told him, There was not . Water enough to quench his Thirft. And there- with related to him what the .Knper had done. / fee ihere is but a liitle reply 'd the vertucms old Man,) but he that drink;, or eati, before he hm Waih'd hintftlf, is guilty of d filing hit Soul, and it no; worthy 10 be number d among the true Believers. Thtrtfore it it better forme to die for Jhirji, th^n violate the Law brought titvn from Heaven, and tranferef, the Traditions of my Fathers. Having faid this, he w*/J>' hiaifelf, being refign'd to Pra- ijidtncs, Cou/tn, deceive not thy felf with vain Opinions, nor fuffer Hypocrites to feduce thee. Imitate the sidder^ and flop thy Ears againil the, crafty Infi- nuations of He>ctickt. j t is"reported of tkis little Serpent, that by natural Inftinci:, being 'fenfible when a Migitia-n is about to uteer Words, which being heard will enfnare it, lays o.i.e Ea/ clofc to the Ground, and with its Tail flops the other, to the end the Enchantment may have no Effect. Admit not any Man to thy Ccnverfation, who ftall attempt to warp thee from the Simplicity of the Faith and QbedUnte which thau owed to) the Apsfile df God. Without W&:er^ there is no Pu- rit) on this fide the Grave That/mff has a Force in it, of which thou art not aware. 'Tis the third in the Rank of Jivij.g Principles. 'Tis the Tabernacle of the Winds ; the Stragh'o of the generative Spirit ; the Stage cf Wonders. In fine, it is the Purifier of every thing that has Breath. Thou knoweft, That to ferve the Necefluies of the P'-opbttand his Army, UKiierftanding and Speech was gi\ r en to a Fountain in Afenna- and to revenge that Mifcarriage on himlelf, thruft his Hand into the Fire, 'till the Flefh was confum'd to the Bones : The King, aftonifiVd at his undaunted Spirit, fent him away in Peace, raifed the Siege of Rome, and enter d into a drift. Friendfhip with that Nation ; Such Honour ha bore to the Fortitude of his Enemy, and deiign'd Murderer. But the Captain of the Morlackt was not taken under thefeCircumftances: He loft his Liberty in the Heat of Battel, bravely combating at the Heat of his Army. Wouldeft thou know the Grounds then of our General's Cruelty ? It was purely, for the fake of a Jtft. There went a Report, That when this 'Priefl was born his Body was all over raw, lb that the Phjficiam were forced, by Art, to fupply him with a Skin. Our cruel General, to fport him- fe'lf in the poor Man's Mifery, cdmmanded 'hint to be flay'd alive ; uttering at the fame time this inhuman Sarcafm ; Thtre was n Reafon that ha fbottld carry a Skin out of the World, who brought none in. This is attefted by two Gentlemea who were made Prifoners with -their Capttin, heard thefe Words, faw him executed, and afterwards made their Efcape. The Nazarencs vow to revenge this unparal- lell'd Cruelty on all the Mufflmm that fall into their Hands, if this Butcher fas they term him) be fuffer'd to go unpunifh'd. I tell thee, fuch bar- barous Actions, draw down the Vengeance of Hea- ven en thofe that commit them ; and excite tf.e very Bo/tt of the E-itrth to make W*r, and rid -the Wwld-Qt iudi LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. Thou knoweft what Ufe to make of this In- telligence: I will not pretend to inftruft the Miniftir in the Ottoman Empire. Paris, T-k of the t of the T.ar 1647, L E T T E -R X. To the Mufti. IF there be any Truth in what the d tell us, That the Start have Influence on tire Government of the Earth, one would think that Spain iies under fome malignant sffpift. Tlis fortune of that Kingdom has for a long *ime run retrograde. They have had nothing but J_oilcs by Sea and Land. The Revolution in P'- fvgal, the Revolt of Catahni* and Rouffi'ion, the JLofs of Ormus in Perjia, and the Defection of Ga, with other rich Towns of Traffick in the Inctier, came one upon the Back of another. Since which there have been many Towns and Caftles