't will be pleasant meditating on what thou hast read at thy spare Hours Thou wilt find thy self much more happy in thus mixing Studies with the necessary Offices of thy Trade than in abandoning thy self wholly to a Contemplative Life And in the Midst of thy Disgusts thou mayst comfort thy self with this Reflection That thou art of none of the most Despicable Callings which serve the Necessities of Man's Body Had thy Employment been onely to make Papouches or Sandals which cover the Feet it might have been an Argument of Discontent to thee in Regard the Foot is the most Contemptible Member in the Body But now thou passest thy Time in making Ornaments for the Head which is the Noblest Part and Commnader of all the Rest thou hast no Reason to repine If after all thou resolvest to change thy Course of Life I advise thee to turn Soldier for then thou must be contented and patient per-force Paris 13th of the 4th Moon of the Year 1656. LETTER XVII To Melec Amet. THE Nazarenes boast much of the New Converts they have made from the Moselman Law to the Faith of Jesus the Son of Mary On the 23th of the last Moon a Moor of Tripoli was baptiz'd in a Church of this City and the next Day he was Anointed with their Chrism or Holy Oyl as they call it which they say has a Vertue to confirm and strengthen him in his New Religion On the 25th he was cloath'd all in White Linen and walk'd in Procession through the Streets with Musick playing before him whilst the Ground was strew'd with Flowers When he arriv'd at the Great Mosch of this City a Priest gave him that which they esteem the Body of the Messias But in Reality is onely a Wafer with the Figure of a Man Crucify'd on it These Wafers are made and sold to the Priests by the Common Bakers of the Town and yet they make the Poor Ignorant People believe with Four Words they can change them into an Immortal God The Renegado Moor appears very zealous and devout frequenting the Temples and visiting all Holy Places He walks along the Streets with Beads in his Hands which the People Interpret as an Argument of his Piety to the Virgin Mary the Mother of Jesus For when they pray to her it is the Custom to number their Oraisons on Beads But all this while they consider not that he may be a Hypocrite as to their Religion and instead of addressing his Prayers to her may direct them to God alone as all the True Faithful do who use Beads in rehearsing the Divine Ejaculations as well as the Christians in repeating their Ave Maria which they say was the Salutation that Gabriel gave the Virgin when he enter'd her Oratory Be it how it will he gets Abundance of Money by his Devotion For the Franks are really very Charitable and give plentiful Alms to the Poor But especially to one under his Circumstances they are extremely Liberal that so they may imprint in him a more fervent Affection and profound Reverence for their Religion But he is not the onely Convert they brag of Many Captives they either wheadle or force to turn Christians Thus he that was taken at Sea by the Ships of Malta Twelve Years ago when it was reported through Christendom that he was the Grand Signior's Son is of late turn'd Christian and Friar having solemnly and in Publick abjur'd the Mussulman Law curs'd our Holy Prophet and all those of his Race with the Believers of the Alcoran He is like to come to great Preferments in the Roman Church They call him the Ottoman Father and boast That the True Heir of the Turkish Empire is a Christian and in their Custody Yet after all the Proselyte of greatest Fame is Don Philippo the Son of the Dey of Tunis of whom I made mention in one of my former Letters This Prince is now at Valentia under the King of Spain's Jurisdiction who allows him a Considerable Pension and has given him Leave to marry a Princess of that Country very Beautiful and Ingenious but of a Poor Fortune He has one Son by her and 't is said the King of Spain designs to set forth a Mighty Fleet of Ships And having furnish'd this Prince with all Things necessary for a Warlike Expedition will send him thus Equipp'd to claim the Government of Tunis or in Case of Denial to make a Descent in that Kingdom and fight for it But I believe this will onely prove a Spanish Rhodomontade that Monarch having Work enough cut out for him in Europe and America by the French and English to divert him from any such Wild Enterprize on Africk However it be this Don Philippo is much talk'd of in Christendom and the Spaniards flatter themselves with the Hopes of Conquering a Great Part of Barbary by his Means he having many Friends and a considerable Interest in those Parts Thou mayst acquaint the Divan that Osmin the Dwarf is still living and serves the Port with a secret and untainted Zeal Two days ago he discover'd a Cunning Practice of Cardinal Mazarini whose Motions and Intrigues he watches very narrowly He assures me That this Minister has dispatch'd away Two Agents to the King of Sueden and Elector of Brandenburgh with a Letter to each of these Princes from the King of France also with Blank Papers and the King's Seal giving them Instructions to fill up those Blanks and Seal them with the King's Signet according as they found the Treaty go forward between those Princes The main Design of this Trick being to hinder them from entering into a League against the King of Poland by all the Artifice these Agents cou'd use in exactly timeing and suiting their Counterfeit Letters to the Difficulties and Misunderstandings that always happen in such Treaties that so they may exasperate each Party against the other as Occasion offer'd without being oblig'd to send to France for fresh Letters which wou'd breed too much Delay and spoil their Design By this thou mayst perceive that Cardinal Mazarini comes not short of his Predecessor Richlieu in managing the Affairs of Foreign Courts He is the very Soul of all the Grand Business in Christendom A general Heart-burning has possess'd the French especially the Inhabitants of Paris ever since the Conclusion of the last Year when the King issu'd out certain Orders commanding that all the Gold and Silver-Money in the Kingdom shou'd be brought in to his Mint to be new Coin'd The Merchants first complain'd of this Edict and then it was murmur'd at by all Trading People At Length the Parliament of Paris took it into their Consideration and oppos'd the King's Pleasure Upon which he banish'd Eight of their Members and has several Times prohibited them to Assemble yet they persisted to meet till he banish'd more of them Which instead of awing them into the expected Compliance has but incens'd 'em more And the discontented Clergy blow up the Coals as do
