Birth Merits Wit and Vertue The Queen did not see her Daughter-in-law till they came to Chalons and there she caressed her with all Tenderness imaginable in outward Appearance But God knows what 's in the Hearts of these Royal Souls or how long their Friendship may last The Ceremony of the Espousals was performed at that Town Yesterday by the Cardinal of Bouillon Grand Almoner of France in the Chapel of the Bishop's Palace And to Day as I have said he finish'd the whole Business in the Temple of the Virgin Mary the Chief Cathedral of this City in the Presence of the King and Queen with divers Lords and Ladies of the Court. There were other Bishops to assist him whose Titles I have forgot But I think they were of Orâ—â—ans and Condom This last makes a considerable Figure in the Kingdom and is created First Almoner to Madam the Dauphiness He appears very Zealous in Converting the Huguenots and I have a great deal more to say of him than I have Time to Write now Assure thy self That I cherish a profound Respect for thee and that as I never was so I never will be defective or tardy in sending thee thy Proportion of Western Intelligence For I must divide it among the Bassa's and other Ministers of the Port. Rest contented with thy Share and in the Name of God Farewel Paris 8th of the 3d. Moon of the Year 1680. LETTERS Writ by A Spy at PARIS VOL. VIII BOOK IV. LETTER I. To Hamet Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire BY the Mosch of Sultan Jub I swear these petty Republicks of the Franks are not worth a Mussulman's Thought However to satisfie thy Curious and Inquisitive Genius I will say something of each as briefly and compendiously as I can In my Two last I discours'd of the Vnited Netherlands and the Swiss Cantons Now I will ferry thee over the Leman Lake and Land thee in Geneva the Mother Nurse and Center of the Calvinists These are a sort of Protestants dissenting from the Opinions of Luther and his Associates who was the First Author of what they call the Reformation here in Europe The City of Geneva is very Ancient and was not Young in the Time of Julius Caesar as appears by his Commentaries where he makes mention of its being seated on the River Rhosne just at the Entrance of the Leman Lake It stands very pleasantly and has a fertile Soil round about it where Ceres strives to out-do Bacchus in her Liberalities For though there be very good Vineyards in these Parts yet not in so great Plenty as to match the Abundance of Corn Pulse Hay Oats Melons and all manner of Herbs and Fruits that the Climate usually bears The Air is pure and wholsome the Winters not so cold as in Germany nor the Summers so hot as in some Parts of France The People are generally Corpulent Morose Inhospitable to Strangers especially to those of the Roman Church whom they always suspect as Spies They are very Frugal Continent and Sober And above all Things they affect a singular Gravity in their Carriage and Garb. As for Riches they can boast but little and were it not for their Art in making Silks and printing Books of which infinite Quantities and Numbers are Exported to other Nations this Commonwealth cou'd not support its own Charges Indeed their Military Strength is considerable for Bigness of the Place the City being fenc'd by Nature as well as Art with impregnable Fortifications They keep an exquisite Watch on the Walls and at the Gates Neither can any Foreigner have Entrance or Lodging there without undergoing a severe Scrutiny They have a Magazine in the City furnish'd with all sorts of Arms and with every Thing that is necessary to sustain a long Siege Add to this the Friendship and Patronage of the French Kings who have for many Years shelter'd this little Republick from the Invasions and Encroachments of the Dukes of Savoy who claim a Title to it There were formerly Three Forts near the Town in the Possession of the Savoyards which much annoy'd the Inhabitants and threaten'd the Ruin of the City it self with the Shot of great Brass Ordnance which were plac'd there for that Purpose But Henry IV. of France Took it from the Duke of Savoy and Demolish'd it in the Year 1600. He also caus'd another to be pull'd down which equally endamag'd the Opposite side of the City And a Third the Inhabitants themselves laid Even with the Ground being aided by the French If thou would'st know by what Title the Dukes of Savoy pretend a Right to Geneva I 'll tell thee in few Words In former Times there was a Feud between the Counts of Geneva and her Bishops about the Government each claiming it as his Due At length a certain Bishop procur'd the Principality of Geneva from Frederic I. Emperor of Germany This occasion'd a Civil War between him and the Count of Geneva which lasting many Years and consuming the Money and Forces of the Town the Inhabitants with the Consent of the Bishop implor'd the Protection of the Count of Savoy He rais'd an Army and march'd against the Count of Geneva taking many Towns and Fortresses from him which belong'd to the Republick Then he advanc'd with the Army near to the Walls of Geneva more like an Enemy than a Friend to the Bishop and People For not content with his new Conquests he demanded as much Money as wou'd quit the Charges he had been at in this Expedition The Bishop represented to him That he ought to be content with those Places he had won and that they should be acknowledg'd Feudatories of Savoy But this did not satisfie the greedy Count who threaten'd the City if they wou'd not reimburse him with Money The Inhabitants being poor and fearing worse Consequences shou'd they provoke this Prince too far at last agreed with him That he shou'd possess as much Rights in the City as the Counts of Geneva had done before this War begun And this was done by way of Pledge or Mortgage The Savoyard therefore entring the City with his Forces oppressed the Inhabitants with cruel Tyranny So that being provok'd to desperate Courses they conspir'd together and chose rather to call back the Count of Geneva to his Native Possession from which he had been violently cast out by the Usurping Bishop than to submit to a Foreign Jurisdiction which began so early to afflict them with insupportable Calamities But this instead of a Remedy prov'd an Aggravation of their Misfortunes For the Count of Geneva coming against him of Savoy with some Forces was overcome in Battel and so Geneva was reduc'd to greater Streights than before For the Savoyards entring the Houses of the Citizens drew the Conspirators from their lurking Holes and kill'd them committing a Thousand other Insolencies against the Inhabitants Nor did this cease till the whole Race of the Counts of Geneva was quite extinct Then Amadeus the Count of
