never have the Honour to be admitted into Our Paradise But thou who believest the Doctrines Clear and Intelligible and hast kiss'd the Garment of the Sent of God wilt not suffer thy Reason to be blinded by the Enchantments of these deluding Fair Ones but so love Women as still to remember thou art a Man which is something more Sublime Paris 1st of the 12th Moon of the Year 1645. LETTER XVII To the Kaimacham IT is hard to guess where the French Victories will terminate Either Fear or the Desire of Novelties opens the Gates of most Cities to them and when that will not do the Force of their Cannon makes a Passage into the strongest Holds of their Enemies and puts whole Provinces under their Subjection Their Enemies say That the French never besiege a Town but their first Assaults are made with Bullets of Gold and when that will neither prevail on the Governour nor win a Party then they only try the Force of the courser Metal Yet this will appear but a Slander if thou considerest a late Action of the Duke of Orleans when he lay down before Bourburgh He had scarce finish'd his Trenches when the next Morning an Arrow was found with a Letter fastned to it not far from his Tent. The Letter was directed to the Duke and subscribed by the Governour of the Town The Contents of it were to signifie to him That if he would give him Fifty Thousand Pieces of Gold and continue him in his Office he would the next Night open the Gates and let in his Army and that before Mid-day he would send a Messenger to know his Pleasure The Duke waited the Arrival of the Messenger who seconded what his Master had said But the Magnanimous Prince in stead of accepting his Offer sent him back to his Master with this Message That he came not before the Town as a Merchant to purchase it at the Price of a needless Treason but as a Soldier at the Head of an Army flush'd with continual Victories Summoning him forthwith to surrender at Discretion That being the only Way to experience his Generosity This Year has been signaliz'd with much Action in Flanders Catalonia and Italy The Field was shared among many brave Generals The Duke of Orleans had the Command of the Army in Flanders where he took the Forts of Vandreval Bourburgh Link Dringhen Bethune St. Venant Guisca Lens Mardike Lillers Mening and Armentiers These Places were won by several Parties under the Commands of the Mareschals de Gastion de Rantzan and the Duke of Guize who all acted in separate Bodies under the Duke of Orleans Nor was the Count d' Harcourt idle in Catalonia where he succeeded in the Charge of the Mareschal de la Mothe The first Effort of his Arms was the retaking of Agramont which the Spaniards had seiz'd a strong City and which kept a large Part of Catalonia in Subjection From hence he marched toward Roses one of the most Important Places for Strength under the Spanish King's Dominions and govern'd by an experienced Soldier who fail'd not to defend the Place to the last Extremes but after a Siege of Two Moons was compell'd to yield for Want of Provisions After this the French General cut off Seven Hundred Spaniards who were posted to hinder his Passage over a River The next Day the whole Armies meeting in the Plains of Liorens there was a furious Encounter in which the Spaniards lost Ten Regiments of Horse on the Spot the Rest threw down their Arms and yielded The Marquess of Mortare one of the Spanish Generals was taken Captive with other Persons of Note among which was the Standard-Bearer of Spain Yet this was but the Engagement of One Wing For when the Other enter'd the Combat the Slaughter was dreadful Of the Spaniards were slain Six Thousand Horse and Sixteen Hundred Foot And Three and Twenty Hundred of them were made Prisoners The French lost not above Three Hundred in all and had but a few wounded This Battel has brought infinite Glory to the Count d' Harcourt After which there happen'd Nothing remarkable in Catalonia save the taking of Balaguier which is like to end this Years Campagne on that Side Prince Thomas of Savoy commanded in Italy but had no great Number of French in his Army the Main Body being drawn off to serve in Catalonia Yet vexed to see the Success of the Spaniards who had possess'd themselves of a Strong Castle and kept the Field in a Bravado as if he were not able to face them he raised some Recruits and enter'd the Milanez where he took the City and Castle of Vigevano After this designing to return into Piemont he found all the Passages block'd up by the Spaniards who had a far greater Army than his Yet assuming Courage he attempted to pass the River Moura and the Enemy presenting themselves to oppose his Design he gave them Battel and killed Five Hundred and Threescore of them among which were Nine Officers of Principal Command and Quality On his Side were lost Two Hundred Common Soldiers and Twelve Officers among which was his Brother Prince Maurice of Savoy These are the Chief Actions on that Side As for Portugal there has happened Nothing in that Kingdom worthy of Remark I have in this Letter Sage Governour of the Imperial City observ'd the Method thou enjoined'st me I have acquainted thee with whatsoever has Occurred in the present Wars of France and Spain during this Year 'T is discoursed here That the Venetians will lay Siege to Canea next Spring in Hopes to recover that Important Place from the Arms of the Victorious Ottomans The Duke of Orleans will be on his March to Flanders toward the latter End of the next Moon resolving to make an early Campagne being alarm'd with the late Loss of Mardyke which the Spaniards took by Surprize without much Bloodshed having not the fourth Part of a hundred men kill'd on their Side Whereas when the French took it from them it cost five Thousand Lives of the best Souldiers the King of France had in his Army The Hour of the Post will not permit me to say more than that I am the humblest of thy Slaves Paris 14th of the 12th Moon of the Year 1645. LETTER XVIII To Dgnet Oglou I Will not make Tryal of the Virtue of Friendship at this Time in the Way that Philosophers propose to be used between such as own that Title I will not complain of the Dolors I undergo that so by making thy Compassion share them with me I may ease my self of a Part. It appears to me a pusillanimous if not an unjust Action for a Man to transfer his Sufferings by discovering 'em to his Friend and designedly throw that upon another which is scarce tolerable to himself I am sick and Custom has rendred this almost as Natural to me as Health My Constitution is not Proof against the envenom'd Arrows that are shot from the Stars Nor am I