tell me have I guess'd right at the Cause of so tedious a Reservedness or no Hast thou been forc'd all this while to speak with thy Hands Feet Nose and the Emphatick Motions of thy Head and Eyes If it were so I phansie thou wert excellent Company among thy Grave Flegmatick Brethren and in a fair Way to understand the Language of the Beasts who by curvetting creeping leaping frisking their Tails and other Postures express their various Passions Desires and Necessities as Intelligibly to those who are us'd to them as we can do by the most Elegant Addresses in Words But to be serious If for the Sake of Vertue this Penance be impos'd on thee by him who Presides over thy Convent or thou hast Voluntarily undertaken so difficult a Part of Self-Denyal on the Score of Philosophy or Religion thou hast approv'd thy self wise and brave in not flinching A Coward in Religious Matters is as despicable as in the Engagements of the World 'T is Honourable to face Temptations and come off with Victory As for what thou desirest to know concerning the Sepulcher of King Childeric It is esteem'd a Piece of great Antiquity In Regard he was the Fourth Monarch of France He Reign'd over the Gauls or Franks in the Year 458. Severus being Emperour of Rome Severinus and Dagalaiphus Consuls Yet in little more than Three Years he was depos'd and banish'd by his Subjects whilst one Aegidius a Roman was Crown'd in his Stead Neither did this Man please the People so well but that after some Experience of his Oppression Avarice and other Vices they expell'd him also and recall'd their Lawful Sovereign For Aegidius had vex'd them with Unreasonable Taxes fleecing them of many Millions which he privately sent out of the Kingdom disposing of this vast Treasure at Rome and among his Friends in other Parts as a Support against Future Contingencies For he look'd for some Back-Blows of Fate Childeric therefore being restor'd to his Crown enjoy'd it till his Death which was in the Year 484. After whom succeeded in the Kingdom Clodovaeus the Great who was the First French King that embrac'd Christianity The Time when Childeric's Tomb was first discover'd was about Two Years ago when the Cathedral of Tournay wanted Reparation For as the Labourers were digging up the Old Charnel-House they encounter'd a Long Stone which giving 'em some Fatigue they broke in Pieces and found under it the Entire Skeleton of a Man lying at Length with Abundance of Greek Medals of Gold and some other Curiosities of the same Metal among which was a Ring with this Motto SIGILLVM CHILDERICI REGIS All these Reliques were at first possess'd by the Canons of that Church where they were found Of whom they were begg'd by the Arch-Duke of Austria who has them in his Custody Therefore those who told thee they are in the King of France's Hands were misinform'd themselves or design'd to abuse thee For this cannot be suppos'd during the present Wars between France and Spain When they are more ready on both Sides to plunder one another than to grant Civilities of this Obliging Nature I perceive thou art grown a great Antiquary and therefore in Token of my Esteem I have sent thee a Cabinet of such Old Things as I have scrap'd together in my Travels and during my Residence in this City The Agates which thou wilt find in the Vppermost Drawer may easily be dated by their Figures which are all after the Fashion of Gentile Rome As for the Shells in the Second I leave 'em to thy own Judgment onely this I will say That they are not Common The Third contains a Miscellany of several Antiques The Knives were us'd by the Ancient Roman Priests in their Sacrifices The Weights are at least Twelve Hundred Years Old by the Parallels which I have seen in the King's Library The Rings also are of the Parthian Make And the Arrow to which they are fasten'd retains its Oriental Venom to this Hour as thou wilt find by trying it on any Animal that deserves it But after all the Lowermost Drawer contains Nothing but Counterfeits For those Medals are the Work of Parmezan the Finest Graver in the World If thou know'st not his Character I 'll tell thee in a Word He was Famous for Imitating so Exactly the most Ancient Medals that the Transcripts cou'd not be discern'd even by the most Skillful Artists from the Originals Accept these with the same good Will as I did when they were presented to me and tell me wherein else I can gratify thy Wishes You Monasticks are infinitely Happy in the Advantages of Retirement and Tranquility You are free from the Cares which molest other Mortals The Bell rings you to Prayers and to your Repast You have Nothing else to regard but your Contemplations and Studies Many Great Lights have sprung from your Various Orders And I tell thee Father William the World will be disappointed if thou should'st prove a Dark-Lanthorn and onely be Wise for thy Self Paris 25th of the 6th Moon of the Year 1655. LETTER VI. To the most Illustrious and Invincible Vizir Azem at the Port. BY the Sound which the Sun makes at his going down I swear I was not mistaken in the Idea I had of thy Generosity And the Dispatch with which thou hast honour'd the Slave Mahmut confirms me in a perfect Security of thy Favour and Protection I shall with exquisite Diligence obey thy Orders But it cannot be attempted without vast Sums of Money And if I may be thought worthy to give Advice to my Superiours the most Effectual Way to accomplish this will be by sending one of the Principal Ministers to this Court with a splendid Embassy For this Young King expects very Honourable Addresses from all that seek his more Intimate Friendship Therefore a Chiaus wou'd be slighted on such an Occasion and marr all the Design I wou'd counsel That some-body be sent who perfectly understands the Genius of the French and the particular Aims of Cardinal Mazarini Under the Protection of such a one I shou'd be able without Hazard of a Discovery to act all that is necessary to carry on this Design with good Success Here are Abundance of needy Courtiers on whom Gold will have a powerful Influence But neither I in Person nor any one whom I shall depute can make such Tenders unless there were here some known Publick Embassador from the Grand Signior to countenance the Business For otherwise it will presently be whisper'd That some Private Agent lurks here Incognito They will start a Thousand Chimaera's of Jealousie and so I may run the Hazard of a Second Imprisonment when the Cardinal shall call to mind the Occasion of my First All that I can then say of my being a Moldavian will find no Credit and 't will be no less than a Miracle if they do not expose me to a Scrutiny for the Mark of Circumcision Which if it be found all 's betray'd and ruin'd
