Selected quad for the lemma: earth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
earth_n	blessing_n	heaven_n	lord_n	5,021	5	4.3790	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51887	The second volume of letters writ by a Turkish spy who lived five and forty years undiscover'd at Paris : giving an impartial account to the Divan at Constantinople of the most remarkable transactions of Europe, and discovering several intrigues and secrets of the Christian courts (especially of that of France) continued from the year 1642 to the year 1682 / written originally in Arabick, translated into Italian, and from thence into English, by the translator of the first volume.	Marana, Giovanni Paolo, 1642-1693.; Bradshaw, William, fl. 1700.; Midgley, Robert, 1655?-1723.	1692 (1692)	Wing M565CA; ESTC R35015	169,314	394

so many Ornaments Sweets and Comforts If this Publick and Charitable Regard to the Sick be an Effect of their Religion I cannot be so partial to deny it a due Acknowledgment but must own That Heroick Vertue and Piety is to be found in an eminent Degree even among the very Infidels Thou wilt pardon me for detaining thee so long in the Theatre of the Sick and Wounded and presenting thee with the Tragical Scenes of Mortality since it is thy proper Profession to converse with the Infirmities Diseases and Dolors of Humane Bodies and to be frequently present in the Anti-Chambers of Death Suffer me to press thee to an Integrity of continual Love and Friendship between us Let not Mistakes or Misapprehensions cool this generous Affection It is pity That either the spightful Misrepresentations of insinuating Back-biters or our own groundless Jealousies and Suspicions should dissolve the Union of Faithful and Loving Friends I had rather suffer a Thousand small Injuries which I know must proceed from Frailty and Humane Necessity than not continue to Love where I have once pitch'd my true Affection Nothing but apparent wilful Perfidiousness and Treachery ought to break the sacred and inviolable Band of Friendship Fidelity and Love cover a multitude of lesser Faults He that breaks with his Friend for small Errors discovers the Rashness and Inconstancy of his Mind and that his Friendship was never well grounded For had he been a Wise Man he would either have been more slow and cautious in the choice of his Friend or having once contracted Friendship he would not break it again for a less Crime than manifest Disloyalty But thou who hast ever pursued me with all the Offices of a Generous and Faithful Friend bearing with my many Infirmities and Failings dost not deserve this Censure Yet considering the Instability of all Humane Affairs I could not forbear putting thee in Mind of these Things lest through the Malice of Fortune or the Envy of Men or any other Cause thou shouldst withdraw thy Affection from me which I value above all Temporal Blessings For besides the many Favours I have received at thy Hands whereby I am obliged in Honour and Gratitude to love thee perpetually a Spark of Natural or rather of Divine Affection was kindled in my Breast from the first Time I conversed with thee whether it proceeds from Agreeableness and Harmony of Spirits or some other secret Operation I know not But sure I am and would have thee rest confident That there is not a Man in the World who Loves and Honours thee with greater Fidelity than I do The Great and Eternal Lord of the Vniverse encrease and multiply thy Vertues and Blessings and make thee Illustrious in thy Generation granting also this Happiness to me That after a lasting and true Friendship between us on Earth I may drink with thee of the Rivers of Pleasure which glide along the Fields of Paradise and that I may see thy Face brighter than the Stars of Heaven Amen! Amen! O thou Lord of the Worlds Paris 6th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER XIV To the Kaimacham I Take the best Measures for Intelligence yet I cannot gain a Sight or a Copy of all the Expresses that come to this Court nor can I learn their Import as soon as they Arrive The Ministers of State here are the Sepulchres of News they bury all in Silence This is the Reason that I sometimes have been forced to send thee an Account of many Events long after they happened My last Letter was an Abstract of the French Conquests in Catalonia from the Beginning of the Year to the Moon last past After the King of France had retired from the Camp before Perpignan the Mareschal de Mesleraye applied himself vigorously to perfect the Batteries Redoubts and other Works Whilst the King of Spain was hourly perplexed with Cares and Anxieties