reported of this little Serpent That by Natural Instinct being sensible when a Magician is about to utter Words which being heard will ensnare it lays one Ear close to the Ground and with its Tail stops the other to the End the Enchantment may have no Effect Admit not any Man to thy Conversation who shall attempt to warp thee from the Simplicity of the Faith and Obedience which thou owest to the Apostle of God Without Water there is no Purity on this Side the Grave That Element has a Force in it of which thou art not aware 'T is the Third in the Rank of Living Principles 'T is the Tabernacle of the Winds The Seraglio of the Generative Spirit The Stage of Wonders In fine it is the Purifier of every Thing that has Breath Thou knowest that to serve the Necessities of the Prophet and his Army Vnderstanding and Speech was given to a Fountain in Arabia which having promised to follow him to the Place of his Repose made a Channel through the Desart and kept Pace with the Troops of the Faithful till they came to Medina Talnabi That so the Submissive to the Will of Heaven might not want that Element without which Life it self would be a Burden and a Curse And yet thou speakest contemptibly of Water as a very Indifferent Thing whether we use it or not any other ways than to quench our Thirst Thus making no Difference between the many Advantages we reap from that Element and that Common Use to which the Beasts put it In how many Places of the Alcoran does the Holy Prophet record the Mercy of God in giving us Water that is Fresh and not Salt How does he celebrate his Wisdom and Goodness for directing the Clouds to barren and dry Places Thou canst not be Ignorant that it is one of the Encomiums of Paradise that there are Gardens wherein flow many Rivers And after all this wilt thou dispise so Holy and Blessed a Gift without which Earth and Heaven Men and Angels could not be completely happy Go learn then of the Indian Idolaters who have never heard of the Book of Glory Go learn of these Barbarians to prize this Sanctify'd Creature They travel many Hundreds of Leagues to bathe themselves in the Waters of Ganges With those Incorruptible and All-purging Streams the Brachmans fill certain Vessels and transport the Invaluable Liquor to the Utmost Parts of that Wide Empire They travel on Foot sometimes Two Thousand Miles together each Man with his Load of that precious Water to supply the Wants of those who live so remote from the River So that a Bottle of it is many times sold to the Princes and Nobles for Two Hundred Sequins or Eight Hundred Roupies And yet for all this those very Princes would not die with a safe Conscience had they not at least once in their Lives made a Pilgrimage to this Renowned River and bath'd themselves in the Waves which blot out Sins O Cousin let the Example of these Infidels make thee blush at thy Impiety and excite thee to a diligent and indispensible Practice of Cleanness So shalt thou have a Sound Mind in a Healthy Body And the Angel of thy Nativity will not shun thy Person Adieu Paris 7th of the 12th Moon of the Year 1647. LETTER IX To the Kaimacham THE Defeat of the Venetians and Morlacks in Bosna has reached these Parts That News is not unwelcom to Mahmut But I could wish our General had used his Victory with more Moderation The Christians term him Barbarian Salvage Devil Incarnate and load him with Execrations For having taken Prisoner the Captain of the Morlacks he caused him to be flead alive and afterwards to be Impal'd This Captain was an Ecclesiastick They call him Stephano Sorich and in Honour of his Zeal and Fidelity they entitle him the Good Priest They applaud his Magnanimity and Courage in Battel and no less do they extoll his Constancy during the Torments of so Cruel and Ignominious a Death But I tremble to think of the Blasphemies and Curses they utter against our Holy Prophet and all the Mussulmans For this Cruel Execution has scandaliz'd the Nazarenes and imbitter'd 'em even to Fury Their Revenge is implacable They would go to Hell themselves provided the True Faithful might be Damn'd for Company What will our Divine Lawgiver say Or what Apology will our General make when the Sent of God shall charge him with driving so many Thousand Souls into an Irreconcilable Hatred of the Vndefiled Faith For they look not on this as the Action of a Private Man but of one who represents the Person of our August Sovereign the Great Protector of the Law brought down from Heaven They suppose him to be honour'd with the particular Instructions of his Master And therefore they say the Sultan has authoriz'd this Unheard-of Cruelty and that our Religion countenances Tyranny and the most Nefandous Methods of shedding Innocent Blood I am no Advocate for Infidels yet suffer me to vindicate Nature which is the Common Parent of us all Suffer me to be Solicitous for the Honour of our Holy Profession which is blemish'd by this Inhumane Murder What Offence had this Unhappy Captain given that deserv'd so dire a Punishment Was it because he fought valiantly and perform'd Wonders in Defence of his Country This is Nothing but what