t-aken from the Spaniard} in f landers. The French made an Infttrretfion in Pfkrtno, breaking open the Priibns, and releafing the Prifoners : And grew to fuch a Head, That the Piferoj, fear- ing they would revenge the Tragedy of the S/V/7/- an Pejper}, to pacify the Multitude, was forced, repeal the Eiits for Taxet, and difannul them for ver ; and to pals an /#? / general Indemnity, both to the Rabble, and to the Prifonen whom they had freed. This tumultuous Spirit pafs'd from thence to the Kingdom of Naplet and there, like an Infefti- on, ibon ipread it felf through all Parts, both of Vol. III. a S#Y At PARIS. 139 of City and Country : Two hundred thoufand Men took up Arms, to vindicate the Pritiilegts of the Neapolitans, under the Conduct of a poor young F'fhtrmnn, I have already tranfmitted to the futltme Ptrc, a Helation of this formidable Sedition-, whetein it may be thought, I have dif- cover'd too much Tendernefs to the Infideli, and feem'd to favour the Violences of a Faffio*. But I hope thou wilt acquit me, when thou confider- eft, That thefe Governments of the Nazarenei are not to be compared to the facred Ofmau Empire, which is eftablifh'd by a Divine Right it having been determin'd by the Angd, That he who Ihould poflefs the glorious Dvmitorj of the Seat of GW, (hould be entituled, The Sovereign of all the Kings on Earth. Therefore it would be a Crime of the higheft Nature, to r-aife a Tumult or Sedition, within the Territeriet of our aaguft Emperor, whofe Dominion is confirm'd to him for ever, by a Pa'.tnt from Heaven. But the Cafe of the Nazarcne Princes is different j who being profefTed Enemies to the Mtjfengcr vf Goo 1 , have no other Right to any thing, but what their Swords purchafe. And therefore, when they .prey upon others, and by Rapine and Spoil aug jnent their Riches, it is no wonder if the grstt sfvengtr tf Crimes, ftirs up fome undaunted Spirits, to free their Country from Slavery and Ruine. Thofe who are curious, have remark'd many obfervable Circumftances in this Rewlmifn at #<*. fits : As that it was foretold by an dftrolvger, a confiderable .time before it happened, who ipointed out the very Year wherein it fhould .come to pafs. The extraordinary Eruptions alfo .of McHTitf'cfuviitt fome Years ago, were erteem'd as Prefages of fnrne. approaching Troubles in the ' For .it ratnd Afhes en the City of Nat>u,. I fpole LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. I fpoke of this Mountain in one of my former Letters. 'Tis reported alfo. That about the fame Houf wherein Majfur.illa, the Ringleader of the Seditions, was murder'd, there was feen a Man hovering in the Air, over the principle Temple of Naples, with a Sword in his Hand, which he was putting up in his Scabbard : And that a Voice was at the fame Time heard from on high, to utter thefe Words, His Labour is finifi d, give him Reft. This is certain, That whilft he was at the Head of an hundred thoufand Men, feven ^JT a ffi rl) were hired by fome of the Princes to (hoor, him ; yet none of the Bullets could penetrate his Body, tho' unarm'd, and only cover'd with his fifhing Rags : And it was evident, that thefe Bullets fmote him in divers Places, his Garments being mark'd with them, and he ftagger'd with the Force of the Blows. Thefe are extraordinary Occurrences, and would tempt one to believe, That this young Fi- jh>rtaan was the Inftrument of Providttiee, and that Herven protected both him and his Ctufe. 