for this Important Place The Extremities to which it was reduc'd hastened his Preparations of an Effectual Relief He sent Orders to the Marquises of Terracuse of Leganez and Mortare to raise the Flower of Arragon and Castile The Viceroy of Naples furnished out a Considerable Fleet it being the Catholick King 's Resolution either to Succour Perpignan and raise that Siege or take Barcelona by Way of Reprizal In the mean while the new Mareschal de la Mothe flush'd with the late Favour he received from his Master the French King and spurred on with the Thirst of Glory entered like a Torrent with his Troops into Valentia which at that time lay naked and unguarded The first Thing he did was to surprize a Convoy of the Marquis of Leganez who were carrying an Extraordinary Piece of Cannon to Viveros The French broke through the Foot with their accustomed Fury and killed more than Thirty Horse taking as many Prisoners They sent the Cannon to the Camp at Reoux Thou seest Sage Minister how necessary a Qualification it is in a Sovereign Prince to discern and reward the Merits of his Servants Men of Vertue are animated with fresh Vigour when their Actions are acknowledged Of this the ever Victorious Sultans of the Ottoman Empire are very sensible who value the Abilities and Services of their Slaves before any Consideration of Noble Blood or Riches raising Men from Nothing to the Highest Dignities of the Empire The Mareschal after this Exploit took the Towns of Tamarit and Mouson but the Castle belonging to the latter was surrendred upon Articles the Fourteenth of the last Moon Whilst these things were transacted on the Land the Navies were not Idle by Sea The Marquis of Breze set upon the Spanish Admiral as he lay at Anchor near Viveros and not being able to disingage the Vessel from the Shallows he set it on Fire together with another of equal Burden This was only an Exploit by the by and as it lay in his Road to Barcelona where the whole Spanish Fleet were Arrived with Design to Assault the Town by Sea The Marquis de Breze made all the Sail he could toward them but the Wind not favouring his Design he was forced to make use of his Gallies In a Word the Spaniards lost Four Ships in this Fight and Three more on the First of this Moon Thus Perpignan is in no likelihood of Relief I will send thee all the Intelligence I receive of this Important Siege Paris 10th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER XV. To Isouf his Kinsman I Have received thy Letter and congratulate thy safe Return to Constantinople The Blessing of Mahomet be upon thee for the Sacrifice thou madest on Abraham's Mountain in my behalf and for the Alms thou gavest to blot out my Sins Hadst thou sent me the Sacred Relique I desired I would multiply Benedictions on Isouf my Cousin It is but a trifling Excuse to say thou couldst not procure that which is denied to no Pilgrim The Emir of Mecca expects that every one who Visits that Holy of Holies

they were incapable of travelling afoot But with Money they prevail on the Slaves to direct them how they might procure Camels with a Guide This done they overtake the Caravan at Gaza and so finish'd their Pilgrimage They are now at the Court here and have made known the Business to the King who 't is said has dispatch'd an Express to his Ambassador at Constantinople to demand Justice on the aforesaid Subbassee threatning that if it be deny'd he will cover the Ocean with Ships and raze the Palace of the Sultan to the Ground For these two Noblemen are nearly allied to the Royal Family I know thou wilt despise the bold Bravado of this King and so do I being assured that the Invincible Sultan can set his Foot on the Necks of Forty such Petty Kings as this Yet let us be the Advocates of Justice by which the Refulgent Empire of the Mussulmen was first established Should such a Villainy as this go unpunished it would encourage others in like Cases and then there would be nothing but Extortion and cruel Insolence practis'd by Governours of Towns and Cities on the Road. So barbarous and Inhospitable Usage would provoke all the Princes of the Christian Law to take up Arms against us Thus would the most Glorious Empire in the World become a Prey to Infidels I know this would be misrepresented were it to come to other Hands than thine They would say of me openly what they have already whispered in the Cabals of the Seraglio That Mahmut is in Pension with the French King They seek my Life without a Cause But I trust it to thy generous and right noble Hands of whose Friendship I have had so late Experience May the First Mover of the Heavenly Orbs lead