be the True Agreement of the Messenger of God and therefore reproach all the Moselmans with Disobedience to our Law-giver and breaking the League Sign'd and Seal'd by Him whom we call the Seal of the Prophets and Witness'd by the Four Principal Doctors Abu Becre Osman Omar and Hali. If thou wilt peruse the Enclos'd Paper it will be easy to discern Whether We are Guilty of this Violation of Faith or They. For though supposing this to be the Real Testament of the Prophet as is pretended that Favourite of Heaven grants many Articles of Peace Assistance and Friendship to the Followers of Jesus with Immunity from Taxes and Impositions Liberty of Conscience Freedom of Marriages c. Yet 't is evident that he promis'd not these Things but on certain Conditions to be observ'd on the Part of the Christians as that None of them shou'd harbour or hold Correspondence with the Enemies of the True Believers or Privately accommodate 'em with Arms Horses Money or any other Necessaries of War But on the Contrary shou'd Hospitably receive the Mofelmans into their Houses for Three Days and Protect 'em from their Enemies If therefore the Christians shou'd fail in any of these Points the Prophet declares his Covenant to be void and that they shall not enjoy the Indulgences granted therein All this thou wilt see is recommended solemnly to both Parties to be Religiously perform'd till the Final Consummation Now all the Dispute is Whether We have First trangress'd these Articles or the Nazarenes For if it can be prov'd That they are the First Aggressors then they have no Reason to complain of their Misfortunes or accuse the True Faithful of Oppression and Tyranny as they commonly do Since it is manifest that they have drawn these Evils on themselves by their Breach of Faith and Infidelity disannulling the Covenant of God and his Prophet and forfeiting the Benefits they might have claim'd by Vertue of it Be it how it will the Prophet is free from Blame Let the Guilt rest on the Persons that were Criminal I know not how it comes to pass that the Christians of this Age think and speak more Reproachfully of our Holy Lawgiver than did their Fathers who liv'd in his Time or immediately after it and who by Consequence cou'd better inform themselves of the Circumstances of his Birth Life and Renowned Actions Some Ancient Writers among the Nazarenes make Honourable Mention of Him and his Family They conceal not the Early Signs of his Heroick Vertue and the Grandeur to which he was destin'd I have read in a certain Christian Author That when the Prophet was but Nine Years Old under the Tuition of his Uncle Abu Taleb who carry'd his Glorious Charge along with him to Damascus and that whilst they were at Boz'r a Learned Monk whose Name was Bohira came out of the Convent to meet them and taking Mahomet by the Hand in the Presence of many Christians he said aloud This Youth is born to accomplish Great Things His Fame shall be spread from East to West For as he drew near this Place I saw a bright Cloud descend and cover him Sultan David also Prophesy'd of him in that which the Christians reckon the 50th Psalm and the 2d Versicle Where that Divine Poet thus Sings From Sion God hath proclaim'd the Empire of Mahomet But the Christians have Interpreted this in another Sence though the Original remains a standing Witness against ' em So Moses in the Pentateuch uttered a Mystery when he said God came from Sinai he rose up from Seir and was manifested from Mount Paran Intimating hereby the Descent of the Written Law to Moses of the Gospel to Jesus the Son of Mary and of the Alcoran to Mahomet The Messias also said to his Disciples If I go not away the Called of God will not come to You. But the Christian Interpreters wilfully hide these Things from the Vulgar lest their Eyes shou'd be open'd There appears an Obstinate Malice and Ignorance in all their Actions Who will not laugh at the foolish Spight of the Spaniards who in a certain Town had a Custom as oft as they enter'd into the Church or came out to spit on a Black Image of a Man sitting on an Ass near the Gate But a Mussulman Embassadour coming thither from the Emperour of Morocco and observing this Vain Ceremony of the People ask'd the King What Person that Statue represented He made answer That it was the Image of Mahomet the Arabian Prophet That cannot be reply'd the Embassador since our Prophet never rode but on Camels It is rather the Figure of the Messias who indeed is recorded to have rode on an Ass The King troubl'd at this Answer consulted the Priests and Learned Men who all concluded that the Embassador had spoke the Truth And therefore instead of offering any more Indignities to this Image they fell into another Extreme and built a Chappel for it burning Incense to the Senseless Stock and paying it Divine Honours Thus they Pray'd to that which but a little before they had Curs'd and turn'd into a God that which they had esteem'd almost as bad as the Devil God's Curse be on the Devil and all his Adorers But on the Holy Prophet and his Followers may Blessings shower down and rest till the Knot of the Spheres be dissolv'd Paris 14th of the 10th Moon of the Year 1656. LETTER VII To Murat Bassa KNow for Certain that Dom Juan de Braganza late King of Portugal is dead He left this World on the 6th of the last Moon after he had been tormented Ten Days with the Stone His Queen has the Supreme Power in her Hands during her Son's Minority whose Name is Dom. Alphonso This young Prince was Crown'd within a few Days after his Father's Decease to prevent the Plots of the Spaniards who support a Powerful Faction in that Kingdom of Portugal and are not without Hopes to reduce it again to the King of Spain's Obedience The World is always busy either in recovering Old lost Interests or seeking of New The Mareschal de la Ferte who was taken Prisoner by the Prince of Conde in the Battle of Valenciennes and having a Price set for his Ransom had Liberty to go whither he wou'd on his Parole either to bring the said Sum or surrender his Person by a certain Day finding himself flighted at the French Court is resolv'd to perform his Promise at the prefix'd Time and go over to the Prince of Conde's Interest who will not fail to bestow a very Honourable Command on a General of such Merits In the mean Time the Count of Harcourt plays Tricks with his Master and holds private Correspondence with the German Emperour He is a Serviceable or a Dangerous Man according as he is pleas'd or disgusted and therefore they court him on both Sides He is now at Brisac in Alsace I cannot admire a Man that is thus Industriously troublesome to his Prince without any Thing of