'TIs true indeed, it feem'd, at laft, as if he were abandoned by that Divine Piver, which had car- ried him through fo important an Enterprize, in that he was (lain by his own Soldiers. But then irmuft be remember'd, That this was not done till his Wark was flnijtid, and he went be- yond his Ctmmiflim. Want of Sleep, the Multi- tude of Affairs, and much Wine, had impaired 'his Reafon. and rendered him frantick; fo that his AcVions were infupportable, and his own Ad- mirers grew .weary of him. After his Death his Head was cut off, and carried up and down the Streets on a Lance, and his Body wasdragg'd through the Kennel. Yet the very next Day, the Multitude, to ihew their own Fickknefs, took Vol. Ill jSpy At PARTS. took the dead Body out of a Ditch, where they had laid it all Night : They wafhed and em- balrn'd it, and having join'd the Head to it, car- ried it with great Pomp and Solemniry to the principal Temple of Naples, attended witfh Drums and Trumpets, and above a Thoufand Pn'efls, with Torches in their Hands, a Crow.n of Gold was put on his Head, and a Scepter in his Hand. Thus the Neapolitan) honoured that beardlefs Toutk, who in Ten Days time had caufed fuch a Revolution, as is fcarce to be parallell d : For he was an abiblute Monarch, in eiFeK during thac Time. And of him it may be faid, as it was once of an Emperor, That during his whole Retg, there was neither Spring, nor Autumn, nor Win-, fer : For his Hojelty begun and ended in the fe. Venth Moon. By Letters from Nathan B-n Saddi, at Vitnn*, I perceive he is mo'efted with Scruples about his Re.igion, being deHrous to build uprn the furs ft Foundation. I fent him the beft Advice I could, without making my felf a Hypocrite', whfch , thau knoweft, is more offensive to Gcd, than an open tinner. I drew up an A'oftraR of the MufT*fa*n Records, and prefented him with the faithful Genealogy, "from Ifmael, the Son of the Patriarth Ibi-ahim. down to our H)ly Prophet. This I did to reftify an old inherent Error of the: Jevs, who boaO, That only the Sin of lfac were true Believers, I endeavour'd not to profe- lyte him , by Sophiftry and Artifice ; but refer- red him, for better Satisfaction, to the Writings of'thesJitcient). Ipromifedto furnifh him wir'i Book* of our Lar } and the Commit i of our holy Doffort. This is impofTible for me to perform, v.-hilft I am in this Place ; unlefs tiiou, who art a Guide of thole who feck the Truth, vouch/ufeft Al to LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. to fecond-my Zeal. I addrefs to thee, Sovereign Prelate of the Faithful, in Behalf of a Dependent from the )o*nger Brother of //*/; in Behalf of one circumcifed, but not in the right Way. Fa- vour him-U'ithtby Divine Injiruttions, and fupply him with Treatifes of Light and Reafon. A fea- fonable Application may bring this Ktbreto into the Number of the Mufulmans, for he is already difgufted at the Synagogue. But if I have prefumed too far, in endeavour, ing to fnatch a Soul from the Paws of Ttgot, cor- rect me In thy Wifdorn, for I am but as an In- fant before thee. Paris, i$tb / the 18 Mtcn, of the Tear 1648. LETTER IX. BtZ'vni*& tf ihit is tainting in ihe Tfjnf'ttion, tht O- . . All Mens Hearts are filled with Joy, for this profperous News, whilft 1 mourn for the Diflionour of our Arms. No- thing but fad Tidings grate my Ears from thofe Tarts, and more melancholy Prefages poflefs my Soul. Methinks I fee thick Clouds gathering o'er the Imperial City. My Sleep is difturb'd with "fearful Vifions : I ftart in my Bed ; and walking lay my Hand on my Sword, as if fome Danger uere at hand : I dream of Tumults and Difor- ders Neighing of Horfes, and Clalhing of Arms in the Streets of Cerfantineple, J pray Gad avert the Omen. It Vol. III. A SPY at PARIS. It Is reported here, Thac All, the S of Ltppa, is taken Prifoaer ; and that his Son was tormented to Death before his Face, in a manner peculiar to the Invention of the mefl barbarous Tyrants : For they caufed {harp Thorns to be thruft between his Nails and his Flefh, which creates an intolerable Anguilh . They laid him on a Bed of Iron Spikes, and poured melted Lead, Drop by Drop, on all Parts of his Fiefh. Then they made a fmall Fire, and roafted him flowly to Death. If he chanced to groan, or make the leaft Complaint, in the midft of thofe grievous