thee as by a Clew of Thread through the dark Labyrinth of State Affairs and bring thee after a long and happy Life to the Fields of endless Light Amen! thou Lord of Paradise Paris 26th of the 7th Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER XI To Nathan Ben Saddi a Jew at Vienna I Know thee not and 't is probable that art as little acquainted with me Yet I have often observed more durable Friendships contracted between Strangers than betwixt those of the same Blood Good Offices equally deserve and attract Love There are many Opportunities for Travellers to serve one another And he that obliges me in a strange Country makes himself my Brother I received a Dispatch from the Reis Effendi at Constantinople informing me of the Death of Carcoa one of the Happy Slaves of him whom God has ordained to dispense Felicities to the World I mean the Grand Signior Possessor of the most exalted Throne on Earth He tells me likewise that I must expect from thee the Continuance of Carcoa's Office I congratulate thy Honour in that thou art thought worthy to serve the Great Viceroy of the Lord of the Vniverse to whom is committed the Flaming Sword of Justice that he may reward Vertue punish Vice and reform the Corrupt Manners of all Mankind I am a Mussulman that is resigned to God or else it would have raised some Thoughtfulness in a Man of my Circumstances what should be the Reason of Carcoa's so long Silence not having received any Answer these Four Moons to the many Letters I sent him He was entrusted with the Secrets of my Commission and had another been in my Place he would have suspected Treachery Well he is gone gone to the Invisible Regions to the Receptacles of Just and Faithful Men to the pleasant Woods and Groves the Eternal Blooming Shades and Verdant Fields of Paradise Follow his Steps and be happy He was a Man true to his Trust sedulous and active in Business Punctual in his Appointments Temperate in a Town flowing with Debaucheries just toward all Men and Devout to God It is necessary for him that would attain these Virtues to begin Gradually at the lowest Step to Guard his Sences and set a Watch upon the Avenues of his Passions For a Man becomes neither perfectly Virtuous nor Vicious all at once And a Wise Man of thy own Nation Jesus Ben Sirach has said He that contemns Little Things shall fall by little and little I desire thee to send me Carcoa's Journal with what other Papers he left behind him except such as concern his particular Estate and Affairs Let me know also how the late Design of the Turks upon Rab is resented at the German Court whether the Emperor talks of sending an Embassador to the Sultan about it and whatsoever also of Moment occurs The Reis Effendi tells me that Bechir Bassa the Treasurer has ordered me Five Hundred Zechins by the way of Vienna I desire thou would'st be speedy and careful in remitting them to Paris Thou needest no Instructions concerning my Lodging or the Name I go by here those who appointed thee this Station at Vienna have informed thee no doubt of all Things necessary to the Discharge of thy Duty Write often to me and preserve thy Integrity free from Stain Paris 6th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER XII To Dgnet Oglou I Know thy Genius and have observed with what Complacency thou wert wont to peruse thy Uncle Shela Raphim's Travels a Journal writ in Arabick and full of profitable and wise Remarks especially that Part of it which treats of France I will not pretend to add to his Observations but only acquaint thee with a Novelty which France it self ne'er knew in his Days The Women of Quality here of late addict themselves to the Studies of Philosophy as the Men the Ladies esteeming their Education defective if they cannot confute Aristotle and his Disciples The Pen has almost supplanted the Exercise of the Needle and Ladies Closets formerly the Shops of Female Baubles Toys and Vanities are now turn'd to Libraries and Sanctuaries of Learned Books There is a new Star risen in the French Horizon whose Influence excites the Nobler Females to this pursuit of Humane Science It is the Renowned Monsieur Des Cartes whose Lustre far out-shines the Aged winking Tapers of Peripatetick Philosophy and has eclips'd the Stagyrite with all the Ancient Lights of Greece and Rome 'T is this matchless Soul has drawn so many of the Fairer Sex to the Schools And they are more proud of the Title Cartesian and of the Capacity to defend his Principles than of their Noble Birth and Blood I know our Grave and Politick Mussulmen will censure the Indulgence of the French to their Women and accuse them of Weakness in giving such Advantages to that witty Sex But notwithstanding this Severity of the Eastern Parts I cannot altogether disapprove the Western Galantry If Women are to be esteemed our Enemies methinks it is an ignoble Cowardise thus to disarm them and not allow them the same Weapons we use our selves But if they deserve the Title of our Friends 't is an Inhumane Tyranny to debar them the Privilege of Ingenuous Education which would also