becomes every Honest Man to do And had our General been truly Brave he would have entertain'd his Prisoner with a Respect due to his Merit Who was a more Inveterate Enemy of the Mussulmans than the Renowned Ischenderbeg Prince of Albania Who more Valiant or Successful against the Ottoman Armies It is Recorded of him That he never shun'd a Battel never fled from his Enemies never shrunk from Perils nor was ever wounded but once in all his Life And yet he sustain'd a Continual War from Two Successive Osman Emperors defeated Seven Vizirs with their Forces took all their Ammunition and Baggage and in several Combats slew with his own Hands above Two Thousand Mahometans Our Fathers did not basely revenge themselves for all this but cherish'd a Veneration for this Heroick Enemy and honour'd the very Dust of such an extraordinary Person For after his Death having conquer'd Albania they sought out his Tomb where they performed their Devotions as at the Sepulcher of a Prophet They open'd the Dormitory of the Desunct Warriour and with Religious Solemnity took up his Bones sharing the Honour'd Reliques among them and wrapping them up in Silk wore them continually at their Breasts esteeming them as Sacred Amulets against Misfortune Surely our General would blush at an Example of so great Vertue But perhaps he was incensed because his Captive was a Priest Mistaken Zeal might prompt him to this horrid Butchery Thou who art Justice it self wilt not approve his Bloody Passion when thou considerest That the Priests of Jesus are Men as well as others and if they live in Error the Fault is in their Education
Germany it self is so enfeebl'd by their repeated incursions that all the Emperour can do is to make dishonourable and costly Compositions buying a Precarious Peace with little less Charges than would serve some more Fortunate Prince to carry on a Glorious and Successful War Neither is the State of Venice in any better Condition of Defence the Turks having par'd away whole Provinces from that once flourishing Common-wealth and by their continual Invasions and Hostilities reduc'd her to a Necessity of Merchandizing with the Ottoman Port for Peace Which is no sooner concluded but on the least Pretence is broke again by those who hold themselves not oblig'd to keep Faith with Christians Behold at this Time without Provocation on the Part of Venice or a Declaration of War by the Grand Signior the late League broken on a sudden and in a most Clandestine Manner Behold Candy environ'd with their Fleet by Sea and her fertil Plains cover'd with Armies of Mahometans by Land Behold her Cities in the Hands of her Enemies and her Villages laid Desolate her Nobles put to the Sword and her Merchants led into Captivity In fine behold this afflicted Common-wealth yet struggling with her Fate and sending her Ambassadors to all the Princes and States of Christendom Demanding or rather in a suppliant Manner Imploring their Assistance Yet she finds little or no Help from any but the Pope and the Knights of Malia And his Holiness has enough to do to preserve the Patrimony of the Church from Violence The State of Genoua is too intent upon her Traffick to regard the Calamities of her Neighbours And all the Princes of Italy have such Diversions at Home as render their Application to Things Abroad very Cold and Indifferent In the mean while the Turks gain Ground double their Strength and encrease their Victories Oh Deplorable State of Christendom Is there no Redress for these Miseries Yes surely there is and such a Redress as only lies in Your Power Great Minister to apply which in the Experiment I dare assure will prove Effectual I do not pretend to the Visions and Inspirations of Peter the Hermit who garbl'd Secular and Divine Offices and arming himself in Habiliments of Steel went Dragooning up and down Christendom at the Head of a Confused Rabble to render himself Popular and acquire the Triple Character of Pilgrim Priest and Captain The ill Success of his rash Expeditions shew'd That he was only stung with a Religious Caprice and that God approv'd not his Folly I do not go about to propose another Crusade or contrive a Way to shed whole Deluges of Humane Blood with no other Consequence than to stain History with the Sanguine Memoirs of Christendom's Vanity and Misfortune Besides that would be found Impracticable in this Age which was easie to put in Execution Five or Six Hundred Years ago The World is not so Devout now as it was in those Days neither are Men so prompt to run the Risque of their Lives on Religious Errands for the Honour of being esteem'd Martyrs 'T will be difficult to find out a New List of Godfrey's Baldwin's Guy's and other Hero's to lead the Champions of the Cross through all the Hardships of Sea and Land so many Hundred Miles into Remote and Desolate Regions to combate not only with Flesh and Blood but with Famine Pestilence And all the Miseries of Human Life And as if this were not enough to sheath their Swords also in each others Bowels for Punctilio's meer Trifles of mistaken Honour and ill-tim'd Emulation And all this only to purchase the Empty Title of King of Jerusalem or the Precarious Authority of a Grecian Emperor Both short liv'd Honours the One to be lost in a little Time with all Palestine to the Saracens the Other depending only on the Pleasure of the Multitude Such were the Glorious Fruits of the Christian Arms in those Days Such the Triumphs attending Our Victories These the Trophies which our Fathers erected to their own Disgrace when after a War of so many Years they left the Holy Land in a worse Condition than they found it and of so many Hundred Thousand Men as marched thither threatning the utter Subversion of the Saracen Empire there scarce return'd enough to disperse the News of their own Overthrow Waving therefore these Visionary rash Expeditions I now propose