Tortures, they bid him remember the good Prieft Serecb, who fee him an Example of Conftancy and Courage, in that he never (hed * Tear, or fo much as llgh'd, when he was'/fo/'f ttive. Thou feeft that Revenge is fweet, even to thofe, who having received no Injury in their own Per- ibns, yet are touched to the Quick, with the Vio- lence that is done to another. This will appear in the Humour of the Italians, who profecute their Enemies with irreconcileable Hatred and Malice whole Familiet being often engaged in ex- ecuting the Refentments of two fingle Perfoas, who firft began the Quarrel : But much more for^eable is this Paflion in thofe, who have been notorioufly hurt themfelves. And the Revenge of a certain Captain was extravagant ; who being in- form'd that his General had debauch'd his Wife, "took an Opportunity to fingle him out from ail other Company, pretending to walk in the Fields. When he had him there alone, he clappM a Piftol to his Breaft, threatening to kill him fortwith, if he moved Hand or Foot. Then he upbraided him with what he had done, in fuch Language, as convinced the General, his Life was in extreme Danger. Wherefore he humbled M a himfelf, LETTERS Writ ly Vol. HI. himit'lf, and confefTed his Crime ; begging of the C?tain to fpare his Life, and be would prefer him forthwith to the beft Office in the Army, next his own. 13ut the furious Italian would not fell his Honour fo cheap. He forced him to deny Coi, and utter many Blaffhemie?, in Jiopes of fa- ving his Life : And when he had thus done, the Captain laid, Now mj Revenge is ciwplete, finct -I jhaM fend thee Body and Soul to tbe Dtvtl. With that he piftolTd him. But, leaving thefe Ivfideli to their tlia&oUfftl Paffions, I am concern'd at the Captivity of thy Brother ; if it be true which- vis related here, That he was taken in his Return from Canca to Conjitn- linopte. It-wHl coft the Bajfa of Algiers a thou- i'and Crowns to ranfom him. Adieu R'narba. And, if thou art defirous to raife thy felf, take that Method which I have :now propofed to thee. Cod be propitious to .thy Endeavours. Paris, ^th of the id Mow, of the Tear 1648. L E T T .E R XII. To the Venerable Mufti. TH O U wilt fay, The NtApolitans are a reft, leis People, when thou flak know, that there have been no leis than Forty general Lnfur- rffltons in this Kingdom, fmce its firft Separation from the Grtcian Empire, whereof it was former- Jy a Member ; and that, in the Space of two ;Yeirs, they have had five Kings, all of -diffrent One Vol. IH. a SPY af PARIS. 1*45- One would have thought, that after the Death of Mafiitnello, the Ring- lender of the late Jtf?j)vafioify the popular H'eats would have flack- en'd, and the People return'd to their Duty'; but the pafTionate Defire of Liberty caufed them to continue in Arms, till^ the Confirmation erf their Privileges fhould cofac from the- King of Spain. In the mean time, Don Ink* of /Juftria, who lay before the City with a Fleet of Fifty GaUetn\ p'jay'd upon th'fem inceiTantly with his Cannon by Sea, and the Caftles batter'd them by Land. Cardinal M-az.*rhi'J, wh6 has the earlieft Intelli- gence of foreign TranfaftioYis, has had a princ?. pal Hand in fomenting this Flame. Forasfooft as the News of Msfltanello's jDeath arrived here, he difparch'd away Courier; to Rome, with- Inftru ftionstothe French Em'oajJ**dor at- that Court, re- quiring him to ufe all poflible Means to cherifh. rk^Titmultr in Naplei, and not negleft fo fair an Opportunity,- of reducing that Kingdom under the Protection of- Franc?.