without a Letter though I have nothing material to write However 't is a Testimony of my Duty to let thee know that Mahmut is not Idle that he suffers not an Hour a Moment to escape wherein he studies not to do some acceptable Service to the Grand Signior All the Dispatches which I receive from the Port seem like black Clouds gathering on the Margin of the Horizon the sure Harbingers of an approaching Storm One accuses me of neglecting the Service of the Master of the World Another tells me I am too Expensive a Third says the Ministers of the Divan will take other Methods They mince their Expressions no Man will deal plainly with me They mix Threatnings with Complements as if I were a Child and needed the Discipline of a Rattle and a Rod. Would they have me reverse the Decrees of Destiny Turn Winter into Summer and change the whole Order of Nature Or is it expected that I should renew the Exploit of Cadmus and cause Earth-born Armies to arise on purpose to furnish Matter of News to the Port I appeal to thee Supreme Vizir at whose Nod the Divan is Assembled or Dissolv'd whether I deserve the Censures that are pass'd upon me No Man can accuse me of betraying my Trust or of holding any Correspondence with the Enemies of the Mussulman Empire What is then my Crime Am I to be condemned for employing the Money which is allotted me for Subsistence to render my Ministry more Successful Will they call it an embezilling the Sultan's Money when rather than hoard it up for my own private Profit and Conveniences as I might do considerable Sums were I so basely Frugal I frankly part with it to consummate the Affair for which I am placed here Or is the Ottoman Treasury grown low that heretofore has supported the Indigent World and by an Excess of Royal Munificence has been thrown to the Fishes of the Sea Is Mahmut alone to be esteemed a Prodigal in his present Expences because 't is known that he was a Slave in Sicily and tyed down to the penurious Stint of a rigorous Patron Suffer me this once Sage Minister to vindicate my self and to tell thee That the Hardships and squalid Circumstances of Captivity would not be very subservient to the Ends for which I am sent hither neither can a niggardly Pension qualifie me for the Genius of the Court in which I must be daily conversant where all Things appear Gay and Polite It has not been my Custom to complain without a Cause neither do I love to grate my Superiors with whining Remonstrances But it is my humble Request That the Minister of the Divan would consider me not as a Drudge to a Private Man in Palermo but as the Indefatigable Slave of the Most Opulent and Liberal Monarch in the World In all these Things I contract my self into a most submiss Resignation to thy Will who art the Vicegerent of the Empire founded on the Rock of Destiny beseeching thee to protect me from the Malice of Whisperers who envy me because I serve the Sovereign of Sovereigns Lord of the East and of the West and all that is between them May the Eternal Possessor of all Felicity cull out of his Immense Treasures such Blessings as thou most ardently desirest in this Life and when he has led thee through all the Apartments of Human Bliss on Earth may he translate thee to the Palaces of Eden the Seats of an Immarcescible Life where new Sources of Joy are open'd without End Paris 26th of the 2d Moon of the Year 1643. LETTER XII To Murat Bassa THE Floods have been so great and those also congealed into Ice that there has been no travelling by some Roads for these Two Moons which is the Reason we have been wanting in our usual Advices from Germany Piedmont the Valtoline and other Parts Yet now the Posts bring a Glut of News to this City Fribergh a Town in the Parts of Saxony is at this Time besieged by Torstenson General of the Suedish Army He Invested it the 11th of the 1st Moon And People are amazed to hear that it has held out thus long being a Place of no great Strength Especially considering how soon Leipsick surrender'd to the same Forces a Town well fortified and stored with all Things necessary to sustain a long Siege By this thou mayst observe how much the Fortune of War many Times depends on one successful