Prince in his Arms and bestows his Benediction on it in these Terms Hail Royal Babe Heir of Two Crowns thou shalt Reign a long Time happily but in the End a Flower-de-luce shall be thy Bane The Nobles that were present thinking that the Extremity of Age had bereav'd him of his Reason were ready to thrust him away offering to take the Child from Him and telling Him That he mistook for this was not the Heir of the Crown but his Brother who stood by But he with a composed Look and an assured Carriage made Answer That what he spoke was Truth adding withal That the Elder Brother should die before his Father and That this should live to inherit the Kingdoms of Scotland and England The Event has made good some Part of his Prophecy for his Elder Brother dyed at Twelve Years of Age and he at this Day possesses those Two Kingdoms but how the Flower-de-luce shall be his Bane Time must evince It is thought That by it is meant the French King because that is the Arms of the Royal Blood of France It is hard to determine of future Events yet there are some who observing the Influence which this Court has had on the English Commotions and how far Cardinal Richlieu had engaged King Lewis XIII in Revenging the Affronts which were given to his Sister the Queen of England by that Inhospitable Nation make no Difficulty of interpreting this Prophecy but conclude That the Unfortunate King of England will at length fall a Victim to the French Resentments though his own Subjects be Instrumental to his Ruin I will continue my Intelligence of the English Affairs as I receive them In the mean while I pray the Great God to protect the Mussulman Empire from Sedition and Treason and keep the Subjects of Sultan Ibrahim in their due Obedience Paris 25th of the 3d. Moon of the Year 1645. LETTER XIV To Bajazet Ali Hogia Preacher to the Seraglio HERE are to be met with in these Western Parts infinite Numbers of People who not only despise and vilifie our Law but their own and openly scoff at all Religions in the World These are known by the Name of Libertines or Atheists which is to say People that profess themselves Enemies to the Belief of a God A lewd and unthinking Herd of Animals who dare not be alone lest they should come to the Remembrance of themselves and be Wiser These People are in some sort like Ninus that great Assyrian Monarch who vaunted He never saw the Stars nor desired it Worshipp'd neither Sun nor Moon never spoke to his People nor took any Account of them but was valiant in Eating and Drinking He was said to have this Inscription on his Tomb I WAS FORMERLY NINUS THE GREAT LORD OF THE WORLD AND LIVED AS THOV DOST BVT AM NOW NOTHING BVT DVST ALL THE MEAT I HAVE EATEN ALL THE HANDSOM WOMEN I HAVE ENJOY'D ALL THE WORSHIP THAT WAS PAID ME AND ALL THE RICHES I WAS POSSESS'D OF HAVE FAIL'D ME AND WHEN I SET FORWARD FROM THIS WORLD INTO THE INVISIBLE STATE I HAD NEITHER GOLD NOR HORSE NOR CHARIOT I AM NOW I SAY BVT THE DVST THOV TREADEST ON Such another was Sardanapalus one of the Successors of Ninus in that Monarchy and in the Corruption of his Manners An effeminate Prince a Slave to his Lusts and not worthy of an Imperial Crown It was not to his Vertue or Courage that Nineveh was obliged for sustaining a Siege of Eight and Twenty Moons but to the Impregnable Strength of her own Walls For so soon as he was told that the Oracle was fulfill'd and that the River Euphrates was joyn'd in League with his Enemies and had by an unusual Flood broke down a considerable Part of the Walls in which he trusted all his Bravery vanish'd he shew'd he was a Coward and kill'd himself for fear of Death Yet such was the sordid Impotence of his Spirit that even in this Way he durst not die alone but taking his Concubines and nearest Attendants with all his Gold and Jewels he forced them to accompany him into the Hollow of a Funeral Pile which he fired with his own Hands and burnt his Servants with Himself I do not esteem it an Effect of Courage to make Death a Sanctuary from the inevitable Miseries of a hated Life But to be either willing to die in the Height of humane Enjoyments or to be resolved to live and out-brave these very Calamities which would tempt any Man to die is the peculiar Mark of an Heroick Resolution However thus died Sardanapalus having desired that a Monument might be erected to his Memory with this Inscription SARDANAPALUS LIV'D MVCH IN A LITTLE TIME HAVING ALWAYS GRATIFIED HIS SENSES HE BVILT TWO CITIES ANCHIALA AND TARSUS IN ONE DAY PERFORMED THE TASK OF MANY YEARS IN FOVR AND TWENTY HOVRS ADVISES THEE READER TO IMITATE HIS EXAMPLE EAT DRINK AND ENJOY THY SELF FOR AFTER DEATH THERE IS NEITHER PLEASVRE NOR PAIN These were but Pigmies in Atheism in Comparison of others Dionysius the Sicilian Monarch was a Gyant in Infidelity He not only committed Sacrilege but made it his Pastime He droll'd upon the Gods while he robb'd their Temples into which he never enter'd without a Jest nor departed from their Altars without a Satyr He put a Woollen Garment on the Image of Jupiter Olympius instead of the Golden Robe with which King Hiero had cloath'd it and excus'd the Sacrilege by saying Exchange was no Robbery and That he consulted the Ease and Health of the God both for Summer and Winter He play'd the Barber to the Statue of Aesculapius and shav'd off his Golden Beard saying That since Apollo his Father was beardless it was but good Manners for the Son to be so too When he came into a Rich Temple in Syracusa and saw in the Hands of Mars a Sword whose Hilt was thick set with Diamonds Emeralds and Rubies he made a mock-Obeisance and took the Sword from the extended Arm of the Image saying The God of War presented him with that Sword as an Earnest of his future Victories and he should be very ungrateful and impious not to accept the Gift of the Deity It was a nasty Affront which Nero put upon the Syrian Goddess when he caused his Excrements to be thrown in her Face These were Royal Atheists and no Body durst controul their Impious Pranks The Libertines now a-days are more modest and politick They dare not violate Temples nor prophane the Altars of the Christians openly but secretly they undermine all Religion and dispute People out of their Faith Some of these Atheists maintain the World to be Eternal Others hold that it came by a fortuitous Concourse of Atoms which after an Eternal Dance in an Infinite Space at last jumbled together into that exquisite Order we now behold and contemplate They profess themselves Disciples of Epicurus yet willfully corrupt the Doctrines of that Vertuous Philosopher who though he taught That the Supreme
