Germans hindred Torstenson from joining the former and expos'd Turenne with his raw and unexperienced Forces to the numerous Army of veterane Imperialists 'T was a Fatal Engagement and the French lost many brave Men besides an Hundred and Fifty Commanders taken Prisoners Fifteen Hundred of the Common Soldiers Fifty Ensigns with many Waggons and Four Mules laden with Money It is reported that whilst Turenne in the general Retreat and Flight of his Army betook himself to Mergentheim as he lay on his Bed the first Night one of his Officers was coming to alarm him with the News of the Germans Approach to that Town but unfortunately stumbled at his Chamber-Door With the Noise of which Turenne awaked and fearing some Attempt on his Life leap'd off his Bed with his drawn Sword and making toward the Door just as the Officer open'd it he run him into the Heart By which Mistake he himself and the Troops that were in the Town with him had like to have fallen into the Hands of the Bavarians But receiving Notice of their Approach accidentally by some other means he withdrew his Troops out of the Town by a contrary Road and escaped the Pursuit of his Enemies This Victory has given new Courage to the Imperialists and has not much dispirited the French who are by this Loss enflamed with greater Ardors meditating a speedy Revenge The Genius of this Court seems to be undaunted breathing Nothing but War I shall not fail to send thee such Intelligence as will demonstrate That Mahmut passes not away his Time in vain I pray the Sovereign of as many Empires as there be Worlds to distinguish thee by some particular Mark of his Favour from the Crowd of those he makes Happy Paris 4th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1645. LETTER V. To Shashim Istham a Black Eunuch AT length thou hast condescended to beg my Pardon for the Calumnies thy Tongue has loaded me with I am not ill pleased with thy Letter It abounds with elegant Expressions of thy Sorrow for an Offence to which thou hadst no Provocation Thy Submission tho' late abates my Resentment and if thou performest thy Promise 't is banish'd The first Crime so ingenously acknowledg'd claims a Title to Forgiveness Let Eternal Oblivion seal it I am not by Nature revengeful I rather blush for Shame than grow pale with Anger at him that injures me Yet Self-Preservation will rouze our Choler which is the most active Humour and precipitates many to violent Courses The Effect it has on me is to put me on my Guard lest he who has wrong'd me without any Signs of Repentance should continue his Malice to my Destruction But thou hast dispers'd all my Suspicions by thy seasonable Address and if I cannot pronounce thee Innocent I will believe thou art not Incorrigible The best Advice I can give thee is henceforwards to attend to thy own Affairs and refrain from those of others remembring the Arabian Proverb He that peeps in at his Neighbour's Window may chance to lose his Eyes There is a great deal of Wisdom couch'd in these short Sentences They are not the Product of one Man's Experience nor of a few but they are the Result of Vniversal Observation And our Country has been happy above others in the choice of her Proverbs This that I mention'd is peculiar to the East Yet I can produce an Instance whereby 't was lately verified in the West There is hardly a Night passes in this Populous City wherein some Murder is not committed in the Streets Two Nights ago a Man was found dead on the Ground whereupon a Tumult was gathered about his Bleeding Carkase Among the rest a Fellow came crowding in inquisitive what should be the Matter Those who stood by beholding his Cloaths bloody which he was not sensible of himself seized on him as the Murderer His wild Looks encreased their Jealousie and the incoherent Words with which he endeavour'd to excuse himself rendred him Guilty in the Judgment of the Rabble They carried him before a Cadi by whom he was strictly examin'd He stoutly deny'd the Fact and no Proof could be brought against him but his stained Cloaths 'T is the Custom here to put to the Torture Persons suspected of Capital Crimes in Order to draw a Confession of the Truth This they did to this poor Wretch and in the Extremity of his Pains he acknowledg'd he had kill'd his Wife that Evening but was altogether Innocent of this poor Man's Death who was Murder'd in the Streets All the Torments they inflicted could force no other Confession from him save that which his real Guilt prompted him to make For which he was condemned to Death according to the Laws Thou seest by this that had he gone about his Business without prying into other Mens Matters he might have escap'd a Discovery But that mediing Itch of the Imprudent betray'd him not without the particular Direction of Fate to a Death which indeed he merited but not on the Score of the murder'd Man whom he went out of his Way to see Thou wilt say this Story is not applicable to thy Case since thou hast never yet embru'd thy Hands in any Man's