in Nothing so much as in educating their Youth hardily and free from the Effeminate Softnesses of other Nations They esteem'd Infancy and Youth the Spring time of good Manners when Vertue is in the Blossom If that be nip'd or blasted the Fruit must prove abortive and unprofitable Therefore they took Care to season their Early Years with wholesom Instructions and Masculine Exercises Who among the warlike Osmans does not laugh at the unmanly Education of the Persian Sophi's who being for so many Years confin'd to the Company and Discipline of Females seem fitter to be made Overseers of a Nursery than to ascend a Throne But thou wilt say I take large Leaps from the North of Europe to one of the most Southern Tracts in Asia I was discoursing of the Moscovites and the Assistance they afforded the Cossacks in recovering Asac I passed from thence to the Manner of their Education Permit me now to divert thee with Something peculiar and uncommon in the Character of the Russian Women I am acquainted with a Gentleman in this City who has travelled through all that Part of Europe and resided some Years at Mosco He says The Russian Wives think themselves not beloved by their Husbands unless they beat them every Day They take his Correction as a Mark of his Favour and Esteem If these silly Females are angry or peevish he has no other way to court 'em into a better Humour but by Stripes This is the only convincing Argument of his Sovereignty over them the Demonstration of his Manhood the Charm which fastens both their Love and Obedience He highly applauds the absolute Resignation which this People shew to their Great Duke in that they pretend not to Possess their Estates and Lives but through his Favour and during his Pleasure He says the Succession of the Czars or Great Dukes of Russia was in former Times determin'd after this Manner A great Stone was plac'd in a large Field belonging to the City of Mosco When any Czar died His Sons or the next of Kin were conducted into this Field and placed all at an equal Distance from the Stone Then at a certain Signal given they all ran together toward it and he that first reach'd it so as to stand on the Top of it was establish'd in the Throne The Reverence which these People pay to their Prince may in Part be ascribed to his seldom appearing in Person to them and then surrounded with his Boyars or Nobles in the most Magnificent Equipage that can be supposed proper to strike a Terror and Awe into his Subjects and cause them to Honour him as little less than a God The Eyes of the Vulgar are dazl'd with so many Splendors of Silver Gold and Jewels And when the Great Duke makes his solemn Appearance or Cavalcade they are almost ready to think That Heaven has descended to Earth to do them the Honour of a Visit These are the Arts of Russian Policy by which such an Infinite Number of People are charmed into an Obedience to the Sovereign Doubtless the Majesty of a King receives no small Lustre from External Ornaments the Multitude being captivated with whatsoever is Gay and Glittering Yet our Glorious Sultans scorn to borrow Advantage from or owe their Grandeur to any Thing but their Exalted Blood and sublime innate Vertues But every Nation have their peculiar Customs and distinct Reasons of State The Constitution of all Governments is not alike The Model of Lacedaemonian Policy would suit ill with Athens Thou whose Education was in the Royal Seraglio of the Osman Emperours that hast been instructed to imitate the Bee which sucks Honey from every Flower Thou that knowest how to make a Choice of Good Examples and to reject the Ill practise the Valour of One Nation the Prudence of Another the Frugality of a Third so shalt thou be consummate in Vertue and acquit thy self a good General Paris 15th of the 11th Moon of the Year 1646. LETTER XVIII To Solyman Kyzlar Aga Chief of the Black Eunuchs I Am just now return'd to my Chamber from the Palace of the King As I pass'd along the Streets I saw in every Face the Signatures of a profound Sorrow which seems to have diffused it self over their whole Bodies for both the Court and City have put on Mourning for the Death of Henry Bourbon late Prince of Conde He was not full Sixty Years of Age when he left this Visible World to be new-born in a Region utterly unknown to Mortals The French not without Reason lament the Loss of a Man who to speak the Least of him buoy'd up the Domestick Interest of this Kingdom which seemed otherwise inclining to totter He was the Balance which pois'd the different Passions of the Court and City by his Prudence and Justice calming both into a peaceable Mediocrity He was born some Moons after his Fathers Death whom the most execrable Method of Murdering would not suffer to Spin out those Years which Nature would have indulg'd him being snatch'd away by Poison Henry IV. so long as he remain'd without Issue fix'd his Eyes on this Posthumous Young Prince and gave him an Education suitable to one whom Fate had designed to be the Heir of the Crown Yet afterwards Jealousie cool'd his Affection when the Prince had married Charleotte the Duke of Montmorency's Daughter whom Henry IV. loved to a Degree of Passion It is dangerous to have a Sovereign Prince ones Rival in Love That Match had well-nigh ruined the Young Prince of Conde He was forced to fly into Holland with his Princess and make that Province the Sanctuary of her Honour From thence he travelled through Germany and return'd not to France till after the Murder of Henry IV. During the Minority of Lewis XIII he Headed the Factions affecting to become Popular Were it not for this Ambition his Life had been without Blemish and he might have blown out Diogenes his Mid-day-Candle But no Man is free from Fault All the Difference between the Vertuous and Vicious consists in this That one commits fewer Crimes than the other and those not by Intention or Habit but through the Insuperable Proclivity of Nature Every Man has his Genial Vices his Constitutional Errors and though he may appear a Saint in all Things else yet in these he will still be a Sinner He suffered Five Years Imprisonment in the Bastile which is a Place put to the same Use as the Castle of the Seven Towers in Constantinople The Princess his Wise was his Companion all the Time and shared in his Misfortunes as well as his Prosperity During that tedious Confinement he became Father of a Daughter who was afterwards Married to the Duke of Longueville And when he was set at Liberty he begot the Duke of Enguien now Prince of Conde and the Prince of Conti. The French speak well of the Departed Prince He was of a lively Spirit chearful and affable in Conversation mixing daily Recreations with his severer