their vilest Excrements They spare for no Cost to adorn their Churches and their Altars are enriched with invaluable Treasures of Silver Gold and Precious Stones and yet after all they must become the Receptacles of the Dung of Sordid Animals These wicked Wretches also walk up and down in these Sacred Places talking of their Common Affairs as though they were on the Exchange or in the Market-Place But that which is to be had in greatest Abomination is that it is common for Men to make Love to the Women in Churches They present themselves before the Altars but the Saint whom they Invocate is some beautiful Female She engrosses all their Devotions to her they make their Vows The amorous Youth adores his Mistress that kneels by him laden perhaps with more Sins than himself His Eyes may be fixed on the Altar or on the Pictures and Images but his Tongue Addresses to the more Charming Idol near him Or if his Eyes are attentive on his Prayer-Book he teaches it to speak nothing but the soft and effeminate Things of Love Thus Assignations of Lust are made in the House of Prayer and the Affairs of Cupid managed under the Masque of Religion They Fight the Battels of Venus under the Banner of their God I tell thee Venerable Interpreter of the Divine Law that the Sight of these Things has sometimes enflamed my Zeal to that Height as had it not been for an earnest Desire to do some extraordinary Service to the Grand Signior which obliged me to take Care of my self I should certainly have transfixt these prophane Mockers of God on the Spot and Sacrificed them to a Zeal which thou who art Piety it self wouldst not I believe reprehend I fold my Arms most Venerable Sovereign of Religion and wrapping my self in profound Humily I fall prostrate to the Earth begging thy effectual Blessing and Intercession that I may be admitted into the Number of the Happy in Paradise Paris 26th of the 9th Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER XXIV To the Vizir Azem Prime Director of the Affairs of the Ottoman Empire THE Notices I have of the Present State of England in Compliance with thy Commands are not gained without some Difficulty It is not easie for a Man that sits in his Chamber in Paris to pry into the Cabinets of Foreign Courts Yet I will communicate to thee some Intelligences which thou couldst not learn from the English Embassador at the Port nor from all the Travellours of that Nation residing at Constantinople Smyrna and Aleppo There is a Jew whom they call De Lopez a Confident and Emissary of Cardinal Richlieu whom he employs both at Home and Abroad in several private Negotiations and Intrigues I have insinuated into this Man's Familiarity and if I may so express it I have Riveted my self into his Heart He treats me with an Assurance void of Jealousie and there is no Folding or Angle in his Breast which I do not easily penetrate I make use of him as an Optick through which I peep into the Cardinal's Secrets and as a Mirrour in which I behold the true Face of many disguised Affairs transacted in the remotest Corners of Europe there being hardly any thing of moment done in the Courts of Christian Princes wherein the Cardinal has not a Finger He seems to be the Genius or Soul of Christendom communicating Motion Activity and Heat to all the Grand Intrigues now on Foot in these Western Parts of the World The Commotions of England seem to be a complicated Distemper of the State arising from several Causes drawn to a Head by the dextrous Artifice of this Busie Spirit The Present King of that Island came to the Crown with no small Disadvantages his Father having Exhausted the Treasury and left him deeply in Debt he had no small Number of the Blood-Royal to maintain which kind of Charges thou knowest our Glorious Sultans though they be Masters of infinite Riches endeavour to avoid by Marrying their Daughters and Nieces whilst yet Infants to some of the most Potent and Wealthy Bassa's that so their Port may be kept up without burdening the Royal Coffers But the Infidel Princes are wanting in this frugal Providence In the Reign of King James this King's Father England lay at Ease slumbring in the Downy Bed of Peace she wallowed in Pleasures and had no other Unhappiness but in being too Happy Her Affluence and Idleness affected the State with a Plethory The Publick Health cannot be long conserved without the moderate Exercise of War Charles after the Death of the Old King being Established in the Throne committed the Affairs of State to the Management of his Ministers never examining his Treasury nor calling to an Account his Officers but Indulged himself in the Pleasures most agreeable to his Youthful Genius He hunted in the Forests whilst the Grandees whom he entrusted with his Revenues and the Publick Conduct had another Game to pursue post-poning their Master's Interest and 〈◊〉 of the Nation to their own private Avarice The Favourite Minister held a secret Correspondence with Cardinal Richlieu and by this means the Court was filled with French Pensioners countenanced also by the Authority of the Queen who was the Daughter of France It had been before agreed in the Articles of the Marriage that the Queen of England should have a prefixed Number of French Servants But they not content with their Domestick Employments and Attendance on her Person sought the Management of that Estate which King Charles had setled on her as a Dowry This would by no means agree with the Constitutions of the English That Island is a Little World by it self and the Inhabitants boast of an Original Freedom of Birth which is not so much as dreamt of in all the Dominions of our Invincible Sultans Though the English have several Times been Invaded and Subdued by the Saxons Danes and French yet it has been rather by Composition than Extremity of War Or if it may be called a Conquest the Victors have been forced to yield to the Vanquished in assuring them their Ancient Laws Privileges and Customs There is no Nation in the World more jealous of this their pretended Birthright And therefore to avoid all Occasions of giving Offence to the Nobles and Gentry the King perceiving the insolent Demands and Carriage of the French Courtiers commanded them all save a few Creatures of the Favourite Duke to depart the Kingdom This much disgusted the Queen and Cardinal Richlieu was glad of the Opportunity to incense the King of France Lewis was netled at the Affront offered to his Sister Yet by the Dexterity of the Mareschal Bassompierre his Embassador at the English Court Things were in a way of Accommodation when all was quash'd by the Seizure which the French made of several English Ships and so a War commenced far more fatal in its Consequences to England than to France The King of England rouzed from his Pleasures and Divertisements by the Preparations