with true Zeal and Devotion pray for the Health and Prosperity of the Grand Signior What tho' the Sultan has sworn by God and his Throne by the Heavens and Earth That he will go against the Venetians in Person The Mufti can easily absolve him in Case of Supreme Necessity when his Presence is requisite against the more Accursed Kysilbaschi 'T is probable the Osman Monarchy may be much embarass'd by Domestick Troubles and Foreign Wars Yet he that founded it and is the Conservator of Ages will out of these very Distempers and Evils produce a good Constitution of Health in the State and a Firmer Establishment against all Enemies In the mean while the Venetians are very busy in their Levies at Home and in making Interests abroad Couriers are perpetually posting up and down Christendom to and from that City They wou'd willingly have all the Business of Europe superseded for their Sakes Every where 't is whisper'd There 's some Grand Design a foot against the Turks but no body knows what And I tell thee France Spain Germany Poland Sueden and the Rest of the Nazarene Kingdoms are too much entangl'd among themselves to have any Thoughts of medling with Remote Affairs The Poles wou'd have had the German Emperour taken that Crown in Vassalage on Condition of Protecting it from the Suedes But whilst the Emperour was alive he weigh'd the Difficulties and refus'd so Chargeable an Offer Now he is lately dead and the Empire is hardly capable to defend it self Differences are newly risen between the Duke of Bavaria and the Elector Palatine of Heydelburg each claiming the Right to be Vicar of the Empire during the Vacancy And they are preparing on both Sides to dispute the Matter with the Sword Whilst the King of Sueden smiles secretly at their Intestine Quarrels resolving to be reveng'd on Germany for the Assistance they have given to Casimir King of Poland At the same Time the Danes are Arming and Equipping by Sea and Land to Demand Justice of the Suedes Whilst the cunning Moscovite stands aloft amusing all Parties with specious Pretexts but designing only to play his own Game and espouse that Quarrel which will bring him most Booty Prince Ragotski promises fair to the Suedes but 't is thought will prove false in the End The Counsels of these Vncircumcised are full of Treachery They are infatuated blinded and know not what they do The Case is as bad in Spain where the King is making vast Preparations to enter Portugal and claim that Crown hoping to make Advantage of their Domestick Factions since the Death of Dom Juan de Braganza the late Portuguese King Not considering that the French are like to find him Work enough in Italy Flanders and Catalonia besides the Continual Damages he receives by Sea from the English and the Losses he sustains in America I tell thee in a Word all Europe is at this Time in such a Hurly-Burly that they have no Leisure to attend our Motions in the East every Kingdom and State being wholly busy'd in their own Affairs And Venice can rely on Nothing but her own Strength Go on then Brave General of the Army destin'd to Chastise these Infidels and let nothing discourage thee from pursuing the Aims of Honour and Religion Let the proud Franks know That there is a Sword drawn in the East which will never be put up till it has not only cut off the Exteriour Members but even ript up the Bowels of the Western Empire The Inhabitants of Sicily are in great Consternation by Reason of a fresh Eruption of Fire fron Mount Aetna or Mount Gibel whereby the City Catanea and Adjacent Parts are much in Danger and the Ashes are scatter'd all over the Island This Mountain has at Times flam'd forth in an Extraordinary Manner from Immemorable Ages and in all Probability will continue to do so till the Day of Judgment There is like to be a New Quarrel between France and Holland The latter complaining that they have had above Three Hundred Merchant Ships taken from 'em by the French within these Seven Years Upon which they have stopt Two Vessels belonging to this Kingdom and Misunderstandings encrease apace between them In the mean Time the German Court is preparing to chuse a New Emperour His Son is the Person design'd for this Dignity if the Electors do not oppose it His Name is Leopoldus Ignatius Josephus King of Hungary and Bohemia He lies sick of a dangerous Disease not less loathsome than the Plague And now I have mention'd this Scourge of God it will not be amiss to inform thee that in Rome and Naples where it has rag'd these Eleven Moons and has destroy'd a Hundred and Eighty Thousand People 't is not now to be heard of Commerce is restor'd Publick Courts sit Ambassadors have Audience and all Things run in their wonted Channel Yet in Genoua they feel it still The Souls of these Infidels are Infected with an Infernal Pestilence and therefore God rains Curses on them whilst the Elect in all Nations are preserv'd from all Evil being mark'd in the Forehead by the Angel of Health Paris 15th of the 5th Moon of the Year 1657. LETTER XV. To Cara Hali Physician to the Grand Signior I Have encounter'd a Passage in the History of the First Caliphs which a little entangles me My Faith is disjoynted Thou know'st we Mussulmans believe that Abu Becre was the True Successor of the Prophet Yet when I consider that he attain'd the Sovereignty by Surprize without the Consent of the Mussulmans I know not what to think of it After the Death of the Messenger of God the Inhabitants of Mecca and Medina rais'd a Sedition and took up Arms each Challenging the Right of Election to themselves When to prevent the Ill Consequences of this Tumult Abu-Becre and Omar immediately came to them and to end the Controversy Omar stretching forth his Hand to Abu-Becre saluted him Caliph and lifting up his Hand to Heaven swore Allegiance to him Which Example suddenly prevail'd on others and so the Tumult was appeas'd Yet Omar himself seem'd to repent of what he had done For a while after he was heard to say Assuredly the Inauguration of Abu-Becre was a Rash Vnadvis'd Thing God avert the Evil which may result from it But let it be a Law That if any one hereafter shall presume to do as I have done and swear Fealty to another without the Assent of the Mussulmans he shall be put to Death But that which is of greatest Moment with me is that Ali Eb'n Abi Taleb the Son-in-Law of the Prophet was not present at this Election who had as much Right to the Caliphate as any of them if not more At least he had a Right to Vote And when he first heard the News he protested against what they had done as Null and Invalid in Regard they had not consulted him Certainly Ali Eb'n Abi Taleb was a Matchless Hero performing Miracles of Valour in