grieve for the Loss of one of his Wives who ran away with his Slave Relates a Story of an Italian Lord. XIV To Solyman his Cousin 185 He reproves him for deserting the Publick Assemblies of the Faithful and following of Schismaticks XV. To Hasnadar-Bassy Chief Treasurer to the Grand Signior 187 Of the Duke of Enguien's Triumphant Entring into Paris after the taking of Dunkirk XVI To Ibrahim Hali Cheik a Man of the Law 189 Touching the Suppressing of Brothel-Houses in Paris XVII To Mustapha Bassa of Silistria 192 He attributes the Loss of Asac to the Valour of the Moscovites A Character of that People with the Manner of the Czars Succession in Former Times XVIII To Solyman Kyzlar Aga Chief of the Black Eunuchs 196 He acquaints him with the Death of the Prince of Conde The Character of that Prince with a Brief Account of his Life XIX To the Kaimacham 199 Of the Count d' Harcourt's Disgrace in Decamping from before Lerida The Success of the French Arms in Italy Of a strange Fountain in the Isle of Elbe XX. To Bajazet Bassa of Greece 201 He acquaints him with his Suspicion of some deep Designs in the French Court. Of a Fellow who rais'd a Sedition in Paris XXI To Pestelihali his Brother 206 He thanks him for the Journal of his Travels Congratulates his Escape from Male and Female Thieves tells him a Story of the Mogul's Father and another of a Merchant's Widow in the Indies With other Discourses of that Nature XXII To Afis Bassa 218 Of a Quarrel between Monsieur Chanut the French Ambassador at Stockholme and the Suedish Secretary of State The Repartee of a French Embassador to the King of Spain XXIII To the Mufti most Venerable and worthy of all Honour 222 A Comparison of the Three Ministers of State Ximenes Richlieu and Mazarini XXIV To Danecmar Kesrou Cadilesquer of Romania 228 Of the Perfidy of the Scots in selling King Charles I. to the English Parliament A Story of Bishop Hatto XXV To Ragel Hamet Antiquary to the Sultan 234 Remarks on Old Magical Statues and Images Of the Palladium and Ancilia Of the true Name of the City of Rome XXVI To the Vizir Azem 238 Mahmut acquaints him with his Return from Orleans The Reason of the great Conflux of Strangers to that City XXVII To the Aga of the Janizaries 240 Of Joan d' Arc the Maid of Orleans XXVIII To Dgnet Oglou 244 Of Eliachim's falling in Love with a French Lady on the Road as he accompanied Mahmut to Orleans XXIX To the Captain Bassa 251 Of the Bold Proposal which a Sea-Captain made to Cardinal Mazarini And of a Magnificent Ship which Queen Christina presented to this Minister BOOK III. LETTER I. TO Bedredin Superiour of the Convent of Dervises at Cogni in Natolia 255 He makes an Apology for his Faith against such as slander'd him Of a Hermit then living near Paris who had almost doubled the Years of Bedredin II. To Murat Bassa 262 Of the Christians Joy for their Victory by Sea and Land A Comparison between Sultan Ibrahim and Sultan Amurat. III. To Mahomet Techli Bassa of Bosna at his Camp in Dalmatia 266 He reproaches him with Cowardise in Decamping from before Sebenico IV. To Achmet Bassa 268 He tells him of an Attempt to Murder Queen Christina in her Chappel V. To Cara Hali a Physician at Constantinople 272 He Discourses of the Manna in Calabria some of which he sends him VI. To Kerker Hassan Bassa 277 Of the Revolution in China VII To Darnish Mehemet Bassa 286 Of Masanello and the Revolution in Naples VIII To Solyman his Cousin 291 He again reprehends his Manner of Life and perswades him by the Example of his Grandfather to observe the Laws of Purity IX To the Kaimacham 296 Of the Cruelty executed by the Turkish General on a Christian Priest Of the Veneration the Ancient Mahometans paid to Scanderbeg's Bones Of Porsenna's Generosity X. To the Mufti 301 Remarks on the Spanish Misfortunes the Insurrection in Sicily and particularly on the Revolution in Naples He prays him to furnish Nathan Bed Saddi with Religious Books XI This Letter wants the Title and Beginning 306 Of the Christians Revenge on the Son of Ali Sangiac-Bey of Lippa for the Sufferings of the Christian Priest The Extravagant Revenge of an Italian Captain XII To the Venerable Mufti 308 Of Cardinal Mazarini's supporting the Tumults in Naples Remarks on the Duke of Guise his Attempt to succour the Revolted A Description of the Extent and Riches of that Kingdom XIII To Abdel Melec Muli Omar Superintendent of the College of Sciences at Fez. 315 He Discourses about the Duration of the World The Vision of Omar Successor of Mahomet Of Adam's First Wife Alileth That the Earth was Inhabited for Many Ages before Adam XIV To the Mufti 323 He relates to him the Tragedy of the Sicilian Vespers Of a Woman and her Daughter that were Immur'd Seventeen Years by a Scribe in Naples XV. To the Kaimacham 327 He informs him what Reason he has to be jealous of Cardinal Mazarini's Designs against the Ottoman Empire Osmin the Dwarf 's Dexterity in prying into the Cardinal's Secrets and those of the Grandees XV. To Pestelihali his Brother 332 He farther commends his Journal A Rare Example of Indian Charity Of the Ingenuity of the Chinese Of the Conquest of that Kingdom by the Tartars He discourses of the Original of Nations and the Unmix'd Blood of the Arabians and Tartars Of a Guâ—… â—…in Two Thousand Years Old XVII To the Aga of the Janizaries 339 Of the Famous Victory the French obtain'd at the Battel of Lens Of the Tumults at Paris and the King of France's Speech to the Senators Mahmut informs him how he imploys certain Agents to foment the Publick Sedition XVIII To Achmet Beig 344 He acquaints him with the Death of Uladislaus King of Poland for which the Court of France was in Mourning as also with the Duke of Bavaria's Death Of the French Campagnes in Flanders Of a Sea-Fight between the French and Spaniards Of a Formidable Conspiracy against the Czar of Moscovy XIX To the Mufti 347 He seems to approve of Sultan Ibrahim's being Depos'd c. Censures his Attempt on Sultan Amurat's Widow and his Rape of the Mufti 's Daughter The Continence of the African Scipio The Stratagem of Athenodorus the Philosopher He incites the Mufti to encourage the Translation of Greek and Latin Historians XX. To Chiurgi Muhammel Bassa 351 Of the Conclusion of the Peace of Munster Of the Troubles of Paris and the Duke of Beaufort's Escape out of the Castle of the Wood of Vinciennes XXI To Dgnet Oglou 353 He complains of the Vnjust Proceedings of the Conspirators against Sultan Ibrahim Refuses to Defame him after his Death Owns that he did but Dissemble in his last Letter to the Mufti Of the Statue of a Famous Wrastler which fell down and crush'd to Death a Man that through Envy went to Demolish it
tell thee my Obligations are infinite not only to thee but to many others of my Friends at the Port It is impossible for me to acquit my self of so many Engagements As for the Dignity to which the Sultan has rais'd thee I receiv'd the first News of it within these Fourteen Days And I dare affirm That none of thy Friends or of those whose Dependance is on thee could with greater Complacency behold thee Vested by our Most August Emperour than I read the Letter which conveyed to me this welcom Intelligence Long mayst thou Live to enjoy the Blessings which thy Good Fortune has heap'd on thee Yet I counsel thee to enjoy them so as not to forget thou must die Let not the Grandeur of thy Station render thee proud and wilful But remember when thou art surrounded with a Crowd of adoring Suppliants That Death shall level thee with the Meanest of thy Slaves Thus the Ancient Philosophers spar'd not to perform the Office of Monitors to their Kings and Princes and I hope thou wilt not take in ill Part the wholesom Advice of Mahmut who discovers a Temper void of Hypocrisie in the Freedom he assumes If thou givest Ear to Flatterers they will compliment thee to thy Ruine and when thou art on the Brink of a Precipice they will persuade thee there is no Danger though if thou goest on they know thy Fall is inevitable They will pride themselves in the Dexterity of their Malice and insult over thee with scornful Sarcasms whom not long ago they idoliz'd The Eminent Command thou hast requires thy frequent Presence in the Sovereign Divan And that thou mayst not sit there only as an Auditor of other Mens Counsels and incapable of making one in the Number of those who become Remarkable by their Orations or Reports of