The eight volumes of letters writ by a Turkish spy, who liv'd five and forty years undiscover'd at Paris:

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THE

Fourth Volume

LETTERS

Writ by a

Ctttfeifl)

Who liv*d Five and Forty Years
undifcover*d at

PARIS:

Giving an impartial A c c o u N T to the Dhan
at Conftantimpk of the moft remarkable Tranf-
aftions of Europe : And difcovering fcveral I/j-
trigucs and Secrets of the Chr'ijiian Courts ( efpe-
cially of that of France) continued from the Year
1649, to the Year 1682.

Written Originally in Arabick. Titjl Tranjlatedinto
Italian, afterivardi ir.tc French, and now int» Englifli.

The Eleventh Edition.

LONDON:

Printed for G. Straban, S. Ballard, J . Brothrton,
W. Mead^nvs, 7. Cck, fT. HincbUffe; J. Stag, J. Clarke,
in Duck-Lane, S. Birt, D. Br(nvre, T. Aftley, S. Aujien,
y. Shuckbun-b, L. Gilliver, J. Hodges, E. IVkkfteeJ,
J. Ofnvald, '7. Comynt, C. Batburji, T. Fifocr, J. Carter,
and A. miJt. M.D.CC.XLI.

D

^.

3-'-,^

nv

\ '■;

T O T H E

READER.

EXPECT no more Commen-
dations of our Arabian Author ;
or Apologies for any Thing that
may feem Hable to Cenfure in his LeU
ters. There is no End of anfwering the
Cavils of thofe, who, to gain the Cha-
rafler of Criticks, will create Faults where
they find none •, and impute the very
Overftgks of the Prefs to the Ignoranct
of the Author^ rather than a Bcok Hiall
cfcape free from Cenfure.

What is wanting in the Style, where
it may be fuppos'd to come ilhort of the
Original, mull be laid to the Italian^^
Charge, who undertook the firjl Verfton
of fo remote a Language. For the En^
glifh 'Tranjiaior has endeavour'd to fol-
low him as clofs as the Difference of
Idioms will admit. And all the World
knows, that the Englijh Tongue is none
A 3 of

8GG857

To tbe Re AD E 'R,

of the moft Copious and Significant.
But, if this fliall feem an invidious Re-
fiecflion, fubftituted in the Room of a
paffable E^cufe ; the EngWJh Traiijlator,
in Honour both of the Foreign Copies^
and his own Native Language ( for he
is a true Englijhman both by Blood and
AffeUlon) is vvilhng to take the Blame of
all Defefts on himfelf Afiuripg you,
That v/hatfoever Roughnefs, or Wane
-cf Elegance -, whatfoever Carelefnefs of
^,xprefiion is to be found in the EngliJJj
Traiijlaliofi, tho* it may be a Fault in-
deed, yet 'tis purely owing to the Can-
dor of him who has committed it : Since
the chief Reafon of fuch Negleft is, be-
caufe he was loth the Reader fhould lofe
the Original Senfe, for the Sake of a
fwcet Period, or a delicate Cadence.

If in other Places he feems affcded,
as in retaining the 'TurkiJJj and Arahick
Words, where they might as well have
been render'd Englijh ; this alfo was out
of Refpe6l to his Copy^ where thofe
Words are left as, we may fuppofe,
they were found in the Original Jrahick.

This is addrefs*d to fuch Gentleinen as
have procured the Italian Copies of thele
Letters. For we are informed, that they
are in the Hands of feme Esglijh Tra-

vellerSy

To tbeV^EADE R .'

vellers, who had a Curiofity to compare
the different Tranjlations together.

However to evidence, that this is not
fpoken in Partiality to ourfelves, but with
equal Regard to that Learned Foreigner,
who firft brought thefe Letterslo Light;
it will not be amifs to exhibit fuch pro-
bable Reafons, as might induce him to
leave fome Arabick Words untranflated
rather than ethers^ tho' they had both
the fame Senfe.

The beft Method of clearing up this
Point, will be by producing Inftances,
fuch as that. Page 53, at the Bottom ;
where tlie Word [Vizirs] is retained by
the Englijh Tra?iflator, becaufe it was noc
changed by the Italian. Doubtlefs it had
been as eafy to fay [Tlje feven Chief Spi-
rits, Angels, Chancellors or Alini/iers a-
bove] as [The /even Fizirs."] But finceihe
Italian Copy has not altered the Word
[Fizirs] zht EngliJbTran/lator thought fit
to let it ftand. And he conceives, 'tis
proper enough in both Verfwns •, becaufc
it better expreffes the Thought of the
Turkijh Author, than any Italian or En-
glijh Word can do, being a Title o^ Dig-
nity peculiar to the Ottoman Empire:
Where the Credulous People are made
to believe, that their Monarchy, with all
A 4 its

- To the TLt: AT> 'E Sk»

its Officers of State^ is exadly modelled
according to the Pattern of the Celejlial
Court and Kuigdotn. Therefore it ap-
pears very natural in a Jtirk, to call the
Minijlers of Heaven by the Title of Ki-
^irs^ Beglerbegs, Bajfa*s, or whatfoever
other Appellatives are ufed by them, to
exprefs the Dignity of their Grandees on
Earth. And who would go to fpoil his
S-^nfe for the Sake of a Word?

B-^fidcs, not to let this Paflage flUI
without due Remarks, is it not common
in our BibU to call God [Lord of Lords?]
And how can this be otherwife exprefled
in Arahick, but by the Title which is ap-
propriated to the principal Governors of
Provinces^ whom in their Language they
call Beglerhegs ? It is equally ufual in
Scripturey to ftylc God [King of Kings'] a
Title frequently aflumed by the Eaflern
Monarchs, Nay, in our common Dif-
courfe here in England^ it is cuftomary
to give to God the Title of [The King of
Heaven.] And why may we not as well
give to the Arch- Angels^ and A^igels, &c.
the Titles which are ordinarily apply'd to
the Princes and Nobles on Earth ? But
however, if this will not appear allow-
able in a Chrijlian^ yet no Man can won -
der at the Turk, when he hears him ufe

his

To /^^ R ii A D E R.

his native Dialed, fpeaking of the Po-
tentates Abcroe, And if this be granted,
I hope neither the Italian will he blamed
for preferving the peculiar Phrafe of an
E'aflern Author, nor the EngliJJj T^ran-
Jlator be accus'd, for following fo polite
a Pattern.

This Inftance had not been prefs'd
lb far, but in hopes that what is already
faid may lerve as a Plea for feveral other
Examples of like Nature in this Volume :
Where it is impoffible for any European
to exprefs the full Meaning of an OW-
ental Author^ without referving fome
Words of his very "Language . And, in
this, the Italian 'tranjlator is chiefly vin-
dicated ; from whofe Copy, the Englijh
in fuch Cafes had no Reafon to fwerve.
And thus much may fuffice to anfwer all
Objedioris about the Style,

As to the Matter itfelf, it appears full
of Jnftrudlion, in Hijforical, Moral, and
Political Affairs. Nor need any Man
wonder, if he encounter fome Paffages
whic!^, may be found in other Writers,
both Gentile and Chriftian •, fince the Au-
thor of thefe Letters profefles. That he
has taken much Pains to perufe the Treo'
tifes of the Ancients, both whilft he ftu-
dy'd in the Academies, and during his
A 5 Refidence

To tke Reader.

Rcfidence at Par'is^ he often frequented
the Libraries in that City, whereof there
is no Scarcity. He fpent a great deal
of Time in reading modern as well as an-
cient Authors : By which means, he not
only improv'd his Knowledge in the uni-
verfal Hijlory oi former Times^ but grew
familiar with the moft remarkable Oc-
currences in Europe^ during thefe later
Centuries. So that, in fome of his Letters^
one would fwear he had read Sabellius^
Petrus Juflinianus, Philip de Comines,
and other European IFrtters : For he
feems to come very near them, in rela-
ting {ome particular Stories. And it may
be fuppos'd that he took this Advantage
to oblige the Turkijh Grandees to whom
he writ, by inferting in his Letters fuch
Paflages as they were wholly Strangers
to.

There need no more be faid, but that
you may expefl another Volume of thefe
Letters vtvy fpeedily. Farewell,

A T ABLE.

A

TABLE

OF T H E

Letters and Matters con-
tained in this Volume.

VOL. IV.
BOOK I.

LETTER I.

MAhmut the Arahian, and indefatiga-
ble Slave to the Grand Seignior, to
Mahomet, the moft illullrious f^izir
Azem at the Por/e. Pag. i

He congratulates his AJfumption to the chief Vizi-
rate : Remonjirances his civa Grie-vances i and
craves his ProteSion,

II. To the Kaimacham. 5

Of the Neiu Troubles in Paris, and of EliachimV

being feized-i ivhich forced Mahmut to abfcond

from bis Lodgings.

Ad III. To

The TABLE.

III. To Nathan Ben Saddi, a yeiv at Vienna. 8
He acquaints him 'with the fame News ; and forbids

any Difpatches till farther Order.

IV. To Adonai a Jenu at Venice. 9
On the fame SuhjeSI : and of an Attempt to rob the

Treafury of Venice. A Relation o/"Tiepoli'j
Conf piracy,

V. To Mahummed, Hodgia^ Dervife, Eremite^
Inhabitant of the Prophetick Cave in Arabia
the Happy. 1 2

Of the Ceutempt t&* Franks fbenv to the Beafts :
Sefveral nfmarkahle Infiances of the Tendernefs
•which the Ancitnis JheiJued to the Dumb Crea-
tures.

Vr. To the Kaimacham. 20

Of his Return to his former Lodgings. The true
Reafon o/^Eliachim*^ being feix^d.

VII. To Nathan Ben Saddi, a ^^wat Vienna.

He informs him of the fame Matter ^ and relates
the Entertainment he found at his Return ; bis
Hofiefs being nen.vly de liver'' d of a Son,

YIII. To Adonai, ^.fenuzxVenice. 25

Of a Marble Statue, 'with a m/fierious Infer ipt ion
on it.

IX. To the Reis Effendi, chief Secretary of the
Ottoman Empire. 27

Of a Peace concluded betwueen the French Court an/
the Parliament of Paris. A Defcription of the
King'j Houfe a/;^ Gardens at Ruel.

X. To Dgnet OgloM, 29

Of

The T A B L E.

Of the Death of Egri Boinou. Of the Eajiern
Jealoujy. A memorable Example of Seleucus'/
Jufiice.

XI. To the Captain Baja. 33
He informs him of a League lubicb the CoiTacks,

Circaflians, Mingrelians, and other Nations
ivere engaged in againjl the Porte. Ihe differ-
ent CharaSer of thole People. Some Remarks
en the Life of Ilhmael Sophi.

XII. To Cara Hali, Fhyjician to the Grand Seig-
nior. .37

He congratulates his new Honour, and ad-vifes him
to be cautious of the Vizir Azem.

XIII» To Chiurgi Muhammet, Baffa. 40

He acquaints him ivith the Flight of Mahomet, the

Son of the Dey 0/^ Tunis j and his Converfion ts

the Chriilian Religion.

XIV. To Sale Tircheni Emin, Superintendant of
the Royal Arfenal at Conjlantinople. 45

Of the fVars in the Black-Sea j the Hifory ^Pa-
chicour the Circaflian Pjrate,

XV. To Melee Amet, Baffa. 48
Of the Murder of Doriflaus, the Englifli Ambaf-

fador at the Hague, ivith other mitterj.

XVI. To the Venerable Mufti. 51
He accufes the Septuagint, attd all the Chriftian

Tranflators cf the Bible, of Flatnefs, Err or s,
and not rightly rendering the Original Hebrew.
Some particular Remarks on the Pfalms ofDa.-
vid, and Canticles 0/*Soioinon.

XVII. To

The T A B L E.

XVII. To the Ciiaus, Baja. 57
Remarks on the German, Swedifli, and Engllfh Af-

fairs. A Difco'very nuhich Ofmin the Dwarf
made of a Letter from the Captain Bafia, to
Cardinal Mazarini.

XVIII. To Cara Hali, Thyfician to the Grand
Seignior. 6 1

He informs him of great Injuries done By-Lightning
in France. Difcourfes of the Pleafures of a Country
Life', and complains of his otxin Entanglements,

XIX. To Kenan Baffa, Chief Treafurer to his
Highnefs at Conjiantinople. 66

He congratulates his Adn^ancement, and exhorts
him to Moderation. Putting him in mind alfo
of the Cheats that have been committed in tht
Treafury.

XX. To Vejieli Halt, his Brother. 69
Of the Pleafure he takes in reading his Travels.

He informs him of the progrejji've Conquefts madt
in China ^ the young 'EvciTperor of the Tartars.
He advifes him to 'wait on Kerker HafTan, BaHa.

XXI. To Kerker Hafan, Baffa. 75
He gives him ajhort Account o/China, to encourage

him to learn more from his Brother.

XXII. To Chornezan, Baffa. 78
Offeveral Royal Marriages and Funerals in Eu-
rope. Remarks on EcHpfes; and -what hap'
pen'd to the Sun in the Days of Jehofliuah and
Ezekiah.

BOOK

The T A B L E.

BOOK II.
LETTER I.

TO Muhummed Eremite, Inhabitant of the
P raphe tick Ca-ve in Arabia the Happy. 84
He dejires his AJJtJiance and Counfel in federal
Scruples that entangle his Confcience»

II. To Minezim Aluph, Bajfa. 99
Of the Imprifonment of three French Princes of the

Jlood.

III. To the Reis Effendiy Principal Secretary of
the Ottoman Empire. 95

He acquaints him nuith the Indiflion of the Jubilee
at Rome. Difcourfes of the Sabbatical Tear
among the Jews ; and of the Secular Games
among the Ancient Romans.

IV. To the Tlorwer of High Dignity, the moft
Magnificent Vizir Azem. 99

Of the Valour of the Baffa of Buda and his Son,
Remarks of the French Campaigns. He defends
the Jujlice of the Ottoman Forte, in releafing
the Bailo of Venice, and firangling his Inter-
preter.

V. To Sedree AP Giraivn, chief Page of the
Treafury. 103

Of the Cuftom in the Eaft, to prefer Men 0/^ Merit,
^ thaugh of mean Birth, to Places of Truft. Iht

contrary

The T A B L E.

contrary 0-verJight of the Franks. A Story of
■ Pafquil /« Rome. Of the Remo'val of the three
imprifofi'd Princes to Havre de Grace. The
Revolt of Bourdeaux.

VI. To the Kaimacham. lo6
He acquaints him nvith the Lofs of the Box, 'where-
in all the Letters itr/V by the Minifters of
the Porte to him 'v^ere contairidi and lAjbat
Fears he ivas in about it,

VII. To the fame.

He informs him that a Negro Slave to Eliachim
the Jew had ftollen the Box cf Letters ; iKiho
being examined by Tortures, e'ven to Death, con-
fefs'd he had hid it in the Earth.

VIII. To Soljman, Kuflyr Aga, Prince of the
Black Eunuchs. 1 1 3

Of the Affront done to the Porte in the Claim tht
Tartars made to the Tutelage cf the young Sul-
tan. Of the Cruelty often exercised on the Prin-
ces cfthe Ottoman Blood.

Va. To T>gnet Oglou. T16

"He complains of an unjuft Reproof gi'ven him by
the Reis Eflfendi, on the Account o/" Kenan BaiTa,
and jujiifes his onun ConduS end Integrity.

X. To the Reis Effendi, principal Secretary oi
the Ottoman Empire. 120

Mahmut eicpofiulatis nuith him about his fuppofed
Crime, in nvriting freely to Kenan Baffa. Acf
quaints him nuith the Orders he received from
//?>f Vizir Azem, and other principal Minifters
of the Divan, to that Purpofe. Of the Murder

The TABLE.

»fan Englifh Ambaflador at Madrid, and of »
Fight beticeen the Scotch avd Englifh.

XI. To Solyman ^ga, principal Chamberlain of
the Womens Apartments in the Seraglio. I 24^

Of the Di/ordcrs and Mutinies among the Janiza-
ries. Of the French King's Guard of Switzcrs.
/// Neijos from Candia. The Bra'very of the
M;iltefe Knights. Of the Death of the Prince
of Orange.