to perform the Office of a Kinsman and Friend Those of the same Blood ought thus to serve one another with Integrity and Affection For in so doing we help our selves strengthen the Interest of our Family and shall find Returns in Time of Need. As thou hast receiv'd Favour from Kerker Hassan Bassa on the Score of being his Countryman so there is greater Reason that thou should'st shew Kindness to Isouf who partakes of our Blood There arises a vast Complacency from doing Good Offices tho' to a Stranger or even to an Enemy Man is Naturally Generous and he has debauch'd his Soul who acts contrary to this Principle Yet the greatest Part of Men are degenerated They pursue Lyons Tygers Bears and such like Ravenous Beasts with Inexorable Hatred and Revenge they bear secret Antipathies against Spiders Toads Serpents and other Venomous Creatures and yet they are all these Things or worse themselves Ever since Astraea abandon'd the Earth there has been a strange Metamorphosis in our Race Men have for the most Part forsaken their Humanity and chang'd Nature with the Salvages Nay we transcend them in whatsoever is Cruel and Vicious As if our Reason were given us onely to teach us the most Refin'd Methods of Impiety and to be a more exquisite Spur to Vice Isouf has presented me with Solid Observations of this Kind in his Travels especially in Africk He say that Region is not more Prolifick of Strange and Horrible Beasts than it is of Monstrous Men Brutes and Devils in Humane Shape And tho' he relates some Fair Things of the Indians and other People in Asia yet they are intermix'd with Tragical Reports and Mournful Memoirs Such as stain the History of our Race and make it evident That it is hard to meet with one Good Man among Ten Thousand The whole World is over-run with Oppression Cruelty Avarice Perfidy and Lust He relates strange Things of the Antiquities of Egypt He calls it the onely Scene of Wonders and Miracles on Earth Indeed this Country was ever Famous among all Nations for the Wisdom and Learning of her Priests who in the First Ages of the World understood all the Secrets of the Elements the Vertues of Plants and Minerals and were perfectly vers'd in the Science of the Stars and Spirits and in all Manner of Mysterious Knowledge They were said to make Statues and Images that cou'd Speak Walk Run and counterfeit all Human Actions They were also exquisite in making Miraculous Talismans and Mirrours with any kind of Magical Work whereby they kept the People and even the Princes in a Profound Awe and Veneration of their Prodigious Knowledge and Power and likewise defended their Country against all Invaders For no sooner did an Enemy appear with his Armies on the Frontiers of Egypt but these Priests had present Intimation of it by their Secret Art even in their Chambers perhaps at a Hundred Leagues Distance Then by their Enchantments they either caus'd Fire to consume them in their Camps or turned their Swords against each other or sent an Army of Winged Serpents to destroy ' em So that for many Ages no King ever prospered that fought against the Egyptians But let not thou and I dear Brother suffer our Reason to degenerate by giving Credit to Fictions and Romances though vouch'd by some of our Countrymen such as Morat Alzeman Eb'n Abdalhokm and others He also tells many Remarkable Passages of the Pyramids of Caire the overflowing of the Nile the Mummies and other Things which I have not now Time to rehearse but in another Letter I will gratify thee with a more Ample Account of his Observations In the mean Time live thou to enjoy the Fruits of thy own Travels in the East Which if it matches not the South in Prodigies and Stupendous Inventions yet it surpasses both it and all the Rest of the World in Justice and Morality Paris 17th of the 11th Moon of the Year 1655. LETTER XIV To Ismael Kaidar Cheik a Man of the Law THou hast the Character and Fame of a Great Historian a Man of Intelligence both in the Records of Past Times and the Transactions of the Present Therefore the Name of Christian late Queen of Sueden cannot be strange to thee I doubt not but thou hast heard of this Princess so celebrated throughout the Earth for her Learning and other Noble Accomplishments and how she voluntarily resign'd the Crown to one of her Kinsmen But perhaps thou know'st not the true Motives which induc'd her to this Royal Caprice For it deserves no better Name as thou wilt understand by the Sequel Her Father who for his Successful Wars and perpetual Victories was call'd the Great Gustave dying left her in the Entire Possession of his Kingdom and New Conquests in Germany But during the Time of her Reign Piementelli the Spanish Embassador at Stockholm by daily conversing with this Great Queen us'd such plausible Insinuations as prevail'd on her to have a more favourable Opinion of the Pope and his Religion than she had before entertain'd For all the Suedes are Educated in an Aversion for those of the Roman Faith I need not explain to thee these Distinctions of Belief among the Nazarenes Thou art vers'd in their History as well as in our own Suffice it to say that this Embassador possess'd Christina with so fair an Idea of the Catholick Religion that she abandon'd her Crown and has ever since been a Queen-Errant a Royal Rambler through Europe being resolv'd to make Experiment of the Generosity of Catholick Princes whose Vertues Piementelli had so highly extoll'd ' Twou'd be a Work of Seven Moons for the most Industrious Scribe to relate all the Particular Magnificences with which she has been entertain'd in her Travels through Germany Flanders Alsace Inspruck Italy and Rome where she now resides Every Prince of the Roman Church through whose Territories she pass'd was Ambitious to appear Prodigal of his Favours and Civilities to their Illustrious Stranger Perhaps to evade the Lashes of her Wit which they say is very Satyrical Or it may be for other Reasons more forcible and poignant Be it how it will the Roman Wits have not spar'd her as thou wilt perceive by the Following Verses which on the First Day of the Moon of January were found in the Hand of Pasquin and on the Portal of the Palace Farnese where she resides Pazza Gobba Zoppa viene dal Norre Del Monarcha Invitto l indegna Figlia Mentre Pologna Gente si ' Scompiglia A vane Pompe Roma apre le Porte Contra questi Applausi l'ungrida forte Et in bassè Note l'altro bis Biglia Corre la Sciocca Gente alza le ciglia Ride Pasquin del Papa della Corte Su su venite voi Ruffiani Snelli Et portate a Christina ' stravagante Di Venere il Scettro nei Pazzarelli Vuol parer dotta e rozza Pedante E in Braccio a mangiator di Ravanelli Vuol parer