Foreign Events I will now entertain thee with some Passages which have happen'd in Europe since the Beginning of this Year whereof the other Bassa's may possibly be ignorant The Diet of Francfort which had continued for Three Years was dissolv'd on the 12th of the 4th Moon This may be known at the Port while they remain Strangers to the Reason of it There are a Sort of Christians in Germany whom they call Evangelicks These are opposite to the Roman Church both in Religion and Interest and their Cause is chiefly espous'd by the Dukes of Saxony and Brandenburgh It was to comply with these that an Assembly was appointed at Osnaburgh but the Emperour and the Catholicks were either for continuing that at Francfort or translating it to Munster While the contending Parties were bickering and striving to gain their several Ends the Deputy of the Duke of Bavaria tired out with such intolerable Delays departed from Francfort whom the Rest of the Deputies follow'd And this thou mayst report for the true Occasion of the Dissolution of that Diet. Thus at the Beginning of the Year the Disputes which these Infidels rais'd about Safe Conduct Exactness of Titles Priority of Address and many other vain Punctilio's hinder'd them from coming to any Conclusion about a Peace which was the Principal Cause of their Assembling And this is a Folly peculiar to the Nazarens That in all Publick Assemblies the very Strength and Vitals of their Counsels are spent in a vain adjusting of empty Ceremonies It is credibly reported here That the King of Poland earnestly sollicits a Match with Queen Christina of Suedeland It seems he had formerly sent an Embassador on that Subject to the Suedish Court but he return'd without any positive Answer or effecting any Thing in it In the Second Moon of this Year that Queen sent an Embassador to give the King of Poland an Account that she had taken the Government upon Her While he tarried in the Polish-Court there were not wanting such as by the King's Order sifted his Inclination in Reference to this Affair It was propos'd to him That this Match would be a happy Occasion to Unite the Two Kingdoms in a firm and durable League That the Evangelicks in Poland would be much eas'd thereby That Vladislaus was not much decay'd in his Natural Vigour That Suedeland might in the mean while be govern'd by the Council With many other Proposals and Encouragements to this Purpose Among which I must not omit that it was suggested How easie 't would be for Two such Potent Crowns in Conjunction not only to humble the Germans but also to put a stop to the Victorious Arms of the Ottoman Empire But all this came to Nothing that wary Queen suspecting that there was a deeper Design in the Courtship of this Old Fox And that by such a Match the Kingdom of Suedeland in Default of the Issue-Royal might be subjected to a Foreign Crown However it is easie to apprehend from this That if the Poles maintain at Present their Accord with the Sublime Port 't is for want of Strength to break it and that they only wait an Opportunity to make some Potent and Firm Alliance which may second the Designs formed by that Court against the First Throne on Earth whereof thou art One of the Principal Pillars Remain firm in thy Station and let neither the Tempests of War nor the Convulsions of State which are the too frequent Products of Peace shake thy Constancy But above all suffer not thy Integrity which is the Basis of all Virtues to be undermin'd by Bribes If thou followest this Counsel God and his Prophet shall Establish thee all Men will Honour thee thy Sovereign shall Exalt thee and Mahmut will rejoice to see thee in Time become the Atlas of the Eternal Empire Paris 5th of the 10th Moon of the Year 1645. LETTER X. To Ikingi Cap ' Oglani Praeceptor to the Royal Pages of the Seraglio THere is a vast Difference between thy Letter and that of Shashim Istham He is Eloquent in the Acknowledgment of his Crime thou Rhetorical in thy own Justification Thou hast plunder'd Demosthenes and Cicero and robb'd 'em of all the Flowers and Tropes of Oratory to dress up a faint liveless Excuse Such an artificial Apology instead of cancelling heightens thy Offence It might have procur'd thee the Applause of the Academy but it comes short of giving me Satisfaction for the Injuries I have receiv'd at thy Hands I have Reason to esteem them such because so design'd although they took no Effect For Wrongs of this Kind ought to be measur'd by the Intention of the Author not by their Success The Ministers of the Divan will hardly be prevail'd on to suspect Mahmut who has given Substantial Proofs of his Fidelity Tell me in the Name of God and Mahomet what was the Motive that induced thee to slander me Wherein have I merited this Persecution at thy Hands It could not be Revenge because I never gave thee Occasion unless thou still retainest a Grudge on the Score of my studying in the Academies and that at my Return from Palermo thou wert not able to expose me in
Wreaths to crown 'em with Triumphs and Glory whilst they live and to sweeten their Memory with the Praise of Future Generations Thus Magnanimous Vizir do the Mussulman Heroes the Props of the First Empire manifest their Courage in defying of Dangers and Wounds and scorning to capitulate with Fortune for Ease and Exemption from Death They know that when they march against the Infidels 't is in Vindication of the Eternal Vnity And therefore instead of endeavouring to shun they court a Death so glorious as that which will immediately transport them to the Bosom of our Holy Prophet and to the Inexpressible Delights of the Gardens of Eden Where this Truth is firmly rooted there is no Room for Fear to plant it self But the Case is otherwise with Infidels who blaspheme that purest Vndivided Essence They assert and believe a Plurality of Gods and therefore in Time of Danger amongst so many Deities they know not whom to address or whom to confide in The Apprehension of Death is terrible to them whose Hope is only in this Life whose Consciences are stained with a Thousand Pollutions and yet renounce the very Method of being Clean. Who not only err themselves but by their Evil Example and Influence for I speak of the Princes and Great Ones draw Innumerable after them to taste of the Tree Zacon which grows in the Middle of Hell People speak variously of the Duke of Enguien's Conduct in the Battel of Allersheim His Creatures extoll his Valour and Experience with Hyperboles Whilst his Enemies endeavour to lessen his Reputation Some say he owes his Revocation to the Queen's Dislike Others attribute it to the extraordinary Concern she has for his Health But such as would be esteem'd the Wiser Sort say his Return is voluntary and sought by himself scorning to hold his Commission any longer at the Pleasure of Cardinal Mazarini who 't is thought first procured him this Employment only to have him out of the Way and take off his Application from the Domestick Affairs of France These are the Discourses of the People at present who yet perhaps may change their Opinions before the Sun goes down They will always be censuring and descanting on the Actions of their Superiors few being willing to think their Tongues were given 'em to lie Idle It is but a Little Member but often does Great Mischief by its Activity One of the Ancients gave no good Character of it when he call'd it a Daemon Yet we are not bound to believe all that the Philosophers said Aesop gave the most impartial Account of this Member when he said 'T was the Best and the Worst Sometimes