Blood I tell thee what I have said was not design'd as a Reflection on thy past Offence let it be forgotten but as a Caution for the future not to engage thy self in Matters out of thy Sphere For a busie Body is never without Trouble Above all I counsel thee to practise the Government of the Tongue which is a great Virtue especially in the Courts of Princes The Arabians say That a Wise Man's Soul reposes at the Root of his Tongue but a Fool 's is ever dancing on the Tip. Thou hast no Reason to take in ill Part the Freedom with which I advise thee for thy Good unless thou thinkest thy self too Old to learn But I have a better Opinion of thee than to rank thee among Pythagoras's Asses I have said enough for a Friend too much for an Enemy It is in thy own Choice to make me which thou pleasest Adieu Paris 4th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1645. LETTER VI. To Zelim of Rhodes Captain of a Gally THOU hast never vouchsafed to acknowledge the Advice I sent thee some Years ago of a Christian's Design against thy Life Perhaps he wanted an Opportunity to put his Revenge in Execution that Way and therefore the Caution I gave thee look'd like a false Alarm Thou trustest in thy Courage the Strength of thy Vessel the Multitude and Fidelity of thy Slaves and thinkest thy self invulnerable But let me tell thee That neither thy Courage nor thy Vessel can defend thee from the Stroke of Destiny and thou hast no greater Enemies than those who eat thy Bread Whether it be the Continuance of thy Cruelty or the Natural Regret of Servitude has rend'red them so I know not but if what I am inform'd of be true thou art the miserablest Man in the World Wert
themselves in the most fertile Regions of Asia professing themselves Mussulmans or True Believers Thus passed the Light of God from the Face of Ibrahim to his Posterity by Successive Generations till at Length it rested on the Face of Mahomet Our Holy Lawgiver and was encreas'd with admirable Splendors by the frequent Visits of the Angel Gebrail He took the Root of Evil out of the Prophet's Heart brought him down the Alcoran from Heaven and gave him Victory and Honour call'd him by a New Name THE SEAL OF THE PROPHETS carried him to the Throne of God through Legions of Devils that waited below the Moon to destroy him And finally made his Sepulcher Glorious and resorted to by the Believers of all Nations on the Earth I send thee this Abstract of the Mussulman History to the End thou maist see what Pretensions the Children of Ismael have to the True Law which you of the Posterity of Isaac would monopolize to your selves As if God had not sent Prophets to all Nations to lead them into the Right Way and not into the Way of Infidels Nevertheless take not these Things on my Credit but examine the Records of thy own Nation and the History of past Times Weigh all Things in the Balance Consult thy Reason which is an indeficient Light to those who follow it Your Law was once Pure and Uncorrupted but in Time the Devil inserted many Errors He seduced your Fathers they return'd upon their Steps and fell back into Idolatry Then God raised up the Messias to reform all Things but Him ye rejected And when he was taken up into Paradise ye reported That He was hang'd on a Tree In this the Nazarenes are your Fools and fight against themselves Whilst they assert as you do That he who is Immortal and Triumphant among the Hundred and Twenty Four Thousand Prophets Was Crucified betwixt Two Thieves Thus bringing a Reproach on the Apostle of God and on their Own Faith in believing Things inconsistent with the Goodness and Power of the Divine Majesty Without Doubt Jesus the Son of Mary is Ascended Body and Soul into Paradise Who whilst he was on Earth said Worship One God Your Lord and Mine Let me not seem importunate or troublesome I seek not to circumvent thy Reason but to direct it Think Seven Times before thou Change Once I will procure thee Books of our Law Peruse them with Judgment and tell me then Whether thou hast ever seen any Writing comparable to the Alcoran The Majesty of the Style speaks it above Humane Original It is exempt from Contradiction from the Beginning to the End It confirms the Old Testament which thou believest It is all over cloath'd with Light Doubtless it is no other than a Transcript of the Book written in Heaven If after all thy Search thou shalt determine otherwise follow thou Thy Law and I will follow Mine We both Worship One God Lord of the Vniverse Paris 10th of the 5th Moon of the Year 1646. LETTER XXXI To the same LET not the Fear of displeasing those of thy Nation hinder thee from embracing the Truth God shall protect thee from the Malice of Vnbelievers Thy Interest is already great among the Mussulmans our August Emperour will augment both that and thy Honour Take hold of the strongest Knot and adhere not to Tagot The Cleanliness and Delicacy of the Mussulmans may invite thee which far exceeds that of the Jews and yet is void of Superstition We only obey the