- It will not appear ftrange, That this great Genius {hould aim at the Conqueft of ' Ntpltt. when we confider, That this Kingdom abounds in all manner of Riches, to which its fortunate Situation contributes not a little ; for it lies in the moft temperate Part of the World : And the Inhabitants are not fe<-ond to sny Peo- ple of Europe, in material Courage and Bravery. This is a Bait which tempts thtf Cardin.il; who is not ignorant how valiantly the Anceftors of the prefent Neaptlitans behaved themfelves in the Wan of C*f*r and Pompey, and thofe between rhe Romans and Carthaginians. Nor are they lefs celebrated for the flout Refinance they made againft the Huns, Goths, and Vand*\t. So that this Kingdom, were it once brought under th M 3 French 46 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III. French Dominions, would prove a Nurftry t from whence this Monarch might draw many thou- fands of excellent Soldiers, to ferve him in his Wars Belldes, it would be more commodious for him to make lucurilons from hence into the Pope\ Territories, if there fhould arife any Dif- ference between the two Courts-, as there often do, about the Rights of the Gattic.ax Church, the franchifes of the Embajfadars of this Crfuen in Rome, and other Privileges, to which they pre- tend. Therefore the French Lml> a finder t according ro the Jnftruftions of Mtzarini, lent Conjm>'fli:-ners to treat privately with the People of Naples, offering rhem Two Millions of Crowns, Twenty Gal- Icons, with Eight and fifty Gallies, and other Veflels. They accepted the Proposal , being weary of the Spanijb Government, and defirous cf Novelty, encourag'd alfo by what thofe Com. jnijfiosers reprefented to them concerning the .Succefs of the Englijb, who by (binding on their Guard, and ufing that Power which God and Nature had given them, for the Defence of their Lives and Liberties, were now, in a man- ner, become a frte Peofle, having abolifh'd the Monarchy, and fet up a Cwmwcoeultb ; And this, they told them, Was alfo done by Cardinal Maza- //B/'S Counfels and Afllftance. Now all the Cry in Naplgf, was, Let Fiance ar.d the People of Eng- land flourish ; and let the faithful Neapolitans ftjjert their own Liberty. So blind were thefe People, as not to corifider, That in putting themielves under the Protection of the French, they did but exchange one Bondage for ano- ther, it being impoffible for any foreign Prince to keep this Kingdom, and pay all his Officers, Civil and Military, together with t^ofe under thek Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS; 247 their Commands with much lefs Charge than the Revenues amount to. And the French are as good at inventing new Taxes, as any Court in Eu ifpc. However, the Neapolitans were enchanted with the Thoughts of fo much Gold, and other Afli- ftance offer' d by the French ContmiJJioners ; and fweeten'd with their fair Words, and glorious Fromifes. So that they immediately lent Depu- !t< tells me, galy one thing is worthy of Re- mark. Vol. III. a SPY at PARIS.* 149.. He fays, That the Bodies of the three young Hebrew^ who were put into the burning Oven*- by the Brtjlmian Manarch, becaufe they would not adore his Ictolr, are preferv'd in a M/f -t; on* one of thefe Mountains. And that on the fa I if Hill, no Eggs, Fkfh, or Milk,, will endure an Hour without Putrefaction, but prefently bitc^ an infinite Number of Worms.' He fpeaksin the Praife of thefe Mountains, which are clo-ithd \vithVineyards, Gardens and Woods, on the Top and Sides; and in their Bottoms, huve very rich Mines of Gold, Silver, Copper, Iron, Cryftal, Alabafter, Adamant. In fine, jlJonai, who Jias travelled over all this Kingdim, calls it, The for* tileft Region of all - -Itxly, which is -efteem'd the Pa^adife of Europe, Doft thou not think n'nv, -wnersblf Guide of the EUft, tlut the Duke of Guiz,g had rcafon to prefer the Honour >f conquering fo renown'd a Kingdom, to the Safety of his Perfon ? Or wile thou not rather conclude, That the Reduction of this happy State would be an Expedition worthy - of-the OrJowjw Arms ? It is certain, that the .Riches and Plenty of this Region, have tempted more Nations to invade it, than -any other King- dom on Earth : It having been the Prize, at whieh no lefs than Five and twenty feveral Atonw/have aim'd. Gtirtl-nil M*z.rini is much troubled at the Duke of Guize's Captivity, and has offer'd great Sums of Money for his Ranfom ; buc the King of 5/><*;Vrejeftsall Propofals of that Nature. So that 'tis thought, the Cardinal will contrive feme Way forthe.Des Efcape, cither by bribing his Keepers, or by tome fecret Stratagem. lam not much corrcern'd for the lufl-Jtlj; bur it would be no fmall Joy to he.