I sit silent many Hours together not for Want of Company for here 's a Glut of that in this Populous City nor because I know not what to say for I could speak a great Deal more than 't is sit for others to hear but that I may study with less Interruption how to serve my Great Master For much talking enervates the Judgment and evaporates the Mind into Air. Besides by thus practising Silence in Private I learn the Art of restraining my Words in Publick when it is requisite to promote the Ends at which I aim 'T is not for a Man in my Station to be open and talkative but to distinguish Persons and Seasons to understand the due Stops and Advances of my Tongue sometimes to say Much in a Little at other Times to say Little or Nothing at all but ever so to speak as not to lay my self naked to the Hearers yet to seem a very frank open-hearted Man in what I discourse of I would not have thee conclude from what I have said That Mahmut uses any Reserve to the Ministers of the Divan who are Mines of Science and Wisdom and can easily discern the Heart through the most artificial Veil of Words But it is absolutely necessary for me to use Dissimulation in this Court seeming many Times Ignorant of what I really know that I may not be thought to know more than they would have me I was never yet so indiscreet as to publish any Secret that was committed to my Charge whereby I have gained great Confidence with Men who delight to unbosom their Intelligence They esteem me a Man of Integrity and fit to be trusted Thus am I made privy to many Intrigues of the Grandees and a Repository of the Court-News Whilst they whisper in Mahmut's Ear what is transacted in the Royal Bed-Chambers and private Apartments By this means I came acquainted with an Amour of Cardinal Mazarini which is known but to a few This Minister has none of the Worst Faces and a proportionate Elegance in his Shape Much addicted also to the Love of Women yet he manages his Intrigues with that Caution and Privacy as not to expose the Honour of his Function Among the Rest he had frequent Access to the Chamber of a certain Countess-Dowager her Husband being lately deceas'd This was not carried so privately but 't was whisper'd about That a Man was seen often to come out of this Ladies Chamber a little before Day but no Body knew who it was for the Cardinal went disguiz'd At last it came to the Queen's Ear who was resolv'd to unravel this Intrigue She caused Spies to be placed at a convenient Distance from the Lady's Chamber-Door which opened in a Gallery of the Royal Palace with Orders to trace him Home That Night the designed Watch was first set it fortun'd that the Cardinal being in the Countess's Chamber her Maid who was privy to this Amour overheard these Spies talking to each other concerning her Lady which made her more attentive being in a Place were she could not be seen till at length she plainly discovered That they lay in wait to find out who it was that had been seen coming out of the Chamber She quickly acquaints the Countess with this News She consults the Cardinal what was best to be done to avoid Discovery In fine it was agreed between 'em That the Countess should put on the Cardinal's Disguize and he a Suit of her Clothes That she should go out at the usual Hour of his Retreat and walk in the Gardens That if examin'd she should pretend This Disguize was to guard her from the rude Attempts of Men who if they found a Lady alone in the Night-Time would not fail to offer some Incivilities That soon after her Departure the Cardinal should go forth in her Dress and shift for himself This was perform'd accordingly The Countess walk'd into the Gardens in the Cardinal's Disguize followed by the Spies whilst he goes to an Intimate Friend's House an Italian whose Fortune depended on this Minister and changes his Female Accoutrements for the proper Apparel of his Sex The Countess having walk'd about half an Hour in the Garden was seized on by some of the Guards under Suspicion of some ill Design She was carried before the Queen and examin'd She then discover'd her self begging the
the Import of thy Name be Lord of thy self and if thou stumblest at the Light of the Mussulmans walk in that of Moses but shun the Paths of the Christians for they are enveloped in Darkness and grope at Mid-day Live according to Reason and thou shalt be Happy Adieu Paris 18th of the 3d. Moon of the Year 1646. LETTER XXV To Mustapha Berber Aga. THE present War of Candy is like to render that Island as much the Subject of the Worlds Discourse as it was formerly famous for being the Cradle of Jupiter In those Days it was called Crete much celebrated in the Writings of the Greek Poets Afterwards it became a Province of the Roman Empire then of the Grecians next it submitted to the Saracens But in the Time of the Christian Expeditions in Palestine when Baldwin Farl of Flanders was Crown'd Emperour of Constantinople this Island came into his Possession Which he gave to a certain valiant Commander in his Army a Man of a Noble Descent of whom the Venetians purchased it and in their Hands it has continued ever since But now in all Probability bability it will be the Prize of those Arms which Nothing Sublunary can resist The Posts from Italy and the Sea-Coasts of this Kingdom confirm each other's News all agreeing That notwithstanding the Utmost Efforts of the Venetians and Candiots to hinder the Relief of Canea yet our General is got into that Haven with vast Quantities of Provisions and a sufficient Reinforcement of Men. They add That Forty Thousand of our Soldiers have made a Descent in another Part of the Island have gain'd the Forts of Cisternes Colmi and Bicorno and were on their March toward Suda with a Design to besiege that Place They accuse our General of barbarous Cruelty in that he caused Five of the Principal Noblemen of that Kingdom to be put to Death because they refused to betray their Country or enter into the Interests of the Grand Signior I must confess Magnificent Aga That whatever may be said in Commendation of this General 's Policy and Fidelity to his Master It is no Argument of the Goodness of his Disposition I rather admire the Temper of the Duke of Orleans when who Graveling was surrender'd to him just as he enter'd the Town was heard to say these Words Let us endeavour by Generous Actions to win the Hearts of all Men so may we hope for a daily Victory Let the French learn from me this new Way of Conquest to subdue Men by Mercy and Clemency These are Heroick Sentiments and agree well with the Character of this Prince who is said Never to have been the Author of any Man's Death nor to have revenged himself of any injury Yet a valiant Soldier an expert Commander and no bad Politician It is not hid from the Court with what a matchless Vertue he dismiss'd a Gentleman that was hired to murder him This Assassin was suffered to pass into the Duke's Bed-chamber one Morning early precending Business of great Moment from the Queen As scon as the Duke cast his Eyes on him he spoke thus I know thy Bus'ness Friend thou art sent to take away my Life What Hurt have I done thee It is now in my Power with a Word to have thee cut in Pieces before my Face But I pardon thee go thy Way and see my Face no more The Gentleman stung with his own Guilt and astonish'd at the excellent Nature of this Prince fell on his Knees confess'd his Design and who employ'd him And having promis'd eternal Gratitude for this Royal Favour departed without any other Notice taken of him and fearing to tarry in France entred