the turbulent Cardinal She Sojourned in Flanders Holland England and the Empire Her Travels being checquer'd all along with a Mixture of Good and Evil. Here meeting with Respect there with Indifference and Coldness if not Contempt In some Places her Misfortunes were pitied and the Cardinal blamed for Persecuting so Great and Good a Queen In others the Cardinal was Justified and her Conduct censured and condemned And she accused her self for raising him to the power of doing her these Injuries At length tired out with the Fatigues of State and grown sick of the World she betook her self to a Monastery in Colen where after she had spent some time in Religious Preparations for another World she expired the 3d. of this Instant Moon It was placed among the Remarkables by some that the same day she died the Cardinal of Richlieu fell sick which Sickness yet continues upon him But whether to appease the Ghost of his deceased Mistriss whom he had so unjustly persecuted or to mollify the Resentments of the People is uncertain Yet notwithstanding his dangerous Illness he every Day ventures to the Temple and performs the Mysteries of their Law for her Soul The whole Court and City is in Mourning for this Great Queen and general Murmurings and Complaints are raised against the Cardinal on this Occasion especially among the Common People who are so far from entertaining a better Opinion of him for his daily Appearance at the Altar on Behalf of the Queen's Soul that they esteem it but an Officious Hypocrisie a Medly of Priest-Craft and State Artifice Here is a Report about the City that the Queen 's Ghost appear'd to the Cardinal as soon as she was dead severely reproaching him with his Ambition and Ingratitude and telling him That tho' he was laying the Foundation of an Immortal Project yet he should never live to see it thrive but warned him to prepare for Judgment for that he should not see another Year in Mortal State upon which they say he immediately sickned And here are Prophecies privately scattered about foretelling his Death in a short time This is certain he labours under an unaccountable Distemper his Body strangely wasting as if it would evaporate it self into Air for he seems to be in a manner dried up My Duty and Devoir to thee Sage Minister would not let me be at Rest till I had prevented the Posts by giving thee a more timely Account of these Occurrences by a Merchant for whom his Vessel waits at Marseilles To morrow he takes his Leave of Paris and once aboard he makes directly for Constantinople whither he will bring the first News of the Death of one of the greatest Queens upon Earth in whose Royal Veins ran the Blood of the Emperors Ferdinand and Charles V. She was married to Henry the Great and besides her Son now Reigning in France she matched her Daughters to the Two Potent Monarchs of England and Spain The most High and Omnipotent sole Monarch of Heaven and Earth reward thy Services and Fidelity to our Invincible Sultan with the Supream Joys of Paradise Paris 20th of the 7th Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER VI. To the Venerable Mufti Sovereign of the True and Undefiled Faith PErmit me to enter into thy Presence and withdraw thy Ravish'd Eyes awhile from the Contemplation of Sublimest Objects to cast them on a Spectacle of Mortality It is the Great and Renowned Mary de Medicis Queen-Mother of France who lies now dead at Cologne I will not trouble thee with Impertinencies but because I know that various Reports will reach thy Ears concerning the Cardinal of Richlieu his being Instrumental to her Death by driving her to such a height of Indignation as was the Cause of her Voluntary Exile and wandring from France and from one Country to another I will here Insert a Letter from the said Cardinal to her Majesty wherein he vindicates himself and discovers if not his Integrity yet the best Counterfeit of that Vertue that I have seen any where penn'd It was written to her when she was in Holland and runs thus MADAM I Cannot but esteem it the greatest Infelicity that ever befell me that my Enemies have prevailed so far as to draw upon me Your Majesty 's displeasure That they have by all the Arts of Malice fastned the Publick Odium on me is a great Vnhappiness but this is the Master-piece of their Enmity to render me suspected by you I could pardon their frequent Attempts upon my Life by private Conspiracies and Assassinations though Humane Nature recoils at those who are our Murderers But to deprive me of that without which Life it self is a burden to me I mean your Royal Favour transports me beyond my self And I beg that it may pass for an Excuse of this Presumption I could easily have pass'd over in Silence all their barbarous Plots against me I could easily have parted with my Life and all those Honours and Dignities with which it has been bless'd But to rob me of your Esteem which first rais'd me to this Envied Greatness and which I value more than all the Grandeurs of the Earth breaks the Barrs which aw'd my Tongue and Pen and makes me bold to throw my self at your Royal Feet with All that I have for I received All from your Princely Hands Deal as you please Madam with your own Creature I cannot murmur at your proceedings But Madam let your Native Piety prompt you to favour the Purple of the Church with which your Bounty has Invested me Let it not lose its proper Lustre and Esteem because the Enemies of the Church and State have cast such Dirt upon it Is it possible that a Man the most obliged of all his Race should become the onely Pattern of the basest Ingratitude Besides the Ties of Conscience and the Natural Force of Inclination my Interest chains me to your Service How can I then withdraw my self from it and not proclaim my self at once a Traitor to the Rest of Queens and the most unaccountable of Fools to my self This Consideration Madam being well weigh'd is enough to acquit me of all Guiltiness before Your Majesty But if it be my Destiny to be condemned unheard I shall not appeal from your Royal Sentence since I owe a perfect Resignation to your Will I may complain to Heaven of my Misfortune but I will not expostulate with my Sovereign Patroness nor make the least Opposition against the Course of your Anger not even by carrying my Fortune to Rome For wheresoever I go all my study shall be to recover your Majesty's Favour if it be not a Crime And if ever I obtain that Happiness I shall not care whither I go tho' it be out of the World it self because I die hourly while your Majesty suspects that I am not what I ever was and still continue to be MADAM Your Majesty's Most humble Most faithful And most obedient Servant Armand Card. of Rich. I send thee this Transcript