sincere Dictates of Nature which teach us That so long as the Soul dwells in this Mansion of Flesh it partakes of Bodily Pollutions 'T is to avoid these we abstain from certain Meats and Drinks which cannot be touch'd without Contamination To this End do we observe that superlative Niceness in our Washings and Purifications which discriminates us from all the World beside Doubtless Our Law is but the Law of Moses refin'd and sublimated from the Dregs of adventitious Error Write often to me and whatever Reasons may prevail on thee not to change thy Religion let no Arguments tempt thee to swerve from thy Fidelity to the Sovereign of Sovereigns on Earth the Grand Signior in whose Veins runs the most Exalted Blood of Humane Race Here is a Report in this City That the Elector of Brandenburgh will demand the Queen of Sueden in Marriage let me know if it be true That I may inform the Ministers of the Lofty Port from whom Nothing ought to be concealed that occurs of Moment betwixt the Two Poles Inform me also what passes of remarkable in the Assembly of the Deputies at Munster and whether it be true That the Danube has lately overflow'd its Banks and carried away Four Hundred Houses in its rapid Course Such Stories are told here by those who know not how to pass away their Time but in hearking after Foreign News to furnish themselves with Matter to amuse the Credulous and beget Admiration of their Intelligence I have sent thee a Watch of my making If thou acceptest it with good Will 't is a sufficient Acknowledgment May God whose Presence fills the Vniverse disclose himself to thee in the Way of Salvation and continue to breathe good Motions into thy Soul Paris 10th of the 5th Moon of the Year 1646. LETTER XXXII To the Kaimacham A Donai the Jew has much improv'd himself in his late Progress through Italy He is grown a perfect Statesman having found out the Way to penetrate into Secrets and to dispatch Business without any Noise He may prove very serviceable at Venice during the present War of Candy His Acquaintance in that City gives him Access to the Cabals of the Senators who spare not over their Wine to whisper the Counsels of the State and to descant on the Measures that are taken to defend that Republick against the Invincible Prowess of the Ottoman Armies It is publickly known That they have sent Embassadors to the Crown of Moscovy that of Poland and to the Cossacks inviting them to enter into a League against the Grand Signior But few are acquainted with the Private Treaty they are making with the Bassa of Aleppo We owe this Discovery to the Diligence and Wit of this Son of Israel He has drawn the Secret from the Mouths of several Eminent Counsellors of State and assures me That the Senate have made such Proposals to that Governour as cannot fail of inducing him to Revolt This may prove of ill Consequence if not timely preyented The pernicious Example of this Bassae may incite others to tread in his Steps especially his Neighbours of Sidon and Damascus who have for a long Time meditated a Sovereignty Independent of the Throne which first establish'd 'em in those Charges Besides the single Forces of this Bassa will be able to give a powerful Diversion to the Arms of the Empire already engag'd in Candy Dalmatia and other Parts by Sea and Land He says the Venetians speak much in Praise of this Bassa's Justice whereof
consummate Virtue and Wisdom which never fail thee in Extremities Paris 8th of the 9th Moon of the Year 1645. LETTER VIII To Cara Hali a Physician at Constantinople I Am weary of writing News of Battles and Sieges to the Grandees and I know thou seldom troublest thy self with the Care of Foreign Transactions Besides I have no certain Intelligence of Moment to communicate But I can acquaint thee with something more agreeable to thy Studies and Genius Here is a Man in this City who was not born Blind but by some ill Hap lost the Use of his Eyes Yet Nature seems to have recompens'd that Misfortune in the Exquisiteness of his Feeling Thou wouldst say he carried Eyes in his Fingers Ends since he distinguishes those Things by his Touch which are the only proper Objects of Sight Believe me I think there can be no Deceit or Confederacy whereby he might blind others instead of being so himself I saw him muffled up with a Napkin which cover'd all his Face when divers Pieces of Eastern Silks of various Colours were laid on a Table before him He felt them attentively and told us the Colour of each Piece exactly I who was never over-credulous of extraordinary Pretences suspecting that either the Fineness of the Linen which veil'd his Face might give him some Glimpse of the different Colours or that some By-stander with appointed Signs might inform him caus'd all the Company to withdraw except a Learned Dervise who was intimate with me We threw a thick Velvet-Mantle over his Face which reached down to his Navel girding it about his Waste so as to leave his Arms at Liberty Then I procur'd small Shreds of Silks such as