himself into the Service of the Spanish King It was his Fortune afterwards to encounter the Duke of Orleans in a Battle in Flanders The Duke at that Instant was oppressed with a Crowd of Germans who surrounded him and in the Conflict he lost his Sword Which this Gentleman perceiving nimbly stepp'd to him and deliver'd one into the Duke's Hands saying withal Now reap the Fruit of thy former Clemency Thou gavest me my Life now I put thee into a Capacity to defend thy own The Prince by this Means at length escaped the Danger he was in and that Day the Fortune of War was on his Side The French had a considerable Victory Thou seest by this That Heroick Actions have something Divine in them and attract the Favours of Heaven No Man ever was a Loser by good Works For though he be not presently rewarded yet in Tract of Time some happy Emergency or other arises to convince him That Vertuous Men are the Darlings of Providence Thou that art near the Person of the Grand Signior maist find an Opportunity to relate this Story to him which may make no unprofitable Impression on his Mind Princes ever stand in Need of faithful Monitors Adieu Great Minister and favour Mahmut with the Continuance of thy Protection and Friendship Paris 25th of the 3d. Moon of the Year 1646. LETTER XXVI To Nassuf Bassa of Natolia I Received thy Letter as an Argument of the Continuance of that Friendship which was between us when we lived together in the Seraglio Since that Time thou and I have been employed Abroad in different Services of our August Emperor who has now rewarded thy Fidelity with a Command which if it be not adequate to thy Merit is nevertheless agreeable to thy Wishes I congratulate thy Honour and wish thee a gradual Encrease of it for sudden and violent Leaps are dangerous But our Glorious Sultan discovers his Abilities in Nothing more eminently than in adapting Places of Trust to the Deserts and Capacities of his Faithful Slaves So that if he should in Time think fit to exalt thee to the Highest Dignity in the State we might from the Choiceâ— of so wise a Prince presage thee a better Fortune than befell one of thy Name in the Reign of Sultan Achmet III. who from a Slave sold in the Market for Three Sequins was advanced to an Honour too weighty for his Vertue being made Vizir Azem and Lord of the most delicious Provinces in Asia But being Ambitious of absolute Sovereignty he plotted Treason against his Master which being discovered the Fatal Firm was sign'd and all his Designs were stifled with a Bow-string By this thou maist comprehend how necessary it is for Princes not to overload any Man with Dignities beyond the Proportion of his Humility and Faithfulness Yet Rewards well placed give new Vigor to the Endeavours of a Slave whereas when good Services are slighted it does but quench the Ardour with which they were perform'd Few Men are so Spiritual as to do Great and Heroick Things purely for the Sake of internal Complacency And I doubt not but the Decii themselves in so freely sacrificing their Lives for their Country had Regard to Humane Glory Even Seneca whom one would take for the most mortify'd Stoick of that Age by his Writings yet is conceived to
Leisure to apply themselves to Study For then it was difficult to purchase Books there being but few and for those they were obliged to the Labour of the Scribe Hence it came to pass That onely such as had Plenty of Mony and a strong Inclination to Knowledge monopoliz'd the choicest Manuscripts into their Hands and bequeath'd them as a Legacy to their Off-spring But since the Invention of Printing Books are infinitely multiply'd grown Cheap and Common And those Histories and Sciences which before were shut up in the Latin Greek or some of the Oriental Languages are now translated into the Vulgar Speech of every Nation whereby the lowest Sort of People who can but read have the Privilege to become as Knowing as their Superiors and the Slave may vye for Learning with his Sovereign This makes the Nazarenes upbraid the True Faithful with Ignorance and Barbarism because Printing is not suffered throughout the Mussulman Empire They consider not the bad Consequences of this Art as well as the good And that the Liberty of the Press has fill'd the World with Errors and Lyes Besides they are Strangers to the Education of the Mussulmans who are generally taught the Arabick and Persian Tongues from their Childhood In which Two Languages how many famous Histories have been writ There is no Point of useful Wisdom which is not compriz'd in the Writings of the Eastern Sages And as for unprofitable Treatises and Pamphlets with which the Europeans abound they are superfluous and burdensome bringing a double Loss both to Writer and Reader while they rob them of their Time and Mony and commit a Rape on their Understandings Add to this the Fatal Effects which this deprav'd Indulgence of Printing has produc'd in Christendom What Sacrileges Massacres Rebellions and Impieties have overflow'd most Parts of the West in this licentious Age What Hatred among Christians What Seditions among Subjects Diversities in Religion Contempts of all Law both Divine Natural and those of Nations The Vices at which former Times would have blush'd nay at the very naming of which our Fathers would have started as at a Prodigy are in these Day committed openly without Shame without Contradiction whilst there are Authors who dare publickly assert the Cause of Impiety and patronize all Manner of Prophanations But thou who hast the Honour to guard the Incorruptible Seat of Justice and Vertue the Bright Throne of the Osman Emperours who are the Shadows of God on Earth hast made such a Choice of Books as commends thy Wisdom and the Sincerity of thy Morals Thou wilt not suffer thy Imagination to be tainted with those enchanting Idea's of Evil which are drawn by the Pens of some Elegant Writers All that thou seekest in Books is to inform thy Understanding rectify thy Judgment and enflame thy Affections with the Love of Vertue To this End serve the Divine Precepts of our Holy Doctors and other Learned Sages the Writings of Philosophers and the Examples of Renowned Heroes From these thou gatherest Strength to practise the Four Maternal Vertues and all the Good Qualities that spring from those Roots Go on and encrease in the Graces and Accomplishments which shall render thee Worthy to be made the Subject of a Particular History while the Old shall recommend and the Young shall covet nothing more passionately than to read the Life of Cassim Hali Janizar-Aga Mahmut salutes thee with a Kiss of Affection Reverence thy self and all Men will Honour thee So taught Pythagoras Paris 17th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1646. LETTER XI To the same I Had forgot to perform in my other Letter what thou commandedst me Yet knowing the Esteem thou hast for Women of Vertue and rare Endowments and with what Pleasure thou readest their Stories I should never send any Dispatch to thee wherein there is not a Relation of some Heroine I will be more diligent hereafter to observe the Disposition of my Superiours and will endeavour to procure a Collection of the Lives and Characters of all the Famous Women that have been Recorded in History In the mean while hear what the French say of Christina Queen of Suedeland of whom thou requirest a Description She is the onely Daughter of Gustavus Adolphus the most Victorious Prince that ever govern'd that Nation and one of the most Successful Warriours in the World As his whole Life was led in the Field so