of his Potent Neighbour began to look about him and consult the Publick Safety But when he examined his Treasury he found it empty or at least at a very low Ebb. Behold here Supreme Bassa a stroke of Destiny a Concurrence of Causes seeming remote and small in their first Appearance but in their Process uniting and involving that Kingdom in Ruine Charles could not carry on a War with France without asking Aid of the Sovereign Divan which they call the Parliament of that Nation It is a Senate composed of above Seven hundred of the Nobility and Gentry of the Land These have the Power to make Laws raise Taxes and redress the Grievances of the Kingdom It was an ill Season to ask the Assistance of his Subjects who had already conceived an Aversion for the Royal Dignity However a Mighty Fleet was order'd to be Rigg'd and Mann'd out Cardinal Richlieu from afar beheld the approaching Storm and knew not how to divert it from falling on France but by Corrupting the English Favourite De Lopez from whom I received this Intelligence was employed in the Affair he was sent to London which is the Metropolis of England and the Place where the King usually keeps his Court. It was an Expensive Negotiation and cost the Cardinal Forty Thousand Dollars which is equivalent to Three Millions and Two Hundred Thousand of our Aspers With this vast Bribe he Proselyted the Favourite Duke to the Interest of France The English Navy consisted of and Hundred and Fifty Sail having also Twelve Thousand Land-Men on Board It was agreed between them that the English Minister should procure himself to be made Admiral of these Marine Forces His Indulgent Master could deny nothing to the Man whom he had entrusted with the Sway of the Government Now the King of France might sleep at quiet since the English Ships sailed with a French Wind. They landed upon the Island of Ree but their Actions were altogether Theatrical a mere shew of War without any real Execution The English General manifestly omitting the proper Methods and favourable Opportunities of winning that Island His Conduct speaking as if he came there rather to Complement than to Fight These Things made a harsh sound in England and the Nobles resented ill the double-dealing of the Duke of Buckingham so was the English General call'd In fine the bad Success of their Forces the Expences they had been at and the Disgrace they suffered in this War Four and Forty of their Colours being carried to Paris and hung up in the Chief Temple of this City as Trophies of the French Victory incensed the Generality of the English Nation against the King and the Government they began to accuse him in their Cabals of Male-Administration and the Favourite Duke was a while after stabbed by a Ruffian whom the Malecontents had hired to execute their Revenge The Affections of the English appeared every day more and more alienated from the King And Cardinal Richlieu had there his Agents who were not wanting to foment the Publick Discontents and by divers Artifices to draw the Credulous People into Factions The French Pensioners were instructed to deport themselves in a Manner every way offensive to the Nation Black and threatning Clouds seemed to hang over the Court of England exhaled from the ill Blood of the Subjects The Royal Dignity went Retrograde and all Things tended to obscure the Lustre of the Crown Yet there passed some Years before Things came to Extremities and Matters though ripened yet were not brought to an open Rupture till Scotland lanced the Sore This Nation is subject to the Crown of England and makes one Half of the Island of Great Brittain They are a Warlike People patient of Labour accustomed to the Rigour of an Extreme Cold Climate great Travellours Subtle Proud and Inconstant After that which some call Heresie others a Reformation had begun to alienate many Kingdoms and Provinces from the Roman Church the Scots greedy of Novelties and spurred on by the Ambitious Pretexts of one of their Grandees who under the Mask of Religion sought the Crown introduced Innovations into their Church They shook off at once all their Obedience to the Pope and set up such a Form of Religious Discipline as was altogether Antimonarchical and their Preachers ceased not to instill into the Hearts of the People Democratick Principles Thus continued Affairs till King Charles not insensible of these Things and willing to new-Model that Church they took up Arms against him knowing that he would not be able to raise Forces to chastise them without calling a Parliament The Parliament of England was at that time full of Scotish Proselytes Men of Seditious and Turbulent Principles so that the King was like to find but little Favour among them However by the Assistance of some Loyal Nobles and Gentlemen he marches into Scotland at the Head of an Army Not a Blow was struck on either Side but all Differences were composed and hush'd up by a Treaty Yet soon after the Scots entred into England with an Army being underhand invited in by their Partizans in England The King is a Second Time forced to throw himself upon his Parliament for Money but they instead of granting him any fell to examining his past Conduct complaining and desiring a Redress of several Irregularities in his Administration There were those who failed not to put in Execution the Designs and Instructions of Cardinal Richlieu he had his Agents up and down the Kingdom who insinuated Jealousies and Heart-burnings into the Gentry and People of the Land The King was represented every where as a Tyrant and all his Actions were misconstrued Signior Rossetti the Pope's Nuntio at the English Court beside his Instructions from the Roman Pontiff held a strict Intelligence with the Cardinal His Business at this Court was publickly to the Queen who professed an Obedience to the See of Rome but privately he was order'd to Negotiate an Accommodation between the Roman and English Churches Cardinal Richlieu thought to strike two Marks with one Blow that is to embroil the State of England and procure himself the greater Esteem with the Roman Court He appears very Zealous for the Conversion of England and in order to it allows a Considerable Pension to Signior Rossetti Instructing him withal to shew his utmost Dexterity in gaining the Courtiers and Grandees of that Nation to his Side He knew the Genius of the English and that there was nothing so offensive to that Nation as the Papal Power and Religion Wherefore De Lopez was order'd to pay Signior Rossetti vast Sums of Money that so there might be nothing wanting to Proselyte the Courtiers knowing that they would act insolently and disgust the Protestants and so encrease the Publick Aversion for the Regal Authority There was also another Agent at the English Court who was Secretary to Cardinal Barbarini a Man no less Industrious than the other in advancing the Roman Interest He held a