I could conceal in the Palm of my Hand These I caus'd him to touch with his Fingers brought up as high as his Chin so that 't was impossible for him to see them had he had the Use of his Eyes Yet he made not the least Mistake in Five several Colours We chang'd the Order of the Silks and sometimes gave him the same Piece Four or Five Times together yet as soon as he had felt it he readily told us 'T was the same Colour I tell thee O learned Hali such an uncommon Experiment afforded me Matter both of Delight and Wonder I concluded from hence That Nature is no Niggard in her Gifts but supplies the Defects of one Sence by the superabundant Accuracy of another We ask'd this blind Person by what Distinction he thus knew one Colour from another without the Help of his Eyes He was not able to express the particular Manner of this discriminating Sensation but only told us in General That he felt as much Difference between the Red Silk and Black as he had formerly done during the Enjoyment of his Eye-Sight between the Silks of Persia and the fine Linen of Europe Which thou knowest are as different to the Touch as fine Paper and Vellum Thou that daily pryest into the Faculties of Humane Bodies art best able to judge Whether this Man's Excellency lay in the Tenuity and Fineness of his Skin the Subtlety of his Spirits or some unusual powerful yet delicate Energy of his Soul or whether it consisted in all these together The Dervise who was with me seemed not much to admire at this rare Quality of the Blind Man Telling me moreover That about Ten Years ago in his Travels he had seen a Blind Statuary at Florence who undertook to make the Resemblance of an Image in the Chief Temple of that City which he finish'd so much to the Life that his Work could no otherwise be distinguish'd from the Original than by the difference of the Materials that being Alabaster his white Clay which he so temper'd and molded with his Fingers as he continually felt of the other that no Lineament was left unexpress'd Indeed when I reflected on our Mutes in the Seraglio and the unaccountable Sagacity with which they apprehend those Words which they never heard I ceas'd to be surpriz'd at what I had seen the Blind Man perform or what the Dervise had said of the Statuary I remember in Sultan Amurath's Time there was a Mute in whom the Grand Signior took infinite Delight For Besides a Thousand pretty Gestures and Tricks with which she us'd to divert that Prince he often made her his Secretary employing her in Writing Letters to his Bassa's and others whilst he dictated to her by Signs Although she could never receive the Sound of Words nor utter any that were articulate Yet I have seen her transcribe a whole Chapter in the Alcoran containing a Hundred and Seventy Versicles in as fine a Character as the most celebrated Scribes of the Empire and when she had done would explain what she had thus written by Signs which made it evident that she perfectly understood the Alcoran These are rare Gifts my Friend yet were all the Mutes educated with as much Diligence and Care as was Saqueda so was she call'd 't is possible they would attain to greater Perfection I have been told That her Tutor one of the Learned'st Men in Arabia bestowed Twenty Years in teaching her this Method of Reading Understanding and Writing This puts me in Mind of a Man who was bred a Mahometan but being taken Captive by the French embrac'd their Religion not in his Heart but only in outward Profession When I first came to Paris I fell into his Company by Accident and understanding that he was an African I desired to ask him some Questions but he was Deaf so that I had almost laid aside my Hopes of conversing with him till perceiving that he mov'd his Lips and open'd his Mouth as one that was Talking I offer'd him Pen Ink and Paper making Signs to him that I would gladly know his Mind in Writing He accordingly writ in Moresco That he was struck Deaf and Dumb about Eighteen Years since telling me also the Place of his Nativity and how he came hither I took the Pen and in the same Language express'd my Compassion of his Misfortunes When he saw that I understood Meresco he writ again signifying to me That if I open'd my Mouth wide at the Pronouncing of every Syllable he could understand my Meaning by the Posture of my Lips and Tongue I found his Words true to my no small Admiration for he would write down what I had said We convers'd together often and at Length I procur'd his Escape in the Retinue of a Chiaus that was returning from hence to Constantinople I beseech the Wise Architect of Nature and Repairer of Humane Defects either to continue to us the Use of our Sences or to supply that Want by some Superlative Endowments of the Mind Paris 20th of the 9th Moon of the Year 1645. LETTER IX To Useph Bassa THOU wilt say I am unmindful of my Duty in not Congratulating thy New Honour before this and that I forget the good Offices which formerly pass'd between us in the Seraglio I