Battel When Torstenson first lay down before Leipsick it was generally believed he would find a stout Resistance from the Inhabitants and an Inflexible Resolution in the Garrison not to yield that Important Place And perhaps they would not have been mistaken had not the Imperialists out of a Generous Design to relieve it and raise the Siege hazarded a Battel The Arch-Duke of Austria whose Name is Leopold and Picolomini as soon as they received Advice that the Suedish Army had passed the Elbe and enter'd into Misnia took their directest Way to stop their Advance into those Parts But it had been better they had kept their Quarters for in one Battel they lost all the Glory which they had before acquired by their Arms. Torstenson was already intrenched before Leipsick when his Scouts brought him Intelligence that the Imperial Army was near at Hand He immediately disposes of his Baggage in a secure Place draws out his Cannon and having left a sufficient Number of Soldiers to guard the Posts of his Camp which were nearest the City he marches directly toward the Enemy and possesses himself of a Spot of Ground very agreeable to his Occasions it was called the Plain of Brittenfield This Place he designed for the Stage whereon to perform the Part of a Prudent and Valiant General For as soon as he came in Sight of the German Vanguard he caused his Army to retreat faintly as though he had no Intention to fight The Germans pursue the Retreating Suedes till they were got into very narrow Streights between Two steep Mountains not much unlike the Capi Dervent in Bulgaria where the Heyducks taking the Advantage of the Heights commit great Robberies on the Caravans that travel through those Streights rolling huge Stones or rather Rocks down upon the Passengers Here the Suedes turned about and falling behind their Cannon which Torstenson had caused to be planted in these Streights play'd furiously on the Germans while the Musquetiers which he had order'd on the Sides of the Mountains gaul'd them from above yet lay themselves Invisible under the Covert of Thickets which grew on each Side of the Streight It was the Left Wing of the Imperialists which was thus engaged and Picolomini who commanded them gave admirable Proofs of an undaunted Courage appearing at the Head of his Surprized Soldiers and heartning them with Words and Actions full of Bravery but his Labour was lost for Six Thousand fled without drawing a Sword The Suedes pursued them through the Streight and re-entring the Plain engaged with

Delightful Objects as made Art seem to surpass Nature and even to out-do it self In a Word the Christian Princes are very ingenious in the Contrivance of their Pleasures and make all the Elements contribute to their Recreations Thou hast often seen the Artificial Fireworks which are exhibited at Constantinople at our Festivals and on all Occasions of Publick Joy But thou hast never beheld such Water-works as are exposed in the Gardens of this Palace every Day There by the mere Force of this Liquid Element Instruments of Musick are set at Work which afford a Harmony little Inferiour to the best Consorts in the World and which extremely adds to the Pleasure one may at the same Time behold seeming Musicians playing on them and keeping as exact Time with their Fingers on the Keys of Organs Strings of Viols and Lutes as if they were living Persons There you may see all Manner of Mechanick Trades exercised by Statues who do every Thing with a proper Action and are very eager at their Employments so long as the Water gives them Motion when that ceases they all return to their Primitive Inactivity From hence you pass to a seeming Sea with Tritons moving on Dolphins and sounding their Shell-Trumpets before Neptune who is drawn in a Chariot by Four Tortoises The Story of Perseus and Andromeda is also acted to the Life by mere Statues But the most Ingenious Piece of Workmanship is Orpheus playing on a Viol while the Trees move and Wild Beasts dance round about him This is so costly an Invention that as one of the Overseers of the Water-works told me a String of Orpheus's Viol being broken cost the late King Lewis Thirteen Hundred Crowns to repair it again We Mahometans are apt to value our selves too high on the Score of our Princes Grandeur We boast we flourish and are guilty of a Thousand Insults despising and putting the rest of Mankind under our Sandals as if none of the Race of Adam understood the World but we or had the Wit and Power to carve out to themselves the same Felicities we enjoy The Monarchs of the East style themselves The only Happy ones Possessors of infinite