XII. To Kifur Dramelec, Secretary of the Na-
suirene Affairs at the Porte. 127

JB^ rallies him for his angry Letter.

XIII. To Minezim Aluph, Ba/pz. 130
Of the Releafe of the three imprifon''d French

Princes : And of Cardinal Maasarini'j private
Departure from the Court.

XIV. To Ifouf his Kinfman at F^jz. 133
Jle difcourfes voith him of bis Travels in Afia :

Challenges his Promife to fend him an Account
of Africk. Several Remarks on that Quarter
ofthe\Nox\A.

XV. To Kerker Uafan, Bajfa. 1 37
He complains of the Injuries had been done him by

Ikirgi, Mafler of the Pages, and by others.
Defer es him to intercede for Leave to return
Home ; pfofejjing himfelf lAjeary of this Em-
ployment.

XVI. To Chufein Bafa, the Magnanimous Vi-
%ir Azem, and Invincible General oi the Otto-
man Forces in Candia. 142

Mahmut

The T A B L E.

Mahmut complains of the Injlahility of all fuhlu-
nary Things. Of the Cruelties exercifcd to-
Kvards fame of the Sultans, Vizirs, BafTa?, and
other Minifters of the Empire. Reflexions on
the Death of the old Queen. Remarks on the
delightful Confinement of the yEthiopian Prin-
ces of the Blood.

XVI I. To Naffuff, Baffa of ISatolia. 147
Of a parrel betiveen the Dukes of Branden-

burgh and Newburgh.

XVIII. To Ufeph Baffa. IjO
Of the Mifunderjianding hettueen the Queen of

France and the Prince of Conde, fence his
Enlargement. Of the Prince'j flight from
Paris.

XIX. To Solyman his Coufin, at Confeantino-
ple. 153

Jle reproves his former Lihertinifm : Endeavours
to re£lify his Mijlake about Hell : And gives
him good Counfel.

XX. To Enden JP Zaidi Jaaf Beglerheg of
Dierbekir. I r 6

He congratulates his Happinefs, in heing Lord
of the Earthly Paradife. Of a Tret five hun-
dred Miles high in Dierbekir. Of the firft
Parents of Mankind, according to the Tradi-
tions of the Indians. With other Matters*

BOOK

The T A B L E.
BOOK III.

LETTER I.

To Ahdel Melee Muli Omar, PreJUentoithc
College oi Sciences at Fez. i6o

He difcourfes after the Manner of a Sceptick, on
the Differences in Religions.

II. To the Kaimacham. 1 66
The Sentiments of Jfouf Eb'n Hadrilla, an Ara-
bian Philofopher, concerning the Original of
Mankind, and their being born in a State of
War. Of 150,000 Livres promifed as a Re-
ivard to thofe nvho Jhould bring in Cardinal
Mazarini ali've or dead. Of the Return of
/i-fl/ Miniller to the Coart.

III. To the Rets Effendi, Principal Secretary
of the Ottoman Empire. I jO

More of the Domejiick 'troubles in France.

IV. To Cara Hali, Fhjtcian to the Grand
Seignior. I7J

He relates fe'veral Examples of the Wifdom and
Morality that is found in the Brutes.

V. To the Captain Baffa. 179
He expojiulates about the ill Succefs of the Maho-
metan Fleets ; and relates to him a Vifion Kjohich
he had in Paris ; With the Ceremonies that
fivent before it. Advifes him to make a Defceni

in

The T A B L E.

iit Italy. Informs him of a terrible Sea-CotO'
bat between the Englilh and the Dutch.

VI. To the Kiay Bey, or Lieutenant-General of
the Janizaries. 1 84.

Of the Corruptions crept into the "DifcipVme of that
Order : Which he counfels him to reform. Of
an Infurreftion in Paris : With other Matters.

VII. To Nathan Ben Saddi, a Jeiu^ at Vien-
na. 188

Of a Duel fought between the Dukes of Beau-
fort and Nemours. The Parliament of Paris
divided. The Roman Catholick Religion re*
fored in Cologne.

VIII. To the Kaimacham. igo
Of the French King'j Return to Paris, and the

uni'verfal Joy of his People for the fame. Of
. the Rebellions in Syria and Egypt.

IX. To Bgnet Oglou. 193
Of the Vnhappinefs of Kings. Particular Re-

feSiions on the Depofing of Sultan Ibrahim ;
and the Minority of Sultan Mahomet.

X. To Mclec Amet. 1 96
Of a French Lord, nvbo, being clofe purfued by bit

Enemies, efcaped over an Arm of toe Sea, by
the Strength of his Horfe, for ivhich Service
he immediately killed him. CyCarabuIuc, Sul-
tan Selim'j Horfe. Remarks on the Birth of
Alexander the Great, and the Burning of Di-
ana'j TV/w/i/f c/ Ephefus. Of the Imprifonment
of Cardinal de Retz. Of the Taking of Dun-
kirk and Cafal hy the Spaniards.

XI. To

The T A B L E.

KI. To the fame. too

He difcourfei of a Comet fwhich at this Time ap-
peared in the Heavens, ahovt the Sphere of
the Sun.

XII. To Tejleli Haliy his Brother, Mafter of
the Grand Seignior's Cuftoms. 203

He congratulates his nenv Preferment, and counfels
him not to he hafiy in grooving rich or migh-
ty. O/^ Cardinal Mazarini'j Return from his
fecond Banifhment.

XIII. To Kerker Hafan, Bajfa. 206.
He thanks him for the Favour be hadjhenun to his

Brother. Of the Honours ivhich the French
King hejlanu^d on Cardinal Antonio Barbari-
ni. Of certain Prodigies.

XIV. To t^athan Ren Saddi, a Jew, at Tr.
enna. 209

He endeavours to ixiean him from the Prejudiees of
Education ; and to convince him that other Na-
tions are in as fair a Way to Paradife as the
•Jews.

XV. To the fuhlimely Wife, the Senior of exceU
lent Dignity, Ahul Reco-itiorM' n , Grand AlmC'^
ner to the Sultan. 213

Of the Difference betnueen impudent Beggars, and
the truly indigent. A remarkable Infance of a
certain Cardinal'^ Charity. He recommends to
him, in particular, the Cafe of a certain dif-
carded Timariot.

XVI. To the Captain "Bajfa. 217
Gf federal Sea-Fights between the Englifh and

Dutch.

The T A B L E.

Dutch. j4nd particularly of that ivherein Ge-
neral Trump ivas killed.

XVII. To Sale Tircheni Emin, Superintendant
of the Royal Arfenal at Confiantinople. 2 1 2

Of a ^-onderful Ship built at Rotterdam by a
French Engineer, nvhich Jhould perform Mi'
racUi, He difcourfes of Spouts at Sea.

XVIII. To Murat, Baffa. 224
Remarks on the nenv Englifh Common-wealth r

On the young King of Scots, and on the French
Affairs.

XIX. To Afis, Baja. 226
Of divers Prodigies and Difajiers in the Low-
Countries. Of the Whale and its Guide. Of
the narrow Efcape the French King made as he
ijcas Jhooting a Partridge,

XX. To Dgebe Nafr, Baffa. 230
He congratulates his SucceJJion in the Dignities

cf Chiurgi Muhammet, Baffa. Of the taking
Saint Mcneho.ud. (^ Oliver the Englifh Prc-
teAor.

BOOK

The T A B L E.

BOOK IV.
LETTER I.

TO Bedredin, Superior of the Convent of Deri
njiches at Cogni in Natalia. zS6

Remarks on the Birth and Life of the Meffias. A
Charaiier of the Effenes.

II. To the Venerahle Mufti. 242
Of a Letter fent out of Armenia hy the Jefuits,

to fome of their Order in Spain, concerning the
Opening of the Earthy and Snuallo'wing up of
MahometV Tomb.

III. To Cara Hali, Phyfician to the Grand
Seignior. 244

Of the reverend Efleem the Ancients had of the
Beails. Several Injlances of this Nature,

IV. To Mujlapha Berber Aga, at the Serag-
lio. 249

Of the Imprifonment of the Duke of horrzm.

V. To Nathan Ben Saddi, a few at Vienna. 25 1
Of the unwritten Traditions of Mofes, andoftht

written Law. £ncomiums on the Alcoran.

VI. To Dicheu Hujfein, Bajfa. 259
Of Cardinal Mazarini'j Bolicy in marrying his

Nieces to the French Princes of the Blood.

VII. To Vgnet Oglou, 262

Of

The T A B L E.

He dejcants on the accidental Lofs of his Si^htfor
tixo Days. A DigreJJion concerning the Wifdom
that is to he found in Brutes.

VIII. To Afs, Baffa. 266
K)f the Preparations for Crotvning the young King

of France. Difcontents renenued at Paris, on
the Death of the Archbilhop.

IX. ToMurat, Baffa. 369
Of certain Witches apprehended in France. Of

Pancrates, a Magician ^/^ Egypt ; and of Xy to
a German Conjurer.

X. To Chernezau Mujiapha, Baffa. 275
O/" the Propofals hetnueen Queen Chriflina, end

Charles Prince Palatine, her Succejfor.

XI. To Sale Tircheni Emin, Superintendant of
th? Kv^al Arfenal at Confiantinople- 276

Of the Blowing up of Graveling by Gunpotuder,
and of a Mill that took Fire.

XII. To Mehemet, an Eunuch in the Seraglio. 278
Of Mahmut's Antipathy to Spiders. A Difcourfe

of Antipathies. Of a People in Africa that
feed altogether on Locufts.

XIII. To the Kaimacham, 282
Of the Coronation of the King (f France. Of the

Duke c/'Lorrain'j heingremo'vedinto Spain, nxjith
other Matters out of Sweden and Mttfcovy.

XIV. To Dgnet Oglou. 204.
He difcourfes of the Uncertainty that ts to he found

zw Hiftory- Of the Difagreement lett»tenth»
Chronologies ^the Eaft and Weft.

LETTERS

< I )

L ETTE R S

Writ by a

SPY at PARIS,

VOL. IV.
BOOK I.

L E T T E R I.

Mahmut the Arabian, and indefatiga-
ble Slave to the Grand Seignior, To
Mahomet, the moji illujlrious Vizer
Azem atjhe Port.

I Congratulate thy Afcent to that Top of
Honour, \\\ejirj} Dignity in the Empire ever
'viciorious. ' lis thy Turn to be now exalted
in the Orb oi Fortune : Let not this high Sta-
tion make thee forget, that the Wheel is always
in Motion. But confider. That, fince the Advance
thou hall made was not but by the Fall of thy
Fredeceffor, thou haft lefs Reafon to think thy
own State fecure.

B lam

'2 Letters JVrit by Vol. IV.

lam no Tortiine-Teller, nor would be fo rude
as to prognolticate ill Luck to my Superiors. But,
Men in tminent Dignity have need oi' a. Moni-
tor : And, it is recorded of a great Monarch,
That he commanded one o^\i\%Pages every Morn-
ing X.O lakte him, when he firft awaked, with
theie Words, Remember y O King, that thou art
a Mortal.

Let this Example, fupreme Mivijler, plead my
ExCLife, and incline thee to pardon the Freedom
which Mahmut takes ; who by this, thou feeft, is
jjio Flatterer.

Certainly all fublunary Things ebb and flow
like the Water*. And, though Men may
fometimes enjoy a Spring-T\6^ of Felicity, yet
Fate has hidden Sluices, which in a Moment
Ihall convey the mighty Torrent to fome other
Channel.

I my felf have in fome meafure experienced
this, who am but a Puny in Compariion with '
thee. Vet DejUnyzxA Chance are allotted to the
Little, as well as to the Great. The Worm en-
coiuiters as many grofs Contingencies, in her
humble reptile State, as does the tow'ring Eagle,
in all her lofty Flights and Range?, through the
wide ftretch'd Air.

In my Infancy I was fnatchM from the Cradle,
and from the Arms of my mournful Mother ;
mournful on two Accounts, the Death of a
Husband, and the rseceffity of parting with, her
Child. Yet this early Separation turn'd to my
Advantage, and her Comfort. The Sequel of
my good Fortune invited her to forfake her
Solitudes, and ixiUcw me to the hi^crial City ;
where las exchan'ged her melancholy Widow-
hood, for the S-ciety and Love of a Merry
Greek: Whilft Tate had another Game to play
viih me; ic being the Will oi Heaven, That from

the

Vol. IV. rt Spy «/ Paris. 5

the Delights of the Seraglio, and the Honour of
ferving the greatejt So'vereign in the World, \
fhoald fall into a cruel Capti-vity, and be com-
pelled ignominioufly to drudge for a barbaroui
Jnfidel. Afterwards, I gnin'd my Liherty, and
apply'd my felf to ftudy in the Academies. I
will not boafl of the Proficiency I made -. Bur,
at my Return to Conflantinople, thou knoweft, my
Superiors thought me capable of doing the Port
Service in this Place. Thus Pro-uidence fports
with Mortals, and, by an unaccountable Clew of
Difcipline, leads them through the Mazes of this
Life.

How I have dlfcharged my Truft here, I dare
appeal to all ; yet can pleafe none. Every Man
will be my Judge to give Sentence againlt me ;
and fome, I believe, would willingly be my
Executioners : Which, at certain Times, carries
me into fo deep a Melancholy, that I ever join
with my Enemies, and condemn myfelf, though
I know not for what. Surely, fay I, fo many
perfpicacious Men cannot be all in the wrong,
and 1 only in the right : They muft needs
fee fome Faults in me, which I cannot difcern
in my felf- Doubtlefs I'm partial, and never
chang'd the Order of ALfop''% Wallet. Then I
refledl on thefe 1 houghts, as the mere Produft
of Melancholy •. For, after the ftrideft Exami-
nation of my Conduit, I find myfelf innocent
of thofe Things whereof I am accus'd. Yet,
whilft I am jultifying my Integrity towards my
great Mafier, my Sadnefs returns ag;iin, and tells
me, That, withou. doubt, I have fome Ways of-
fended God and his Prophet, who, for that Rta-
fon, fufier the Envious to perfecute me ; and
drive me into a more intimate and familiar Con-
verfe with myfelf, that fo, by making a frequent
Strutiny aiter the Caufe of my outward Mif-
B z fortunes.

4 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

fortunes, I may difcover the fecret Crimes which
I may have committed againll Hea-ven, and
which lie hid under my Inadvertence and Ob-
livion.

Then I'mfiU'd with a thoufand Scruples about
my tellirg Lyes, and taking falfe Oaths, though
I'm difjenfed with forall thofe Immoralities, by
tht fovereign Arbiter of the Laiv. In a Word, I
know ret fometimes what to think. And were
it not that my Agency in thefe Parts meets with
feme Succefs, I fhould often conclude. That I ei-
ther lie under fome Curfe of Gud, or Charms of
Men ; that either Heat'en, or Hell, haveapeculiar
Hand inafflifting me.

But all this may be only the Fumes of my
own diilemper'd Spleen. And the indulgent
Judge of Man may pafs a milder Sentence on me,
than either I do myfelf, or my Fellow-Mortals.
He is tranfcendently benign and merciful :
And our Sins of Frailty appear in his Eyes but
rs fmall Atoms in the Rays of a Morning-Sun;
which, though they be innumerable, yet the
leall Breath of Wind blows them all out of
Sight.

^Y what I have faid, 'tis apparent, That I have
Regard both to thee and myfelf ; To thee, as the
fuprtme Difpejer of Life and Death, under the
Gra7;d Seignior ; to myfelf, as one cuU'd out for a
Viclim by the Malicious, and lying at the Feet of
thy ncble Nature, begging thy Proteftion. My
Enemies are indulhious to ruin me, and lay hold
on all Opportunities to accompli fh it. The 5f«-
tence, which they could not procure from thy Pre-
deceffory they may hope to draw from thee by
their falfe Informations. This makes me ufe Pre-
caution in my own Defence, hoping to foreftal
their Malice by this humble Addrefs.

Imitate

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris, 5

Imitate thou the dinjiue Nature, and be not fe-
vere in remarking the Peccadillo'^, anc4 fmall De-
linquencies of thy Slave. U I turn Infidel or
Traytor, I crave no Favour.