within those Meadows consecrated by thy Presence That Rich and Flow'ry Vale was first secured with an Eternal Immunity from Spoil and Rapine by the Blessing of our Holy Prophet Now that Blessing seems to be redoubled by thy Prayers and Abstinences who inheritest his Spirit as well as his Abode 'T was in that Holy Cave the Messenger of God fasted for the Space of Three Moons Thy whole Life there is one continued Abstinence When thou liftest up thy Venerable Hands to Heaven in Prayer the Enemies of our Holy Law are seiz'd with Fear and Trembling Thou art the Guardian Angel of the Ottoman Empire Thy Body attenuated with Twenty Years Fasting is purified almost to Immortality Thou art become a Denizon among the Spirits Neither the Beasts of the Earth nor the Fowls of the Air nor the Fish of the Sea will charge thee with their Blood Thy Table never smoak'd with slaughter'd Dainties Every Tree affords thee a Feast and the Meadows regale thee with a Thousand harmless Delicacies Thy Thirst is allay'd with the Crystal Streams and when thou art disposed to Banquet the Arabian Sheep supply thee with Nectar Thus like a prudent Traveller thou accustomest thy self before-hand to the Diet of the Country whither thou art going Thou livest the Life of Paradise here on Earth Thou art not privy to the Wickedness of the Age That Cell guards thee from other Mens Vices while thy incomparable Humility defends thee from thy own Vertues Thou art not puffed up with thy sublime Perfections Pride is a Serpent which commonly poisons the Root of the fairest Endowments But thou hast crush'd this Serpent in the Egg. In that Solitude the Angel open'd the Heart of the Sent of God and took out from thence the Devil's Seed-Plot When Mahomet awaked for this was done while he lay in a Trance he said I am a Worm When Gabriel saw his Humility he pronounced a Blessing on the Place That whosoever should dwell in that Cave should be Meek as Abraham Chast as Joseph and Temperate as Ismael Thou hast experienc'd the Effect of his Benediction There is another Happiness also attends thy Retirement Thou livest free from Cares and Anxieties Thou committest the Publick Good to the Conduct of thy Sovereign and thy Private Welfare to the Protection of Providence neither disquieted for the one nor sollicitous for the other Who rises and who falls in the Favour of the Sultan who purchase the Governments of the Empire by their Merits or who by their Money whether it be better to remain in the Seraglio or to be made Bassa of Aegypt are Cares that never molest thee Thou canst sit in that Sanctuary of Peace and pity those whose Ambition and the Love of Glory has driven into the Toils of War Thou canst behold with Compassion the burdensom Attendants of the Great their Labours by Day and their Watchings by Night their restless Thoughts and busy Actions macerated Bodies and uneasie Souls While with indefatigable Pains they pursue meer Shadows endeavour to grasp the Wind or secure to themselves a Bubble which is no sooner touched than it vanishes Thou in the mean time art filling thy Mind with solid Knowledge and laying up Possessions which shall never be taken from thee For the Soul carries her Goods along with her to that Other World I often wish my self with thee and the Remembrance of what I once enjoy'd in thy Conversation cannot be effaced by Distance of Time and Place The farther I am from thee the more ardently do I long to see thee But even in these Innocent Desires there is necessary a Mortification since we are not born for our selves but to comply with the Mysterious Ends of Fate I am appointed to serve the Grand Signior in this Place Where I endeavour to acquit my self a Faithful Slave and a Good Mussulman If I fail in the First my Great Master will punish me if in the Last God and his Prophet will revenge it Yet I hope every Frailty will not be esteem'd a Transgression since the Heart and the Hands go not always together I often strive to imitate thy Abstinence but my Appetites are too Strong for me I return to my Old Course again like a Bow that is forcibly bent Yet I sin not in this since it is not required at my Hands Pray for me Holy Man of God that while I aim at the Best Things I may not fall into the Worst and by striving to arrive at Perfection I may not crack those Powers which are requisit to keep me stedfast in the High-way of Moral Vertue I leave thee to thy Contemplations and the Society of thy Courteous Angels who ever wait at the Door of thy Cell Paris 20th of the 11th Moon of the Year 1645. LETTER XVI To Useph Bassa I Formerly acquainted thee That Vladislaus King of Poland sought Christina Queen of Sueden in Marriage but that his Proposal was rejected Now thou maist know that this Monarch has made a more successful Amour being married to Louise Marie de Gonzague Princess of Mantua The Nuptial Solemnities were performed in this City by the Ambassador of Poland who was his Master's Proxy The greatest Part of the last Moon was spent in Masks Banquets and Court-Revels to