there he received an Honourable Death being slain in the Battel of Lutzen Some say by the Treachery of Duke Albert who had in Appearance deserted the Emperour and offer'd himself a Voluntier to Gustavus Adolphus I formerly mention'd this Duke and that he was kill'd by a Suedish Lady If the Suspicion of the Suedes be well grounded and that Duke Albert was really Guilty of the Murder of Gustavus it may be This was the Motive which brought those Amazons into the Field to revenge the Death of their Prince But it is impossible to be assur'd of the Truth among so many different Opinions When the French speak of Gustavus Adolphus they cannot restrain their Words on this Side a Panegyrick They say he was a Prince above all Praise 'T is certain his very Enemies admir'd his unimitable Courage and matchless Fortune I have sent thee the true Effigies of his Face wherein thou wilt see a most agreeable Mixture of Majesty and Benignity creating Respect and Love at the same Time in the Beholders He was so familiar with every one as if he had forgot himself as well as he was a Stranger to Pride He was a great Student in his Youth and made himself Master of Latin French and Italian being also perfectly skill'd in Ancient and Modern Histories He had a wonderful Faculty in discovering Impostures a dextrous Wit in Time of Danger and Difficulty being Ready at Counsel and swift in Execution and as cunning at a Stratagem as he was bold at an Onset He was Liberal to his Officers and to all Men of Merit but a severe Punisher of Disorders in his Army And that which Crown'd all the rest of his Vertues his Piety to God was singular and worthy of Remark The French relate a Memorable Saying of this King when he was once in his Camp before Werben He had been solitary in the Cabinet of his Pavilion some Hours together and none of his Attendants durst interrupt Him Till at Length a Favourite of his having some important Matter to tell him came softly to the Door and looking in beheld the King very devoutly on his Knees at Prayers Fearing to molest him in that Sacred Exercise he was about to withdraw his Head when the King spied him and bid Him come in saying unto him Thou wonderest to see me in this Posture since I have so many Thousands of Subjects to pray for me But I tell thee That no Man has more Need to pray for Himself than He who being to render an Account of his Actions to None but God is for that Reason more
Justice of your Cause God has brought you together let Nothing separate you till you have freed your Country your selves your Wives and Children from perpetual Servitude Chuse you a Leader a Man of Courage and Resolution who is willing to sacrifice his Life for the Common Good As for me I have hitherto liv'd a Fisherman and so I intend to die The People exceedingly mov'd with this Speech chose him with one Accord for their Leader Crying out with loud Acclamations Long live Masanello the Patron of the Neapolitan Liberties The first Thing he did after he was confirmed in this Authority was to set open the Prisons and list the Prisoners under the Banner of the People Then he divided this confused Army into Regiments and Companies and sent forth a Proclamation throughout Naples commanding all to take Arms on Pain of having their Houses burnt So that in a little time he had above Fifty Thousand Armed Men at his Heels Thus accompanied he marches directly toward the Viceroy's Palace vested in Cloath of Silver with a Naked Sword in his Hand He was accompanied by a Cardinal who undertook to be a Mediator between the Viceroy and the People His Presence restrain'd the Multitude within some Bounds of Moderation for they Reverenced him as the Father of the City Yet they burnt above Sixty Palaces of the Nobles to the Ground with all their Furniture and Goods and it was present Death for any one to rescue or purloin any Thing from the Flames So rigorously Just was this New Lawgiver this Moses of the Neapolitans It was in Vain for the Viceroy to oppose Force against so Formidable an Insurrection He entertain'd the Young Fisherman with Ceremonies due to a Prince And having concluded a Truce gave him the Title of Chief Tribune of the Faithful People This encreased the Veneration the Citizens had already conceiv'd for Masanello So that in a Day or Two more he saw himself at the Head of a Hundred and Fifty Thousand Armed Men. He gave out all Orders for the Republick publish'd new Edicts and all Commissions were issued in his Name He procured the Gabels to be for ever abolish'd restor'd the People to their Ancient Liberty And in Fine was Murdered by his own ' Followers Let me not seem an Advocate for Sedition when I tell thee there was something Brave and Heroick in the Actions of this Youth So strange a Revolution in so short a time has scarce been heard of in the World For a Beardless Slave to raise himself in Six Days to as Absolute and Uncontroulable a Sovereignty as the Greatest Monarch on Earth enjoys to be obeyed by an Infinite Number of People without the least Hesitation or Demurr were it for Life or Death and all this without any Motive of Ambition or Interest but only to assert the Publick Liberty Is a convincing Argument of his Vertue and shews That Heaven approved his Enterprize But then again for him to lose all this Power in Four Days more to be Murd'red in Cold Blood by his own Party by the People whose Cause he had so successfully vindicated this shews the Instability of Human Affairs and that there is Nothing Permanent on this Side the Moon I pray God to inspire the Ministers of the Sublime Port to take such Measures as may preserve the Mussulman Peace Adieu Paris 13th of the 11th Moon of the Year 1647. LETTER VIII To Solyman his Cousin at Constantinople WHEN I clos'd up my Last the Hour of the Post was near expir'd and the Messenger who carries my Letters to him hastned my Dispatch preventing what I had farther to say to thee I am solicitous for thy Welfare both as thou art a Mussulman and so near a Relation Do not forfeit those Titles by degenerating from thy Kindred and from all the Illuminated of God Truth is compriz'd in a little Room but Error is Infinite Thou makest a wrong Inference from the Moderation and Charity of the True Believers when thou concludest That because they believe it shall go well with all Honest Men let their Opinions and Ceremonies be what they will therefore thou shalt be safe in retrenching the Endless and Burdensom Washings as thou termest them of the Mussulmans so long as thou leadest a Good Moral Life Art thou such a Friend to Idleness and Impurity that thou wilt by a most pitiful Sophistry cheat thy self of Salvation rather than take the Pains to wash thy self after the Manner and at the Times appointed by the Prophet of God and practis'd by our Fathers and all the Faithful throughout the World If it be allow'd that such as either out of Ignorance or hindred by some other Invincible Cause do not embrace our Holy Law are not Circumcised and repair not to the Assemblies of the Faithful shall nevertheless enter into Paradise provided they obey the Law of Nature Imprinted on their Hearts does it follow therefore that one who has been bred up in the Vndefiled Faith who has been Circumcised and lifting up his Right Hand to Heaven has pronounc'd the Seven Mysterious Words which cannot be repealed does it follow I say that such an one shall be regarded by God or his Prophet any otherwise than as a Heretick or an Infidel if he live not up exactly to the Graces that have been given him No assure thy self if thou art in the