Flanders In which Contest one of the Baldwins got it and left it to his Son But Charles V. over-reach'd him and by Means of the Bishop's Correspondence took Possession of the Place He put a Strong Garrison in it and built a Cittadel which render'd the Town almost Impregnable In process of Time it fell into the Hands of the Duke of Alanson Brother to Henry III. when he was made Count of Flanders in the Year 1582. But in the Year 1595. the Spaniards took it and have held it ever since till the 6th of the 4th Moon of this present Year when the Gates were set open to let in the French Troops and the 17th the Cittadel was surrender'd upon Articles As for St. Omers it is a Great City and well fortified having on One Side the River Aa with its Marishes and on the Other being defended by a Castle flank'd with good Bastions and encompass'd with an extream broad and deep Ditch About the Beginning of this Moon it was invested by the French King's Forces and within three or four Days it was formally Besieg'd but not gain'd without a Bloody Combat fought between the French and the Prince of Orange who came with a Considerable Army designing to throw Succours into the Place I will not trouble thee by Reciting all the Particulars of the Fight only be assur'd that the French got the Victory put the Others to Flight remain'd Masters of the Field took Thirteen Pieces of Cannon Seventeen Standards all the Enemy's Baggage and almost Three Thousand Prisoners The Stage of this great Action was a Place call'd Mont-Cassel not far from St. Omers A Spot of Ground observ'd to have once before been Propitious to the French Arms when Philip of Valois fought there with the Spaniards and gave 'em an entire Defeat He was rec kon'd the Valiantest Prince of that Age. The Inhabitants of St. Omers hearing of the Defeat that was given to the Prince of Orange were in so great a Consternation that in few Days they voluntarily surrender'd to the French King Illustrious Kaimacham this Puissant Mcnarch takes such Wise Methods as thou wilt say cannot fail in the Ordinary Course of War to bring him Success He is an Excellent Pay-master and never gives Occasion for his Soldiers to Repine or Murmur for want of their Daily Allowance nor puts them upon impatient Expectations of their Arrears On the Contrary He is very Munificent and Liberal to all Men of Merit And the meanest Soldier who signalizes himself by any Notable Exploit or Action of Bravery is sure to be distinguish'd from the Rest by some Royal Reward in Mony if he be not advanc'd to the Dignity of a Commander And sometimes they are honour'd with both This Conduct makes his Men fight like Lyons each being Emulous of his Fellows and all freely hazarding their Lives to gain their Master's Esteem counting that the most Glorious Post which is most expos'd to Danger He is severe to those Provinces and Towns which refuse to submit to his Arms and full of Clemency to such as willingly embrace his Government In a Word His Donatives and Largesses to his own his Condescensions and the Immunities he gives to others together with the Exactness of his Justice to all to facilitate the Progress of his Arms increase his Conquests and render him the Greatest Prince in the Western Parts Sage Minister I kiss the Hem of thy Vest and with Humble Obeisances retire from thy Presence Paris 29th of the 4th Moon of the Year 1677. LETTER XI To Hamet Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire THE Love of Women is Natural to our Sex and there is no Man who at one Time or other has not felt the Warmths of this Amorous Passion But it is strange to observe after what a different Manner this Flame discovers it self in People of Various Nations Ages Qualities Fortunes and Constitutions Young Men are Lascivious and Ardent in their Love Old Men Ridiculous and Formal The Poor Man studies to please his Mistress by Abject Submissions and Humble Obsequiousness The Rich strives to win her by Munificent Gifts and Presents The Vulgar make their Court by Feasting the Coy Damsel and Regaling her with Junkets and Wine The Noble entertain her with Plays Masquerades Ballets and other Pompous Divertisements The Ingenious Italian sets upon his Mistress with a kind of Polish'd Wantonness not making Romantick Whining Addresses but with a Refin'd Impudence his Eyes his Hands his Tongue and all his Actions soon make her sensible where his Pain lies He celebrates her Praises in Verse and hires Musick to Serenade her Finally He never leaves till he Gains her or Revenges himself on his Rival by Sending him out of the World And on her by Turning all his Compliments into Curses and Slanders But if he gets her he shuts her up for ever and makes her Chamber her Prison The Headstrong Spaniard burning with Desire and impatient of Delay stung with Restless Concupiscence behaves himself like a Mad-Man He stamps stares and raves walks furiously backward and forward rolls his Eyes after a hideous Manner he starts stands still lais his Hand upon his Sword looks up to Heaven invokes the Saints talks to himself threatens the Dissolution of all Things if he be balk'd of his Love In this Humour he runs to his Mistress falls at her Feet makes Doleful and Passionate Complaints throws himself upon her Mercy adores her and does all Things which are proper for a Desperate Lover If by this Means he enjoy her he soon grows weary of her and either kills her or prostitutes her secretly for Gold But if he cannot obtain her then he macerates and torments himself and is resolv'd to Die Different from both these is the Wanton French-man who courts his Mistress after a Jolly Fashion with Songs Dances Musick and Jests He is all Life and Mirth when in her Company and abounds with a Thousand Sorts of Comical Humours If he gets her after a little Time the Fickle Spark is cloy'd and Falls in Love with Another If he fail of his Purpose he is not much Concern'd for all his Love was but Counterfeit Yet he makes a Shew of Discontent he threatens and sputters at her for a While but this Tongue-Tempest is soon laid and a new Face produces a Calm But the Flegmatick German is very hard to be kindl'd up to this Passion and then needs a great deal of Art to blow him into a Flame He is Cold and Wary Thoughtful and Slow Provident and Dull Yet when once touch'd with this Affection he is very Liberal of his Gifts which is the Master-piece of his Courtship If he obtains his Mistress he soon returns to his Primitive Frigidity And if he be frustrated he is but where he was far from Killing himself for a Peevish Female The French-man professes more Love than he has The German endeavours to hide the Fervour of his Passion The Spaniard persuades himself that he is