Honour the Espousals of this New Queen who is since gone towards Poland being attended to the Frontiers by a numerous Train of the Nobility with all the Ceremonies and Regard due to a Person of her Rank The French who are never sparing in Words are too liberal in the Praises they bestow on this Princess For if all were true they say of her she might be listed in the Number of Angels Whereas some more impartial Eyes have discover'd such Imperfections as speak her yet on this Side a Saint But ordinary Vertues in Princes dazzle the Multitude borrowing a greater Lustre from the Nobility of their Blood and the Eminence of their Quality Whilst their Vices are either shrowded from the Vulgar or made to pass for Vertues in the Artificial Dress which Flatterers put on them 'T is under this Advantage the New Queen of Poland is cry'd up for a Diana though a late Satyrist vindicates her from being half so Cruel as that Goddess It being no Secret That a Young Italian Marquis had something kinder Usage than had Acteon when he accidentally encounter'd this Princess as she was walking alone one Evening in a Grove belonging to her Palace I am no Patron of Libels nor would I speak irreverently of those whose Royal Birth claims Respect from all Mortals But the Stupidity of the Nazarenes provokes my Pen who allow their Women all the uncontroulable Freedom and Opportunities that commonly give Birth to the most irregular Amours and yet believe 'em Innocent They are perfect Idolaters of that Sex not having learned with the illuminated Mussulmans That Women are of a Creation Inferior to that of Men have Souls of a lower Stamp and consequently more prone to Vice and that they shall
closely assaulted by the Devil than all other Men beside Gustavus was born in the Year 1594. At which Time they say a Comet was seen in the Form of a Sword with its Point directed toward Germany which the Astrologers of those Times interpreted as a Presage of that King 's Warlike Genius and of his future Conquests in the Empire He came to the Government before he had seen full Seventeen Winters and was cut off in the Eighth and Thirtieth Year of his Age. It is said That a few Days before his Death when his Soldiers received Him with Infinite Acclamations and all the Marks of an unusual and intemperate Joy he seemed to be troubled at it saying That he took that Excessive Demonstration of his Soldiers Love for an Omen of some approaching Disaster And that he was assured God would by taking him away teach them That there is no Confidence to be repos'd in any Mortal After the Death of Gustavus the States of the Kingdom assembling proclaimed Christina Queen And during her Minority committed her to the Tutelage of Five Principal Officers of the Kingdom who also took on them the whole Care of the Common-wealth She is perfect in Seven Languages Well vers'd in Ancient and Modern Philosophy And a complete Historian In fine she has acquired the Title of the Most Learned Princess of her Time She is of a Graceful and Majestick Aspect Has a piercing Eye Wears Part of her Hair loose about her Temples and flowing down in Curls to her Shoulders the Rest braided up behind in Form of a Wreath Thus is she represented by her Picture which I have seen in a Gallery of Cardinal Mazarim's Palace who professes a great Veneration for this Queen Could I have purchas'd her Portraicture as I did her Father's I would have sent it thee But all the Pencils in Paris are hardly sufficient to supply the Closets and Galleries of the Nobles with this Admired Figure She is become the Idol of the French Many great Matches have been offered her but she refuses all either for Reasons of State or Dislike of the Persons or an Aversion she has for a Married Life or through Opposition of her Nobles who seem to covet to be governed by a Maiden Queen Soon after her Father's Death the King of Denmark attempted to make her his Wife but his Redress was abruptly rejected No better Encouragement did the King of Poland lately meet with who Twice sollicited the same Thing for Himself and was as often repulsed But this 't is thought proceeded from some Politick Reasons he being descended of Sigismund a former Abdicated King of Sueden all whose Posterity are for ever excluded from enjoying the Suedish Crown by a Law The English also gloried in a Virgin Queen the last Age Her Name was Elizabeth whom thou can'st not but have heard of She was the Daughter of Henry VIII King of that Nation She was a Princess of an extraordinary Genius remarkable for her Wit and Learning 'T was one of her Subjects who the first of all Mortals sail'd round the Globe And by his fortunate Service she vanquish'd the reputed Invincible Armada of Spain She governed her Kingdom with such exquisite Conduct as made the Greatest Potentates revere her Wisdom 'T is to her Bounty the Vnited Provinces owe the Rise of their present Grandeur and Riches when they address'd this Potent Queen in Form of Humble Suppliants entitling themselves The poor