to Your Eminence an Undertaking which tho' it may make less Noise in the World yet carriâ—… more Probability of Success and will not only promote the Interest of France but redound to the Advantage of all Europe No Man who is acquainted with History can be ignorant what Claims the Kings of France have made to the Empire of the West since the Days of Charlemaine the Royal Predecessor of his Present Majesty who was dignified with the Imperial Title by the Sovereign Bishop Neither is it unknown by what Artifices the House of Austria have procured the Translation of this Sacred Authority to their Own Family Your Eminence is sensible by what Tyrannous and Unjust Methods they have maintain'd themselves in this highest Pitch of Humane Glory and not content with this how they have aspir'd after the Monarchy of the Whole World All the North have groan'd under the Burden of their Insupportable Tyranny And their Encroachments on the South have render'd that Line little less Infamous They spare neither Civil nor Ecclesiastical Rights in the Pursuit of their Ambition not even the Patrimony of St. Peter which has ever been esteemed Sacred and Inviolable by Christian Princes they have sack'd Rome it self and led the Supreme Pastor of the Church into Captivity What should I speak of the Hollanders Suitzers Grisons and other Nations which impatient of the Austrian Yoke revolted from their Cruel Masters and have ever since asserted their Liberty by the Force of their Arms What should I mention the frequent Troubles in Bohemia Transylvania and Hungary when the Inhabitants of those Countries grown desperate with their daily Oppressions have bravely endeavour'd to redeem themselves and their Posterity from perpetual Servitude but for Want of a Powerful Protector have been forc'd to yield to their Old Masters That Incestuous Race are grown Odious to the Whole World Even the Princes of the Empire are forced to smother their Resentments when they Elect One to possess the Imperial Diadem whom they cannot but hate That therefore which I aim at in this Address is to represent to Your Eminence how easie it will be in this Juncture for his most Christian Majesty to recover the Imperial Crown which of Right belongs to None but the Successors of the renown'd Charleinaine and which even the greatest Part of the Germans themselves wish to see plac'd on the Head of Lewis XIV Most of the Electors are already inclining to the Interests of France It will not be difficult to win the Rest The Hungarians c. long for a Deliverer And the other Provinces beyond the Danube will freely open the Gates
in Flanders And some are of Opinion that 't was this happy News which emboldned the Court to snatch from the People their Darling their Idol the Man from whose Courage they expect a Redress of all their Grievances Indeed one may say it would seem safer for a Traveller in the Desarts of Arabia to tear from a Lioness her Young One. For the Heads of the Faction waited but for such an Opportunity to set all in a Flame And the ill Success of the Court in this Action shews That it is dangerous to provoke the Multitude For presently we were all in Confusion the Burgesses in Arms the Shops shut up the Streets Chained and all the Avenues of the Palace barricado'd The Rabble marched up and down the Streets threatning Destruction to Cardinal Mazarini and all his Party The Parliament were forced to become the Messengers of the People to carry their Petitions or rather their Commands to the Court being threatned also if they failed of Success For they protested Unanimously that they would not lay down their Arms till the Imprisoned Counsellor was Released The Queen appeared at first Inexorable and sent these Senators away with Denial and Scoffs wishing them Joy of their New Honour in being made the Porters of the Rabble And the Young Monarch incensed to see his Native Royalty thus Prophaned by his Subjects bent his Brows and casting a Look divided betwixt Majesty and Disdain on the Senators uttered these Words Sirs Shall it always be a Custom thus to molest the Minority of your Kings Or do you think Our tender Years incapable of the Common Sense of other Mortals that you presume thus Insolently to invade our Right Accuse not the Multitude nor make them an Vmbrage to your Sedition I know the Authors of these Tumults and shall find a Time to make 'em feel the Weight of my Displeasure Think not that I wear this Sword only for Ornament laying his Hand fiercely on the Hilt or that the Blood of my Renowned Ancestors is grown degenerate or turned to Lees within my Veins Go tell your Factious Comrades There sits this Day upon the Throne of France a King who though he 's Young yet has a Spirit and Memory which will outlast his Pupillage With that he commanded them out of his Sight Yet notwithstanding this the People threatned to bring their Darling away by Force if he were not Released in Two Hours There were above a Hundred Thousand of them in Arms and it might have proved a dangerous Insurrection But the Queen at the Second return of the Senators hearkning to the Advice of Mazarini and the Duke of Orleans and remembring the late dreadful Effects of Masanello's Tumult in Naples releas'd the Prisoner who was conducted Home last Night in Triumph by an Infinite Crowd of People who filled the Air with Shouts and Acclamations It is discoursed here That the Prince of Conde will speedily return to Paris From whom both the Court and the Faction promise themselves new Grounds of Triumph During these Commotions Mahmut fails not to act his Part being at no small Expence to maintain a certain Number of Strangers whose whole Dependance is on me These I instruct to mix themselves with the Rabble to insinuate into them hateful Notions of Cardinal Mazarini and the Court They buz up and down the City like Flies in this hot Season and sting the