That fupreiuelf merciful and gracious, the
Jirji and lei/i of the World, and Lord of F/7/-«-
,dife, heap on thee as many Blelhngs every Day,
as would employ my fwifteft Wifhes aThoufand
Years ; and grant that thou may'Il find Admit-
tance into the Place full of Ritrrs, whofe Springs
take their Ri/e from the Bottom of the Rock of
Eternity.

Paris, I 'th of the zd Mooi, cf the Tear 1649,
accorJiav to the Chriilian St^le.

LETTER II.

'To the Kaimacham.

TH E Troubles of this Kingdom, which a while
ago feem'd to be compos'd, are now again
broke out afrefh. The private Grudges of fomC,
and the Ambition of others of the Nobility, have
once more put all in Arms. This City b block'd
up by the Prince of Conde\ Army, who has not
been long return'd from Flanders. The King,
the Queen, with Cardinal Mazarinr, and the
whole Court, are at St. Germains in Lay, whither
they went by Night. This abrupt Departure gave
frelh Courage to the Seditious, and at the lame
time furnifh'd them with new Matter of Accufa-
tion againft Cardinal Mazarini, who, they fay,
has llole away their Sovereign from them. The
Parliament have declared him an Enemy to the
B 3 Govern'-

6 Letters TFrit hy Vol. IV

Government. They are levying Soldiers as faftas
they can : And Provificns are laid in, as if they
were tofullain a long Siege. Several Princes .ind.
Grandees are come over to the Ci/izens, having
defcrted th-; Court j among whom is the Prince
of Co' ti. Brother to the Prince of Cnnde. Yet
the Ptirifmns are dillr llfu' of him, and have con-
fin'd his Siller, a'^ a Hoitrge for his Fidelity ; not
kn 'V\ing, that his Defertion is rer.!, being occa-
lion'dby lome Quarrel between him and his elder
Brother.

* : IS faid, Th::t Cardinal Maxarini has taken a
Refolution to depart the Kngdom, that fo he may
avoid the Tempell; that threatens him from ail
Hands.

The ^een has fent Orders to the Colonels, that
ferve uncer Marefchal Tu>enne, in Germa7iyy
commanding tnem to abandon ttiat General, who,
they fay. has declared for the Parliament, and fent
tc I fF^r tnepi h:- Service.

On the trh'-rfide, the Citizens endeavour to
fl;eng hen the r Party, by tending to all the Par-
liamenti of Frajice, tu defire their Conjundion ia
cfpoiifing the Quarrel i.f this oi Paris.

TheLompanies, v\hich the Burghers ofthisCity
hive rai;'d, we^r this Mutto in their Enjigns,
WE SEEK OUR KING.

In the mean while, the Arch-Duke of Aufiria
keep;, near the Fion.iers of this Kingdom, with
an Army of Twenty-thoufand Men ; and fends
frequent Propofals to the Parliament, in order to
a Peace.

VVhilft I was writing the laft Words, News
was brought me, that Eliachim the ^^tv is feiz'd,
and clap'd in Prifon at St. Denys, which Place is
in the King's Hands. I cannot learn the Reafoa
of his Confinement, but am apt to fufpeft 'tis on
the Score of his late appearing among the Rab-
ble

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris. 7

ble of Paris, whereof I gave an Account in a
Letter to the Aga of the janizaries .

The Surprize, 1 am in at this unfortunate Ac-
cident, puts me upon a thoufand Thoughts,
I know not what Courfe to take for my own
Safety. Jf Eliachifn's Papers fhouU be fearch'd,
Mahtr.ut mud be difcover'd ; and then, if I tarry
in the City, I cannot efcape a Prifon : For tho'
at this Junfture, one would think this Place a
fufficient Protedion from the Court ; yet the Ha-
tred they bear to the true Believers, and the Difco-
very of fo important z.CommiJftomi% mine, would
fuperfede their intefline Animofities. I l"hould
infallibly be either delivered up to the Court, or
fent to the Bajiile. If I go cut of the Ciiy, my
Dinger is yet greater ; all the PjITcs of ihe
Country being narrowly watch'd, and ftrongly
guarded by the King's Soldiers. This made me,
at ftrft, refolve to defer the Conclufion of this
Letter to another Time, whi'fl I provided for my
own Safety ; as thinking it impcfllble to convey
any Intelligence out of France undifcovered. Bac
being inform'd of a Courier, that was juft going
from the Parliament to the Arch-Duke of AuJIria^
and fearing lell I fhould never have the Privi-
lege of Pen, Ink, and Paper again, I have ravifli'd
a few Moments, from that little Time I have- left
to Ihift for myfelf, that fo I might give thee no-
tice of this Accident.

I have written alfo to Nathan Ben SaJJi at Fi-
anna, to prevent any Di/patches from him, till far-
ther Order. Both thefe Letters I venture in the
Hands of a faithful MefTenger, who has caufed
them to be fewcd up in the Heels of his Shoe?,
to prevent Difcovery. He travels under the Pro-
teftion of the Courier,

I have not a Minute left to fay more. Than,

that I am at this Inllant parting from my Lodg-

B4 ingj

B Letters fFrit ly Vol. IV.

ing ; my Books and other Things being paek'd up,
and Porters ready to carry them away. If I get
fafe out of the Houfe, I muft change my Habit
and Name, and fo lay the Foundation of a new
Concealment, till the Iffue of this Adventure fhall
direft me what to do.

Adieu, illuflrious Kaimacham, and expedl to
hear more in my next ; or let my Silence convince
thee. That Mahmut is no longer at Liberty.

Paris, t^th of the zd Moon,
of the Year 1649.

LETTER III.

7<? Nathan Ben Saddi, a Jew at
Vienna.

IF thou haft any Dlfpatches coming for me, and
it be yet in thy Power to Hop them, ufe
Wings in doing it : For I fear we are difcovered
in this Place. 'I"hy Brother Eiiachim is arrefted
by the King's Orders. What is laid to his
Charge I know not for certain ; neither is it
receflary for thee to be informed in that Point,
But if his Confinement be owing to fome Ser-
vices he has lately done me, we are all loft. His
Papers will be fcarch'd, which muft of Neceffi-
ty betray our Secrets : And then we have No-
thing to expeft but the fevereft Execution of the
Chriftans Fury and Revenge. I am in no fmall
Confufion at this Accident hrtving fcarce Time
to provide for my Concealment. Send no more
to Pwr/j till thou receiveft further Advice. We
are all in Arms, tiiis City bang block'd up by

the

Vol. IV. a S?Y ai?.AKis. 9

the ^left's Troops ; (o that I knew not well
which way to (hift for myfelf, and efcape a
thoufand Scrutinies, which they will every whers
make into the Affairs of a Stranger. But, that
Fate which over-rules human Contingencies will,
I hope, refcue me out of this Danger : To which
I commend both thee and me ; bidding thee
Farewel, as if I were never to write to thee again;
For fo the Iffue may prove.

Paris, ztth of the i J Moon,
of the Tear, 1649.

LETTER IV.

^0 Adonai, a Jew at Venice.

I 'HAVE fomething more Refpite now, than
' when I wrote laft to my Brother Nathan at
Vienna, to inform him of Eliachim's being made
a Prifoner. I was in agreater Hurr)'at that Time,
than the ninth Sphere. All my Motions were
fwift. I went backward and forward, like the
Planets ; but had no Leifure to ifcird ftiU, as they
do fometimes. In a Word, I have run over the
whole Zodaick of Policy, to feek for a new Houfe;
that wherein I lodg'd being like to prove too
hot for me. At length I have found ore, where-
in I hope tomeet with no maie^vaieut AfpsSis, but
to remain, as before, in ^ fneKJh Conjun^ion
with the Moon ; behind whofe Splendors, I may
lie covered from the Inquifuions of peeriiig
Mortals .

To fpeak more intelHgrbty, I am, for the pre-.
fciK, remov'd to other Lodgings in this City, .
B s thfr

TO Letters }Vril by Vol. IT.

tlie better to fhelter myfelf from the Storm
which feems to hang over my Head, fince Elia'
chim was feiz'd. Yefterday I wrote to the Kai-
maicbatriy and to Nathan Ben Sad^i, to give
them an Account of this Accident. This goes along
with the fame Meflenger ; for I durft not confide
in the Pofis, during the prefent Diforders of this
Kingdom.

I receiv'd a Letter from thee, wherein thou
informed me, of an Attempt th^t has been lately
made, to rob the Treafury of Venice ; Which, ac-
cording to thy Defcription, is very rich and
magnificent ; not to be match'd in Europe. Per-
haps if thou hadft feen the Wealth that is pre-
ferv'd in the Church of St. Dcn^s, a City not far
from Paris, thou wouldll be of another Mind.
Bat neither of us can make proper Ccmparifons,
having not feen both Place?. The French extol
the latter, and fay, it far exceeds tliat of Venice.
But they may fpeak partially ; it being the Hu-
mour of all People to magnify the Grandeur of
their own Nation : And, the French come not
fhortofthe rdl of the World in Vain-Glory.
However it be, it was a v.-fl Attempt and full of
infinite Difficulties ard Perils, to rob the Vaults
of a Ghurchm the Heart of that great and popy-
Icus City, where all the Riches of the 6'f/f7;i<7;;5i
wee rcpcfited. It is an Argument of the Great-
ncf? of their Souls who durlt undertake fo hazard-
ous an Enterprize.

But this is not the firilTime the Penetlant have
been in Danger to lofe that prodigious Mafs of
Wealth. A poor Grecia7i once found a Way,
through marble Barricado's under Ground, to
enter thofe golden Cells ; from whence he car-
ried awny, to the Value of Twenty-hundred
Thoufard Zechins in Jewels. But, making one
of his Ccuntry-men ac^uaiuted with it, tlie Vil-
la i a

Vol. IV. <? Spy ^/^ Parts. rfT

kin betray'd him to the Doge, who caufed him to
be hang'd.

That Cofnmoti'wealth has been all along very-
happy in Difcovery of P/(p/j, and other Mifchiefs
intended againft her. I know not whether thoa
haft heard of the famous Con/piracy of Tiepoli ;
who, not content with the Life and Eftate of a
pri'vafe Gentleman, fought to render himfelf So-
*vereign of Venice. And, to this End, infinuated
into the Afreflions of many Thoufands of the
Citizens ; whom he kept in conftant Penfion for
above nine Years together, under the Notion of
aflifting him, to revenge certain Injuries he had
rcceiv'd from the Roman Gentleman. They were
all to run with their Arms into the Streets, whea
they fhould hear the Name Tiepoli utter'd aloud,
and often repeated.

But, when the Day \vas come, whereon he
was to put his Defigns in Execution, and the A-
larm was given in the Streets, an old Woman
madefuch hafte to look outofher Chamber-Win-
dow, to fee what was the Occafion of the Tu-
mult, that fhe threw down an earthen Vefiel,
which, falling diredly on the Head of 7/V/o/r,
kiird him, and fo put an End to the Rfbellion.
For which happy Accident, the Senate fettled a
yearly Penfion of a Thoufand Zechins on the old
Woman, during her Life, and the fame to be paid
to her Heirs and Pofterity for ever.

Send me no Difpatches, till thou haft received
another L/:tter from me, which will diredl thee .
what to do.

Paris, 2-/th cfthe zd Mso»,
cfthe Yt:ar 1C49.

B 6 LET-

j-i Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

LETTER V.

I'o Mahiimmed, Hadgia, Dervlfe,
Eremit, Inhabitant of the Prophetic
Cave in Arabia the Happy. •

TH E franks (who are more ready to find;
Faults in others, than to mend their own).
cenfure the Muffulmans, for extending their Cha-
rity to Bealls, Birds, and Fifhes. They laugh at
the Alms we beftow to feed Dog% Cats, and other
living Creatures ; and ridicule the Tendernefs of.
fuch, as go into the Markets, and buy the Birds
that are there fold, on Purpofe to reftore them,
to their native Liberty. They fay, ' Tis a fuffici-
ent Demonftration of Piety to relieve the Ne-
cefllties of Men ; and that. It is but a fruitlefs
Hypocrify, to fliew Kindnefs to the Brutes, who^
in their Opinion, have neither Souls nor Reafon,,
and confequently are infenfibte of our good Offices
towards them.

Thef^ arc the Charges of Wcjiern Raillery, the
Scoffs of the obdurate, with which they load
the generous Oricntah, the Hearts transfixed
with univerfal Love. What would they fay, if
they had heard of thy heroick Piety, who not.
only afFordeft Protedlion and Relief to thofe
Creatures whereof we have no Need, but even
abftainell from the Flefh of all Animals, though
the Prophet himfelf has indulged us the Ufe of
fome for our necelTary Food, and without which
many plead, I'hat we cannot fultain Life ?
Oh ! excellent Man, born for the Reproof and
Light of the Age, how is the Soul of our great
Lanv-giver exliilarated, wh?n he beholds thy inno-
cent

Vckl. IV. ^? Spy tf/ Paris? 13

cent and unblemifhed Life ? The Treafury of
Heaven is enrich'd with thy good Works, the fer-f
tile Harveft of Virtues, the Firft-Fruits of the
Parity of thy Nature ! From thy firft Defcent in-
to that holy Ca've, the Angels, who regifter tha
Words of Men, never heard thee utter a Syllable
that could be reprehended. Thy Thoughts ra-
vifh the Heart of God himfelf with Joy. The
uni'vcrfal Spirit full of EyeSj Watcher of the Vni-
verfe, would fall afleep, were it not roaz'd by
the ftrong Vibrations of thy fublime Soul. Thy
Contemplations are Themes for the College of
thofc who are affiftant in forming of all Things.
Were it not for fuch as thee, the Angel of the
Jirji Motion would ceafe to whirl the Globes of
Light through the Heavens : The Orbs above
would grow rujiy, and all the Wheels and Springs
of Nature would Jiandjail. Oh eleft Idea, be-
fore, whofe purify'd Effence the Sun himfelf ap-
pears full of Blemifhes ! Human Wit cannot find;
thy Equal on Earth : Thou art the Imprefs on the
Seal of the Prophets, the5(?«/of the Soul
of Mahomet.

In thus celebrating thy high Perfedions, if
I. have offended thy Modefty, thou haft the Good-
nefs to afcribe it to the Excefs of my AfFedlion,
which carries me beyond human Regards. I-
v/ould fein be an Imitator of thy incorrupt Life.
Eor^ let the ChriJIians fay what they pleafe, I will
evtr e^eem AhJIinence a. divine Virtue. I havei
confuUedthe Sages of Old, that I might learn
what was the Praflice of former Times, whilft
human Nature was yet in its Infancy, before
the Manners of Men were debauch'd. I have
purfued the feleft Writings of the Ancients, the
Records of Truth, and void of Fables. And,
believing that fuch Memoirs will not be unwel-
come to thee, I prefume to lay them at thy Feet,.

as

14 Letters PTrh hy Vol. IV.'

a» a Mark of that profound Veneration I owe to
the Tenant of the Darling of GoD.

Thefe Hifioriam fay, That the firft Inhabitants
of the Earth, for above Two thoufand Years,
livM altogether on the me^etable ProduSis ; of
which they offer'dthe Firji-Fruits to God ; It be-
ing efteem'd an inexpiable Wickednefs, to fhcd
the Blood oi arxy Animal, though it were in Sa-
crifice, much more to eat of their Flefli. To this
End, they relate the firft Slaughter of a Bull
to have been made at Athens, on this Occafion,
The PrieJioiiheTonvn, whofe Name was Diomui,
as he was making the accullomed Oblation of
Fruits on an Altar in the open Field (for as yet
they had no Temples) a Bull came running from
the Herd, which was grazing hard by, and eat
of the confecratcd Herbage. Upon which Dio-
mus the Prieji, mov'd with Zeal at the reputed
Sacrilege, and fnatching a Sword from one of
thofe that wereprefent, kiU'd the Bull. But, when
his PafBon wa» over, and he confider'd what a
heinous Crime he had committed j fearing alfo
the Rage of the People, he perfuadcd them,
Tliat a Go^ had appeared to him, and commanded
him to offer that Bull in Sacrifice, by burning
his Flefh v.ith Fire on the Altar, as an Atone-
ment for his devouring the confecrated Fruits.
The devout Multitude acquiefced to the Words
of their Priefi, as to an Oracle, And" the Bull
being flay'd, and Fire laid on the Altar, they
all afiilled at the new Sacrifice. From whlch
Time, the Cuficm v/as yearly obferv'd among
the Athenians, to fiacrifice a Bull. And by them
this Method oi religious Cruelty was taught, not
only to all Greece, but to the reft of the World.
Iii prcccfs of^Time, a certain Priefi, in the midft
of his bloody Sacrifice, taking up a Piece of the
btoiled Flefh which.had fallen from the Jltew on

the-

Tol. rV. a Spy ai PAKisr t^

the Ground, and, burning his Fingers therewith,
fuddenly clap'd them to his Mouth, to mitigate
the Pain, But, when he had once tafted the
Sweetnefs of the Fat, not only long'd for more
of it, but gave a Piece to his Affiftant, and he
to others : Who all, pleafed with the new found
Dainties, fell to eating of Flefti greedily. And
hence this Species of Gluttony was taught to
other Iflortals. Neither is it material, what the
Hebre-w DoSors objeft againft thefe Teltiraonies,
when they introduce the Son of Adam, facrificing
living Creatures, in the Infancy of the World ;
fince, thou knoweft, many Errors are inferted
in the 'written Lanu, from whence they take this
Story.