Best Catholicks but the Worst Christians the French are said to be the Best Christians but the Worst Catholicks and the Italians are accounted neither Catholicks nor Christians I know not what reason they have to state the Difference so between the Two Former but the Character of the Latter suits in one Respect with the usual Proverb of that Country it being common in the Mouths of Italian Gallants to say He that is a Christian is a Fool. The Devouter sort of Catholicks pay a great Reverence and Devotion to the Reliques of their Saints I could not reprehend them for this if I were sure of Two Things That all those whom they esteem as Saints were really such and That all the Reliques they keep with so much Veneration in their Churches did really appertain to the Persons under whose Names they go For then it would be no more than what the True Believers practise throughout the World and it is well known That when a piece of the Garment of our Holy Prophet was dipt in the Water which they cast on the Flames of Constantinople the Fire immediately ceased to which before no Stop could be given by all the Industry and Endeavours of Men. Assuredly the Bodies of the Prophets and Messengers of God are Holy and have a Power of Sanctifying whatever they touch producing often Miraculous Effects but the Avarice of Men may abuse this Truth to their own private Ends and the Christians themselves will not believe all to be true Reliques of Saints which their Crafty Priests shew for such There be innumerable other Sects of Christians which are neither in Communion with the Roman nor the Grecian Churches but accusing them of Idolatry separate themselves from their Society and form Distinct Congregations These are not known in France saving only the Hugonots otherwise called Protestants Which last is a Term comprehending all that have Revolted from the Roman Church and was first assumed by the Lutherans at Ausburgh in Germany In England and Holland there are abundance of these Sects some of them newly sprung up others of longer Date And all thus far agree with the Mussulmans that they use not Pictures or Images in their Temples so that were they rightly instructed in the Holy Alcoran it would not be a Thing altogether impracticable to perswade them to Circumcision There is a Sect which they call Socinians who seem to preach out of the very Book of Glory denying the Divinity of Jesus the Son of Mary the Christians Messias even as our Divine Lawgiver does in several Chapters and Versicles of the Alcoran The Christian Church seems to be a stately Building whereof Prelacy is the Corner-Stone if this were removed all would fall to the Ground That which they call the Hierarchy if it could once be dissolv'd or pull'd down we should soon see all Christendom laid in Ruines This Hierarchy is a Gradual Subordination of Arch-Bishops Bishops and Priests the Inferiour depending on the Superiour and all deriving their Orders and Dignities from their Chief Patriarchs These are the Links which compose that Chain that fastens Christendom together were this but once broke the United Interest of Europe would soon fall into pieces The Way must be by beginning at the lowermost Link Could but the Priests be render'd Independent on the Bishops and on each other it would be a fair step toward the dismantling of the Out-works these Priests drawing infinite Numbers of People after them as it is apparent in Geneva Holland Suisserland and other Places where they have quite abolish'd the Order and Authority of Bishops And it is observable that none of these forementioned Countries since that Time have ever been Instrumental in opposing the Victorious Arms of the Ottoman Empire As if with the Downfal of Episcopacy the Charm were dissipated which had for some Ages precipitated these Nations among others to a rash and Obstinate Resistance of that Force which is destin'd by Fate to Conquer and Reform the World Weigh this Thought well and thou wilt find that the Order of Bishops is Essential and Necessary to the Good Estate of Christendom and that the onely Way for the Mussulmans to undermine all Europe will be to supplant this Order and Introduce an Ecclesiastick Independency among the Priests by which means every one shall assume to himself not onely his proper Fragment of the torn Dignity but the whole Fundamental Power of a Bishop taking upon him to do those Offices which before it was not accounted Lawful for any but a Mitred Head to perform Hence in Time will follow innumerable Inconveniences Distastes and Broils and perhaps as many Schisms as there are particular Priests to head them Since every one will be apt to think himself capable of dictating to all the Rest and judge it below him to receive the Law from any Thus will there be a clear Stage for Ambition Avarice and Lust to act their Parts on and when by the Craft of designing Men the Superstition of Bigots and the Easiness of the Credulous the greatest Part shall be so divided that it will be difficult to find Two Men of the same Mind in Articles of Faith It will then be easie either by the Intelligible Reasons in the Alcoran or the more Cogent Arguments of the Sword to plant the True and Vndefiled Faith in these Countries The Creator of all Things hasten his Holy Prophet's Return that all Nations may embrace his Law assert his Vnity and be incorporated into the Glorious Empire of the Ozmans Paris 10th of the 6th Moon of the Year 1643. LETTER XVI To the Kaimacham SInce the Death of King Lewis all mens Eyes and Hearts are fix'd upon the Dauphin who though he is very Young yet is he a Prince of a forward Genius and promising Aspect giving signal Proofs of a Martial Spirit One Day seeing the Guards as they were exercising their Arms he discovered an extraordinary Complacency and said to those that stood by I had rather be a Soldier than a King Imagining from the Softnesses he is accustomed to in these Infant Years that the Life of a Soldier is incompatible with that of a King Since that Time he harasses his Tutor and Attendants with perpetual Tattle about Guns and Swords And Cardinal Mazarini not to baffle or check such Generous Inclinations has cull'd out a Companion for him agreeable in Temper onely a Year or Two elder These Young Sons of Mars bestow their Time partly in shooting with little harmless Engines made on purpose for the Dauphin's Recreation in Imitation of Guns sometimes with Bows and Arrows at other Times they fence with Files adapted to their tender Arms and childish Skill In these Kind of Exercises the Dauphin grows a great Proficient and it is look'd upon as an Omen of his future Warlike Deeds A Spanish Astrologer has calculated his Nativity He Prophesies strange Things of this Young Prince As that he shall excel all his Royal Ancestors in Feats of Arms That