Multitude to Fury with their Stories I spare no Cost to procure the Cardinal's Ruine That pernicious Wit comes not short of his Predecessor Richlieu being as active in embroyling Foreign States witness the Revolutions of Portugal Catalonia England and Naples in all which he had a principal Hand and is ever projecting how to aggrandize his Master And the Universal Success of the French Arms in Germany Flanders Italy and Spain has left him Nothing worth a Thought but the Destruction of the Osman Empire Eliachim brings me News every Hour how my Mirmidons succeed for he acts abroad in the Streets while I keep my Chamber during the Tumults being of Demosthenes's Mind who when the Athenians were in an Uproar took Sanctuary in the Temple of Pallas and prostrating himself before the Altar of the Goddess uttered these Words O Pallas I fly to thee for Protection defend me from Ignorance Envy and Inconstancy for I love not the Society of the Owl the Dragon and the People Yet whether in my Chamber or Abroad be assured Illustrious Prefect of the Imperial City that Mahmut divides his Time between the Vows he makes and the Services he does for the Grand Signior Paris 3d. of the 9th Moon of the Year 1648. LETTER XVIII To Achmet Beig THIS Court is now in Mourning for the Death of Vladislaus late King of Poland Whilst the Politicians are canvasing the next Election Those who Side with the House of Austria favour the Succession of Prince Charles But the French are for Casimir their former Prisoner The Duke of Bavaria is also dead They say he died of Grief to see his Country exposed to the Insults of a Victorious Enemy For all his Forces were intirely defeated The Prince of Conde has taken Ipre in Flanders and the Arch-Duke of Austria has rendred himself Master of Courtray without drawing a Sword or firing a Gun The Mareschal de Rantzan has made an unhappy Attempt to surprize Ostend a Sea-Town in Flanders For carrying his Forces by Water as soon as he had Landed his Men a Tempest rose and drove all his Ships out to Sea So that being encompassed by a numerous Army of his Enemies and having no Way to escape he and all his Troops were made Prisoners From the Sea we have Advice that there has been a Combat between the Duke of Richlieu Commander of the Naval Forces sent to assist the Neapolitan Revolters and Don John of Austria Admiral of the Spanish Fleet on that Coast But the Issue of the Battel is not yet known Though most People guess the Victory to be on the French Side in Regard Cardinal Mazarini had by the Advice of an Indian Ship-wright caused all the French Ships to be plastered over with Allom so that no Fire-Ships can hurt them The Spaniards make great Use of these Fire-Ships in all their Sea-Fights having learn'd to their Cost from the English what Damage these Vessels do when they formerly lost their whole Armada which they before termed Invincible and with which they sailed to Conquer that Island From Catalonia the Posts bring News which pleases the Wives and Friends of the Soldiers in those Parts For the Mareschal de Schomberg has cut in Pieces the Spanish Army taken Tortosa by Assault where the Soldiers found a Booty of above Fifteen Hundred Thousand Livres A Courier is come from Suedeland who brings an Account of a late Formidable Conspiracy in Russia against the Life of the Czar The greatest Part of the Moscovite Grandees were concerned in this Plot designing to Change the Form of Government and divide that
much obscur'd by Misfortune Not long ago he catch'd a Gentleman in a Crime which expos'd him to the Laughter and Contempt of the whole Court but not to the Cardinal's Hatred He had been recommended to this Minister by a Lady of the Court for whom he had a great Esteem On which Account he had free Access to the Cardinal's Presence and would always mix with his Retinue But his Curious Patron had observ'd something in his Carriage which gave him Ground of Mistrust For he would always place himself as near as he could to a certain Table in the Chamber where the Cardinal gives Audience There is a Drawer under this Table which commonly stands half open it being the Place where all Petitioners throw in their Bribes or Presents It not being seemly for a Prince of the Church to take Mony himself The Cardinal observ'd that this Spark always had his Eye glancing on that Drawer as if he coveted what was there contained However he took no Notice but gave him all the Opportunities imaginable to do his Pleasure yet still one Accident or other hinder'd the Gentleman from executing his Design which was to borrow some of the Gold that lay in that Drawer At length it happ'ned that the Cardinal having appointed some Curious Pageants to be made in Honour of the King's Birth-Day he with several of the Courtiers stood looking out of the Windows to see these Triuphant Shows pass by The Gentleman taking this Opportunity whilst he thought all Eyes were intent on the Gayeties without slips to the Table and takes out of the Drawer a Bag of Gold putting it up in his Pocket and retiring to the Window again He imagined that no Body had seen him and therefore hugged himself in the Thoughts of his Booty When the Show was over and the Company withdrew from the Windows after a while they all took their Leave and departed And among the Rest this Gentleman Thief was going out But the Cardinal desired him to tarry in that he had something to say to him The Gentleman stung with the guilt of what he had done fell a trembling and was ready to drop down at the Cardinal's Feet But he bid him be of good Comfort saying thus to him My Friend what thou hast done is not hid from me If thou hast not Gold enough I will double thy Sum. Therewith he gave him another Bag of equal Value saying withall Go thy Way and see my Face no more I pardon but canont trust thee Wouldst thou know by what Means the Cardinal discovered this