They fay alfo,That the firft Goat, that fell by
the Hands of Men, was killed in revenge for
the Injuries it had done the Owner of a Vine-
yard, in brouzing on his Vines ; fuch an impious
Deed having never been heard of before.

This is certain, That the Egypt ians^ the wifeft
and moft ancient People in tKe World, having
receiv'd from the firft Inhabitants of the Earth a
Tradition, forbidding Men to kill any living Crea-
ture ; to give the greater Force to this Frimitinie
Laiv of Nature, they form'd the Images of their
Gods, in the Similitude of Beajis : That fo the
Vulgar, ftruckwith Reverence at the /arr^d'Syw-
bols, might learn to abftain from killing, or fo
much as hurting the dumb Animals ; under whofe-
Forms, they reprefented whatlbever among them
waselleemed adorable.

Yet, left any in his Life-Time (houIJ by Ac-
cident, or otherwife, have tranfgrefs'd the Laiv-
oi Ahjlinence, they ufcd a kind of 5.)r^/«//o,7 for
the Deed, after this manner : The Pricjis took
the Bowels out of the Belly of the Dcccafed,
and putting them in an earthen Veffel, they held'

it

1 6 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

it towards the Sun ; and calling Witneffes, they
made the following Speech, in behalf of the Dead:
** O thou Sun, whofe Empire is univerfal, and all
** ye other Po-ivers, who give Life to Men, re-
*' ceive me into the Society of the immortal Gods,
" for, fo long as I liv'd in this World, I religi-
" oufly perlevered in the Worjhip of thofe Deities,
'* which were made known to me by my Ance-'
** Jlors. IzXwzysL'onoured my Parents, who be-
*' gat my Body. I never killed any Man or BeaJ};
*' nor have been guilty of any black Crime, But,
" if whilft I lived I have trefpafs'd in tafiing any
*' of thofe Tl^vVf^j which zxt forbidden, it was not
*' my Sin, but the Fault of thefe Entrails, which
*' are here feparated from the reft of my Body. '*'
And having faid this, they call the VefTel into
the River, on the Banks of which the Ceremony
was perfbrmM, embalming the reft of the Body,-
as pure and free from Sin.

After the fame manner the Perfian Magi, or.
ixiife Men, praitifed Ahjlinence. And, to imprint
in their Difciples a Tendernefs and Friendfliip to-
ward the Bea/ls, they called them, according to.
their different Stations, either Lions, Hysna's,
Crows, Eagles, Hawks, ^V. And their Gar-
ments were painted all over with the various
Figures of Animals 'y thereby infmuating, the-
Dodrine of the SouPs travfmigration ; and in-
culcating this Myjiery, That the Spirit of Man>
enters fucceffi'vely into all forts of Bodies : Whicht
thou knoweft is not remote from the Faith of true.
Believers.

It would not be amifs, as a Teftimony of the
Pradice of th& Ancients, to infert a memorable-
Addrefs, whidi the Reform' d Priefs of Crete were
wont to make before the Altar of Jupiter. " O
*' Di'vxe Governor oithe Hundred Cities , we have
** led a Holy Life, from the Time that we were .

•• initiated

Vol. IV. rt Spy ^/ Parts. 17

** initiated in thy MsJIeries, and forfook the noc'
** turnal Rites, and bloody Feajls of Bacchus:
" We are now purify'd, and cloath ourfelves in
" "johite Vejiments, the Emblems of our Inno-
" cence : We fhun the Society of polluted Mor-
•' tals ; neither approach we to the Sepulchres of
" the Dead, nor tajle of the Tlejh of any Things
*' which has been endued with Life. "

Such alfo was of old, and to this Day Is, the
Abjlinence of the Indians ; among whom tlxeBrach-
fnans^ perform the Office of Priejlhood, Thefe
the ancient Grecians call'd Gymnofophijis . They
are all of one Race, neither will they admit a
Stranger into their Order. They live for the
jnoft part near to Ganges^ or feme other River,
for the Sake of their frequent Purificatians.
Their Diet confifts of Milk, curdled with fowre
Herbs. They feed alfo on Apples, Rice, and
other Fruits of the Earth ; efteeming it the
Height of Impiety to tafte of any Thing that
has Life. They live in little Hutts or Cottages^
every one by himfelf, avoiding Company and
Difcourfe ; employing all their Time in Contem-
plation, and the Service of the Ternple. They
efteem this Life but a neceffary Difpenfation
of Nature, which they voluntarily undergo as
a Penance ; ardently thirfling after the Diffolu-
tion of their Bodies ; and firmly believing. That
the Soul, by Death, is releafed from -its Prifon,
and launches forth into immenfe Liberty and
Happinefs, Therefore they are always chearful-
ly difpofed to die, bewailing thofe that are
alive, and celebrating the Funerals of the Dead,
with joyful Solemnities and Triumphs. Among
their good Works, it is accounted an Afl of
of great Reputation and Virtue, to build Ho/pitals
for Beajls as well as Men : And, in every City,
there are great Numbers of fuch as fpend all

their

i8 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.'

their Life, in tending on fick and wounded Ani-
mals, or fuch as have no Suftenance elfewhere.
And, this is nononjel hjlitution, but deliver'd down
to them by Tradition, from immeraorab'e Ages.

The Precepts alfo of Triptolemus and DracOf
the mod ancient La-tv gi<vers of the Athenians^
are a Teiliraony of the Innocence and Sincerity of
xhejirjl Age: For they comprehended all the whole
Syfftn of Piety and Virtue, in pradifing thefe
lew Rules :

** Let it be an eternal Sanftion to the Atheni'
*' ar.s, to adore the immortal Gods ; to reve-
** rence the departed Heroes j to ce.'ebrate their
" Praifes with Songs, and the Firji-Fruits of the
" Earth ; to honour their Parents', and neither
♦' ic^ kill Manor BeaJ}. "

I could relate to thee Examples of -/^^7?//?fff« in
the ancient Lacedcnioniar.s, Spartans, Jenvs, and
almqll all Nations of the Eajl : Nor are there
wanting fome. Teliimonies of it in thefe Wefiern ■
Parts. 'I'his Kingdom of France was in old Times
inftruiled by a kind of Prophets or Philo/opherSf .
whom they call'd Druids, who took up their
ufual Refidence under CXa /if. Thefe taught the
Tranfmigrction of Souls, and therefore prefcrib'A
Ahftinence from Flejh ; and ihew'd to Men, the
Method of worfhipping Go d with the Firfi-Fruits
of the Earth. From hence they fail'd over into
Britain, and planted themfelves in that JJland, .
propagating the fame Doilrines ; and were reve-
renced by the People as /acred Oracles.

By all which it is evident, That the tender Re-
gard, which the true Faithful have for ih^Brutes,
is no Innovation, or fingular Caprice of Supcrjiition,
but the primitive PratSice of the Ancients, the uni-
lurfal Tradition of the vohole Earth, Nay, the
Eaftern Chrijlians, for the moft part, live an ab-
ftemious Life ; fuch as the Grecians^ Armenians^

Georgians, ,

Vol. IV. «Spy^/ Paris. ig

Georgians, Minp-elians, and others that are fcat-
ter'd up aiid down in divers Parts of Jjia.
Thefe, following the Examples and TradttioKs of
the Atopies and Primitive Fathers of their
Churches, ei'.her tafte not at all, or very fparingly,
the Fl-'Jh of Biaftf, Birds, and Ftfies. But the
Naxarenes of the fVeji boaft of I know not what
Liberty they have, to ear, without fcruple, of all
Things ; having the Difpeniation of the Roman
Mufti, whom they call the ficar of God. Hence
it is, That thefe religious Libertines arc not afraid
to gorge themfrlves, even with the Blo<d 6i
Jiaughterd "Beajls, which their own Luiv forbids
'eintotatle. And they prop themelves up ia
their Impiety, by faying, That tne Pobe has
Power to chcnge the Traditions and Ordinances
of the yipojlles, and even cf Jefus the MeJJiah
himfelf. Heuce proceeds their Den fion of thofe
who fhcw any Tendernefs of the Brutes ; for,
they are harden'd in their gluttonous Cruelty ^^
and are but one Remove from the moft Savagt
Cannibal.

But thou, holy Man of God, pity thefe Inf-
dels, and pray that Mahmut may be a fincere
DifcipU of thy Purity,

Paris, \6thofthe '^d Moon,
of the Tear 1649.

LET^

20 Letters Writ ly \(A. ly.

LETTER VL

To the Kaimacham.

I Am returned to my former Lodging again,
the Cafe of Eliachim being not fo bad as my
Fears. The Occafion of his Confinement were
certain Words he fpoke againft the Proceedings
of Cardinal MaKarhii znd. the Court, in Company
of fuch as were officious to oblige that Minifier.
This was «[one at St. Denys, not far from Pari:;
where they immediately caus'd him to be taken
into Cuftody by the King's Guards who quartered
in that Town. It has coft him a confidcrable
Som of Money to pure ha fe hi3 Liberty, whicH
he now enjoys as before. I had other Thoughts,
xvhen I firft heard the News of his being feized i
and that it wa> for feme feditious Expreflions :
For then I call'd to Mind, how he had adled laff
Year, by my Order, during the Tumults of Paris ;
and concluded, that fome unlucky Accident
hiad now betray 'd him : Which, if it were fo,
would infallibly bring me into the fame Danger.
This made mefo fuddenly change my Habitation,
and put a Stop to the Di/patches of the fuhlimt
Tort. I thought no Caution too much, toprefervc
the Affairs of my CcmmiJJion indemnified ; and.
That it were better to offend in being too wary,
than too fecure. If I have taken wrong Mea-
fures in thus abfconding, 'tis for want of fuller
Inftruftion from my Superiors. I wiih they would,
honour me with particular Rules, . in cafe of
fach Emergencies; then I fhould fteer my
Courfe, without running the Hazard of Rocks
and Sands. I have often defired to know. Whe-
ther, if I were difcover'd, 1 fhould own myfelf

aa

Vol. IV. ^ S P V ^/ P A R I S. 21

an Agent for the Grand Seignior. But none of
the Minijlers have vouchfafed to direft me in this
Point : Whereby I may commit an irrepairable
Millake, if fuch a Thing fhould happen.

Adonai the Jeixj informs me of an Attempt
lately made to rob the Treafury of Venice ; which
according to his Defcription is very rich and
magnificent. He fays, There are twelve Croixins
of pure Gold, and an equal Number of Breaft-
plates cf the fame Metal, fet with all Sorts of
precious Stones of ineltimable Value : A hun-
dred Veffels of Agat : Threefcore Ser-vices for the
Altar^ all of pure Gold, enrich'dwith Diamonds,
Sapphires, Emeralds, and other Stones of Price.
There is alfoan Uni earn* s Horn, above thePurchafe
of Money. There are fourteen unpolifh'd Pearls,
as large as a Man's Fift. The Ducal Cap is valu-
ed at a Hundred-thoufand Zechins ; with many
other Rarities, and coftly Ornaments, too tedious
to be inferted in a Letter.

Certainly fo much Wealth was never deftin'd
to fall into the Hands of little private Thie'-jes :
It is a Booty fit for Kings and great Generals, the
licens'd Banditti of the Earth So many glitter-
ing Jewels would tempt the Honelly of an An-
gel, and he would be glad to adorn the Apart-
ments of his Heaven with thefe radiant Drops of
the Sun which he fees on Earth.

I have met with fome pretty Relations of the
Boldnefs of Robbers, but none that ever match'd
the Bravery of this Enterprize ; which was no
lefs than to rob one of the moll potent States in
the World of her chiefeft Treafure.

He wanted not for Impudence, who, when
the Emperor Charles V. was removing his Court,
and ail the Oncers were bufy in packing up the
Goods, enter'd the Chamber where the Emperor
was; and, having made his Obcifancc, fell round-

22 Letters Writ by Vol. IV.

ly to pulling down the rich Hangings of Ti^uey
which by the Help of his Confederates he carried
away, with abundance of Plate : No Body ever
fufpedling but that he was one of the Emperor^
Servants, 'till the Perfon canve, whofe Office it was
to remove thofe Goods, and then the other was
known to be a Thief.

I have heard of a Spaniard, who on a great
Tejlival, when the Priefts had finifh'd the Serniice
of the Altar, and were retired to their Lodgings,
went very boldly and took the golden Veflels off
the Altar, and carry'd them away under his
Cloak, as though he had been the Stei.vard of the
Church, no Body fufpedling any other.

I kifs the Hem of thy Veft, illuflrious Kama'
cham, and pray. That thou may 'ft monopolize the
choiceft Bleffings of Heaien, and have thy Share
of the Riches of the Earth, without Danger of
lofing them to great or fmall Thie'ves.
Paris, i6th of the ^d Moony

of the Tear, 1649.

LETTER VII.

To Nathan Ben Saddi, a Jew af
Vienna.

NO W thou may'ft continue thy Difpatches
as before. Our Fears are vanifli'd : Elia-
chitn is releafed, and all Things are in Safety.
Thou haft no Reafon to tax me with Timorouf-
nefs, in fo abruptly forfaking my Habitation,
on the bare Forefight of far-tetch'd Pcfl^ibilities;
when thou flialt confider. That there is no arm-
ing againft Contingencies in the Momen*^ they ar-
rive, and that he, who trufts allThings \oChance,

make«

Vol. IV. a Spy at Vakis. 23

makes a Lottery of his Life, wherein, for one
happy Event, he fhall meet with ten unlucky
ones. To what Ufe ferves that afprehenji've Fa-
culty, which Nature has pofted as the Corps du
Guard oi our Lives and Fortunes, allowing it the
Senfes for Scouts and Centinels ? To what End,
I fay, ferves this 'watchful Faculty, but to take
the Alarm at doubtful Emergencies, to rouze our
Caution, that fo we may make Provillon, and be
in a Pofture of Defence, againft whatfoever may
happen ?

News came. That EUachim was feiz'd for fedi-
tious Words againft the Government. I was con-
fcious. That both he and I had been guilty of
more than Words in that bare Kind. I'hcrefore
what had happened to him, I look upon as due to
myfelf alfo ; and that my Confinement would
foon follow, if I took no fpeedy Care to prevent
k, by feafonably abfconding. This was the Rea-
fon of my fuddcn Departure, which cannot juftly
be afcribed to Cowardice, fince 'twas the EfFeft
of common Prudence.

Now I am return'd to my old L^^/zrj' again,
where the Joy they are in, for the Birth of a Son,
will not give them Leifure to refleft on my Af-
fairs : So that I am received by my Haft without
the lead Jealoufy or fufpiciom Animadverfions.
Brim-full of Mirth and jovial Thoughts, the
good Man compliments me, and proclaims his
better Fortune : Invites me to fit down with his
Friends, and partake of the Gifts of Ceres and
Bacchus. This, thou knowel, is the Cuftom of
the whole Earth at the Birth of Mortals, They
make merry over one that is born to the fame Mi-
feries as themfelves, who, the firft Moment he
draws the Breath oi Life, is enrolled in the Re^i-
fler of Death ; and, from the Womb, makes fvvift
and direft Advances to the Grave.