likewise the Friends of the Prince of Conde The Parliament are very bold and peremptory in their Proceedings having expressly forbid the Citizens of Paris to obey the King's Order and decreed that Nothing shall be done in their Assembly till the Banish'd Senators be recall'd Things being at this Pass we expect Nothing but Insurrections Massacres and other Effects of Popular Fury The Rich are laying in vast Quantities of Corn and other Provisions as if they expected a Siege And the Poor fare the better for it whilst great Largesses are given among them by the Grandees of the Parliament to engage them in the Faction Besides thou know'st the Multitude always delights in Novelty and State-Tempests hoping for Plunder and to enrich themselves by the Ruine of others I know not what Conduct is fittest for me to use in this Case Whether it will be best for me to abide in this City or follow the Court which is now at La Fere in Picardy Or Whether I should retire to some other Place less liable to Civil Disturbances I wish the Ministers of the Port would send me full Instructions what I ought to do in these Emergences From Rome we hear that the Pope and Cardinals are in great Consternation on some Intelligence they have receiv'd That the English intend to make a Descent on the Territories of the Church That Nation is now become the Great Bug-bear of all Europe since they have molded themselves into a Commonwealth Every Kingdom and Empire has a Time to rise and another to fall But who can determine the Period wherein the Ottoman Glory will decline which is not yet advanc'd to its Zenith Paris 27th of the 5th Moon of the Year 1656. LETTER XVIII To Sedrec Al' Giraw'n Chief Treasurer to the Grand Signior THY Vertues have at Length rais'd thee to a Glorious Trust the Charge of Immense Wealth Thou hast in thy Custody the Riches which cannot be match'd in the Universe God inspire thee with Graces suitable to a Dignity so full of Temptations I hope thou wilt not be affronted at my Prayer as was thy Predecessor Kienan Bassa at some Counsels of like Nature which I gave him in a Letter Some Men are strangely Cholerick and look on him as an Enemy who gives them good Advice I onely warn'd him of the ordinary Cheats that are practis'd at Certain Times in the Treasury which thou know'st to be true as well as I. And I tell thee farther he himself was suspected by many in the Seraglio not to have been altogether exempt from Guilt Whether he were or not I perform'd but my Duty in giving him necessary Cautions For such is the Will of my Superiours that I shou'd not be afraid to unravel the Secrets of those who are false to the Grand Signior I did not charge him with such a Crime and therefore he had no Reason to be angry But some Men will pick a Quarrel with their own Shadows In a Word this Grandee forgot himself In saying so I do not reflect on his Original or that he was found sleeping on a Dunghill in Russia a poor ragged Infant when the Tartars took him Captive among many Thousands of others in the Plunder of Tsinarow and sold him to the Capa Agasi for Thirteen Piasters by Reason of his Beauty I do not call to mind the Circumstances of his Youth since 't is common for the meanest Slaves to arrive at an Extraordinary Grandeur by their Merits or at least through the Favour of the Sultan But what I aim at is that in his being disgusted at the Remonstrances I made of some private and sinister Practices in the Treasury he forgot that he himself is still a Slave to the Grand Signior as well as I and therefore not above Instruction Well it seems he is now made Captain Bassa and thou succeedest him in the Office of Treasurer To him I wish all Imaginable Success and Victories at Sea for the Sake of our Great Master and the Mussulman Empire To thee for thy own Sake and for my Brother's whom I know thou wilt ever respect as a Friend I wish Encrease of Riches and Honours even as thy Merits and Services augment in the Esteem of the Sultan and of all the World And I tell thee I have far livelier Hopes to see this Latter Wish take Effect than the Former For what Reason have we to expect better Luck from the Courage or Conduct of this Ouroos Kienan than from the brave Zornesan Mustapha who commanded the Fleet last Year This Unhappy Thought has put me into as melancholy a Humour as Aeneas was in when the Queen of Carthage required an Account of the Trojan Wars For I have heard that Cara Mustapha Bassa succeeded Zornesan in the Command of the Fleet and in the Revolution of a Moon was made Mansoul again for the Sake of Kienan Bassa or rather for the Sake of the licentious Souldiers who it seems command all Things I have been inform'd also of all the other Tragedies Acted at the Seraglio since the Second Moon of this Year Neither are the Causes and Origin of so much Slaughter and Blood-shed hid from me 'T is too apparent that there is an Universal Disorder and Corruption in the Discipline of the Janizaries I formerly wrote to the Kiaya Bey on this Account But it seems Avarice the Root of all Evil had render'd him Insensible and Obdurate Is it not a Shame that the Pay of those who serve the Grand Signior in the Wars shou'd be detain'd not Three or Four Moons but Five or Six Years by their corrupt Officers They sit at home enjoying their Ease revelling in Taverns and committing a Thousand Riots whilst the others undergo numberless Fatigues abroad and are reduc'd to the extremest Necessities not having so much as the Vests allow'd 'em by the Sultan to cover their Nakedness And if they complain of their Sufferings instead of Redress they meet with Nothing but Taunts and Reproaches as if they were not worthy to eat the Sultan's Bread and Salt tho' they freely hazard their Lives for him It is no Wonder the Janizaries are so unbridl'd in their Rage after so many Provocations Yet I cannot but lament the Fate of those Unfortunate Men who were sacrific'd to the Fury of that insolent Militia Especially I condole the Loss of the brave Solyman Kyzlir Aga. The Janizaries had on old Grudge against him ever since his hot Dispute with the Bostangi Bassa and now they were resolv'd to execute their Revenge As for the Kiaya Bey it seems to be a Stroak of Divine Justice that he who had been the Cause of all this Mutiny shou'd in Remorse strangle Himself and so go to Hell as an Expiation for the many Lives he had cast away And there 's little less to be said in Respect of the Mufti who was the Chief of those that betray'd their Master Sultan Ibrahim To tell thee my true Resentments I am heartily sorry for all the Rest