permit him to accept of his Challenge he would not refuse it counting it an Honour to measure his Arms with those of so Illustrious a Prince But that as things were he desir'd to be excus'd In former Days such an Answer as this would have been taken for an Argument of Cowardise in a Man professing Arms. There was nothing more common among these Infidels than to decide their private Controversies Grudges and Quarrels by the Sword and their Laws allow'd it If any Man had accus'd another wronfully or had done him any other injury he did not run presently to the Cadi's or Lawyers for Redress but had Recourse to his Arms And whosoever got the Victory his Cause was pronounc'd just But since the Commerce which has been establish'd between the Moselmans and the Nazarens these later have learned to forsake so impious a Practice being asham'd that the Followers of Mahomet whom they call Infidels shou'd outstrip them in the Peaceableness of their Temper a Vertue so earnestly recommended to the Practice of all Christians by Jesus the Son of Mary Besides they have found the inconvenience of these private Combats and they are generally forbidden now in most Countries of Europe This is owing to the Examples of the Moselmans whose Anger against each other scarce ever proceeds to contumelious Words much less to Blows or any Attempt upon Life For when a Dispute arises between Two True Believers and they become never so little passionate thereupon 't is but for a Third Person one of the Faithful to interpose himself and reproach them with violating the Laws of the Prophet and the Honour of their Profession and they immediately are made Friends again Such Magick there is in the Force of these Words Fie Fie What Moselmans and Quarrel The usual Reprimand of the By-Standers Which is an evident Argument That our Holy Religion has a greater Influence on the Hearts and Consciences of those that profess it than has that of the Nazarens For whilst these pretend to believe and honour the Messias as their Law-giver they disobey him in their daily Practice and so give the Lye to their Faith discovering that it has no Efficacy on their Morals Doubltless the Messias was Holy Chast Peaceable Humble and Harmless But it is rare to find any of these Virtues among his Followers He bid them return Good for Evil Blessings for Curses and to suffer all Injuries patiently after his Example but they invert the Order of his Precepts and read them backward as they say Witches do the Paster-noster When Judas came to Seize him in the Garden of Gethsemani with a Train of Officers and Ruffians one of Jesus's Retinue drew his Whinnier and cur off an Ear from the Servant of the High Priest But the Son of Mary was so far from commending his Zeal in this that he bid him put up his Sword telling him withal That whosoever draws the Sword shall perish by the Sword At the same Time he restor'd the Fellows Ear again by a Miracle Magnanimous Serasquier what I have said entrenches not on the Right of Lawful War in Defence of ones Country or of the Volume brought down from Heaven The Sacred Combat was ever allowed of by God and Man Thou art now engag'd in this Cause against Infidels Fight generously and Vanquish But enter not into private Duels with any Man though he be a Prince without the Grand Signior's Consent For the Safety of his Royal Person depends upon the Preservation of his Faithful Valiant and Wise Generals Paris 25th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1674. LETTER VIII To the same I Will now give thee a brief Account of the Famous Battel of Senef which makes a great noise in Europe and is reckon'd one of the most terrible that has been fought in these Parts for many Ages For it will not be amiss to let thee know the Particular Circumstances of this Combat the good Conduct of the French Generals as also their Oversights and Errors That thou mayst make a right use of such Examples in the Difficulties which may environ thee through the Chance of War On the Ninth of this Instant Moon the Confederate Forces amounting to Sixty Thousand Men march'd with their Left Wing to a Place call'd Arken and their Right to the Forest of Busseray where they encamp'd having before them a Village call'd Senef situated in Brabant They tarried there on the Tenth Day and next Morning parted from thence Marching in Three Lines counting the Baggage for One. Whilst the Prince de Vaudemont commanded a Body of Six Thousand Spanish Horse to cover their March and to skirmish with the French if there shou'd be occasion 'till the whole Army were in Order As soon as the Prince of Conde was advertis'd of these Motions he was resolv'd to take Advantage of their necessity and to attack them before they could possibly get together into a Body capable of sustaining the Shock of the French Army which was closely embattel'd To this End he caus'd one Part of the Army with Four Pieces of Cannon to pass the River of Pilton where unsuspected they might observe the Enemies Motions Another part he posted in a deep Valley where the Confederates could not perceive them And that nothing might be wanting to his full Information of their Advances he caus'd the Mareschal of the Camp with a considerable Detachment to gain a certain Hill from whence lying under the Covert of thick Woods he might attend every Step of the Enemy without being discovered himself When the Prince had made all those Preparations he sent the Marquiss de Rannes and the Chevalier de Tilladet with the Dragoons under their Command to assault the Confederates not far from Senef This was perform'd with so much Vigor that they drove them into the Village with no little Slaughter of the Spaniards But not satisfied with this they attacqu'd them in the Village it self and after a long and bloody Conflict the French beat 'em thence also pursuing them into the Plain till at last both the whole Armies were engag'd pell-mell Then was the Fight Cruel and Fierce the Officers of both sides behaving themselves with surpassing Bravery and the Souldiers not shrinking from their Valiant Leaders But Fortune favour'd the French who before they quitted the Plain became Masters of all the Hollanders Baggage Ammunition Powder and Mony which they brought with them to pay the Army Then the Prince of Conde chac'd them into the Village of Dufay where the Confederates retrench'd themselves under the Covert of a Castle and a strong Church But that Active General would not suffer them to rest long there he set upon them on all Hands so furiously that they were forced to abandon the Place and enter the Plain the Second Time The Battel had now lasted Five Hours and great was the Slaughter on both Sides The French took almost Four Thousand Prisoners and kill'd as many upon the Spot besides those that they left