the least Grudge will raise Armies and give the King Battel if he does not come to their Terms and make a satisfactory Composition Neither dares the King put any of them to Death for fear of the People who generally take their Part being greedy of Novelties and prone to rebel Wouldst thou know by what Means the Nobility of France arrive to such a dangerous Power I tell thee in a Word the Kings themselves have put a Sword into their Hands which they spare not to draw when their Ambition or Discontent prompts them to it They are freed from all Tribute and Homage have the Command of whole Provinces committed to them in which are great Numbers of Walled Towns Forts and Castles These great Charges procure them the Esteem and Veneration of the People living under their Government who honour them as Kings and readily take up Arms in their Vindication The Queen-Regent is fearful lest they should take Advantage of her Son's Minority and under Pretence of Reforming the State or serving the King's Interest they should involve the Kingdom in Civil Wars She keeps a strict Watch over the Duke of Orleans and observes the Prince of Conde's Motions Her Guards are doubled and she neglects nothing that may assure the Interests of the Crown Thou who standest by the Silent Fountain and art near the Person of the Grand Signior think of doing Mahmut some good Office who loves cordially serves faithfully and prays servently for the Health and Long Life of our Glorious Sultan and wishes thee thy Fill of Happiness Paris 27th of the 10th Moon of the Year 1643. LETTER XXIII To the Captain Bassa HERE are arrived several Hundreds of Slaves who have Manumitted themselves by a Bold Adventure an Exploit which to give them their due has something in it of Bravery The Place of their Captivity was Alexandria thou knowest the Circumstances of that Haven What Hazards will not the desire of Liberty put Men upon There were several Thousands of Franks in the City whom the Restraint and Rigors of Servitude had made weary of their Lives Among the Rest a Native of Brabant who having been bred up in the Art of distilling Strong Waters his Patron hired him a Shop furnishing him with all Materials and Necessaries to prosecute his Calling in hopes of very profitable Returns To this Man's Shop there was a great Resort of all the Franks in the City by which Means he improv'd his Trade and thriv'd mightily He was a Bold Fellow and took a particular Pride in great Attempts and though he might have lived very happily and enrich'd himself by his own Occupation yet he had another sort of Chymistry to practise being resolved to draw his Fellow-Slaves who were now become his Customers off from the Lees of Despair and elevate them to a Resolution of seeking their Freedom He often harangu'd them on this Subject and a strict Intelligence was held between all the European-Slaves in that City At length it was agreed amongst them to seize a certain Vessel that lay in the Harbour and commit themselves to the Winds and Waves This was carried on with so much secrecy and so dextrous a Conduct that unsuspected above two Thousand of them got aboard and put out to Sea The Wind favouring them they first arrived at Candia where they Landed some Hundreds of their Crew after this they touch'd at Malta where they disposed of others then at Livorno in Italy and lastly came safe to Marseilles where the Remainder came ashore These are Natives of France England Brabant and Holland with Two Spanish Priests The Inhabitants of Paris are very Charitable to them especially the Merchants who traffick in the Levant of which there are great Numbers in this City The Clergy also have made a Collection for them and 't is said the Queen-Regent has ordered her Almoner to distribute three Thousand Crowns among them They inveigh bitterly against the Mussulmans cursing our Holy Prophet and thanking their good Stars for thus fortunately redeeming them from an Insupportable Slavery I cannot see wherein they merit Blame in all this it being Natural for all Men to covet Liberty and to rejoice when they have escaped any Misfortune I protest I cannot be angry with them in my Heart for any Thing but the Blasphemies they vomit against the Messenger of God The rest are Actions as Natural as to Eat and Drink Self-Preservation being common to all Animals there seems as much Reason to condemn a Bird that chirps and triumphs when she fee's her self upon the Wing ranging the Balmy Air being newly released from the Cage as to find fault with these Fellows for rejoicing that they have escaped the Confinement and Hardships of Captivity However it was an unpardonable Neglect of the Guards who belong to that City to suffer these Infidels thus to give them the slip So culpable a Remissness may cost some of them their Heads The Great God whose Power is manifested in the Ocean as well as on the dry Land furnish thee with as favourable Winds as these Fugitives had when thou sailest to execute the Orders of the Grand Signior Paris 20th of the 11th Moon of the Year 1643. LETTER XXIV To Mustapha Guir an Eunuch Page THIS Court has within these Three Days put on another Face than it had ever since the Royal Obsequies were perform'd One would hardly think it the same were it not for the Mourning they still wear on the Account of the late King's Death This is a Formality used all over Christendom in such Cases and serves for a Disguise to Hypocrites The French Grandees make use of it to masque their several Politick Designs They wear Black the Emblem of Sadness to denote their Grief for the Dead Monarch and yet they feast and revel to the end they may send more of the Royal Blood after him The Matter I am going to inform thee of is Tragical in it self and had been worse but for the Prevention of Providence Three Days ago the Princes of the Blood with divers of the Prime Nobility were invited to a Feast by the Queen's Order The Place where 't was kept is called the New-Castle It is needless for me to describe the Magnificent Entertainment thou mayst conclude all Things were performed with Great Cost and Majesty They Banquetted with Wine to Excess insomuch as the Duke of Orleans about Midnight walking through a Gallery was so inebriated with the Juice of the Grape that he fell asleep on a Couch which stood about the middle of the Walk he was wrapt in his Cloak a Garment well known in the Court by the large Diamond that button'd it before but no Body came by that way till two Hours afterwards a certain French Lord passing to his Lodging took Notice of a Man asleep on the Couch and drawing nearer knew it to be the Duke Wondering what should be the meaning of it he inquired of the Duke's Page that stood not far off who told him His