Treasures Kings of the World Shadows of God and what not The Great Mogol with his Omrah's and Raja's pride themselves in their Elephants So do the Kings and Mandarins of China and Tunquin The Sophi of Persia swells at the Sight of his immense Treasures of Gold and precious Stones glorying that the very Shooes of his Horses are of the most exalted Metal also the Mangers wherein they feed and the Nails whereby they are fasten'd to the Ground The Cham of Tartary rejoices in the Multitude and Strength of his Horses his Winged Chariots and Waggons and that when his Armies rise and sit down the Earth trembles with their Weight and Motion 'T is true indeed the Grand Signior who is the Wisest of the Wise and the Greatest of these Great Ones is not guilty of this Vanity He is destin'd by the Lord of the Vniverse to chastise the Follies both of the East and the West Yet his Slaves cannot forbear Rhodomontado's I have heard some of our huffing Janizaries tell the Greeks of Constantinople and Pera that the Royal Seraglio is the most Magnificent Fabrick in the World and that the Garden belonging to it is a perfect Transcript of Paradise Thou wilt not approve such Brags as these when thou considerest how expert the Infidels are in Building and that they spare no Cost to erect such Edifices whose very Ruins may proclaim to future Ages the Magnificence of their Founders And as to their Gardens they are so regular and beautiful adorn'd with so many Delicacies of Nature and Art that one would think they were made by some Traditional Disciples of Adam and that they had their Rules from the Primitive Planter of the World The French King has other Houses and Gardens of Pleasure round about Paris where the Court interchangeably divert themselves during the Summer I humbly kiss the Hem of thy Vest craving thy Protection against the Malice of my Enemies Paris 16th of the 7th Moon of the Year 1644. LETTER XIV To the most Illustrious Vizir Azem at the Port. SInce the Losses which the German Emperor has received from the Arms of Ragotski I am inform'd by Nathan Ben Saddi that the Emperor designs to send a splendid Embassy with extraordinary Presents to the Sultan in Hopes to prevail on him not to protect that Prince 'T is true Ragotski is of a violent and changeable Nature and therefore no great Confidence is to be reposed in him Yet I take it to be the Interest of the Sultan rather to win him by Offices of Kindness and Friendship than to make him his Enemy by deserting him in this Juncture He is at the Head of a Potent and Formidable Army has taken Solnock Breden Mernatz together with the strong Castle of Sendar near Cassovia and many other Places of less Importance whereby a Way is laid open for his Army to over-run all Hungary if assisted with the Ottoman Forces Thus will he do the Office which they say the Jackall performs to the Lion that is to hunt out the Prey and secure it for his Master and Sovereign Besides the Fortune of this Prince seems to invite our farther Assistance for he has had great Success all along this War whereas the Ottoman Forces no sooner appear'd on the Frontiers of Moravia but Six Thousand of them were encountred by the Germans and routed Should the Sultan desert him now he may be compelled to resign himself with all Transylvania to the Protection of the German Emperor It is not safe to run the Risque of such an Event Transylvania cannot support it self Either the Sultan must continue his Protection or the Germans will soon find the Way to plant their Garrisons in the Four Capital Cities and reduce the whole Country under their Obedience Paris 27th of the 7th Moon of the Year 1644. LETTER XV. To Afis Bassa at the Port. THE Pagans in painting Fortune Blind discovered but the Dimness of their own Sight And 't was a double Errour to offer Sacrifice to her that could not discern her Votaries Yet in my Sentence the Christians are more to blame who term her Inconstant Partial Bawd Whore and what not These are Prophanations of Providence and impious Scandals cast on Eternal Destiny Fortune and Chance are but Nick-names of Fate since there is nothing absolutely Casual in the World They see the Vertuous persecuted while the Vicious insult and flourish and they tax Heaven with unequal Dispensation of Rewards and Punishments as if with Epicurus they thought the Adorable Numen took no Care of Things on this Side the Empyraeum and rested in an Eternal Ignorance of Humane Affairs Doubtless the Infidels are in an incurable Error They pore on the Outside of Common Events and look no farther they behold not the hidden Chain of Causes nor the Invisible Hand