is convenient to insert it in this Summary of Transactions omitted in my former Letters That so the Ottoman Register may not be imperfect and defective This Fortress was taken about Midsummer after an Entrenchment of Seven Days But Fortune though she seems to have declar'd in Favour of the French Arms yet to shew her Inconstancy sometimes turns her Smiles to Frowns and seems for a While to leave them in the Lurch On the 11th of the 8th Moon there happen'd an Accident at Treves which occasion'd the Loss of that Town to the Confederate Enemies of France and a little clouded the Glory of the Mareschal de Crequi's Arms who had hitherto Fought Successfully and gain'd the Reputation of a very Wise and Prudent General It seems the Governour of Treves whom they call the Sieur Vignory had Orders to come out of the Town that very Day and joyn the Mareschal de Crequi with Five Thousand Men of the Garrison to put in Execution some Design they had upon the Confederate Forces which lay not far off The Governour in Complyance with the Order was Marching his Men over a Bridge when his Horse suddenly starting at the Discharge of a Pistol fell with his Rider into the Ditch where they both perish'd Now this unfortunate Gentleman not having discover'd his Secret Order to any Person Living his Lieutenant being ignorant of the Design and troubl'd at this unhappy Accident caus'd the Five Thousand Men to March back again into the Town In the mean time the Mareschal de Crejui in vain expected the coming of these Recruits and finding himself too weak to resist the more numerous Troops of his Enemies was forc'd to give Way whilst they advanc'd to besiege the Town the main Thing which he aim'd to prevent In this Streight he had nothing else to do but to throw himself with his Forces into the Town that so his Presence might supply the Dead Governours Place till the King's Pleasure were known He defended the Place with much Resolution and Bravery But by the Treachery of a certain Captain belonging to the Garrison it was at length taken after Abundance of Bloodshed This Traitors Name was Bosejourdan he held a private Correspondence with the Enemy inform'd them of the Disadvantages the Town lay under corrupted several of the Garrison and did all Things that might facilitate the Reduction of the Place For which he was deservedly hang'd having been deliver'd into the Hands of the French by those who though they made use of the Treason yet could not but abhor the Traytor The Imperialists took Courage upon this Success and began to think That since the Death of Mareschal Turenne Fortune had abandon'd the Interest of France and enter'd into the Confederacy with them Hereupon Count Montecueuli on the 20th of the 8th Moon invested Haguenau a strong Place in the Hands of the French But the Appreach of the Prince of Conde soon made him raise the Siege Since which there has been little of Action on either Side save the taking of Thuin a Town situated on the Sambre and which commands all the Country between that River and the Mouse It was surrender'd to the French about the Beginning of the 11th Moon on Condition that the Priviledges of the Inhabitants should be preserv'd and that they should not be forc'd to maintain the King's Garrison There have been lately some Seditions in the Provinces of Bretagne and Guienne said to be secretly abetted by the Parliaments of Bourdeaux and Rennes For which the King has signifyed his Displeasure by removing those Assemblies to other Places after having inflicted severe and exemplary Punishments on the Ring-leaders of the Tumults And now this Monarch seems to be weary of the Fatigues of War having publish'd a Manifesto wherein he complains of the Injury done to Prince William of Furstemberg Plenipotentiary from the Bishop of Cologne Declares that he had reason to shew his Resentments of an Affront given to his Allie contrary to the Law of Nature that nevertheless he had labour'd for the general Peace of Christendom And was now in the same Inclination On which Account he sent the Sieur Colbert Master of the Requests and the Count d' Avaux to Nimeguen there to assist at the Conferences of Peace Some say this Propension to Peace is the Effect of a Vow the King made when he was lately afflicted with a violent Fever Be it how it will the Captains and Soldiers on all Sides are agreed to cease from Acts of Hostility during this cold Season finding it much more comfortable to wallow in Beds of Down than to lief abroad in the Snow and to lay close Siege to a good Fire than to campagne it in Trenches full of Water and Ice Illustrious Minister I pray God make thee happy all the Four Seasons of the Year but especially to give thee his Winters Blessing a Warm House an agreeable Bedfellow Plenty of the Gifts of Ceres and Bacchus a Merry Heart and a Good Stomach Paris 7th of the 12th Moon of the Year 1675. LETTER IV. To Abdel Melec Muli Omar President of the Coll. of Sciences at Fez. THY Pacquet came just now to my Hands in an Hour of Felicities under a Noble and Propitious Asterism The Constellations Above smile on Mahmut at this Season A Thousand soft and Serene Pleasures distill upon my Soul a Pearl of Heavenly Dew sits on every blooming Thought My Heart is like a Garden in the Mornings of an Autumn-Solstice fresh and fragrant though drooping for Age. I have spent the Spring and Summer of my Life in Error Ignorance and Vanity 'T is Time that I should provide for the Winter of my Age a Stock of Solid Wisdom and Vertue And Heaven to shew its Love and Care of Mortals inspir'd hee with the Generous Thoughts of assisting me once more by thy sage Instructions Thy Dispatch contains such a Scheme of Philosoph and Reason as never can be refuted Thou act the Apollo of the Age. Glory be to God Majestick Living and Strong Eternal Father and Sourse of Lights Fountain of Intellectual Perfections Original Treasury of Reason with whom remain from Everlasting Ages the Idea's of all Things past present and to come the Patterns of Things visible and invisible the Exemplars of every Thing that has had shall or can have Existence in the Universe Blessed be the Wood and Breath of God the Spirit of Life and Vnderstanding which in the determined Periods of Time enters into Holy Souls making them the Favourites of the Most High and Prophets That Spirit descends sometimes and on some Persons like a gentle Shower in Harvest but on thee it pours down like the Rivers from Paradise in Vast and Mighty Cataracts Wisdom overflows thy Soul as the Nile The Streams thereof are strong and rapid as the Currents of Tygris and Euphrates Rich and inebriating as the Waters of Jordan thy Mind is cover'd with a Deluge of Science O! Immarcessible Wisdom Blessed is the Man that