However,

44 Lett-ers /Fr/7 hy Vol. IV.

However, I fat down with the reft, to cwnpljr
M'ith the exhilarated Humour of my Hofl. I eat,
I drank, and feem'd merry with the Company ;
yet, at the fame time, I could not but naufeate
my Entertainment, and difdain the extravagant
Profufion of Spirit, which appeared in every
one of this vain Affembly. They all talk'd ea-
gerly, and one Man's Words drowned thofe of
another ; whilft an univerfal Laughter-confound-
ed the Senfe of all. Then I praiied, in myfelf,
the Modefty and Order obferv'd in our Eafiern
Banquets -and Feafts, where no uncomely Ge-
ftures or Aflions efcape the well-natur'd Guefts ;
■no loud Talking or Braying like Affes, but every
one ftrives to fupprefs the Motions and Ap-
pearances of a too forward and indulgent Mirth,
and contain themfelves within the Bounds of a
decent and civil Referve. Such were the Feafts
inftituted by Lycurgus among the a^jcient La-
{edemonians ; where fuch as vitr& /^riends and
Acquaintance met together, and refreflied them-
felves, without Riot and Luxury. They con-
vers'd together interchangeably, after the manner
of Philofophers or Men of the Laivt Difcour-
fing foberly either of Natural Things, or Ci-vil
Affairs : Mixing facetious and. witty Jefts with
their more ferious Talk, w 'thout Clamour,
Scurrility, or giving any 0"ence. But thefe
Wejiern People think themfelves not merry, till
they are drunk, nor witty, unlefs they be rude.
They play a thoufand various Tricks, like Apes,
and the greateft Buffoon is the bell Company.

Wherefore, fick to fee Men fo much degene-
rate from themfelves, I made my Excufes, and
retired to my Chamber, v/here I prelently let
Pen to Paper to give thee an Account of ray
Return. *

If

Vol. IV. ^z Spy «/ Paris. 2^

If thou continueft thy former Refolution of
following the DiSates of Reafon in Matters of Re-
Ihian, thou wilt quickly find, that thy Kabbr%
have taught thee to believe in Fables, which ac-
cord neither with Reafon nor common Senfe. Fol-
bw the bcfl Guide, and be happy.

Paris, xdth of the '^d Moojtf
of the Tear 1649.

LETTER VIII.

To Adonai, a Jew at Venice.

TH Y Pen is now free again : Write as
foon and as often as thou wilt ; our Fears
are diffipated, and all goes well. If thou canlt
inform me of any more remarkable Paflages and
Adventures, fpare not to oblige me with frequent
Letters : And, to encourage thee, I will relate to
thee a Story which is recorded in the Hijiories of
Naples.

In former Times there was a Statue of Marble
{landing on the Top of a Mountain in Apuliay
with this Lifcription on the Head, which was
Brafs, On May-Day at Sun-Rising I shall
HAVE A Head of Gold. No Man in all
thofe Parts could be found who was able to
unriddle this myflerious Expreffion, and therefore
it was not regarded for many Ages, But at
length, in the Reign of a certain Prince, there
was a Saracen, who having feen and confidered
the Statue, with the Infer iption, propofed to
explain it for a certain Reward. The Prince
hearing of thif, and being greedy of the Novel-
ty, fent for the Saracen, and bargained with him
C for

26 Letters ^r/V ^^ Vol. IV.

for a thoufand Crowns to unfold this Riddle.
He waited till Mzy-Z)^ came, and watching the
Image that Morning early, he obferved the Place
where the "Read call its Shadow juft as the Sun
rofe. There he ordered certain Men to dig ;
^vhich when they had done, and were got pretty
deep in the Earth, they encounter'd a prodigious
Treafure of Silver, Gold, and Jewels ; with
which the Prince was fo well fatisfy'd that he
doubled the Saraceri's Reward, and fent him
Home into his own Country laden with rich Pre-
fents. Doubtlefs, there is much Wealth buried
by Men in the Earth. For in former Times
they were of Opinion, that if they fliould die
•fuddenly in the Wars, or otherwife, fuch Riches
as they had hidden in the Earth would ferve
them in the other World. And this is the Prac-
tice of the Indians to this Day, as my Brother
informs me, who has been among them.

Strange Blindnefs ! That Men ftiould think the
immortal Soul needed the Afllftance of Silver,
Gold, or any material Subftance, after fhe her-
felf is divefted of the Body, and become a tmked
Spirit.

Let thou and I have a nobler Idea of our-
felves, than to fancy we fhall be in Want of
the glittering Drofs in that itfvijihle State, v/hi-
ther we are all haftening. There are no Money"
Changers in that World oi Spirits. If thou hall
Supeifluity hide it not in the Earth, but give it
to the Poor, and thou (halt receive it again, trans-
formM into a Subftance more refined and radiant
than the Stars.

Pa r is , 1 6th of the 3 d Moo»,
cfthe Tear 1649.

LET-

Vol. IV. ^Spy«/Paris. If

LETTER IX.

To the Reis Effendi, Chief Secretary of
the Ottoman Empire.

TH E Inteftine ^arrels\ of the French feem
to be like thofe of Liyvers, whofe cholerick
Intervals ferve but to give a new Edge to the Re-
turns of their AfFeAion. As if one of thefe Paf-
ftons was made to whet the other, and make ic
more fprightly : Or, as if Love would grow dull
and feculent, were it not fometimes roufe^ and
fermented by Anger.

But I believe there is a greater Myftery in the
Reconciliation between the French Court and the
Tarliament of Paris. Some Ends of Policy have
haften'd both Parties to clap up a Peace, while
the fecret Rancour remains unpurged.

Perhaps the Union of fo many Princes and No-
bles, with the Parliament, might incline tht^een
to milder Councils than her own Spanijh Genius.
Befides, the ConjunAion of the other Parliamentt
of the Kingdom, the Revolt of Normandy, Gaf~
coigne, and Pro^jence, with many eminent Cities,
were very prevailing Motives. But that, which
was of greateft Force, was the Want of Money
and Men to carry on the War, which could not bs
raifed without vaft Difiiculty, during thefe pub-
lick Alienations.

Whatever were the Inducements, a Peace was
concluded about the latter End of rhethird Moo7t,
at a Place call'd Ruel, not far from Paris, where
the King has a Houfe of Pleafure, feated in the
Midll of a little Paradife. In one of my Letters
to the Kamaickam, I formerly defcribedthe Kirig'-j
Hiaufe and Qardcn at St. Germain en Lay. Thi^ is
C 3 but

'Zt Letters Wrii by Vol. Vf,

but a little Chiofe or Bower in CoiTiparifcn of
that {lately Palace. Yet what is wanting in the
Grandeur of the Fabrick is fupplied in its ele-
_g2nt Contrivance, and the Richnefs of its Orna-
"ments. And as for the Garden, it comes not far
Ihort of the other, there being in it all Manner
of curious Water-works, Groves, Soltiudes, Foun-
tains, Statues, and whatfcever the Ingenuity of
tht(e JVeJIern Artills could fuggeft, as proper to
render this Place agreeable to the melancholy Hu-
mour of the late Queen Mother, Mary de Medi'
iisy to w hom it belonged during her Life.

When you enter this delicious Eden, your Eyes
and Ears are prefently deceived by the counterfeit
Kotef' and Motions of all Kinds of Birds, which
perpetually fing as the Water tunes their Throats.
A little farther you fee feveral old Gentile Sta-
tues adorning two Fountains : And among the
relt a Crocodile, big as the Life, who, by the
Harmony he makes, feems to have a Concert of
Mufick in his Belly, as regular and as fweet
as that of the Italian Society at Conjlantinople ^
which thou haft often heard.

As we depart from this, full of Complacency
and Admiration at the exquifite Imitation of
Nature in thefe Contrivances, we fall infenfibly
into a Place exactly like what the Poets defcribe
when they fpeak oi Elyjiuin. It is a Grove, the
Tops of whofe Trees are fo thick interwoven,
that the Sun appears no otherwife through them,
than as if he were behind a Cloud, or an Eclipfe.
So that the Daiknefs of this Place, and fclemn
Murmur the Winds make on high amorg the
Tops of the Trees, fills it with a Kind oi /acred
Horror ; which has often made me think tliis
Wildervcfs fomethirg like that which Hijlorians
defcribe, when they fpeak of the A'verues to the
liTTifle of Ji/piter Amnion in Eg)^t. For in the

very

Vol. IV; a Spy ai Parts. i^

very Cen^er of this Grove ftands the Houfe ; a
Place one would think fitter for a Convent than a
Princess Court. At b?ft it appears but like a R^yal
Hermitage, a Cr //confecrated to Kingly Melancholy.
I could not forbear making this Digrefli )n when
J mentioned Ruel to be the Place where the Peace
was concluded between the Court and the Parlia^
ment : This Encomium is a Tribute which I owed
fcr the Satisfaftion and Pleafure I have often re-
ceived in this Retirement. Befides, I thought an
Jdta of fuch a Garden would not be unwelcome
to the^ who art a Lover of Solitude.

The Coadjutor of Paris, who is an Archhijhr,p^
15 highly affronted that this Peace was concluded
without him, who had a chief Hand in begin-
ning the War. He labours to inflame the Peo-
rle again, and reduce all to the old Confufion,
being an irreconcifeable Enemy of Cardinal Ma-
xirini. Si that we expeft another Jnfurredlion
in a fnort Time : For the French cannot be long
idle.

Hippy Mtnifier, I leave thee under the Wings
of that Spirit which guards the Ele3y and bid
thee Farewel.

Paris, 1 ^th of the ^tb M-jon,
of the 7'tar 1649.

LETTER X.

I'o Dgnet Oglou.

SHall I tell thee, I mourn for the Death of our
Friend Egry Boinou, whom thou fay'ft a Fever
Inatch'd from us the lirll Day of the ^'L)on Rgih ?
That Fever it feems was the Effeft of iu> con-
C 3 tinaal

30 Letters PFrit hy Vol. IV.

tinual and excefllve Grief for the Lofs of his Eyes ;.
io that we may fay, he has been dying ever fince
the Hour that fatal Sentence was put in Execution :
And, fliall we grudge our Friend a Releafe from
{q lingring a Death ? At beft, it was but the
Winter of Life wrapp'd up in Clouds and Dark-
jiefs : Now, like the Serpent, he has call: his
Slough, lifts up his Head with new Vigour, fports
himfelf in the Meadows of Paradife, and balks
in the Warmth of an eternal Spring.

'Twill not therefore be a Mark of our AfFeai-
on to him, but only a Difcovery of our Self-love^
to condole the Occafion of his Happinefs, be-
caufe it has leffened ours, by robbing us of his
beloved Company and Friendlhip. Befides, we
know not but that he may ftill continue to be
our Friend, even in that innjijible State ; and ei-
ther manage our Interefts fl^cT/f, or at leaft pro-
teft us from Dangers here belo^v. We are igno-
rant of the Laivs and Covjiitutions of that King-
i^cm of Spirits ; and, for aught we know, the
Souls of juft Men, after Death, may become the
Tutelar Genii, or Guardian Angels of their fur-
viving Friends and Relations. Let it be how it
will, doubtlefs, Egry is immortal and happy, and
'twill be Envy in us to repine at it. Rather let^
us congratulate the Time of his Deceafe as the
Day of his Nativity, and \ez.vt Mourning to the
Crowd of Mortals, who do a thoufand Things
without ever thinking what they are about.
They tread in the Steps of their Fathers, ne-
ver examining whether they be right or wrong !
Cuftom and Education have almoft banilhed Rea-
fcn from the Earth. Is it not a pleafant Spefta-
cle to fee the Kindred of an old rich Mifer
(for whofe Death they had long waited, like
Harpies for their Prey) now flock about his life-
kfs Carcais, howling out a thoufand forced»

Lamenta-

Vol. rV. aSpY al Fatljs. 31

Lamentations ; whilft, in the mean Time, their
Blood dances in their Veins for Joy ? Yet how-
ever, this carries a Shew of civiliz'd Manners, and
is belter than the barbarous Cuftom of the Scythi-
ans and Majfagetes, who, when their old Men
grew ufelefs or troublefome, were wont to facri-
fice them, and make a Banquet with their Flefh ;
or the Thebarenes, who threw their aged Friends
alive down Precipices. Thefe were Savages ;
but much more To were the Hyrcanians and
BaSlrians, who cift their aged Parents, yet living,
to be devoured by Degs j which Inhumanity,
^hen Stafanor the Deputy of Alexander the Great
endeavoured to fupprefs, they had like to have
depofed him from the Government : So prevalent
IS the Force of a received Cullom on the Minds
pf the unthinking Herd.

Let tliou and 1 therefore not fupinely take up
with common Pradlices ; but, like Men of Rea-
ibn, let US adjull the laft Offices we owe to our
Friend, whillt we pour forth fome devout Orai-
fons for the Health of his Soul, without dillurb-
ing his and our own Repofe with fruitlefs La-
mentation. And, fince we are bereaved of his
Society on Earth, let us prepare to follow him,
and render ourfelves agreeable Company at our
next Rendezvous in Hewoen.

It was an unjuftifiable Rigour in Sultan Ihraham
to deprive him of his Eyes, becaufe he had only
call them unhappily on one of the Sultana\ as
Ihe enterM the Garden. This Jealoufy is the pecu-
liar Vice of the EaJ}. Yet they are more fevere
in Perjta, where 'tis prefent Death to be within
two Leagues of the King\ Women when they tra
vel the Road. But I never knew that Eunuchs were
thus punifli'd. Or is there fuch a Difference be-
tween a ivhite and a black Eunuch, that the One
deferves to lofe his Eyes for beholding that by
C 4 Chance,

52 Letters PFrit by Vol. IV.

Chance, which the other is honourably rewarded
for having Accefs to, and feldom being out of
their Sight ?

This was the worft Punifhment that Saleucus,
the Lan.v-gi'ver of the Locrians, impofed on them
that were adlually caught in Adultery j which
puts me in Mind of a notable Inftance.of this
Man's Juftice : For when his own Son was ac-
cufed, and proved guilty of this Crime ; at once
to (hew the Tendemefs of a Father, and the Incor-
ruptible Se'ueritj of a yudge, he firft caufed one of
his own Eyes to be put out, and then one of hiis
Sons : Thus taking on himfelf i^a^the Penalty j
that fo the Laixj might be fatisfied in the njuhole,
and vet his Son not be totally deprived of his
Sight'.

Thou tellell me no News of our Armies, nor
what Alterations have been made amoneft the
Minijiers of the Port fmce the Death of Sultan
Ibrahim. We have various Reports here, and
fome fay that the new Vizier Jzem will be no
iong-liv'd Man. I defire thee to write often to
nie, and fend what Intelligence thou canft.

Let nothing flip the Knot which has faftened
us fo many Years together in an entire Friend-
ship ; but let us carry that Magnet with us to our
Graves j that, at what Diftance foever we may
be buried, our Souls may, by the Force of that
Attraftive, find one another out, and converfe
together in that Region of Silence and Shadows.

Paris, c^thofthe ^th Moony
of the Tear 1649.

LET-

Vol. IV. rt Spy ^/ Paris. 33

LETTER XI.

To the Captain Bafla.

I Know not where this Letter may find thee ; on
the Shore, or at Sea. If thou art in thewatry
Wildernefsy I have no Art to trace thee. There
are no certain Roads on that inconjlant Element.
It is a mighty Plain, without Path or Track.
And though there be certain Stages In it, yet thy
Arrival at them is timed at the Pleafure of the
Winds 9nd Waves, which will not obey even the
Orders thou haft received from the Grand Seigvicr^
Lord of ihe Four Seas. Perhaps thou art in Pur-
fuit of feme Venetian Ships, or other Chrifiian
Veflels, the Cor/airs of the Mediterranean. Or
thou may'il be careening thy Fleet in fome (c-
curer Retreats of the Archipelago. Thou may'il
be within a Minute of a Wreck, or juft entering a
Harbour. Where-ever thou art, may Heav.n
preferve thee from the Dangers which alwjyn
threaten fuch as truft their Lives to a Piece of
Wood ; for there wil! be great Need of thee, if
out Intelligence be true in thefe Parts.