-.r, That fome Care were taken, for ;he Redemption of Mahotn t M 5 ' LETTERS Writ fy Vo\ who, thou knowe-ft, has not deferv'd 111 of the fublime Port. Adieu, holy Patrieirck, and forget not Mabtniit in thy Addreffes- to- He*-- Paris, -ilth of the ^d Moox, of ik( Tear 1647. LETTER XIII. To Abdel Melee Muli Omar, Superinten- dent of the College ofSciences at Fez. T.H O U to whom the Jffutt of P*r*dife are revealed, and the Rtad of the Angtli when they come down and go up through the Seven Heavens ! Thou that can'fl marfhal the Heft of the Stan, and underftandeft the Difcipline of the Ar. tnies living and ftrong, the Orders of the Poten. tates encamp'd in the Fields of Light, the dome, tick Guards of the Tbrent, blefled for ever ; tell me the Jge of the World, and declare the Begin. ring of Time. Refolve me, Whether this mighty Fabrick be but of Yefterday, that is, of Five or iix thoufaad Years (landing, as the Jevs and Chri- Jftans lay ; or, Whether the Years of its Duration te not paft a Calcule. The y>fions of thy Prtgeitittr, the Lieutenant to the Seat of God, are extant in the A'abick Tmgue. Jn them it is written, My Stul OH faddt* became ft tbfugh it had Wings ; Spirit enter'd me, and a fubtil Wind lifted mi up tothtTtp tf Mount UrieJ, mbere 1 bchtld marvtllws Things. 7 looked behind me, and ft* the Ages that were p*ft ; and /#, tkey vert Vi'thovf tfumbtr, cr Beginning. 1 bekeld tke four Vol. III. 4$py at PARIS. four SeafonS of the Tear, ever retwnirg at their accuftonSd Time, and the Sun ft/rfaok not hii Cou>fe t for Thsufand tkoufand Generations. I ct>un:td a Million of dgei, and yet there appeared not an Hour, wherein Darkttcf: had poffeft'd the Abyfs of Mat- ter, or wherein the endlefs Firmament was no: iUu- minattd by the Moon and Stars. Whilft I conji- der*d thefe Things, ft Liquor was given me to drink by an unknown Hand, it vat of the Colour of Am- ber ; when I had tafted //, / felt a- marvellous Force in my Btdy, and my Eyes were more piercing (ban *n Eagle s. Another Wind, more powerful than the former, blew out tf a Cloud, and carried we up to en exceeding high Place, far above the tellift Mount Tains : There 1 trod in she fift Air, as in a Pavr. fnent tf Marble. 1 wat raviftfd at thrff 'Things ; and the Exaltation tf my State made mt forget my Mortality. I bchtld the Ettrt'o at a i>nft ~Diftanct under mj Fett, as ont that did not- belong to if ; it hok j d like a joining Globe, nit much unlike the Moon, but far bigger. /!U Ike living Generation which had fucctjjively inhabited the Earth from its Nativity, paff'd by me ; and th'y appeared in va- riout F9 r ms. pi'ft came a Race of Centaurs, then tf Satyrs, next of Angels, and I of tf Men While I marvelled at thefe Taingt, * t'oice reached my Eart, as from behind ms, fayiKf. Thefe are the four Ages / the World, and the four Species of Be- ings, to whom 1 gave the Pe/ijfion tf the Earth ; tut, for the Impiety of the Three former, 1 hate ex. terminated them. And when Men fo*'>l h*ve com. pleated tbe Meafure of their Sins, I will caufe the Trumpet to found, and aU thing! (hall retire in:* the Cave of Silence and Darknefs. Having heatd th!t, 1 found my felf in a Moment on the Earth, which I had before fecn afar off ; then 1 knew that 1 had been in> a, Trance, &c. M 6 Ido LETTERS Wr/V /y Vol.IIL '" ^ to reach thee anv g, venerable />,^, O f the South, ****, (tor, I know, the jrtbiwi of thv College are