wheadl'd out of his Eternal Reason no Incense can be of Proof to Nose the Sense of the Omniscient nor the most elegant Words delude him who is perfect in Knowledge He takes no Delight in the pompous Addresses of the Great nor is he to be mov'd by the multitude of Solemn Ceremonies All that he requires of Man is a Heart conform to the Divine Will and Actions void of Offence But the Lawgivers and Governours of Nations observing That there was a certain Religious Fear and Reverence of some Divine Power as it were planted in the Natures of all Men and considering that this might be improv'd with good Management to the Advantage and Interest of the Common-wealth they invented set Forms of Discipline and exteriour Offices of Worship which they term'd Holy Rites and Mysteries These they fortified with severe Laws and Sanctions inflicting grievous Penalties on the Contemners of the Publick Service perform'd to the Gods So Hermes Trismegistus first taught the Egyptians Melissus the Foster-Father of Jupiter instructed the Inhabitants of Crete Faunus and Janus the Latins Numa Pompilius the Romans Orpheus the Grecians or as some say Cadmus the Son of Agenor first instructed that Nation in the Solemnities which were counted Divine and which he himself learn'd in Phoenicia He instituted the Consecration of Images and Statues the Burning of Incense the Building of Temples and Altars with the Hymns Sacrifices and other magnificent Rites by which they honour'd the Powers Above Now that all this Religious Pageantry was establish'd only for the Ends of Policy and State is evident from hence That the Chief Magistrates took the Liberty of making what Gods they pleas'd and of encreasing or diminishing their Number at Discretion So that in Process of Time there were reckon'd no less than Thirty Thousand Gods in the Roman Catalogue though at first their Calendar cou'd shew but Twenty Five Divinities But when once they had found out a way to distinguish these Divinities into several Classes or Ranks terming some Gods of the Greater Nations others of the Lesser having also their Tutelar Genii their Demigods their Rural and Houshold Gods c. there was no limiting the crafty Devices of the Priests and Rulers in imposing or the Superstition of the credulous People in believing and adoring an infinite Rabble of New Young and Unheard-of Divinities They took also the same Freedom to change and alter the establish'd Rites and Ceremonies sometimes abolishing the old and Primitive Institutions and superinducing new ones in their stead or at least adding to the Heap of insignificant Ceremonies in every Age some mysterious Novelty which might please the People and fasten them in a devouter Obedience and Veneration of their Pious Guides and Leaders Hence sprung the Dedication of Temples Fanes Chapels Oratories and certain Days in the Year to the Service of particular Gods hence arose the Invention and Use of so many sorts of Vessels of Silver and Gold and other Materials in their Sacrifices of Lights Flowers and Perfumes of Musick Pictures and other Decorations besides the Rich and Majestick Vestments of the Priests their grave and compos'd Carriage Looks and Gestures All design'd purely to catch the rude and unpolish'd Multitude in the Snares of Priest-craft to strike their unwary Minds with an Awe and profound Attach for Religion that so being once made thus flexible they might warp them to what Bent they pleas'd and for ever lead 'em in a blind implicite Admiration of they knew not what 'T is certain that Religion has this Effect on the Vulgar to make them more Obedient to their Governours Just to one another and Zealous for the Publick Welfare I mean the Religion allow'd by the State For where the Subjects dare to make Innovations and Schisms to set up new Sects and Parties the greater Zeal each Faction has for their own Way of Worship the more cruel and tragical Disorders are generally committed So fatal a Thing is it to be Opinionative in Religion to invade the Priests Prerogative and to disturb the quiet Stream of Traditions running in the Channel of Publick Faith from one Generation to another My Dear Gnet let Thou and I shun the devout Superstition of Bigots and the wanton Prophaneness of Libertines and Atheists adoring One God with sincere Faith and a Reason void of Error Let us also keep our Lives free from all Injustice and Vice which will be of more Comfort to us than if we had sacrific'd every Day a thousand Bulls Paris 25th of the 9th Moon of the Year 1677. LETTER XIV To Kerker Hassan Bassa THE Subject of most Mens Discourse at present in this City is the Taking of Friburgh by the French This is a City of Germany whereof I made frequent mention in my Letters when I first came to Paris It is situated on a certain Height near a small River and is encompass'd with two Walls Strengthned also by a Citadel four Bastions and other Fortifications The Emperor has likewise a strong Garrison in it On the 10th of this Moon the Mareschal de Crequy Besieg'd it and press'd it with such vigorous Assaults and continual Batteries That the Governour found himself oblig'd to Surrender it on the 17th when the Mareschal took Possession of it in the Name of the French King The Imperialists cannot boast of equal Success when they Besiege Towns or Fortresses in the Hands of the French For not long before this the Prince of Orange General of the Confederate Armies in Flanders undertook the Siege of Charleroy a Place of Strength in those Parts But the Want of Provisions together with the stout Resistance of the Inhabitants and the Duke of Luxemburgh's Approach with the French Army forced him to decamp and retire The Duke of Luxemburgh is a valiant and sage General in high Esteem with the French But his Enemies say he is a Magician and deals with the Devil because of the good Success which generally crowns all his Enterprises So impossible it is for a Man of extraordinary Virtues and Heroick Endowments to escape without Envy and scandalous Aspersions 'T is as natural for the Vulgar to inveigh against Generous Souls as 't is for Dogs to bark at the Moon Yet that Planet appears impassible and not being mov'd at the Snarles of invidious Animals keeps on her Heavenly Course in Majesty and Silence So do Souls that are truly Noble contemn the Censures of the Inferiour Part of Men and never stop till they arrive at the Meridian and Zenith of Perfection Most Serene and Illustrious Arab thou art a lively Example of this and I dare say no more lest I offend thy Modesty May perpetual Benediction and Glory crown thy Years that are yet to come Paris 29th of the 11th Moon of the Year 1677. LETTERS Writ by A Spy at PARIS VOL. VIII BOOK III. LETTER I. To the Wisest of the Wise the most Venerable Mufti I Obey thy Commands without the least Demur And now proceed to write of the