Number of these thou art an Apostate thy Vertues are Vices and all thy Good Works are an Abomination Remember the Piety and Magnanimous Zeal of Assan Hali thy Grandfather who when he was taken Prisoner by the Cossacks was entertain'd with extream Rigor and Severity Nevertheless a certain Jew in the City who knew him brought him every Day by Permission of the Keeper as much Water as would suffice to wash him and to quench his Thirst But one Day as he went with his accustomed Load and was entring the Gate of the Prison the Keeper either out of Malice or Wantonness spilt most of the Water on the Ground forbidding the Jew at the same time to bring any more that Day The honest Hebrew went in with the Remainder of the Water and deliver'd it to the Prisoner who presently prepared to wash himself after the accustomed Manner of the Mussulmans The Jew seeing that told him There was not Water enough to quench his Thirst And therewith related to him what the Keeper had done I see there is but a Little reply'd the Vertuous Old Man but he that Drinks or Eats before he has Wash'd himself is guilty of defiling his Soul and is not worthy to be numbred among the True Believers Therefore it is better for me to die for Thirst than violate the Law brought down from Heaven and transgress the Traditions of my Fathers Having said this he Wash'd himself being Resign'd to Providence Cousin deceive not thy self with vain Opinions nor suffer Hypocrites to seduce thee Imitate the Adder and shut thy Ears against the Crafty Insinuations of Hereticks It is
Instructions to the French Embassador at that Court requiring him to use all possible Means to cherish the Tumults in Naples and not neglect so fair an Opportunity of reducing that Kingdom under the Protection of France It will not appear strange That this great Genius should aim at the Conquest of Naples when we consider That this Kingdom abounds in all Manner of Riches to which its fortunate Situation contributes not a Little For it lies in the most Temperate Part of the World And the Inhabitants are not Second to any People of Europe in Martial Courage and Bravery This is a Bait which tempts the Cardinal who is not ignorant how valiantly the Ancestors of the present Neapolitans behav'd themselves in the Wars of Caesar and Pompey and those between the Romans and Carthaginians Nor are they less Celebrated for the stout Resistance they made against the Huns Goths and Vandals So that this Kingdom were it once brought under the French Dominion would prove a Nursery from whence this Monarch might draw many Thousands of excellent Soldiers to serve him in his Wars Besides it would be more commodious for him to make Incursions from hence into the Pope's Territories if there should arise any Difference between the Two Courts as there often do about the Rights of the Gallican Church the Franchises of the Embassadors of this Crown in Rome and other Privileges to which they pretend Therefore the French Embassador according to the Instructions of Mazarini sent Commissioners to treat privately with the People of Naples offering them Two Millions of Crowns Twenty Gallions with Eight and Fifty Gallies and other Vessels They accepted the Proposal being weary of the Spanish Government and desirous of Novelty Encourag'd also by what those Commissioners represented to them concerning the Success of the English who by standing on their Guard and using that Power which God and Nature had given them for the Defence of their Lives and Liberties were now in a Manner become a Free People having Abolish'd the Monarchy and set up a Commonwealth And this they told them was also done by Cardinal Mazarini's Counsels and Assistance Now all the Cry in Naples was Let France and the People of England flourish and let the Faithful Neapolitans assert their own Liberty So blind were these People as not to consider That in putting themselves under the Protection of the French they did but exchange One Bondage for Another it being impossible for any foreign Prince to keep this Kingdom and pay all his Officers Civil and Military together with those under their Commands with much less Charge than the Revenues amount to And the French are as good at inventing new Taxes as any Court in Europe However the Neapolitans were enchanted with the Thoughts of so much Gold and other Assistance offer'd by the French Commissioners and sweeten'd with their fair Words and glorious Promises So that they immediately sent Deputies to entreat the Duke of Guize who was then at Rome to come and protect them in taking on him the Chief Command of their Arms. This Prince thinking it a Generous Action to relieve the Oppressed And that at the same Time he should do a considerable Service to the King of France in rendring him Master of this Noble and Opulent Kingdom went to Naples Where at first he was receiv'd with Infinite Applause was made their General took an Oath of Fidelity to the People did many Notable Services but was in the End betray'd and sent Prisoner to Spain If the Generosity and brave Resolution of this Prince has acquired Commendation from some in attempting to rescue these People from the Tyranny of their Governours Yet his Conduct is call'd in Question by others who say He discover'd but little Prudence in trusting himself to the Neapolitans who had already sacrific'd Two of their Generals For after the Death of Masanello they chose another Captain whom they call'd the Prince of Massa This Prince falling under their Suspicion was beheaded by the Inconstant People 'T is certain that there is little Confidence to be put in the Multitude whose Passions Ebb and Flow and are more Tempestuous than the Sea Yet a Brave and Generous Mind will shun no Dangers to serve his Prince and his Country for whom it is a Glorious Martyrdom to die There is no great Undertaking without Hazards and he that is afraid to venture his Liberty and Life in a Good Cause is not worthy to bear Arms. Had the Duke of Guize succeeded his Conquest of Naples had made him Viceroy of one of the largest Kingdoms in Europe It is said to be Five Hundred Leagues in Circuit containing Twelve ample Provinces Twenty Archbishopricks Bishopricks One Hundred Twenty Seven Thirty Castles Barons One Thousand Four Hundred Earls Fifty Three Forty Marquises Thirty Four Dukes and Twenty Princes The Inhabitants of this Kingdom are said to be above Two Millions The ordinary Revenues of the King amount to Three Millions of Crowns yearly besides the Voluntary Donatives which have been given by the Subjects of this State to their Kings within the Space of Forty Years amounting to Twenty Eight Millions and Six Hundred Thousand Duckats This Kingdom is water'd by a Hundred and Fifty Rivers besides Ten Lakes stor'd with all Manner of Fish among which is one called Averno over which if any Birds flie they immediately drop down dead The Ancient Pagans had strange Opinions of this Lake it being the Place where they used to Sacrifice Men to the Infernal Gods And hard by is the Cave of one of the Sybills There are Thirty high Mountains in this Country of which Adonai relates many strange and delightful Passages for 't is from him I receiv'd this Account of the Kingdom I will not trouble thee with a Repetition of all that this Jew tells me onely one Thing is worthy Remark He says That the Bodies of the Three Young Hebrews who were put into the burning Oven by the Babylonian Monarch because they would not adore his Idols are preserv'd in a Mosque on one of these Mountains And that on the said Hill no Eggs Flesh or Milk will endure an Hour without Putrefaction but presently breed an Infinite Number of Worms He speaks in the Praise of these Mountains which are cloath'd with Vineyards Gardens and Woods on the Top and Sides and in their Bottoms have very Rich Mines of Gold Silver Copper Iron Crystal Alabaster Adamant In fine Adonai who has travelled over all this Kingdom calls it The fertilest Region of all Italy which is esteem'd the Paradise of Europe Dost thou not think now Venerable Guide of the Elect that the Duke of Guize had Reason to prefer the Honour of conquering so Renowned a Kingdom to the Safety of his Person or wilt thou not rather conclude That the Reduction of this Happy State would be an Expedition worthy of the Ottoman Arms It is certain That the Riches and Plenty of this Region have tempted more Nations to invade it