Courage and brave Actions of Ajax deserv'd all due Honour and Acknowledgment yet the Surprize of Troy and ending the War was onely owing to his Wit and Contrivance who deluded the Trojans with a Wooden Horse in the Belly of which lay a Detachment of Armed Men and these after the Horse was admitted into the City came out of their Nest in the Dead of the Night and set Fire to the Houses opening the Gates also to the Grecian Army If the Venetians cou'd invent some such Stratagem perhaps there wou'd be Danger of their taking Constantinople But till then Illu strious Bassa there 's no Reason to fear these Infidels Besides it will be very easy to dispossess 'em of that Ominous Island and so dissipate the Charm which has bewitch'd the Seditious Rabble But I wou'd counsel that it be attempted in Time before the Venetians are got into the Hellespont with their Navy For there 's no Success against these Infidels by Sea That Element it seems is the Wife of the Duke of Venice being Espous'd with a Ring and other Solemn Ceremonies on a certain Festival of the Nazarenes One wou'd think also that the English had made successful Love to the Sea For their Navies are always prosperous We have fresh News come in of an Encounter between them and the Spanish West-India Fleet near the Island of Teneriff wherein there were Seventeen of the Spanish Ships sunk and burnt and among them were Five great Galleons They took from them an Immense Treasure of Gold and Silver with other costly Merchandise The French Court rejoyces mightily at this Exploit not in any Real Love to the English but in Hatred of the Spaniards For between these Two Nations there seems to be an Irreconcilable Antipathy Besides the French have Reason of State for their Joy being in League with the English Common-wealth That which renders this Victory the more Remarkable is that it was obtain'd in a Spanish Harbour the Port of Santa Cruz in Teneriff Every one extols the English Commander for a very brave Person His Name is Blake I am the more Particular in this Relation because thou art expert in Marine Affairs having had the Command of the Invincible Ottoman Armado There is a Post newly come in from Germany who informs us that the King of Sueden and Prince Ragotski have taken the strong Fort of Brzeski Litenski from the King of Poland The Portuguese Embassador at this Court presses the King with much Earnestness to send Aids to his Master in Regard the Spaniards are actually enter'd into Portugal and have taken Olivenza a City of that Kingdom I formerly acquainted the Ministers of the Divan that the King of Spain had caus'd all the People of his Kingdom to be Numbred Now I tell thee farther That in Order to carry on the War effectually against Portugal this Monarch has commanded the 5th Man in every Family to take up Arms and follow the Campagne At which Rate they say he will have a Hundred Thousand Men in the Field In the mean time all the Discourse here at present is concerning the Siege of Montmedi a very strong Place in Flanders It was Invested by the French Army on the 11th of this Moon under the Command of Mareschal de la Ferte Seneterre Fâ—ance has sent a great many Brave Generals inâ—o the Field this Summer and I perceâ—vâ— the Bassas of the Ottoman Empire are not like to tarry at home God inspire thee and thy Equals with a Resolution which knows no Medium between Victory and a Glorious Death Paris 26th of the 6th Moon of the Year 1657. LETTER XVII To Nathan Ben Saddi a Jew at Vienna THE Beginning of thy Letter surpriz'd me with wonder when I Read that a Chiaus from the Grand Signior the Sovereign of Sovereigns Lord of Three Empires and Five and Twenty Kingdoms shou'd have the Dishonour not to find Admittance within the Walls of Vienna and that in a Time when the Germans have no Reason to provoke a Foreign War being sufficiently embarrass'd with Domestick Troubles But when I read farther and perceiv'd That no Embassador not even of the Christian Princes has any more Privilege at this Juncture and that it is an Establish'd Law of the Empire thus to reverence the Majesty of their deceas'd Sovereign and consult the Safety of the next Election I ceas'd to resent this any longer as an Indignity to our Great Master and only concluded it to be some Mystery of the Austrian State It is an Argument of profound Respect to the Imperial Ghost That the Churches are all hung with Mourning throughout the Hereditary Dominions and that no Musick is permitted either in the Temples or elsewhere no Jollity or Mirth till the Funeral Obsequies are perform'd and the Body of Caesar is consign'd to the Place of its Everlasting Repose As to the Quarrel between the Duke of Bavaria and Prince Palatine about the Vicariate there 's much to be said on both Sides And it ought to be a Thing Indifferent to thee and me which of those Two gets the Victory Yet for the Sake of Truth I will tell thee in Short what I have collected out of the Journal of Carcoa thy Predecessor and out of other Memoirs as they came to my Hands It appears then that by the Golden Bull of Charles V. this Dignity was declar'd Inherent in the Palatinate Family in Right of their Possession of that Principality and that it had been so for many Ages even before there were any Electors Establish'd in the Empire 'T is upon this Ground the present Elector Palatinate claims it But on the other Side it is as manifest that when Maximilian the Father of the Present Duke of Bavaria was Invested with the Electoral Dignity it was Inserted in the Imperial Bull that the Vicegerency of the Empire during an Interregnum shou'd henceforth belong to that Family Yet this Grant was again disannull'd by the late Pacification at Munster And so the Business is left in Dispute between these Two Families He of Bavaria trusts to his Strength and Riches being also back'd by the Ecclesiastick Princes whilst the other only confides in the Justice of his Cause the Right of Unquestionable Inheritance Leaving therefore these Grandees to prosecute their several Claims I 'll tell thee what makes the freshest Noise in this City is an Attempt which the Prince of Conde made lately on the Town of Calais a Sea-Port of this Kingdom He had receiv'd certain Intelligence that the Governour had sent out the best Part of the Garrison to fortify Ardres a Place not far from Calais and suppos'd to be in greater Danger Upon this News the Prince march'd with great Expedition designing to surprize Calais by Night But he was discover'd before he came near them and the Inhabitants taking up Arms appeared on the Walls and Ramparts to welcome him so that he was forc'd to retire again with the Loss of near a Thousand Men. Here are Two Men