Complaisance to their Parents Friends and Kindred or for the sake of Interest than out of any real Regards for a Religion of so young a Date so mean and contemptible a Figure and which is shut up within such narrow Limits They are in short so bad or at least grown so odious at the Court That the King is quite Angry with 'em and resolved to extirpate them and their New-fangl'd Heresie out of the Nation In order to this he proceeds gradually like a Politician being not willing to tempt them to a general Revolt by provoking the whole Party at once and rendring 'em desperate No no he 's cunninger than to draw a Civil War upon himself and his Kingdom by giving so loud an Alarm to a People who are very Rich Potent and whose Interest is much interwoven with that of the Catholicks I believe to speak modestly they are able to keep Fifty Thousand Men of Arms in Pay as they can contrive the Business among themselves Therefore knowing that though the Preachers all profess the same Religion yet every one is not so zealous as another in defending and propagating it he has made such a Politick Decree as only touches those particular Mollahs or Ministers as they call them here who are convicted of Proselyting any Catholick to their Heresie Whereby also is threaten'd to the Catholicks themselves who shall forsake the Religion of their Fathers perpetual Banishment the Loss of their Right Hand which was lifted up in their Abjuration and other grievous Penalties In the mean Time the Bishops and inferiour Priests are very industrious to confirm the Catholicks in their Native Faith and Obedience and to Convert the Huguenots from their supposed Errors I call them supposed Errors because it is much one to us that are Mussulmans and Followers of Mahomet whether one Party of the Nazarenes be in the right of it or t'other Only we must regard the Interest of the Ottoman Empire They are all equally Hereticks and Infidels so long as they are Enemies to the Messenger of God the Seal of the Prophets He that is the most Vigorous and takes the greatest Pains in Converting the Huguenots is the Bishop of Meaux a Man of prodigious Eloquence Sense and Wit This Age does not afford his Equal in the Perfections of the Mind and Intellect He is profoundly Learned a Man of Universal Reading skilful in most Languages an Oracle in Philosophy Astronomy and the other Sciences of Nature He is the Laureat among the Poets the Crown of Orators the very Encylopoedia of Human Knowledge 'T is true he is very zealous for the Authority and infallible Veracity of the Roman Church But he asserts these Things with so much Grace and Moderation with such a Masculine Reason and with all the Symptoms of a Sincere Piety That I who regard no one Sect of the Franks more than another cannot but admire the Natural Abilities and Perfections of his Soul He 's Learned as Abdel Melec Muli Omar at Fez Pious as Hebatolla Mir Argun at Cogni in Natolia Abstinent as Mohammed in Arabia Holy as the abstracted Mirmadoline Santone of the Vale of Sidon A Man every Ways accomplish'd and inspir'd with Divine Munificences O Great Bassa accuse me not for this Eulogy of a Christian But let Thou and I and all True Believers profit by the best Examples wherever or in whatsoever Religion we find 'em whether they be Giaurs or Mussulmans Paris 13th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1680 LETTER III. To the Venerable Mufti SO long as thou dost not complain of my too frequent Letters I shall not murmur at the Pains of writing them 'T is a Pleasure thus to revolve the Histories of past Ages And whilst I with my own Hand consign them to Paper they adhere the faster to my Memory I shou'd not be sorry if I were to spend the Remainder of my Days in Epitomizing all the Authentick Records and Memoirs that are extant in the World Such an Exercise would be a constant Relief of Melancholy by lighting Abundance of Flambeaux and Lamps in the Soul to disperse the Mists and Darkness which naturally make it sad I ended my last Letter with the Reign of Numa Pompilius over the Romans Who as if he had made the Kingdom Hereditary only to Men of Virtue was no sooner dead but the People elected Tullus Hostilius for their King in Consideration of his excellent Endowments and Merits He instructed the Romans in a more perfect Military Discipline and improv'd the Art of War So that having train'd up the Youth to a wonderful Promptness and Skill in Arms he ventur'd to send a Defiance to the Albans and invade their Territories the they were a stout People and who had Lorded it a long Time in Italy But when many Battels had been Fought between them with equal Damage to both sides at length to put an End to the War and make the Losses of the Vanquished more Compendious they mutually agreed to decide the Victory by a Combat of Three Brothers on one side against as many on the other Those on the Roman part were call'd Horatii the Alban Brothers Curiatii The Fight was Fair and Dubious and had an Admirable Event For all the Three Curiatii were Wounded and Two of the Horatii Killed So that it seemed difficult to determine which had the Advantage One sound and untouch'd Roman or Three faint and weaken'd Albans However the surviving Horatius not presuming too much on his own Strength against such an Unequal Number of Enemies added Policy to his Courage and made use of this Stratagem He counterfeited a Flight that so he might separate his Adversaries and Engage with them Singly one after another according as they overtook him His Plot took and he Vanquish'd all Three But he sullied his Victory with the Blood of his Sister whom at his return he killed because she met him not with Joy and Triumph but with Grief and Tears for the Loss of her Spouse who was one of the Three Alban-Brethren He was call'd in question for the Bloody Fact But his Merit superseded his Crime and the Fact which would at another time have cost him his Head now served but to Augment his Glory Not long after this there broke out a War between the Romans and the Fidenates a People of Latium or Toscany The Albans according to their late League were obliged to Aid the Romans in their Wars Wherefore they sent Auxiliary Forces under the Command of Metius Tufetius But this Captain prov'd Treacherous For just as the Two Armies were going to enter into Battel he withdrew his Albans to the Top of an Hill where they stood Neuters to behold the Fortune of the Fight that so they might joyn the Strongest Party Which when Tullus perceiv'd he politiokly cried out with a Loud Voice in the Hearing of both Armies That Metius had done this by his Command Then the Romans took Courage and their Enemies being struck with Terrour were soon