any Man in the worst Condition needs to fear But the Misery of it is we are governed in all Things by Opinion and every Thing is to us as we think it to be The same Great Man tells us of one Apicius who poison'd himself for fear of starving when he had Two Hundred and Fifty Piasters in his Coffers And another more Modern Philosopher relates That a rich Man an Acquaintance of his falling mad snatcht up a Straw and complained he must perish with Hunger for he saw there was no Grain in the Empty Husks It 's said of the Emperor Galba That he was wont to weep when he saw his Table better covered than ordinary And I have read of a certain Christian Mufti who was so wretchedly covetous that he would steal privately into the Great Mosque of Rome and put out the Lamps there to save Charges But methinks I hear thee murmuring me an Answer That this was never thy Humour and these Citations make little Impression on a Man that has had his House and Goods burnt and narrowly escaped in his own Person Shall I tell thee then what hap'ned lately in these Parts which will perhaps make thee more contented and thankful for thy Life seeing what was these poor Peoples Lot might have been thine Certain considerable Merchants coming to this Town and Lodging at an Inn not far from my Quarters the House being full of Guests they were forced to be content with an upper Room where entertaining one another with pleasant Discourse to pass away the Time till Supper on a sudden the Kitchin was all in a Flame unfortunately encreased with combustible Matter lying near the Chimney Some say there was great Quantity of Oil and Gun-Powder an odd Store-House to lay such Commodities in However the Fire appeared so suddenly and violently that in a Moment all the Floor under them was seiz'd with it These Gentlemen who were Two Stories high in a Chamber towards the Street as soon as they heard the Cry of Fire began to make towards their Trunks and Port-mantles which were lock'd up in a large Coffer the Key of which hung at their Hostess's Girdle They were for going down to fetch it but the Fire had in a Manner consum'd all beneath them Whilst they were busied in trying to break open the Coffer and to take out every Man his own their Chamber became instantly so full of Smoak as was like to Choak them They could neither save themselves by going up or down the House being all over in a Flame Moreover their Neighbours seeing their own Houses in Danger were so concerned for themselves that they had no time to Pity Others So that few People attempted to succour these poor Gentlemen who on their side endeavoured with great Pieces of Wood to force a Passage but the Walls and Windows were too Strong to give Way to their Efforts being secur'd with thick Iron Barrs fastned in the Stones In this lamentable Condition having this inexorable Flame before their Eyes which had already seized on the Chamber tearing the Hair off their Heads and stamping on the Ground they sent forth such dreadful Skrieks as moved all that heard them to extream Compassion They threw their Gold and Silver into the Streets in vain crying for Help the Fire being so encreas'd that before the People could bring Ladders and other Instruments to break a Way into the Chamber these poor Wretches miserably perished in the Flames Thank God thou hast still thy Life and Senses Turn these last the Right Way and thou wilt find thou hast lost Nothing Paris 21st of the 12th Moon of the Year 1644. LETTER XXVI To the Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire THE Spaniards are the Proudest People in the World They strut like Cranes as they go along the Streets and Walk by Rules of Geometry Here are many of them in this City since the Revolt of Catalonia and Roussilion The French accuse them of Uncomplaisance and ill Manners in that they will not change their Habit or Gate in a Country so averse from Formality They are extremely addicted to Rhodomontado's as thou wilt easily guess by this which follows Lewis XIII asking a Spanish Officer who was a Prisoner of War Why the Kings of Spain went not in Person to the Wars as the Kings of France He Answer'd If the King my Master should lead his own Army into the Field the whole Earth would tremble under him Another being ask'd Why the Spanish King in his Style boasted That the Sun was his Helmet replyed Because that Luminary never sets on all my Master's Territories But the French-man wittily retorted He will neither set nor rise on any of your Master's Dominions e'er long if the Great Lewis goes on with his Conquests Indeed to pass from Jest to Earnest this Victorious King continually pares away some Part or other of the Spanish Monarchy I have acquainted the Ministers of the Divan with the most important Passages of this War except the taking of Graveling which I did not then think so considerable a Place as I am since inform'd it is 'T is a Sea-Town lying on the Northern Shore of France and commanding the Narrow Seas between the Continent and England Some say that it is one of the strongest Towns in Europe The French King by the Conquest of this Place is in a condition to give the Law by Sea to all the Northern Nations The Great God who protects the Ottoman Empire set Limits to the Conquests of this Christian King and so continue the Wars of these Infidel Princes that neither any One of them may be in a Condition nor All of them together be agreed to make Head against the Arms of our Invincible Sultan Paris 17th of the 1st Moon of the Year 1645. LETTER XXVII To Dicheu Hussein Bassa THOU hast already in the Divan heard of the present Convulsions of the English State I communicated to the Vizir Azem what Intelligences I had received of the Troubles of that Kingdom Besides the Imperial City is full of Strangers of all Nations who maintain Correspondences with their several respective Countries Whence it comes to pass That whatsoever is done in the most remote Corners of the Earth is soon known to the Ministers of the Sublime Port which is the Sanctuary of the Whole World But I shall gratifie thee in unveiling the Interiour of those Events which have made such a Noise Thou art naturally curious in thy Researches and I shall present thee with some additional Remarks which I have made on the English Affairs since I wrote to the Supreme Minister on that Subject I acquainted him that the late Cardinal Richlieu had a hand in Embroiling that Island as he had in exciting the Tumults of Catalonia and promoting the Revolution of Portugal The part which he acted was by Proxy He had his Agents there to blow up into a Flame the Sparks which lay smothering in the Breasts of that Discontented