It is reported here, that the Cojfacks, CircaJ/iatis,
Mingrelinns, and other People who border on the
Black Sea, and obey not the Laxv brought down
from Hea'ven, are enter'd into a Z.^'ag-K^againft the
Blejfed Port, and have cover'd thofe Seas with a
mighty Fleet ; while the Prince of Georgia rulhcs
down from his Mountains with an Army of forty
thoufand Armenians, Perjiant, and fforderers of
Mount Cauca/us : That the former have taken a
thoufand of our trading Saich, and are ad-
vanced as far as the Ferry of the Bull, which thou
knoweft is bat fix Hours fail from the Imperial
C 5 City ;

;54 Letters JFrit Hy Vol. IV".

City : That the latter have made Incurfions into
the Territories of the Grand Seignior ; put all
to the Sword who refilled them as they march'd
along ; burned and laid waile the Country ; and
that all the Greeks and Armenians flock to them,
threatening an univerfal Defeftion from the OttO'
man Empire.

As to the Truth of thefe Report?, I can af-
certain nothing, but am inclined to believe the
Cojfacks are troublefome at Sea, and that they
may have drawn fome of their Neighbours into
a League, thofe pilfering Nations who live by
Rapine and Spoil on both Elements. Our fmall
VefTels trading on the Black Sea, full of Riches
and empty of Arms, mud needs be a Tempta-
tion to thofe Pirates, who are the mod dextr'oua
at a Robbery, and the boldeft Fellows in the
World. The Merchants of thefe Parts, who
have had feme TrafRck. at Caffa, and other Towns
on the Banks of the Black-Sea, give a frightful
Defcription of thofe tempeftuous Waters, a;nd no
good Charadler of the People that border on them.
The Cojfacks, they fay, are valiant and mercena-^
ry ; the Circnjfans hardy and bold ; the Mingre-
Hans fly and crafty ; and the Georgians of an
^/?/-a/ Complexion, capable of all Virtues and
Vices. The Firjl feldom a6l unlefs encouraged
by the King of Poland, or the Czar of Alufcovy ;.
.ind then they are content with their Pay, and
the lawful Plunder of War. The Second are
never idle when there is Hope of Prey, whe-
ther they fight their own Caufe, or are em-
ployed by others, and fear neither Hunger, Cold, .
nor any other Extremity for the Sake of a Prize,
The Tiird are good at a Stratagem, and would
fteal a Man's Teeth out of his Gums, if he be not
wary ; great Cowards, yet defperate in their,
own Defeuce, when they fee no Medium between

fighting

Vol. IV. cSpy^/ Paris. 33

Fighting and Death. As for the Fourth, thejr
feem to be a Kind of Mungrels, a medley Race,
whofe Charailer is compounded of the other
7hree.

They are flout and witty, dextr'ous at a Cheat,
and no Bunglers at an ingenious Theft ; great
Lyars, full of Compliments and external Civi-
lities, but perfidious and implacable in their Re-
venges.

Yet after all, I cannot believe the Prince of
this Country, who is a Tributary to the King of
Terjia, would venture his Gwernment at two fuch
defperate Stakes, by breaking the Peace concluded"
by his Smereign with the Grand Seignior, and fo
drawing upon himfelf the Vengeance of them
both. Therefore, he is either fecretly abetted by
that Monarch, or elfe the News is falfe.

Would'ft thou know how this Country came
to be fubjeft to the Cromcn of Perfui ? It was
conquered by Ifhmael Sophi, to whom the Perjian
Hijlorians, in Flattery, give the Epithet of Great.
He was the Jirji of that Name, and of the Verjian
Kings, that refufed to obey the Orthodox Succejfort
of the Sent of God. This Prince was valiant in
the Field, and- no Coward at Wine, if we may-
believe one of iiis Courtiers, who wrote Memoirs
of his Life. He records fixteen Battles, wherein
he always got the Vidory i and twice that Num-
ber of Rcyal Debauches, when he Ihewed the
Strength of his Brain in the Company of Foreign
Amhajfadon ; with whom he would always ca-
roufe, before they departed his Court, that he
might found the Depth of their Inftruflions ; ibr,
none were able to cope with him at the Juice of
the Grape. And he always efteemed that Liquor
a Friend to Truth.

If he fufpeded his Minijlers oi State, or any of
the Geier/iin of Provinces, he ufed to invite them
C 6 to

3^ Letters IVrit by Vol. IV .'

to a Banquet } where, in the MidH of his Drink-
ing, he unravell'd their fecret Inclinations and
Councils ; being the moft dexterous at picking
the Locks of a Man's Heart, of any one living.
They never went alive from his Prefence, if by
one falfe Step in their Carriage, tho' it were but
a Word too paffionate, or a Look lefs compofed
to Refignation, he could difcover or frame to
himfelf the Grounds of a juft Jealoufy. It be-
ing ever his Maxim, That Credulity nuas the only
Vice that could ruin a happy Prince. He had an-r
other Saying alfo, Ihat Perfia ivas fertile of
Men, hut barren of faithful Officers.

I cannot admire thefe cruel Strains of Policy :
Yet Kings have Rcafons for their Adions and
Words, which we cannot comprehend. The Phi'
kfophers fay, That Wine ivas gi'ven us by the
Oods, to mitigate our Cares ; and, for a Time, to
make us equal to their Divinities, in the free Enr
joyment of our/elves. And though, as a Mufful-
man, I am not bound to fubfcribe to the Princi-
ples of Pagans ; yet, as a Man, Partaker of Flefh
and Blood, I think he doubly mifufes that Li-
quor, who perverts it to the Ends of Cruelty.

But this Mojutrch had other Thoughts, when,
by the Affiftance of the Georgian Forces, having
fubdu'd the Regions bordering on the Cafpian Sea,
at that Time in the Hands of the Ottomans,. )\q
invited the King of Georgia to his 7>n/. under
Pretence of a fefii'val ]oy for their mutual Sue-
ccfs. The unwary Prince, trufting to his own
Merit, and the Faith of his Neighbour, ventures
himfelf with a fmall Guard to the Camp of JJh-
mael. ThtPerJlan entertained him, with all the
outward Demonftrations of Aft'edUon and Grati-
tude, for his repeated Aids : But, in the End of
the Feaji, taking Exceptions at fome Words the
King of Georgia fpoke, in Praife of his own

Soldieri

Vol. IV, a Spy at V ar i s. 57

Soldiers, he commanded his Eunuchs to fcize on '
him, and carry him to the Tent of the Unfortunate
(fo they called the Pa'vilion or Cage of the Gran-
(dees fallen into Difgrace.) Then he gave Avift Orr
ders for the Georgian Soldiers to be manacled.
'And having thus done, he bellowed th-e Govern-
ment of Georgia on one Luarzab, on Condition,
That he and his Succeflbrs would embrace the
Faith of Halt, and pay Tribute to the Crown of
Ferjia.

From this Luarzah has the Government of
Georgia defcended, not in a Line of Blood, but
at the Pleafure of the Perjian Kings, to him who
now holds it, Shanavas-Chan ; who, I believe,
has more Wit than to hazard his PofTellions for
the Sake of a Chimera,

In thus roving from my firfl Point thou canfl
not blame me, fince thou thyfelf adleft by the
Rules of NanjigatioK, which vary according to
the Byafs of the Needle. Thou followeft one
Magnet, and I another ; yet, let us both meet
in the Center of Duty we owe the Grand Seignior*

Paris, z^d of the bth Moon,
of the Tear 1649,

' LETTER XII.

To Cara Hali, Phyfician to the Grand
Seignior.

THOU, wilt fay,, 'tis an unmannerly Wiy
of congratulating thy Nev/ Advance, to
begin my Addrefs with Complaints. Yet Fricnd-
ihip overlooks Pun^ilio\, 'Tig not the firfl

Time

3^ Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

Time I have trefpafled on thy generous Tem-
per. I am indifpofed, and cannot aft the Cour'
tier, though I am ravifhed to hear the News. It
is fome Support to my languifhing Spirits, that,
whilft I am crumbling and dwindling away into
the little Principles of which I was made, thou
my Friend art growing in the Bulk of mortal
Greatnefs, in the Favour of om glorious Sultan.

However, I cannot but fufpeft the pretended
Kindnefs of him who raifed thee, I mean the ne'w
Vixier ; neither haft thou much Reafon to take
this fudden Reconciliation for any other than a
Mafk of his old Malice. He cannot forget the
Quarrel between thy Father and him, on the Ac-
count of D<stra Mefock, the LieutenarJ-Ger.eral
of the Janizaries ; when the brave old Cheik put
a Stop to the defigned Revenge of this inhuman
Upftart.

Aflure thyfelf, That he who has made the
Steps to the Grandeur he now poflefTes, o'er the
Neck of his Majler, will not fpareany from whofe
Wit or Power he may fear a Shock, And he
knows both by Experience and Intereft too great,-
not to miftruft the Son of his Enemy.

Befides, the eminent Command, thy Brother
has over the Spahi''s, mull needs be an additional
Caution to the Man, whofe Name founds no
where fo fweetly, as in the Chamber of the Ja-
nizaries.

Thou art fenfible, that the newly reviv'd Anl-
mofity between thefe Military Orders threatens
a Calamity to the Ottoman Empire, which cannot
be diverted, without a Sacrifice on one Side or
other. And, fmce the SpahVi have engaged fo
many potent "Bajfas in their Quarrels, who can
expeft to fall, but the mighty Fawurite of th«
Infantrs ?

H«

Vol. IV. « S p y ^/ P A R IS. 29'-

He knows this very well ; and, to prevent his
ownKuin, he refolves on thine and thy Brother's :
Thine under the Mafque of Friendfliip, till by his
Wheedle he has drawn thy Brother to Conjlanti'
nople ; where he will not fail to be llrangl'd, that
fo a Creature of the Vizier may be promoted in
his Room : And what will become of thee after
this, I leave to thy own Judgment.

Perhaps thou wilt defpife the Advice of a flck
Man, and impute my Fears to an Excefs of Me-
lancholy ; from which Diftemper, thou knowell,
I am fddom free. But I tell thee, my Reafon
labours under no Hypocondriack Diforders, tho*'
my Bodi may. I am no Enthujiaji when I coun-
fcl my Friend to avoid an apparent Danger. How-
ever, if thou thinkeft it needlefs for me to bufy
myfelf in fuch Cafes, I have done. But I ihall
never ceafe to pray for thy Profperity, as often
as I comply with the Laiu, in kiffing the Floor
Jive Times a Day, and repeating the appointed
Oraifons of Faith.

Methinks, when I write to thee now, my Pert
is at a Lofs : I am puzzled for a Style fuitableto
thy neiv Honour and our old Friendlhip.

But, if I take too much Liberty, afcribe it to
the Sincerity of my AfFeftion, which knows not
how to be referv'd or ftrange to a Perfon, whom
once I could call my other felf : For no wider is
the Dillance between Friends.

Baris, ^th of the -jth Moon^
ofthi Tear 1649.

tET»

40 Letters Wrlthy Vol. IV.

LETTER XIII.

5r<? Chiurgi Muhamet, Baflk.

I Know not, whether what I am going to relate
will be News to thee, or to any of the Mini-
fitrs refiding at the fuhlime Port. However, 'tis
fo to me, and T ara commanded to conceal no-
thing of Moment that comes to my Ears.

Mahomet, eldeft Son of Achmet, the Dey of
Tunis, is row at Rome, having embraced the
Chriftian Religion. People relate vnrioufly the
Motives that induced him to this Change. Some
fay, 'twas Intereft, he having held a private Cor-
refpondence with the Viceroy of Sicify, who pro-
mifed him, in the King of Spain s Name, to
make him Lord of feveral large Territories in the
fTe^ Indies.

Others fay, 'twas Difcontent at his Father's
Government, and auftere Carriage towards him ;
the old Man having forced him to marry the
BaJfao^Tripoli''s daughter againft his Inclination.

But the greateft Part afcrihe this Change in
Jteligion to the Force of his Confcience ; which
they fay was convinced by a Miracle, of the
Truth of the Chrijiidn Faith. For, as they relate,
being once at Sea in a VeJJel, wherein were many
Cbr^ians, and a dreadful Tempeft arifing, the
Mariners, who were all Mujfulmtins., feeing the
Havock that the Winds and Waves had made of
the Ship-Tackle, gave over all for loft, and faint-
ing under fo much Labour, Watching, and Ter-
t^x as they had undergone, lay down, and let
the Ship drive where-ever the Storm would carry
her. But there being a Chriftian Prieji aboard,
eileem'd a very holy and blame lefs Man, he

excited

Vol. IV. aSrvailpARis. 41

excited the Chrijiians to appeafe the Wrath of
God by fome extraordinary Adls of Devotion.
'J hen they all made a folemn Procejpon on the
Decks ofihtShtp, the Pm;/'? carrying before them
that which they call the Sacrainenf, imploring the
Mercy ofGou, and often calling on yry^j and
Mary. When behold, as the Prieji flood aloft oHv
the Poop, reading aloud Part of the Go/pel, the
Storm fuddenly ccafed, the Clouds were difpers'd,
tlie Air grew ferene and calm, and the V'efTel
got (life into Hai4)our. Upon thi-s they fay, Ma-
homet, when he came alhore, took that Prieji
along with him, defiring to be inllrudled in the
Chriji'ian Belief -^ making a Vow alfo, That he
would renounce the Law of the Mujfulmans, and
embrace that of ye/us.

This is what fuch, as are zealous for the Ho-
nour of the Chrijiian Faith, relate concerning
this Prifice^s Converfion. However it be, it is
certain, that he privately made his Efcape from
Tunij by Sea, and bent his Coorfe diredly for
Sici/y ; where in a few Days he landed, and was
received by the Viceroy, according to the Dignity
of a Prince. A while after, he was baptiz'd by
an Aichbijfjop, who gave him the Name of Don
Philippo, by which he is called in all Places.

They fay, he was a little fcanualized at firft,
when he faw with what Freedom the Sicilian
Women appeared abroad in the Streets, and
converfed with Men ; but that afterwards, he
took a great Delight in their Company, efpecially
thofe that could ling well, or play on any In-
ftrument of Mujick, to which he is much ad-
difted. And therefore, he chufes to frequent
thofe Temples, where their Seri/ice is performed
with Variety of excellent Mujici, as it is in all
great Cities. And for aught we know, the
Charader, which the Chrijiian Prieji gave him of

(his

42 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

this harmonious Manner Qi'u:o7-Jhipping God, might
have no fmall Influence on a Man naturally affed-
ed with that Science. Certainly Mufick has a
mighty Force on our AfFedions j and it is a Pro-
*verb iiere in the IJ'^eJi, That he, nvho does not love
Mufick, has Ko Soul. One of the ancient Philo-
Jofhcrs defined the Scul itfelf to be an Harmony.
And another was fo fenfible of the various Eftedls
of this Science, in raifing different Paflions in
Men, that he left it as an Aphorifm, Such as the
Muf.ck is, Juch are the Vecplc of fi. Co7n}r.oii'v:ealth.
"Whence it was the great Care cf fucli as took
upon them to form the Manners of y'outh, that no
Tunes fhould be played in their hearing, which
naturally provoked to Levity and Wantonnefs ;
but grave and martial Strain?, fuch as prompted
heroick Thoughts, and difpofed them to Vir-
tue. The Italiaju are great Mafiers of this Sci-
ence i and the Airs which they compofe for
their Church Service are very deep and ravifk-
ing. Which caufes their fie-zv Profelyte, Don
Philippo, to pafs his Time very attentively, du-
ring the Celebration oi ih.dx High-^Iafs and their
Even-Song. They report, that he will turn Je-
fuit. ^ .

He went from Sicily leaden with Gifts and
Prefents, and came to Rome, the Seat of the
Chrifiians chief Mufti, whom they call the Pope,
He is much honoured and careffed by the Holy
Father, and all the Cardinals, who have told him
fomany fair Things of the Nazarene Faith, and
Ihewed him fo imx\y facred Relicks oi Antiquity^
that he thinks himfelf already within the Ferge
of Heaven, ai;d that Rome is no other than th?
Suburbs of Paradife. There is fomething very-
charming and fweet in the Converfation of the
Chrijiian Prelates, if they be Men of Learning,
as aaolt generally they are. And 'tis no Wonder

that

Vol. IV. a Spy ai Paris. 4^

that fuch polite Company fhould prevail much
on tlie flexible Temper of a young Prime, wha
IS as a Pi/grim in a flrange Country, where he
can' hear nothing but perpetual jS/^/oj-zV/ of the
Chrijiian Religion ; nor fee any Thing but Ob-
jeds, which ferve only to confirm in his Mind
a venerable Idea of that Faith he has embraced.
Befide?, they fay he is fallen deeply in Love with
a young Roman Lidy j fo that there is no Hope
of refcaing him from the Power of fo many En-
chantments.