Theft He always wears on his Finger a Ring in which is set a Jewel of Inestimable Value it being a Natural Mirror and discovering all Things that are done in the Room though behind a Man's Back 'T was on this Stone the Cardinal cast his Eye when the Gentleman thought he was looking out of the Window Therein he beheld him go to the Table take out the Money and put it in his Pocket Thou seest how curious this Minister is to stock himself with useful Rarities May that Great Chancellour of Heaven the Angel who beholds in the Divine Essence as in a Mirror whatsoever is done on Earth and records all Human Actions in the Book of Judgment never discern any Thing in Mahmut which may render him worthy to be excluded the Presence of God Paris 12th of the 2d Moon of the Year 1647. LETTER XXIV To Danecmar Kesrou Cadilesquer of Romania THOU that art Principal among the Judges of High Dignity the Illustrious Ornament of Three Empires the strong Support of Equity who preservest Reason and correctest Vice I congratulate thy deserved Honour And in doing so I wish Encrease of Joy to all the Faithful Osmans The Knowledge which thou hast acquir'd in the Law of Nations and in the most perfect Sanctions of our August Monarchy has made thee famous through the Seven Precincts of the Earth and has vested thee with the Robe of Sublime Honour the Gift of the Lieutenant of God I made Choice of this Occasion at once to perform my Duty and to acquaint thee with a National Villainy such a Violation of the Publick Faith of a Kingdom as it will be difficult to Parallel The Civil Wars of England are known throughout the World And thou art no Stranger to the Particular Intelligences I have sent to the Sublime Port concerning that Nation Since that Time the Rebels have by Degrees gain'd Ground of their Vnhappy King chasing him from One Place to Another Till at Length finding that neither by Arms nor Treaties he could reduce them to any Terms of Reconciliation and being Besieged in one of his Cities which was not in a Condition to hold out long this Vnfortunate Monarch was forc'd to disguise himself and escape by Night wandring through Unfrequented Ways and enduring much Hardship He at length threw himself upon the Faith of the Scots who had solemnly engaged themselves upon Oath to defend him against all his Enemies whatsoever The Scottish Army was then in England being hired to assist the Rebels Whence some take Occasion to accuse this Prince of Rashness and too much Credulity in seeking Protection from those who first began the Rebellion and who had stain'd the Records of Scotland with the Blood of many of their Kings But Innocency is void of Suspicion and therefore because his own Intentions were sincere he knew not how to be Jealous of others However the Scots at First seem'd to act the Parts of Loyal Men. And when they were threatned by the English Rebels and their Pay was stopp'd with Declarations also issued out against their Proceedings they continued to assert the Justice of their Deportment in receiving and defending their Injur'd King who had fled to them for Succour They detained him thus from the 4th of the 5th Moon of the Year 1646. to the 30th Day of the 1st Moon of this present Year At which time having agreed with the English Parliament for the Sum of 400000 Sequins as the Price of their Sovereign they delivered him up to the English Commissioners deputed by the Rebels for that Purpose The French Ambassador was at that time in the Scotch Army Who having been a a Witness of their Detestable Perjury took his leave And being attended with a Guard of Light-Horse to the Sea-Port at parting he pull'd out a Piece of English Money valued at Half a Crown And asking the Captain of the Guards into how many Pieces of Coined Silver that Half Crown might be divided he answer'd Into Thirty For so much replied the Ambassador did Judas betray his Master Thou wilt better comprehend the Force of this Repartee when thou considerest that according to the Christians Belief this Judas was a Slave of Jesus the Son of Mary and that for Thirty Pieces of Silver he betray'd that Prophet to the Jews But these Infidels have found out Ways to elude all Engagements and Promises They couch their Oaths in Words more Ambiguous
few Women Perhaps thy Mother's Milk hangs yet on thy Chin thou art not wean'd from the Discipline of the Nursery Was the Strong Fortress of Sebenico of so small a Price that thou shouldst basely decamp from before it because a few Females appear'd on the Walls Is this the Way to aggrandize thy Master What will the Christians say to this Cowardise Nay what do they not say already The News of that Siege had reach'd all Parts of Europe the Nazarenes were big with Expectation of the Event Now they know it they laugh both at thee and at all the Mussulmans Thou hast brought a Disgrace on the most Exalted Empire in the World What if thou didst lose Two Thousand Men before the Walls of that Fort Is that a sufficient Justification of thy raising the Siege Our Glorious Sultans do not use to win Cities and Castles without Blood neither do they spare to sacrifice the best Part of their Army to the Honour of their Arms whilst our Indefatigable Soldiers have mounted on Heaps of Slaughter'd Spahi's and scal'd the Battlements of their Enemies Whereas thou wert afraid of a few Stones that the Women hurl'd on thy Men from the Walls Thou art more effeminate than Sardanapalus It were fitter for thee to handle the Distaff and Spin for thy Bread than to draw a Sword in the Field of Honour It is a wonder thy own Soldiers do not abandon thee being asham'd to serve under so Weak a Commander I counsel thee speedily to recover thy lost Reputation by some notable Service Let not Perils affright thee but remember that true Fortitude surmounts all Difficulties and that thou canst not pass into the Temple of Honour but through