put some Stop to the design'd Election Besides they cannot agree among themselves about a Successor The Queen Christina of Sueden is come back again into this Kingdom being frighted out of Italy a Second Time by the Return of the Plague There is a War commenc'd between the City of Munster and the Bishop of that Place So that he has laid a Formal Siege to it and presses them very close All this is of no such Importance as the News that I receive from Constantinople which assures me that the Mussulmans have retaken the Isles of Tenedos and Lemnos tho' with some Loss of Men. I wish they cou'd as easily drive the Venetians out of the Archipelago and then the Imperial City would have no longer Reason to complain for Want of Bread Paris 10th of the 9th Moon of the Year 1657. LETTER XXII To Dgnet Oglou I Know not what 's the Matter but most of my Friends are of late grown strange to me They write but seldom and then their Letters are full of Reserves as if they suspected my Integrity Or that because I am Commanded to inform the Divan of all Criminal Practices therefore they are afraid to communicate their Sentiments with the same Freedom as formerly tho' on Themes no Ways belonging to the State but purely Speculative and the Common Discourse of all Sensible Men. Are you become more Morose and Rigid at Constantinople than you were Twenty Years ago In those Days I remember it was Common in the Publick Coffee-Hans for Mussulmans Greeks Curds and Franks or Men of any other Religion to meet together and vent their Thoughts with Liberty No Man being willing to be Stigmatiz'd with the Character of a Clown for taking Offence at another's Faith tho' different from his own It was then esteem'd a Point of Gallantry to favour the Christians of all Sects and let 'em talk and act as they pleas'd provided they Blasphem'd not God or his Prophets And they themselves wou'd have Condemn'd any of their own Party who shou'd have been Guilty of such an Immorality and Affront to the Established Religion of the Mussulmans and the General Sence of Mankind But why then is the same Liberty retrenched now and that among Mussulmans who are Intimate Friends Is it not now as Lawful for us to converse with one another by Letter or any other Way as it was then to enter into Dialogues with Infidels I would not encourage or imitate the Bold and Prophane Efforts of their Wit who deny the Being of a God or utter Blasphemies against his Messenger The whole Vniverse is an Irrefragable Testimony of an Eternal and Omnipotent Nature And the Alcoran is an Evident Proof of the Sanctity and Indispensible Commission of Our Holy Lawgiver But I hope 't is no Crime to enter into Speculations of Things liable to Controversy At least I will venture to disclose to thee my Thoughts who art the most Agreeable of all my Friends I tell thee my dear Gnet it appears to me Ridiculous and like the Quarrels of Children for Moselmans to wrangle about mere Trifles in Religion and that the Resign'd to God shou'd be Zealous for the Whimsies of Men. One Party believes the Alcoran is Eternal Another says 't is Created In my Opinion they are both Absurd Assertions The First because then it will follow That there are more Eternals than One which is a fair Step to Polytheism and Idolatry The Second is only an Impropriety of Speech For we do not usually say of any Writing That it is Created but Pen'd I can easily believe the Manifold Descents of Gabriel from Heaven when he brought down the Hundred and Four Sheets of Science and Faith But whether Adam had only Ten of these Sheets or One and Twenty as some say Or whether his Son Seth had but Twenty Nine of them or Fifty according to Others is not Material according to my Faith It is Possible Edris had no more nor less than Thirty and Abrahim our Father just Ten of these Divine Manuscripts Of this we are sure That the Volume of the Law was sent to Moses the Psalms to David the Gospel to Jesus the Son of Mary and the Mighty Alcoran to Mahomet the Seal of the Prophets It is as easy for me to believe the Celestial Pen with which all these Manuscripts were written to be of some Admirable Substance But why it shou'd be made of Pearls rather than of Diamonds or any other Jewels I see no Reason Or that it shou'd be a Journey of Fifty Years for the Swifrest Horse in Arabia to run from one End of it to the other Yet if I have not Faith enough for these Things I will not be Angry with those that have Let every Man enjoy his Phancy But I cannot be so Indifferent when I hear Men tell me That God has a Body like Ours with Eyes Ears Nose Hands Tongue and all other Members and Organs of Life Sence Speech and Morion That he is subject to Passions of Love Hatred Anger Grief and all the Affections that are Common to Mortals Yet thou knowest there is a Sect of Mussulmans who believe all this and preach it to others with great Assurance What is this but to set up an Idol in the Place of God For the Original of all Idolatry was the Vain Presumption of Men who represented the Incomprehensible Divinity under some Common Visible Figure of Men or Beasts If we must assign a Body to God it wou'd seem more Rational to adhere to their Opinion among the Sephatim who say his Body is Infinite Vncircumscrib'd and beyond all Form Neither is it of any Import that the Western Philosophers assert It is of the Essence of all Bodies to be Circumscrib'd and Finite Since though this may be readily granted true of Particular Bodies yet must it ever be deny d of the Immense and Vniversal Body out of which the World is Form'd Unless they will allow an Unlimited and Interminate Unbody'd Space which is more Unintelligible and Absurd Doubtless if the Eternal Mind has a Body 't is Expanded Wide as the Endless Aether and Equally Present in all Places Neither can this Body be any more Circumscrib'd Confin'd or shut up in any Place than the Light of the Sun can be Restrain'd within a Room or Separated from its Source by the drawing of a Curtain For all the World is Pervious to this Infinite Body which is altogether Indivisible into Parts even as that which we call a Spirit In a Word we must conceive it to be simple and uncompounded the Finest and First Matter of the Vniverse But if thou wilt have my Opinion all this is Infinitely too low and narrow an Idea of that Eternal and most Exalted Essence that Intellectual Beauty which no Mortal Eye has seen no Tongue or Pen can describe the smallest Glimpse of whose Ineffable Majesty falling on the Thoughts of Holy Men and Prophets snatches away their Souls in Sacred Passions and Divine Exstasies