Therefore, giving him over as loft, let us pray
the Omnipofent, to eftablifh us in his Tntih ; that
neither Intereft, Paffion, nor an erroneous Con-
fcience may ever be able to make us fwerve
from the Laiv written in Heaven, but, that wfr
may adhere to God and his Prophet s^ with a-
Thoufand Souls.

Paris, i^th of the yth Moon,
of the Tear 1649.

LETTER XIV.

To Sala Tircheni Ermin, Superinten-
dant of the Royal Arlenal at Con-
ftantinople.

WE are all alarm'd here with the News of
I know not what boifterous Adventures
of the Cojfacks, and their Neighbours, that poffefs
the ancient Kingdom of Colchis. Had I not a
firm Faith in the Alcoran, 'twould fill me with
Panick Fears. But no Attempts can prevail
againft the Men fighting under the ^{Wmv of

the

44 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

the Prophet. He defcended with a confummate
Authority, from the Miw^rrA who commnnds all
Things. T!\it Man date of Heat'en vjiW difperfe
the Infidels. The ft'ven Viziers above were Wit-
neffes to the Word?, whofe Echo\ caufed Thun-
der, when the Prophet retir'd from the Sups of
the Throne. Had nor Mofes given him Warning
(who remember'd the Noife in the Mourzt). the
Apojlle had loft his AMirefs, and been confounded i
before the Angels ; bit encouraged by the Whif-
per of the Mm with Horns, he made no Default-
in his Conge : Andwith little Ljfs of Time arriv'd
to' thc\Ni/2ih Sphere, where he proclaim'd the Ne--
fiarum ; and all the Inhabitanit of that Orb re-
{brted to the Banner which he had in his Hands.
The Prophet told 'em, Tijcas only for a Trial of
their Fidelity. They made Obeifance, and retir'd..

From that Plice he made no Scruple, but th:it
the Eleii in Heat'en and Earth would obey the
Vi'vine Pateiit. Hefini'h'd his Defcent triumphant-
ly, and pitched his Feet on Mcimt Uriel. Thofe
that believe Hali fay, 'Twas on the Top of the
ragged Rock : But let Hereticks alone in their
Infidelity. Be it where it pleafed God, he fpoke
the Words that (hall ne'er be revers'd, when he dif-
play'd the heavenly Silk, and faid, Whoever takes
up^Arms againfi this Banner, fi^all he reputtd an
Infidel ; he fijall he exterminated from the Earth.

I often think on thefe Paflages in the holy Me-
moirs, the Collegians of the Life full of Wonders.
Then I comfort myfelf with this Thought, That,
if all the uncircumcis'd in the World fhould enter
into a Combination, they would not fucceed a-
gainft the Men fighting under the Commijfion with
the Seal.

I'have fent a Letter to the BaJTa of the Sea,
acquainting him with the News of'^this Expedition
of the Cojfacki. Since which lam informed, Thit

thefe

Vol. IV. ^Spy^/ Paris. 45

thefe People are headed by a famous Pirate in
thofe Parts, a Mm of a daring Spirit, and ca-
pable of the boldell Undertakings. 'I'hc French
Merchants, who have traded in the Black Sea,
j^ive him a high Charafter ; and portend great
Injuries to the Ottoman Empire from the Succefs
of his Arms : For, they fay, he is a good Cap-
tain, both by Sea and Lancf. I have heard feve-
ral different Stories both of his Birth and Educa-
tion : But this, I am going to relate, comes
from the beft Hands, and feems moft probable.

His Name is Pachicour, a CircaJJian by Birth,
but bred up in a Sea To--wn of the Ukrain, near
the Mouth of the NieJIer. He left his Native
Country at the Age of twelve Year?, out of a
Defire to fee foreign Parts, embarking himfelf
nnknown to his Parents in a Veflel ot Podolia.
which then was ready to fet fail from Bala Clug.
He carried with him a fmall Sum of Money,
which he had purloin'd from his Father, and
ferved as a Fund of his future Fortune : For, ar-
riving at a certain Town in Padolia, he fre-
quented the Keys, and offered his Service to fe-
\tx2\ Merchants ; one of which, obferving in his
Face- the Marks of a promifing Genius, enter-
tained him in his Houfe. He lived with him fe-
ven Years, and performed his Office fo well,
that he made him his Factor to Conjiantinople.

Pachicour difcharged his Trull there with
much Proft to his Mafier, and Honour to himfelf.
So that, at his Return, feveral il/? rr^a«/j entrufted
him with their Goods ; and fent him to trade at
Caffa, and other Towns on the Black Sea. His
Judgment and Reputation encreafing with his
Years, he became in Time famous in all the
trading Towns. And fuch was his Credit
in the Ukrain, that all the Merchants put their
VefTels and Goods into his Hands : So that he

fail'd

4^ Letters Writ hy Vol. IV*

failed many Times with a Fleet of twenty Ship'?,
having the Difpofal of all the Goods committed
to his Management. He grew fo rich in Time
hy his Dealings, that he was able to drive a con-
fiderable Trade for himfelf. And then it was,
he began to lay the Foundation of a Defign,
which he has fmce executed. His Genius was
too aftive always to be confined to this flow Way
of growing Great : Therefore, he was refolved
at one Blow to raife his Fortune to the Pitch he
aim'd at. He was the only Brother Banquier and
Merchafit where-ever he came.

It was no difficult Thing for a Man of fo" vaft
a Credit to raife an extraordinary Stock ; and
Pachicour could eafily filence the Alarms of Con-
fcience. There happen'd alfo a Jundture very
proper for his Defign. For while he was at If-
gaoit, a Port of Circajfia, Day and Night projeft-
ing how to exalt himfelf, a War broke out be-
tween his Countrymen and the Mingrelians. The
latter appeared with a l^any at Sea, which alarm-
ed all the Maritime Parts of CircaJJia. Pachi-
cour., whofe Invention was always bufy, took a
Hint from this, to accomplifh his Plot. Expedi-
tion was his chiefeft Game. Therefore he fpeedi-
ly made the utmoft Ufe of his Credit among the
PodoUan Merchants ; and other Foreigners rea-
ding at Ifgaou. And, when he had amafs'd to-
gether prodigious. Sums of Gold, for which he
only gave them Bills of Exchange, he privately
fends away this huge Treafure, with all his Jew-
els, TifTues, and other rich Merchandize, to his .
Father's Houfe, who lived not many Leagues
from this Town.

Within two Days after this, the Mingrelian
Fleet made a Defcent at Ifgaou, fack'd it, carried
away two thoufand Captives, and went to their
yciTels again,

Pachkour

Vol. IV. a Spy at Paris. 4f

Pachicour, who knew how to make an Advan-
tage of this Opportunity, privately fled after his
Wealth, as foon as the Mingrelian Fleet appeared
before the Place. And it happen'd that moll
of his Creditors were made Slaves, and tranf-
ported to Mingrelia. He had no Need to take
any farther Care, but how to fecure his Riches
from his pilfering Neighbours : For the CircaJJi'
am are all profefs^d Thieves. He therefore makes
Hafte to his Father ; and, having gratified him for
his Trouble, he in a fhort Time purchafed four
Men oHVar^ with which he fets up for a Pirate,
infefting thofe Seas, and robbing all the Mer-
chants, except thofe who had formerly entrufted
him. His Bounty and Valour charm'd all that
ferved him. And, his Fame fpreading with his
wonderful Succefs, many CircaJJians put out to
Sea, and joined with him : So that in a little
Time he made no fmall Figure in the Kingdom oi
Neptune. Seeing himfelf Comtnander of a power-
ful Navy, he found out quickly the Mingrelian
Fleet, and, engaging with them, got a glorious
Viftory.

Soon after, a Peace was concluded, and Pachi-
cour was declared Admiral of all the Circajp.an
Sea-Forces : To which the Mingrelians were ob-
liged by Treaty to join theirs, and to obey P^-
f/.'/fowr's Orders. In a little Time, this fortunate
General became fo famous, that the Cojfacks fent
to him an Agent, and entered into a League ; fur-
nilhed out three hundred Vefl"els, and joined the
CircaJJian and Mingrelian Fleets.

This is the Bottom of the nenu Expedition
which makes fo loud a Noife in thefe Parts.

Thou, who art Mafier of the Arfenal, wilt
know what Meafures are fitteft to be taken againft
this bold Infidel, if he perfifls to break the
Peau of the molt Zerent Empire^ Yet, though he

is

4-8 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV;

is an Enemy, let us not envy him the Praifes
that are due to his Wit and Courage. He feems
to furpafs thefneakingTi/V'ufjof hisown Nation i
and undertakes nothing hnx fo-vet-eign Cheats, ^.nd.
noble Thefts, fuch as would pafs for njirtmui Ac-
tions in a Man of a higher Birth.

I do not plead for Robbery, nor take the Part
of an hfidel.; but, if I had Time to tell thee
(ome heroici PaiTages of this Pirate, thouwculd'fl
fay, he is worthy of a generous and favourable
Ufage, fhould he become a Captive. In another
Letter I will oblige thee with a Relation, which
will not be unwelcome to a Man who gives not
Sentence with the Vulgar. I had more to fay
on another Subjeft. but I am interrupted. Par-
don the EfFedl of my Duty to the Giand Seignior,

Paris, 1 gth o/" the Sth Moon,
of the Tear 1649.

LETTER XV.

To Melee Amet Bafla.

TH E R E is News arrived here lately of the
Murder of the Englifh Ambo^lador at the
Hague. His Name was Doriflaus. He was fent
by the neiAj Governors in England to make an
Alliance with the States oi Hollatid, and to latisfy
them in reference to their late Proceedings againft
xYitir Soai ere ign. ^Tisfaid, his Negotiation vjo\x\d
have had but little Succefs, in regard the Prince of
Orange, who is Prejidetit or Chief o\tT the States,
and who married the Daughter of the Englijh
King, takes to Heart the untimely Death of his

Father

Vol. IV. /z S p V ^/ P A R I s.' 49

Father-in La'M, and cannot be reconciled to his
Murderers. Yet, 'tis to be thought that Princes
are no farther touch'd with one anotJier's Misfor-
tunes than concerns their Intereft.

However, on the 3^ Day of the ^tb Moon,
fome Scots enter'd into the Lodgings of the ylm-
bdjffador, and, having difpatch'd him with feveral
Wounds, made their Efcape. Jt is not certainly
known who fet thefe Ajfajpns at work. People
defcant varioufly, as their Affedlions byafs them.
Some refleft on it as a Judgmenty///?^ infli£led by
God, though by an uyijuft Aft of Men, on one
who had been a notorious Promoter of his Sove-
reign's. Death : Others cenfure it as a moft impi-
ous Sacrilege, in regard the Pcrfons of Ambajfa'
dors are by the Lanx: of Isaticns efteemed facred
and inviolable ; and the Injuries which they fulfar
are interpreted not only as done to their l^lajiers
who fend them, but to all Mankind, as \i human
Nature itfelf were wrong'd in the Perfons of
Pub lick Minijiers.

Indeed there is no Method of eftablifhing or
conferving Friendihips and Alliances between dif-
ferent Nations, if their Agents be not fecured with
an Immunity from Affronts and Violences.

The French relate a pretty Paffnge of one of
their Kings, who, before he came to the Crou;n,
being Dukeoi Orka-ns, liad received very ill Ufage
in his Travels from a certain Italian Lord call'd
the Baron of Benevento. After this Prince was
poffefs'd of the Kingdojn, the fame Italian Lord
was fent Amhajfador from the Viceroy of Naples,
to congratulate his AcccJJlon to the Throne of his
Ancejlcrs. Some French Courtiers, who had been
WitJicffes of the Injuries this LordhzA foriherly
done to their Mafcr, now perfuaded the King to
revenge himfcif, by caufing fome grofs Indig-
nities to be done him vvhillt he had him in las
D Power.

^o- L E T T E Pv s Writ hy Vol. IV,

Power. To whom the wife Monarch reply'd, //
becomes not theYJingoffr&nce to rei-evge on the
Ambaffador c/'NapIes the Injuries 'which the Duke
c/" Orleans recei^ved from the Baron £/"Benevento.
'Tis faid, the Englijh Nation have demanded
Satijfaaion of the Hollanders for the Murther of
their Amhajfador, but were anfwered, Ihat they
themfehes otight firjl to expiate the Murther of
their King.

The Scots have revolted from the l^e^jj Go'vern-
ment in England^ and are yet in fufpence, whe-
ther they fhall fet up the Son of the late King, or
form themfelves into an independent Rcpublick.
The Irijh are ftedfaft to the Interett of the Crc-jjn :
And many Iflands in America, fubjeft to the
Kings of England, have now denied all Obedience
to -the wfau Englijh Gonjernment, which feems to
tend towards a Democracy.

c There is much Talk of one Crcmnvel, the Gene-
ral of the Englip Forces in Ireland. This Man,
from a private and cbfcure Eftate, is afcended to
the Dignity of 2. General-, having purchafed this
Command by his Condua and Valour. The French
extol him for the greateft Soldier of this Age ;
and, if Fame be true, no lefs a Statefman.

As a Mark of the Refpeft I owe thee, thou
wilt receive with this Letter a Piftol of curious
Workmanfhip, which, being orce charg'd, will
deliver fix Bullets one after another. It thou ac-
cepteft this fmall Prefent, it will be an Argument
oi thy Friendlhip.

Paris, igth of the S/h Moon,
of the Tear 1649.

LET-

Toi. IV. ^ Spy <?^ Paris." 51

LETTER XIV.

To the Venerable Mufti,

IHiive often wonder'd at the Lethargy wherein
the Nazarenes feem to be drown'd. They for-
get what they read in their own Bibles ; they
there encounter with ExprefTions which favour
of the Eaft. Every Page of the 'vjritten Lanju
relifhes of the Dialed which is pure and lively,
though the Tranjlators have cropp'd the Flower of
the Senfe. I have read their Bible in Greek, Latin,
and French, but none of thefc Languages exprefs
to the Life the original Hcbreiv ; nor can it be
expedled. It is impoffible to fcrew up the dull
Phrafes oi Europe to the fignificant Idioms of AJia.
We may as well expeft Dates to fpring from 2
Heed. And for that Reafon it is forbidden the
true Faithful to tranflate the Vohwie of Light
from the original Arabick ; which is no other
than Hebreiv in its ancient Purity.

This is the Language of thofe who dwell above
^zfe'venth Orb. 'Tis the Dialed wherein Go d
converfes with the Pages of his divine Seraglio,
wherein all the Records of the cclejlial Empire arc
writ. And when he ifTues out Orders to the
Minijlers and Baffa^ of Hea'ven, Hafmariel the
Secretary of the itmnortal Di'van ufes no other
Charafler, or Speech, but that which is peculiar
on Earth to the Sons of'ljl^mael, the Inhabitants
of the Region on the Eaji of the Red Sea. In fine,
this is the Language wherein the Omnipotent
thought fit to difcover his Pleafure to Mortals.

JitWtvtMahnut, when he tells thee with pro-
found SubmilHon, that he has taken fome Pains
to pry into ihzi^ Languages wliich have been the
D z Chann^'lj

•^a Letters Writ by Vol. IV.

Channels of divine Knowledge. I have been pe-
culiarly ambitious to ftudy the Anatomy oi orien-
/fl/ Words : And it would be no Hyperbole to fay,
I have learned to diflcdl even the very Syllables,
therein the various placing of Points and Letters
alters the Senfe, or at leaft makes it ambiguous.
So fignificant and myfterious are our /acred Cha-
racers. -

I fpeak not this in Peeviflmefs, or to vindicate
inyfelf from the Contempt which Ichingi Cap
OglarA has put upon me. J have no Emulation
in that Point; nor can any little Spur of pedan-
tick Ambition make me forward to contend with
a Man, whofe whole Talent confifts in knowing
and remembering other Men's IVorks ; as if he had
ftudied at Jthens only for this End, to learn the
facetious Art of turning his Brains into a Cata-
logue of Books. Eut 1 refleft on the Leartied
among the Naxarefies,' who are chiefly to blame,
havino- the Cuftody of the Book delivered to them
from The Jeivs : And among them the Tranjlatars
of that Volume are paft Excufe, for they have de-
flower'd the Original, and robb'd the I'irgih
Language di\\.h Beauty and Honour, whilft the reft
Ere Vv'imeffes and filent Abettors of the Rape, in
concealing the Indignity that has been done to the
Letters form'd by the Finger of God, and full of
^in;ine Msjleries.