Treasures Paris 10th of the 7th Moon of the Year 1642. according to the Christian Style LETTER II. To the Aga of the Janizaries THE God of War seems to espouse the Quarrel of the Suedes and all the Planets contribute to their Prosperity Even Venus her self has for a while laid aside her usual Softness appearing now in the Field arm'd Cap-a-pe with a Train of Suedish Amazons at her Heels Thou wilt think I Romance in telling thee this and only temporize with thy Genius having often heard thee passionately admire the valiant Acts of Semiramis and other Eastern Virago's but assure thy Self that the Suedes after some late Battles when they went to bury their Dead stripping them of their Cloaths found several of the Fair Sex under the Disguise of Men among which there were some of Quality It is said that one of these was seen to engage Duke Albert himself with a matchless Bravery and Courage the Duke being twice unhorsed by her and as often remounted by his vigilant Squires Those that pretend to know more than the Common Sort say that Revenge was the Motive which brought this Lady into the Field having received a gross Affront from Duke Albert in the German Court. However the Duke died of the Wounds he received of this Bellona and she survived not to triumph over her dead Enemy After this the Suedes under the Command of General Torstenson marched into Silesia took Glowgow by Storm the 12th of the 5th Moon and Suciniez the 7th of the 6th Moon And as if nothing were able to discourage or baffle the Indefatigable Mind of this Great General he invested the strong Town of Olmitz in Moravia and took it after fourteen Days Siege The Posts are arrived this Morning with this News Be strong and of good Courage and God shall give thee Victory in Battle when thou fightest against the Infidels Abstain from Wine and from Oppression And receive this Advice as a Testimony of my Esteem and Friendship Paris 20th of the 7th Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER III. To Ibrahim Chanregil Chief Bostangi or Gardiner to the Sultan THou that art daily conversant with the Eldest Products of the Earth and canst call the whole Vegetable Family by their Proper Names tell me whether there be such a Plant as by its baneful Influence blasts all that grows within ten Cubits of its Root I would not put such a Question to thee had I not lately seen something in the Garden of a certain Nobleman near Paris which makes me think 't is true They call it here the ill Neighbour because it preys they say on all the Herbage that is near it rising and flourishing by their Fall Indeed at that time I saw it there was a wither'd Circle round it whilst this devouring Sprout look'd gay and full augmented by the Spoils of Neighbouring Grass A proper Emblem of Oppression I wish 't were growing in the Gardens of all cruel Tyrants that in this Natural Glass they might behold their Voracious Spirits I will not thus call in Question thy Knowledge of an Herb which shuns all humane touch Here is one in the same Garden which the Nobleman boasts was by thy Hands cropt from the Sultan's Garden and being set in a Pot of Earth presented to him Thou didst not well consult thy Safety in such a grand Presumption nor yet the Honour of thy Sovereign Master who should it ever reach his Ears would soon transplant thee from the Garden of the Seraglio to the Elysian Fields Thou oughtest to receive this Reprimand with highest Gratitude since it will not shut thee out of those pleasant Walks and Groves within the High Imperial Walls Use more Prudence another Time and scorn such easie Condescensions to Infidels Say that I am thy Friend in this Advice and in Recompence I only desire this good Office of thee To watch the Motions of my Enemies There are no less than Three Great Officers of the Seraglio hammering out my Ruine Thou knowest who I mean Keep thy Integrity The sly insinuating Words of Shashim Istham the Black Eunuch spoken not long ago in my Disgrace to the Principal Secretary of State quickly echoed to my Chamber in Paris Be Silent and Wise Paris 20th of the 7th Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER IV. To Muzlu Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of State at Constantinople IF it were lawful for me to take the Oath of our Holy Prophet I would swear by the Hour of the Evening that thy News is welcome I had scarce finish'd our appointed Devotions after Sun-set when the Post brought me thy Dispatch which informs me that Carcoa at Vienna is dead I rejoice not in the Death of an honest Slave to Ibrahim lâ—â— Flowers spring from the Dust of his Grave Neither can I mourn for a Man that may be gone to New and richer Possessions Yet I am pleased that he quitted the Old fairly and has left behind him an Odour of Vertue A Man in his Post is attaqu'd with strong Temptations and he that resists to the End merits a Wreath gather'd from the Tree of Life Thou mayst think 't is with more ease I receive the News of Carcoa's Death than of his Infidelity not that I value the Rack or any other Tortures with which the Policy of State uses to draw Confessions of Capital Crimes But I would not have the Grand Affairs of the Ottoman Port come within the Verge of a Scrutiny This News is the best Cure for the Illness I pretended when I exchanged Paris for the Country Air ten Days ago whereof Bechir Bassa has received an Account I am now returned to my old Lodging and am congratulated for my speedy Recovery by them that knew not my true Distemper Thou infortnest me that by the Order of the Divan one Nathan Ben Saddi a Jew is appointed Successor of Carcoa I wish he may acquit himself as well The five hundred Zechins thou hast ordered me by him will be very welcom to a Man who has been forced to retrench many Charges that he might the better serve the Grand Signior The King of Spain may wish that he could conclude a Peace on as easie Terms with the French King as the Sophy of Persia has with Sultan Ibrahim None but God and his Prophet know the Zeal with which I serve the Sublime Port. Paris 20th of the 7th Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER V. To the Kaimacham I Shall now acquaint thee with the Death of the Queen-Mother and Dowager of France who fell a Sacrifice to the Ambition of the Cardinal of Richlieu as those of her Party do commonly suggest For being highly disgusted at his Counsels and Intreagues especially his playing the Incendiary and inflaming those of the Blood Royal one against another she departed from France and by a kind of Voluntary Banishment exposed her self to so many Inconveniences Hardships and Rigors of Fortune as seemed to hasten her End Her Great Spirit chusing rather to break than bow to