call the Six and Thirty others in Order before them where every one Throws into a Box in Presence of the Chiefs a little piece of Wood on which is written the Name of him whom he would have to be Duke Then every one of the Six and Thirty retires to his Place Whilst the Secretaries read the Schedules before the Chiefs And as many as they find there nam'd for Dukes so many new Schedules do they make These are thrown promiscuously into a Cap or Bonnet from whence after a shake or Two to mingle 'em they are drawn out and laid in order on a Table But before they draw 'em all out the First Schedule is read and he whose Name is written on it is bid to go into the next Conclave Then the Chiefs of the Congregation as they 're called ask the Rest If any Body there can object against the Election of this Man For if they can and he does not give a Satisfactory Answer he is excluded from all Possibility of being Duke But if he acquits himself well he is acknowledged and has the Ducal Crown put on his Head The present Duke of Venice is the Hundred and ****** inclusively from Paulutius Anafestus the First that ever had that Honour being Elected in the City Heraclea in the Year 697 of the Christians Hejira The Venetians are in all their Actions very Grave using few Words especially when they are at Table If they are not so lively and inventive as some other People of Italy yet they perform all Things with mature Deliberation and Judgment which is the Cause Than their Affairs for the most part succeed very happily The Italians have a Common By-word current among them That the Venetians are Magnificent Crafty and Discreet Those of Verona are studious and faithful Those of Padua light and fickle those of Vicenza revengeful Again they say the Venetians bring Mony Terviso Swords and Brixia Pioneers to the Wars And that the Venetians are good Seamen the Paduans good Horsemen and those of Bergamo excellent at an Ambush Of the Women they have another Proverb That those of Crema are fraudulent they of Vicenza constant they of Venice proud and insolent they of Werona gracious those of Brixia diligent Those of Terviso jealous and those of Bergamo crafty They say likewise that Bergamo has many Slanderers Padua many good Soldiers Vicenza many Counts and Brixia many obdurate Misers Courteous Minister thou wilt bear I hope with my tediousness in discoursing of this Great Republick Which cannot be handled in a few Words As to the Manner of their Government it is admirably mild and gentle wise and just seeking Peace but not refusing War when they have a just Provocation It is worthy of any Mans Consideration how this Commonwealth has stood firm and unshaken for above Twelve Hundred Years amidst so many Cruel Wars and Potent Enemies so that her Subjects if they be compar'd with others may be said to enjoy the Golden Age since they live in continual Ease and Tranquility encreasing daily in Riches Honours and every kind of Prosperity This is to be ascribed in the First Place to the most excellent Laws and Rules of Policy left them by Men of singular Prudence and Wisdom who had they lived in the Times of the Ancient Greeks might well have been listed among the most famous Philosophers and Law-givers The Duke in the Gravity of his Port the Splendor of his Robes and the Magnificence of his Palace seems to exhibit the Majesty of an Emperour And yet he has no more Authority than any one of the Senators who created him For he has but one Vote in the Senate as all the Nobles have Only it lies upon him to give Audience to Foreign Embassadors in the Name of the Senare He can do nothing without the Consent of the Senate either in Peace or War The Senate first decrees and he confirms their Edicts Which are also published in his Name It is lawful for him to go into all the Courts of Justice and Publick Tribunals where he may pass his Verdict in any dubious Case yet so as any of the Senators may contradict him if they please The Form of Government therefore in this Republick appears to be an Aristocracy or the Government of a Few not the Richest or the most Powerful but the Wisest and the Best such as by a long Series of Faithful Services have merited well of the Commonwealth These make up the College or Council of Ten which being joyn'd with Fifteen others and Six Counsellors the Duke being President has Power of Deliberating and Decreeing Things tending to the Safety of the Commonwealth neither can these Decrees be repeal'd This is properly the Divan or Privy-Council There is besides this a Council or Diet of Two Hundred and Twenty Five Citizens who are properly called Senators and very much resemble those of Ancient Rome For none is permitted to enter this Senate but Nobles or the Sons of such They must also be above Five and Twenty Years of Age. The Third and last Senate consists of Two Thousand Five Hundred Men. But in regard a great part of these have some Offices and Honours abroad there seldom meet above a Thousand Six Hundred when the House is fullest These meet once every Week that is on the First Day as also on some of their more solemn Festivals Here Magistrates are created and Publick Offices distributed with admirable Order From hence are chosen the Two Hundred and Twenty Five who make up the foregoing Senate as being the most prudent expert and conversant in the Affairs of State These decide all Controversies of greater Moment As the Affairs of Peace and War the Care of fortifying their Cities and Castles of creating Generals and Captains of sending Embaffies to Foreign Princes Here also are read all the Letters Dispatches and Expresses which are address'd to the Republick from other Parts In a word whatsoever is of more material Consideration is handled in this Senate Impartial Effendi thou wilt not condemn me as an Infidel or an Enemy of the Mussulmans in that I represent to thee in its true Colours the present State of Venice If we ought to give the Devil his due as the Christians say In God's Name let us not rob Men of theirs though they be our Enemies Magnificent and Learned Hamet Adieu for this Time Paris 4th of the 11th Moon of the Year 1680. LETTER VI. To Osman Adrooneth Astrologer in Ordinary to the Sultan THE Inhabitants of these Western Parts are in a great and general Consternation at the Appearance of a New Comet or Blazing-Star It rises much about the Time the Sun Sets and in the same Quarter of the Heavens The Body of it looks no bigger than a Star of the First Magnitude from whence springs a Pyramid of Light extending it self to the Cusp of the Mid-Heaven where its Cone seems to terminate The Superstitious call it the Sword of God because of its Form