replemih'd with all manner of excellent *2?ifit, and that thou art no Stranger to the Wn i*gi of the Prof htt,) but to crave thy Inter- pretation of 10 great a Mjfer^ and to reaibn with thce about the W*rld\ Duration. My Satisfaction, JKMjld be fmalj, in contemplating the various Beauties of the Univerfe, the Qualities of tho Elements, the Natures of living Things, the Virtues of Plants and Minerals, with the Force u r th l, /fc**"^ Bodies, were I affured that tncfe Things were not always fo. That Thought would damp my greateft Enjoyments, if I were convmc d, That fo many Splendors, Riches and Pleaiures as this vlfibU Frame affords, were noc dilclofed for Millions of Ages, but lay hid in the Bofom tf Eternity. Methinks it is too low an Opinion o the omnipotent Goodnef:, and looks Si.** the Authors of ic fufpefled Gad of Envy. Who, when he might have made infinite Mjritdt of Creatures happy, in thefe vifible Emanations of hisDwinity, without either Beginning or End, ing of Time ; yet, according to their Dottri ne contented himlelf, to let only a determinate M amber tafte of his Munificence, for a few Cm. *'" \ Years This is not fuitable the Chara- .ter ot that trfnitt Btitg, the eternal Source of aU Pt'fefiioHf. What then is meant by thofe Four jge:, and the Four Sfecit! of Beings, which were Ihew'd to the exalted of God in that holy n/tonf Tell me great Light of jfrick, Is it repugnant to Rcafon or Faith, to believe, That the Eanh has been isolated from Eternity j fi nce our ^ D t ft orf teach us, That it was peopled long before die Crtation of Adm ? No M u f,ttm*n t That has ever gone Vol. III. d$PY at PARIS. 153 gone the fared Pilgrimage, but lias vifited Mount Arafft*> where Adam firft faw Eve his Wife. Where he has been inftrufted in the Hiflarj of that_/fry? Father of Mankind ; and how that before his TirRe the Earth was inhabited by Angels, who- Being commanded to adore Adam , refufed ir, and were turn'd to Devils, being expell'd from the Earth. Thou Knoweft, moreover, That it is in the f acred Traditions, That God gave to Adam a Wife, whofe Name was Mileth ; but that fte, being of the Race of thefe Devils, refus'd to obey A*am : Whence it came to pafs, that they lived in continual Quarrels and Enmity, for the {"pace of Five hundred Years ; 'till at length jli- leth fiew up into the Air, and abandon'd her Husband. Of which, when Adam complain'dto God, he fenc Three mighty Angels in Purfuit of her, commanding them to tell her, That if Ihe would return to her Husband, it fnould go well with her ; but if fhe would not, a hundred of her Children fliouid die every Day. The Angel e fol- low'd her, and over- took her on the Red Sea ; where they threaten 'd to drown her, unlefs fhe would return to her Husband. But fl:e made Excufes, and told them, She vas created to defray young Children. Then the Ar.gds laid Hands on her; when flie, to pacify them, fwore by the Bottom f Hell, That whenfoever the Names of them Three Ihould be written on any Schedule, that fhe fhould have no Power to hurt the Infants, they difmifs'd her. After this, God compaffiona- ting /fdam's Solitude, gave him another Wife, call'd Eve. This Tradition confirms the Fifim of the Pre- fhet and we need not doubt, that the Earth was inhabited before Adam's Time : And if that be granted, Why might it not be peopled for Millions of Ages, as well as for the fmalleft Term 2,amint Language and flo;*/, in regard they fall not within any other Retard, fave their own, which fays, They are as old as the World. For if this Aflertion were falfe, the Impofture would have been difcover'd as loon as broach'd. and the learned Sages of the Eaji would quickly hare difprov'd fo manifeft a Lye. There feems to me fomething extraordinary, in this Pretenflon of thefe Indian Philosopher), and I would glad- ly be convinced of the Truth. Methinks it is an illuftrious Idea of the Divine PcrfeftioMt, when one conceives all this vaft and endlefs Concatena- tion of Being 1 , to flow from the Ete mat < Nature, as Rays from the Sun : And that they can no morg 156 LETTERS Writ fy more be feparared- from itj than.