that of Vertue It is not my Part to project for thee The whole Country is before thee Thou knowest or at least oughtest to know the Motions and Strength of thy Enemies Do something speedily that shall speak thee Wise and Valiant Thou hadst better lose thy Life so than by a Bow-string Take this Advice as a Mark of my Friendship for Mahmut uses not so frankly to reprove those whom he esteems his Enemies Adieu Paris 15th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1647. LETTER IV. To Achmet Bassa NOT long ago arrived here a Courier from Suedeland bringing Letters from Queen Christina and Monsieur Chanut the French Resident at Stockholme Among other Matters they give an Account That on the Twenty Seventh Day of the Seventh Moon that Great Princess had like to have been stabb'd in the Midst of her Guards surrounded with her Courtiers before the Altar of her God at an Hour when all the Subjects of that Kingdom were on their Knees to render Heaven Propitious to Her and the Publick That Day there was a Fast proclaim'd through all Suedeland and he was esteemed no Good Subject who did not repair to the Publick Solemnities The Queen to give an Example went at the Third Hour of the Day to the Mosque of her Palace attended by the Great Officers of State and a Numerous Train of the Nobility When the Preacher as is the Custom had made an End of speaking all that were present fell on their Knees to perform the appointed Devotions But it being the Fashion of the Nazarenes to utter some secret preparative Oraisons the Men covered their Faces with their Hats to be more recollected While all Eyes were thus veil'd a certain Fellow snatching the Opportunity steps from his Place and without making any great Noise by large Strides advances unseen to the Rails which enclose the Pavement next to the Altar where the Queen was on her Knees But in leaping over he was perceived by a certain Nobleman who immediately cryed out to the Guards to stop the Assassin They cross'd their Partisans but the Villain hurl'd them one against another with so great Violence that while they were striving to recover their entangled Weapons he got quite through them At which time the Queen also raising her self up at the Noise push'd the Captain of her Guards who kneeled beside her He starting from his Place leap'd between the Queen and the Murderer who was now within Two Paces of her He seizes the Wretch and upon immediate Search they found Two long sharp-pointed Knives about him without Sheaths One in his Bosom the Other in his Pocket The Prison being in the Castle or Palace of the Queen under her very Apartment she was not willing he should be carried thither but ordered him to be reconducted to his own Chamber which was in the College of Stockholme he being an Ecclesiastick of the said College Commanding also a good Guard to be set over him which was performed accordingly As soon as the Wretch saw himself in his Chamber he said aloud That when he went out in the Morning he little thought of ever-returning again having undertaken an Action in doing of which he expected to lose his Life They used all Diligence imaginable in discovering the Authors of this intended Murder but could learn Nothing more than that this Fellow was a Lunatick whom at Certain Seasons an Unaccountable Fury spurred on to many Extravagancies Yet some suspect that he was hired by the Lutheran Clergy to give this Execrable Blow who were apprehensive that the Queen hearkning too much to the Insinuations of her Tutor who was a Calvinist would Innovate the Establish'd Religion of the Country If this be a well grounded Suspicion it follows at the best that Religion which ought to correct the Morals of Men and have an Influence in restraining their Exorbitant Passions is become the Corrupter of their Manners and the Fomenter of the most Enormous Crimes But this is common among the Christians who being divided into Innumerable Parties distinguished by as many Several Names yet each Sect is so sure that their Way is the only Right Path to Salvation that they spare for neither Murders Sacrileges nor Treasons to proselyte the Rest to their Opinion being unwilling that any should live who are not of the same Mind with them The King of France and the Queen-Regent received the News of Queen Christina's Delivery from this Designed Blow with much Joy the Interests of both Crowns being at this Time closely intermingled I can inform thee of Nothing more Remarkable at present save That certain Letters are intercepted which the Duke of Bavaria had written to the Duke of Wirtemberg and the Elector of Cologne The Contents of which discover that the Duke of Bavaria is not far from a Reconciliation with the Emperor and that in the mean time he only waits the Event of Things to direct him in the Choice of his Party God confirm thee in thy Integrity that thou mayst never waver or swerve from the Service and Duty thou owest the Grand Signior Paris 28th of the 9th Moon of the Year 1647. LETTER V. To Cara Hali a Physician at Constantinople THOU hast heap'd many Favours on me yet I have never had an Opportunity of making the least