into the World on purpose to be the Champion of its Native Country and Defend or Revenge Oppressed Africk But Regulus whose Victorious Arms neither Men nor Monsters nor Fate could hitherto resist made no Stop till he came with his Army before the Walls of Carthage it self the Root of all this War Here Fortune began to fall off from him and prove his Enemy Yet so as only to give an Occasion for the Roman Virtue to appear more Illustrious For though by the Good Conduct of Xantippus the Lacedemonian General Thirty-Thousand Romans were kill'd in one Fight and Regulus himself taken Prisoner Yet so great a Misfortune could not make him lose himself or sink into any Passion beneath the Constancy and Fortitude of an Invincible Hero The Carthaginians sent him as their Embassadour to the Senate of Rome to propose a Peace and the Exchange of Captives But he was of a contrary Sentiment and dissuaded the Senators from hearkening to any such Overtures Chusing rather bravely to return to his Former Captivity there to be Crucify'd than be Instrumental in Word or Deed to the least Dishonour or Disadvantage of his Country So that though Vanquish'd he yet seem'd to Triumph o'er his Conquerours And his lamented Fate had this Influence on the Romans that it made them prosecute the War with more Fierceness and Ardour to Revenge the Blood of Regulus than in Hopes of Conquest So deep are the Impressions of Love which a Good General Living or Dead makes in the Hearts of his Soldiers Thus the War was renew'd again in Sicily wherein the Romans came off Conquerours And as an Evidence of the Greatness of their Victory they shew'd an Hundred and Twenty Elephants taken from the Enemy in the Field Which wou'd have been a Great Prey had they been taken in Hunting but now serv'd only as a Trophy of a more Expensive Conquest This Victory was obtain'd in the Consulship of Metellus Which was follow'd by a Terrible Overthrow at Sea in that of Appius Claudius When the Romans seem'd not so much overcome by their Enemies as by the Prophaneness of their General or the Divine Vengeance For he consulting the Augurs before he began the Engagement Chickens were let out of their Coops to observe the wish'd-for Tripudiation of the Corn they were to feed on But when the Oraculous Birds would not taste a Grain the General disgusted at the Fatal Omen Commanded them to be drown'd in the Sea Saying with an Impious Jest Since they will not Eat let them Drink their Fill. In the same Place was the Roman Navy Sunk and Destroy'd There were many such Encounters as these between them for the space of Four and Twenty Years and upwards even till the Consulship of Lutatius Catulus when the Enemy seem'd not to advance with a Fleet of Ships well Mann'd and Rigg'd with all Necessaries but all Carthage appear'd upon the Sea with the Woods and Forests round about it This prov'd its Ruin For they were too heavy for Service Whereas the Roman Navy was Light and Expeditious like a Moving Camp in the Sea In a Word they set upon the Carthaginians so furiously and shatter'd their Vessels with such Speed That all the Sea between Sardinia and Sicily was with the Dismal Wrecks And this Victory was so Great That they had no farther Thoughts of Sailing to Africk and Rasing the Walls of their Enemies that being counted Needless since Carthage was now extinguished in the Sea After this War was finish'd the Romans enjoy'd a Short Rest as it were to Breath themselves And as a Demonstration of Peace the Temple of Janus was shut it having been constantly open before from the Reign of Numa Pompilius And this Distinction was the Publick Emblem of Peace or War Thou wilt not have Patience to read their Wars with the Ligurians Gauls Illyrians Macedonians Syrians Germans Spaniards and in Fine with the most Potent Nations on Earth 'T will be as Irksome to be detain'd with a Rehearsal of their Domestick Seditions and Changes of Government Suffice it to say That this People grew Worse by the Increase of their Empire And after they had subverted Carthage Corinth Numantia and other Famous Cities of Europe Asia and Africk After they had subdu'd Gaul Thrace Cilicia Cappadocia Armenia Britain and many other most Rich and Opulent Provinces abroad they began to make Wars among themselves their Former Virtues turn'd into Vices The Seditions Conspiracies and Emulations of the Triumviri the Tribunes Of Catiline Marius Sylla Antony Pompey and a Thousand other Popular Commotions help'd toward the Confusion of this Empire which seem'd to be the Support of all Things Most Divine of the Successors of the Prophets This Vast Empire is now become but as a shatter'd Skeleton of Ancient Rome And most of the Exteriour Members are fallen to the Share of the All-Conquering Ottomans God perpetuate the Victories of True Believers and yet grant that their Conquests may not out-last their Virtues Paris 8th of the 3d. Moon of the Year 1681. LETTER VIII To Dgnet Oglou I Am as waggish as a Fanizary that has newly receiv'd his Aspers There 's more Satyr in me at this Time than there was in Juvenal and Persius And yet 't is only the Dregs of what I 've vented on some learned Bigots here in Paris with whom I have been drinking these Two or Three Hours I tell thee plainly I put off the Mussulman for a while and took my Glasses Frankly or like a Nazarene The Discourse we were upon was Astrology and the Nature of Comets c. But God tumble me headlong into the Lap of Tagot if ever I heard such Blockheads Dunces Fools Sots I know not what to call them properly Zounds How can Human Reason be so debauch'd How can Man become such an Insensible Piece of Stuff to think as they do They made me Blush for Shame or Anger They made me sorry that I was a Man to be rank'd in the same List with ' em However I suppress'd my boiling Choler I bit my Lips and Nails and did every thing that Patience cou'd suggest For I use to be a very Boon Companion in my Wine But at length as 't is the Fate of all Disputers we grew too hot There was such a Tempest of Words and Passionate Expressions that we cou'd hardly find a Grain of Sense At last we fell from Words to Blows and I though Old and Crazy held up my Head as well as I cou'd Thou wilt believe at this Age I have no great Strength But I tell thee my Courage is the same as when I was but Five and Twenty I cannot flinch from provoking Dangers and when I am thorowly inflam'd with Wrath Death it self appears to me in the same Figure which Painters give it a mere naked Skeleton which I have more Reason to pity than fear If I am afraid of any thing it is of breaking its Bones and spoiling its Shape in the Clash of my Fury So