distressed States But now they 're High and Mighty pushing for an Equality with Sovereign Princes I cannot comprize in a Letter all that may be said of this Great Queen Besides Historians vary in her Character Those that speak most Impartially say That she had Extraordinary Vertues yet was not free from Great Vices We must not expect in any Mortal a Temper exempt from the Common Malediction much less in that Sex whose Natural Weakness claims our Indulgence and Excuse It is admirable to see or hear of a Female whose Active Soul can disingage it self from the Common Frailties of Women and perform Things scarce below the Power of Masculine Vertue If thou thinkest my Letter too tedious accuse thy self for commanding me to write of Persons whose Uncommon Gifts and Transcendent Vertues the most Accurate Historians can but render in Epitome and the most durable Records of Fame will injure in not being capable to transmit them to Eternity We ought not to contemn the Excellencies of the Nazarenes who though they are Unhappy in not knowing the Alcoran yet they have a Law engraven on their Hearts which if they observe they shall be in the Number of the Blessed I am no Stranger to thy Moderation and Justice being fully satisfied that thou honourest Vertue even in the most prejudic'd Enemy of our Holy Profession Let the Furioso's among the Mussulmans or Christians say their Pleasure thou and I shall be conformable to our Holy Lawgiver in believing That the Innocent and Good of all Religions shall have no Reason to tremble at the Second Sound of the Trumpet Paris 17th of the 18th Moon of the Year 1646. LETTER XII To the Selictar Aga or Sword-Bearer to the Grand Signior THE Duke of Orleans is newly return'd from the Campagne in Flanders He seems to be either tired with the Fatigues of War or at least to be satisfy'd with his Exploits this Summer After the Conquest of Courtray of which thou hast heard in the Divan this Prince march'd directly to Bergues which he took after a Siege of Six Days Then being join'd by the Duke of Enguien's Forces he lay down before Mardyke This Town had been in the Spaniards Possession ever since last Winter Now it held out to a Miracle but after a Stout Resistance was at last forc'd to surrender There were slain before it many of the Chief Nobility of France The French entred it on the Four and Twentieth of the last Moon The Churches here are hung with Mourning and the Escutcheons of the Heroes who lost their Lives in the Bed of Honour The Bullets which know no Difference between the Noble and Vulgar seem in this Battel to have been directed by Art or Envy As if the Flower of the Army had been cull'd out for Marks In a Letter to Murat Bassa I gave an Account of a grievous Drought and Mortality in these Parts Now Heaven seems to be pacify'd and the Angel of Death has put up his Sword Yet the Scarcity of Corn and other Necessaries continues still only there is Plenty of Wine Which the Poor who have most Need of it abstain from lest it should enrage their Appetites already sharpen'd with Hunger whilst they have Little or Nothing to eat Thou wilt wonder at the Dyet of these Miserable Wretches whom Oppression and Poverty has forc'd to feed on Frogs and other Vermin Yet they extoll it for a dainty Dish Both Poor and Rich reckon it a Feast when they can make an Addition of a few Mushromes which they commonly gather
Lance and his Body was dragged through the Kennels Yet the very next Day the Multitude to shew their own Fickleness took the Dead Body out of a Ditch where they had laid it all Night They Washed and Embalmed it and having join'd the Head to it carried it with great Pomp and Solemnity to the Principal Temple of Naples attended with Drums and Trumpets and above a Thousand Priests with Torches in their Hands A Crown of Gold was put on his Head and a Scepter in his Hand Thus the Neapolitans honoured that Beardless Youth who in ' Ten Days time had caused such a Revolution as is scarce to be paralell'd For he was an Absolute Monarch in Effect during that time And of him it may be said as it was once of an Emperor That during his whole Reign there was neither Spring nor Autumn nor Winter For his Royalty begun and ended in the Seventh Moon By Letters from Nathan Ben Saddi at Vienna I perceive he is molested with Scruples about his Religion being desirous to build upon the surest Foundation I sent him the best Advice I could without making my self a Hypocrite which thou knowest is more offensive to God than an Open Sinner I drew up an Abstract of the Mussulman Records and presented him with the Faithful Genealogy from Ismael the Son of the Patriaroh Ibrahim down to our Holy Prophet This I did to rectifie an Old Inherent Errour of the Jews who boast That only the Sons of Isaac were True Believers I endeavoured not to proselyte him by Sophistry and Artifice but referred him for better Satisfaction to the Writings of the Ancients I promised to furnish him with Books of our Law and the Comments of our Holy Doctors