-diofe 'Beams- can from t hit vifible Fountain Q^ Light.- It will noc be difficult then to interpret the Hift>-}- ef Mofct, by this &eg:fter of the Bramins, and reconcile the Jix DJJI of the one, with the four Ages of the o ther; fmce a Day,- in the -Divine Senfe, may a- mount to Millions of Years, as well as to a Thou- fand. And it will.be more congruous and agree- able, to believe, That after the Birth of the frft Matter, there elaps'd many ^jf, before it was V-rought into fuch an infinite Variety of Appeal* ranees, as we now behold ; and that tke five Days which .Mofes computes, before the Produttion of X/^JMT, might be fome MiSioiu of Ytan : In which time, the divine drchiacl gradually drew from the ^byfs of Matter, the Sun, Moon, Stars, Plants and Animals, which may ferve alto toillu- .rt rate the nfion of the bsly dncejltr, with whlcl) I be^un this Difcottrfe. Adieu, fublimt. Intelligence of the Torrid Zone, and favour Me/smut with a Tranfcript of thy Thoughts concerning thefe Things. But if thy Silence lhall condemn my Preemptions, and Im. portunity, I will wait for thy Anfwer, till the Pla~ t onick.Tt.tr, when, according to to th& DoEirint o that Philofofher, we {hall all be alive again. Paris, ipr& of the 4^/7 tf tbe Ttar 1648. LET- Vol. III. a Spy At PARIS* 157 LETTER XV. To the Mufti. IN a former D.'fpatch to thy Stntttty, I have ac- quainted thee with the Inj'urreftion in Palermo ; mentioning the Fear of the Viceroy , left the French in that l/l*nd ihould then take their Opportunity to revenge the proverbial Cruelty of the Sicilian Fefptrs. If thoH art unacquainted with that Tra- gedy, I will inform thee in brief; About three hundred and threefcore Years ago; there reign'd in Sicily one of the Royal Bhod of Prance, they call him, Charles of Jxjou. He had French Garrifons in all the Cities of that King- dom : Burthefe Soldiers committed fo many In* folences as render'd 'em odious and infupporta* Lie to the Natives, who therefore refolv'd to ex- terminate them The French are very licentious' in their Con, 9*(fli; neither fparing Men in their Anger, nor Women in their Luft. They make no difference between the Noble and the fa/gar, but facrrfice all the Regards of Honour and Civility to their im- petuous Appetites They were guilty of innumerable Rapes and Violences in Sicily among the meaner People, and fometirnes extended their Rudenefs to Per- fxms of the hft Quality It was common for them to affront both Virgins and Matrons as they went along the Streets, by thrufling their Hands under their Garments, on pretence of iearching for hidden Arms. Among the reft, the Wife of a certain Lord in Palermo, going to pay her De- votions at the Temple, was feizd by the Com- mand of the Captain of 'the Guards, and -ftripp'J: naked i5 8 LETTERS Writ ly Vol. III,. naked before all the Soldiers, in order to difco ver certain treafonable Papers, which they fuf- pe&ed fhe carried about her ; but finding none, fhe upbraided the Capttin with Inhumanity, in offering fo grofs an Affront taa Lady of her Rank. He feeming to be lorry for the Indignity fhe had receiv'd, begg'd her Pardon, and retiring with his Soldiers out of the Room where fhe was, left her to put on her Apparel. In the mean while he was enrlamed with a furious Paffion for this Lady, (fhe being very beautiful ; ) and having fent the Soldiers away, he return'd to the Room where fhe was : He addrefVd her wirh much Courtihip ; but finding that ineffectual, he forced her. When this was made known to her Husband, he burn'd with Defire of Revenge : And ftirring up all the Sicilian Nobles and Petfte, it was pri- VateJy agreed between them, That on a certain F