they relate many Examples Among the Rest A certain Cook among the Franks of that City was accus'd of dressing and selling putrify'd Flesh whereby many that eat thereof were infected with the Plague Complaint being made of this to the Bassa he sends for the Cook and examines him about it He reply'd That he sold none but good and wholsome Meat for if it happen'd That at any Time he was forc'd to keep any Flesh in his House above Three Days he so season'd it with Spices and Herbs as made it very savoury and without any ill Scent The Bassa not having Patience to hear any more of this foetid Apology commanded his Arms and Legs to be cut off and the Veins to be seared up Ordering that during the short Time he had to live he shou'd have no other Food but what was made of his own Limbs They relate one more Passage of a Complaint that was made by a Peasant whose Daughter this Bassa's onely Son had ravish'd The Bassa compell'd him to marry her with this Charge Let me hear no more Complaints of thee unless thou art resolved to leave me without a Son It is reported here That the King of Persia has made a Peace with the Great Mogul and that they will both turn their Forces against our August Emperour Here is also a Courier arriv'd from Marseilles who brings News of the Revolt of Cavarra the Inhabitants of that Place having shaken off the Obedience they owe to the Sultan and put themselves under the Protection of the Venetians and that General Grimani has taken Four Ships of Ragusa laden with Ammunition for our Army He adds also That Morosini has Thirty small Vessels besides Galleys under the very Walls of the Dardanells I long ago suggested to the Vizir Azem That the Weakness of those Castles would one Time or other encourage the Christians to perform some notable Exploit in the Hellespont But Mahmut's Counsel was not regarded Now the Event justifies my Advice the Port will consult the Security of 〈◊〉 Avenue I wish they do not practise the Tâ—… Wisdom The Venetians have a powerful Fleet If they block up the Hellespont and hinder our Ships from sailing into the Archipelago and the Cossacks in the mean while cover the Black Sea with their Barks committing a Thousand Piracies and Ravages What will become of the Imperial City Whence will they provide Sustenance for so many Millions of People as inhabit that City and the Parts adjacent These Things are Worthy of Consideration And thou who hast 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 Seraglio it self at this Juncture However I have done my Duty Sage Minister and refer the Rest to thy Wisdom My Letters are all register'd and if Affairs shou'd succeed ill it will be manifested That Mahmut who watches Night and Day to serve the Great Master of the World has not been wanting to give timely Notice of what might be advantageous to the Monarchy of the True Faithful Thou who art celebrated for thy Justice and Probity pardon the Liberty which my Zeal for Thy Master and Mine renders worthy of Excuse Paris 19th of the 5th Moon of the Year 1646. The End of the First Book LETTERS Writ by A SPY at PARIS VOL. III. BOOK II. LETTER I. To the Most Magnificent and Illustrious Vizir Azem at the Port. OSmin the Dwarf whom I formerly mentioned remains still in the Court and continues his good Offices in communicating to me such Passages as come to his Knowledge He has a subtle Wit and bears no hearty Love to the Christians though he be One himself in Profession He frequently visits me and trusts me with his Secrets One Day he convinc'd me by evident Circumstances That Cardinal Mazarini was projecting to give some secret and sudden Blow to the Ottoman Empire for which Osmin seems to be concern'd by a Natural Inclination being as I told thee born of Mahometan Parents He was uneasie till he had acquainted me with his Apprehensions and I gave him such Instructions as I thought most proper on this Occasion I set my Thoughts on the Rack to prevent so dire a Mischief And having premeditated well on this Affair I pitch'd on a Course which would at once clear me from the Cardinal's Suspicion and by seeming to favour his Designs would absolutely overthrow them I went to him boldly one Day and being admitted to his Closet I thus address'd that Politician THERE are now Nine Years elaps'd Great Minister since I first breath'd the Air of France during all which Time I have not only shar'd in Common with the Natives the Benefits which have accru'd to this Noble Kingdom under the Auspicious Ministry of Cardinal Richlieu and his no less Eminent Successor but have also receiv'd many particular Honours from that Illustrious Prince of the Church to which Your Eminence has been pleased to make some undeserv'd Additions 'T is to you both I owe the Character which has introduc'd me into the Acquaintance and Favour of the Nobility who on that Score have thought me Worthy to Instruct their Children in the Greek and Arabick Tongues have vouchsafed to admit me to their Salt and to encourage me with the Hopes of finding a Comfortable Repose in the Bosom of the Gallican Church after a tedious Peregrination from my own Country When I reflect on all the accumulated Blessings I enjoy under the Protection of Your Eminence Blessings equally transcending my Ambition as they do my Merits I apply all my Studies to find out some acceptable Way of Acknowledgment to my Gracious Benefactor And because nothing can be more Welcom to the Guardian of France than the Means of advancing the Publick Good of the Kingdom committed to his Care I now presume as a Testimony of my Gratitude to propose to Your Eminence some Speculations which if put in Execution will in my Judgment not only render France the most Formidable and Absolute Monarchy on Earth but also tie the whole Catholick World in Eternal Obligations to her and give just Reason to change the Style of his Most Christian Majesty from Eldest Son of the Church to that of Father of all Christendom Your Eminence will not wonder at the Zeal of a Stranger or the Care that Titus of Moldavia takes for France In being Sollicitous for this Kingdom I consult the Welfare of my own Country and of all the Nations which profess the Faith of Jesus since it is ealie to see That in the Fate of France that of all Europe is involv'd It is a long Time since the Dismember'd Reliques of the Roman Empire bordering on Asia found themselves too weak to resist the Puissance of the Ottoman Arms. All Greece was soon o'er-run by the Warlike Turks Transylvania Walachia Moldavia with the greatest Part of the Vpper Hungary quickly became Tributaries to the inveterate Enemies of the Christian Name And