in Flanders And some are of Opinion that 't was this happy News which emboldned the Court to snatch from the People their Darling their Idol the Man from whose Courage they expect a Redress of all their Grievances Indeed one may say it would seem safer for a Traveller in the Desarts of Arabia to tear from a Lioness her Young One. For the Heads of the Faction waited but for such an Opportunity to set all in a Flame And the ill Success of the Court in this Action shews That it is dangerous to provoke the Multitude For presently we were all in Confusion the Burgesses in Arms the Shops shut up the Streets Chained and all the Avenues of the Palace barricado'd The Rabble marched up and down the Streets threatning Destruction to Cardinal Mazarini and all his Party The Parliament were forced to become the Messengers of the People to carry their Petitions or rather their Commands to the Court being threatned also if they failed of Success For they protested Unanimously that they would not lay down their Arms till the Imprisoned Counsellor was Released The Queen appeared at first Inexorable and sent these Senators away with Denial and Scoffs wishing them Joy of their New Honour in being made the Porters of the Rabble And the Young Monarch incensed to see his Native Royalty thus Prophaned by his Subjects bent his Brows and casting a Look divided betwixt Majesty and Disdain on the Senators uttered these Words Sirs Shall it always be a Custom thus to molest the Minority of your Kings Or do you think Our tender Years incapable of the Common Sense of other Mortals that you presume thus Insolently to invade our Right Accuse not the Multitude nor make them an Vmbrage to your Sedition I know the Authors of these Tumults and shall find a Time to make 'em feel the Weight of my Displeasure Think not that I wear this Sword only for Ornament laying his Hand fiercely on the Hilt or that the Blood of my Renowned Ancestors is grown degenerate or turned to Lees within my Veins Go tell your Factious Comrades There sits this Day upon the Throne of France a King who though he 's Young yet has a Spirit and Memory which will outlast his Pupillage With that he commanded them out of his Sight Yet notwithstanding this the People threatned to bring their Darling away by Force if he were not Released in Two Hours There were above a Hundred Thousand of them in Arms and it might have proved a dangerous Insurrection But the Queen at the Second return of the Senators hearkning to the Advice of Mazarini and the Duke of Orleans and remembring the late dreadful Effects of Masanello's Tumult in Naples releas'd the Prisoner who was conducted Home last Night in Triumph by an Infinite Crowd of People who filled the Air with Shouts and Acclamations It is discoursed here That the Prince of Conde will speedily return to Paris From whom both the Court and the Faction promise themselves new Grounds of Triumph During these Commotions Mahmut fails not to act his Part being at no small Expence to maintain a certain Number of Strangers whose whole Dependance is on me These I instruct to mix themselves with the Rabble to insinuate into them hateful Notions of Cardinal Mazarini and the Court They buz up and down the City like Flies in this hot Season and sting the Multitude to Fury with their Stories I spare no Cost to procure the Cardinal's Ruine That pernicious Wit comes not short of his Predecessor Richlieu being as active in embroyling Foreign States witness the Revolutions of Portugal Catalonia England and Naples in all which he had a principal Hand and is ever projecting how to aggrandize his Master And the Universal Success of the French Arms in Germany Flanders Italy and Spain has left him Nothing worth a Thought but the Destruction of the Osman Empire Eliachim brings me News every Hour how my Mirmidons succeed for he acts abroad in the Streets while I keep my Chamber during the Tumults being of Demosthenes's Mind who when the Athenians were in an Uproar took Sanctuary in the Temple of Pallas and prostrating himself before the Altar of the Goddess uttered these Words O Pallas I fly to thee for Protection defend me from Ignorance Envy and Inconstancy for I love not the Society of the Owl the Dragon and the People Yet whether in my Chamber or Abroad be assured Illustrious Prefect of the Imperial City that Mahmut divides his Time between the Vows he makes and the Services he does for the Grand Signior Paris 3d. of the 9th Moon of the Year 1648. LETTER XVIII To Achmet Beig THIS Court is now in Mourning for the Death of Vladislaus late King of Poland Whilst the Politicians are canvasing the next Election Those who Side with the House of Austria favour the Succession of Prince Charles But the French are for Casimir their former Prisoner The Duke of Bavaria is also dead They say he died of Grief to see his Country exposed to the Insults of a Victorious Enemy For all his Forces were intirely defeated The Prince of Conde has taken Ipre in Flanders and the Arch-Duke of Austria has rendred himself Master of Courtray without drawing a Sword or firing a Gun The Mareschal de Rantzan has made an unhappy Attempt to surprize Ostend a Sea-Town in Flanders For carrying his Forces by Water as soon as he had Landed his Men a Tempest rose and drove all his Ships out to Sea So that being encompassed by a numerous Army of his Enemies and having no Way to escape he and all his Troops were made Prisoners From the Sea we have Advice that there has been a Combat between the Duke of Richlieu Commander of the Naval Forces sent to assist the Neapolitan Revolters and Don John of Austria Admiral of the Spanish Fleet on that Coast But the Issue of the Battel is not yet known Though most People guess the Victory to be on the French Side in Regard Cardinal Mazarini had by the Advice of an Indian Ship-wright caused all the French Ships to be plastered over with Allom so that no Fire-Ships can hurt them The Spaniards make great Use of these Fire-Ships in all their Sea-Fights having learn'd to their Cost from the English what Damage these Vessels do when they formerly lost their whole Armada which they before termed Invincible and with which they sailed to Conquer that Island From Catalonia the Posts bring News which pleases the Wives and Friends of the Soldiers in those Parts For the Mareschal de Schomberg has cut in Pieces the Spanish Army taken Tortosa by Assault where the Soldiers found a Booty of above Fifteen Hundred Thousand Livres A Courier is come from Suedeland who brings an Account of a late Formidable Conspiracy in Russia against the Life of the Czar The greatest Part of the Moscovite Grandees were concerned in this Plot designing to Change the Form of Government and divide that