This is impossible for me to perform whilst I am in this Place unless thou who art a Guide of those who seek the Truth vouchsafest to second my Zeal I address to thee Sovereign Prelate of the Faithful in Behalf of a Descendent from the Younger Brother of Ismael in Behalf of one Circumcised but not in the Right Way Favour him with thy Divine Instructions and supply him with Treatises of Light and Reason A seasonable Application may bring this Hebrew into the Number of the Mussulmans for he is already disgusted at the Synagogue But if I have presumed too far in endeavouring to snatch a Soul from the Paws of Tagot correct me in thy Wisdom for I am but as an Infant before thee Paris 15th of the 1st Moon of the Year 1648. LETTER XI The Beginning of this Letter is wanting in the Italian Translation the Original Paper being torn All Mens Hearts are filled with Joy for this prosperous News whilst I mourn for the Dishonour of Our Arms. Nothing but sad Tydings grate my Ears from those Parts and more melancholy Presages possess my Soul Methinks I see thick Clouds gathering o'er the Imperial City My Sleep is disturb'd with fearful Visions I start in my Bed and waking lay my Hand on my Sword as if some Danger were at Hand I dream of Tumults and Disorders neighing of Horses and clashing of Arms in the Streets of Constantinople I pray God avert the Omen It is reported here That Ali the Sangiac-Bey of Lippa is taken Prisoner and that his Son was tormented to Death before his Face in a Manner peculiar to the Invention of the most Barbarous Tyrants For they caused sharp Thorns to be thrust between his Nails and his Flesh which creates an intolerable Anguish They laid him on a Bed of Iron-Spikes and poured Melted Lead Drop by Drop on all Parts of his Flesh Then they made a small Fire and roasted him slowly to Death If he chanced to groan or make the least Complaint in the Midst of those grievous Tortures they bid him remember the Good Priest Sorich who set him an Example of Constancy and Courage in that he never shed a Tear or so much as sigh'd when he was Flea'd alive Thou seest that Revenge is sweet even to those who having receiv'd no Injury in their own Persons yet are touched to the Quick with the Violence that is done to another This will appear in the Humour of the Italians who prosecute their Enemies with irreconcilable Hatred and Malice whole Families being often engag'd in executing the Resentments of Two single Persons who first began the Quarrel But much more forcible is this Passion in those who have been notoriously hurt themselves And the Revenge of a certain Captain was Extravagant who being informed that his General had Debauch'd his Wife took an Opportunity to single him out from all other Company pretending to walk in the Fields When he had him there alone he clapt a Pistol to his Breast threatning to kill him forthwith if he moved Hand or Foot Then he upbraided him with what he had done in such Language as convinced the General his Life was in extreme Danger Wherefore he humbled himself and confessed his Crime begging of the Captain to spare his Life and he would preferr him forthwith to the best Office in the Army next his own But the furious Italian would not sell his Honour so Cheap He forced him to deny God and utter many Blasphemies in Hopes of Saving his Life And when he had thus done the Captain said Now my Revenge is complete since I shall send thee Body and Soul to the Devil With that he pistoll'd him But leaving these Infidels to their Diabolical Passions I am concern'd at the Captivity of thy Brother if it be true which is related here That he was taken in his Return from Canea to Constantinople It will cost the Bassa of Algiers a Thousand Crowns to ransom him Adieu Renarba And if thou art desirous to raise thy Self take that Method which I have now proposed to thee God be propitious to thy Endeavours Paris 4th of the 2d Moon of the Year 1648. LETTER XII To the Venerable Mufti THou wilt say the Neapolitans are a restless People when thou shalt know That there have been no less than Forty General Insurrections in this Kingdom since its first Separation from the Grecian Empire whereof it was formerly a Member and that in the Space of Two Years they have had Five Kings all of different Nations One would have thought That after the Death of Masanello the Ringleader of the late Innovation the Popular Heats would have slacken'd and the People returned to their Duty but the passionate Desire of Liberty caus'd them to continue in Arms till the Confirmation of their Privileges should come from the King of Spain In the mean Time Don John of Austria who lay before the City with a Fleet of Fifty Gallions play'd upon them incessantly with his Cannon by Sea and the Castles batter'd them by Land Cardinal Mazarini who has the earliest Intelligence of Foreign Transactions has had a Principal Hand in fomenting this Flame For as soon as the News of Masanello's Death arriv'd here he dispatch'd away Couriers to Rome with