In thiis acccfing the Chripan Interpreters of
the Bible, I do rot patronize the critical Whimfies
of the Jc-j:ijl:> Cahbalijis. They are exploded by
nil Men of Senfe ; yet there is a Medium betweea
the Excefs of that affeftcd Niccnefs, which has
rendered the one ridiculou<-, and of that ftudicd
Care'efnefs to which the Obfcurity of the other
is owing. As the Bebrc^Ms, by prelTing the Letters
too dole, have fqueezed out dl'vine Chimera's ; fo
the Chrijliansy in ullng too flack a Hand, have
"' fcarce

Vol. IV. ^ S P Y ^/ P A R I s. 5^

fcarce gain'd a grofs Draught of common human
Senfe, leaving the genuine Elixir of the Writer's
Meaning behind.

I will not hy much to the Charge of the-
TranJIators emp'.oy'd by Ptolomy Pkiladilphus
King of £'/)■/'/. Thefe were no Chriflians, nor
yet in the Number of thofe who adored the ce-
lijlial Bodies and Elements : Nor did any of tiieni
pay their De-voticns at the fame Altar with that
Egyptian Mmarch, who was a Worjbipper of the
God Serapis : But they were y^nvs, fevcnty, or
two more in Number, as tiie Tratiiiion goe?.
And being every one commanded feverally to
trandate thofe Manufcripts which the .Ti.':-.;
efteemed the Oracles of Gov, without converfin;;
wich, or feeing each other, it is faid, iheix /V/-
^s.is all agreed to a Syllable.

This is the Story of the j'^xtv, and fcems to be
credited by the Chrijliarts : Yet fume have found
m^ny Errors -and Ineorvgruit-es in that celebrated
Copy. And 'tis eafy for an impirtial Eye, cfpe-
cially in the Head of an Oriental, to fpy vnxw^
more.

Dot the Latin, which they call the 'uulgar Trnn-
Jlation, is full of Miilake?. And the pretended
Sainty who made it, fhould have gone farther than
Pakjiine for his Intelligence in ancient Hehrew.
His Name (if I miftake no ) was Hieronyfn:^s.
He pa/Ted many Years ina Cell, near the fuppofed
Tcnh of the ChrijUans Mejjiab in the Holy
Land : Where, they fay, he was infpii'd wich the
Kno-jjledfj oi Hebreikj ; and from thence ventured
upon a TranJIation of the Old Tejlame-nt.

Thou wilt not expedl a Certificate of thefe.
Things from Mahmut, who only tells thee whac
he has read in Chrifiian Authors, whom tlwy
call the Hijiorians of their Church.

D 3 JBcit

54 Letters Writly Vol. IV.

But I can affure thee 'twas no Spirit of the
lajl .'ifSfted this Ecclcjiajlic ia his Verf.on. For
he comes far fhort of rightly rendering the lofty
Hyperboles^ appofite . Similitudes, elegant Figures,
r,nd other OrKariUhts cf Speech peculiar to the
Writings of thole who lirll fee the Riftng-Sun^
Such are all thgfe pcnn'd in the Eafl : From which
we mull not exclude the Mavufcri^ts of Mofes,
and the reR of the Hebrew Prophets, Poets, HiJIo-
rians, and PhiloJ'ophcrs. Of thefe does the OlA
Tejiameiit ccnfill, except one Book writ by my
Countryman Job, who five Times foil'd the Dc-
<vil in fo manyyi-/ Combats before God.

What Ihall I fay then of rhe Travftations that,
have been made of tlieir Bible in other Languages^
not fp copious and fjgnificant as the Latin,

Since this Divifion arofe between the Roman'
Catkolicks and Prctcftants, their Bible has been
taught to fpeakthe Dialeflof al),or moft Nations
in Europe^ Yet fuch is the Unhappinefs of
the Franks, that, the more they tamper with
the Language of g>eat Purity, the worfe they
fucceed. Which has occafioned feme learned
Men, as I am inform'd, to mark above a thoufand
Faults in the laft French Verjion of that mjjlirious
Bock.

What Room will they leave for the Cenfures
of the Mujfiilmans, if the Chrijlians themfelves
are thus critical upon the Grand Patent of their
Sal'vation F

It would be an endlefs Taflc to recount all the
Errors that may be difcern'd in the various Tra-
diuls of the Bible, by any Man that has conver-
fed in the Eajl. Neither will I intrench on thy
Patience to gain the Charafler of a Critick.

Permit me to glance only on the Pfalter, or
the Odes oi Sultan David. How flat and dull are
Xh^Mea/ures of the Chrijlian Tranjlaton ? How

low

Vol. IV. <2 S P Y ^/ P A R I S. 55

low have they funk the Senfe ofihztRoya/Poet ?
He never began to warble forth any of thofe Di-
vine Songs, 'till firfl infpir'd by a Seraph, whom
he had lur'd dov/n from Paradifehy the Melody
of his Harp. That Seraph was Mailer of the
Mw/Ft-i above, as the Hebre^u DoSlors teach, liv'ry
time £)«i;/rt'play'd on his Inilruments, Jriel, (for
fo was the Spirit call'd) made his DeCcent, and
fung with a Grace which cannot be exprcfs'd.
The docile Poet foon learn'd both his Notes and
Words. Seven hundred Times David touch'd
his harmonious Strings, and fo often the Jngel
ftocd by him with the Bock of the Choir. He
taught him feven hundred Sonnets that are chant-
ed by the Lovers in Paradife. But the Devil ftole
them from the King whilft he was gazing on ano-
ther iVIan's Wife, bathing heifclf in an adjoining
Garden.

Yet there are above a hundred Hymns remain-
ing, which David compofed by Memory out of
the former. But fome Se£ls among the Chrijiians
have turn'd them to the Ballads of the Vulgar.

So have they dealt with that furpafling Voem of
Solyman, taught him by the Ethereal Tutor of his
Father. Por Jrielwa.s enamour'd of one of the
Virgins of Paradife, at the fame Time that Solomon
enjoy'd Pharaoh\ Daughter, and had newly built
for her a Seraglio of Cedar. The heavenly hover
therefore, to accommodate himfelf to the PaJJion
of the Mortal, taught him one of the Pajlorals of
Lden, a Song peculiar to his own Amour.

But the Nazarenes have turn'd it into a dry and
infigniiicant Allegory by their Glojjfes ; putting an
Affront alfo upon the Rhetorick and Poetry, in
wording their TravJlatio:t .

If 1 fhould go on and number the Miflakes

they have made in the IVriiin^s of the Prophets^

and. other Boch of the Old Tejlamcnt, though it

n 4 were

56 Letters TFrit by Vol. IV.

were but in this general y[:ir\ntr, I fhould tire
theeout; but to xtco\i.nt ihs. Part icu Ian would
be a thirteenth Task for Hercules.

Yeti after til thefe Defaults of the Learned,
neither they nor the Igvorant can be excufed from
wilful Blindnefs, in fhutting their E^es againft
the Twilight which appears in the worfl Tran-
Jlatlon, and is fufRcient to direfl any Man to
the Eajl, where Wifdotn fhines in her perfed
Splendor,

There are Exprefllons all over the Scriptures
which point to the Lanx:s, Cujloms, Habits, Diet,
and Manner of Life ufed in the Regions firil vifit-
cd by the Morniig Sun. Thefe are the fame mnv
as they were of old; and the Muffulmans of this
Age cbferve no ether Rule of Life but what was
pradifed by the Patriarch Ibrahim, above three
thoufand Years £go, and by all the Faithful oi
thofe Times.. Our Marriages, CircumcifanSy Fu-
r.erals. Prayers, JVaJhings, and all other Ceremonies
of Religion or Ci'vility, are ihc fame wo^u as then :
There is nothing added or diminifhed, fave the
Faith and Obedience we owe to Mahomet the Am-
hajfador of GoD, and to the Volume put into his
Hands by Gabriel, Prince of the divine Meffew
gers,

Oar very Habits, and the Manner of our Build-
ir;g ; our Salutations and ivhole Addrefs are the
fame at this Day, as the Scripture tells us were
in Ule in thofe ^i^^j next after the //W among the
Patriarchs and Prophets, and among all the true
Belieiers, the Poilerity of Ibrahim, efpecially the
Defendants by the Right Line, the Stem of If
mael, the eldell Son of him who entertained three
Angels at once in his Tent.

Yet the Infdels will not confider it ; but per-
fuade themfelves they are the only Children of the
faithful Ibrahim, pretending to prafti^fe, in I

knov/

VoJ. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris. 57

know not ^•hd.t/igurati've Senfe, the Life we lead
in Truth j Cheating themfelves with empty S)m-
bols, while we enjoy the Subjlance.

But thou, great Succejfcr of Ibrahim, and the
Prophets, vouchfafe to pray for Mahmut, that
whilft his Duty to the Grand Seignior obliges him
to dwell here in the Wefi, and to converfe with
none but Infidels, he may ftill retain the Faith of
the Eafi, the Devotion of an Ifmaelite, and the
Purity of a true Believer ; flill crying in his Hearty
even in the Temples of the Infidels, there is but
one God, and Mahomet his Mejfenger.

Paris, ^th of the (^th Moony
of the Year 1649.

LETTER XVII.
^0 the Chiaus Bafla.

TH E Peace agreed on laft Year, between the
Germans and Sixiedes, is not yet fully eila-
bl.ihed and coniirmed, there has been a Cejfation
ai Anns fince that Time, And now xki^Duhe
Amalfi on the Emperor''^ Side, the Duke of Vandort
for the King of France, and he of Erskin for the
Croicn oi Si'.edclard, are met zt Ncrimtur^h, tO
conclude a final Ratification of the Articles.

During this Confult, the S-ixedj?} Army are per-
mitted by the Empercr^s Agreement to quarter up
arid down in/e'ven Circles of the Empire, and not
to be difcharged till all their Arrears are paid at
the Coil of the Germans. 'Tis fsid it will amount
to three Millions of Zequins. This War has bflcd
near thirty Years ; in which, above three hua-
djed-thoufand Men have lofl their Lives.

D s hi

58 Letters PP^it h^ Vol. IV.

As to the Englijh Af&irs, the prevailing Party
there have declared that ancient Kingdom to be a
free State, and the Monarchy is abolilh'd \)j -Apuh-
lick J3. Neverthelefs, after Charles was behead-
ed, his eldeft Son was proclaimed King, both in
England and Ireland, by fome of the Nobles and
Gentry that were Friends to that Royal Family.
And in Ireland, a certain great Duke appeared at
the Head of a numerous Jrmy, in Behalf of the
young Kings Intereft, having laid Siege to the
Metropolis of that Kingdom ', which, v.ith one other -
Town, were the only ftrong Holds that re-
fiiled the King's Party, ' But in the %tk Moon the
Army, which the EngUJh States had newly fent
over to that 7/^^;;.Y, engag'dwith the /'b/v^jof this
Duke, entirely routed them, killing ten Thoufand
Men on. the Spot, and taking many Thoufand
Prifoners, with all their Ammunition and Bag-
gage. This being fcconded with other Viflories,
in a fmall Time reduced that Kingdom under the
Obedience of the EngliJJj States.

In the mean Time, I hear no pleafing News
from the Len;ant. Veflels daily arrive in the Ha-
'vtns of France, who confirm each other's Relati-
ons of a dreadful Naval Combat between our
Fleet, and that of the Venetians ', wherein, they
fay, we have loft fevcnty two Galliots, threefcore
Merchant Veffels, and eighteen Ships of War :
That, in this Fight, fix Thoufand five Hundred
Mujfulmans have loft their Lives, and near ten
Thoufand were taken Prifoners.

I tell thee, thefe are great Breaches in the AV
«ry, which, belonging to the /.-//v/ of the Sea and
"Land, has affum'd to itfelf the Epithet of
Invincible. Thefe are Blemiihes in the En-
Ijgns of h'gh Renown, Reproaches to the Em-
fire which we believe is to fubdue all Nations.
I refledl not on the CouragCj or Ccnduft of

Vol. IV, <7 S P Y^/ P A R IS." 59

the Captain Bajfa ; neither am I willing to help
forward the Ruin of a Man, who cannot expeft
to be honour'd with a Veft, a Sword, or any-
other Marks of the Sultan's Favour, for his Ser-
vice in the Sea- C«;«/ia/g-», lam naturally com-
panionate. 'Tis not in my Praife I fpeak it : For,
I believe this Tendernefs, to be rather a Vice of
my Conjiitution, than to have any Rank oi Morals,
much lefs to be of Kin to the Family of Virtues;
I pity a Man falling into Difgrace, on whom the
Weather of the Seraglio changes, from which he
muft expeft nothing but Clouds and Storms.
Thofe Tempefts will prove more fatal to him than
any that ever tofTed his Fleet on the ruffled Ocean.
In all probability, he will fufFer a Ship-wreck of
his Fortune, if not of his Life. Therefore 'tis
with extreme Regret that I muft fay that which. .
may haften his Fall.

But I am commanded, not to conceal any In-
telligence that relate* to the Intereft of the Sub-
lime Port, nor to fpare the Son of my Mother,
if I know him guilty of criminal Pradlices.

All that I have to lay to the Charge of the ■
BaJfa of the 6"^^ is, a private Correfpondence
which he holds with Cardinal Mazarini. This I
difcover'd by the Affiftance of a Dnuarf, whom
I have often mentioned in my Letters to the
Grandees of the Port. I need not repeat to thee,
what I have faid already to them of the Birth,
Education, and Genius of 0/5w/« ; (for fo is the
little Spark call'd) nor of the Method I have put
him upon, to wind himfelf into the Secrets of
the Publick Minijlers. Only thou may'ft report
to the J5/'z;a«, that this diminitive Man continues
to purfue his Advantages of Accefs to the Clo-
fets of the French Minijiers, whereof I gave an
Account laft. Year, in a Letter to Chiurgi Ma-
hamni&t BaJfa,-

D 6 Thou J

<>o LETTERS IVrit hy Vol. IV,

Thou may'lla/Ture them alfo, That, when he
was Yeflerday in the Chamber oiCarMnal Maza-
rini, he cait his Eyes on a Letter which lay
open on the Table, while the Cardinal was in ear-
neit Difcourfe with an extraordinary Courier U^xsl
Rome. He had not Opportunity to read more
than the Superfcription, and a Line or two of the
Matter ; which contained thefe Words :

7he Mild Commander, the humble Shadonv of the
bright Star of the Sfa, Bilal, Captain Bajfa.

To the moft Illufii-icus Prince of the Kingdom of
the MeJJiah, eminent among the High Lords of
holy Honour, the fublime Director oi \\i& Peor
p/eefJBsvs, AiTiliantto the Chair cf Sovereign
Dignity, the Seat of the Roman Caleph, Ju/io
Maxarini, Cardinal, and cur Friend. May
whofe latter Days encre^fe in Happinefs,

THTafeSlicnafe Letter and Prefents ivere
deliver'' d fafe to me, as I lay at Anchor
nuith the Y\ttl under my Command, not far /torn
the liland r/" Chios. And, as a Mark of my Ac'
kmvjkdgmer.t and good Will to thee and all the
Nazarenes, I ejnhraced in my Arms the r.ohle Cap'
tain Signicr Antonio Maratelji, ivho had the Ho-
nour to be truf.cd iKith this Negotiation. I im-
mediately difrob'd myfelf, and caufed that brave
Italian, thy Mejfenger, to he vefed 'with my cwn
Garment, as a Pledge cf————

Before Ofmin could read farther, the Cardinal
approached the Table and took up the Letter,
letting fall fome Words to the Courier, by which
the Dkvarf was confirm'd in his Sufpicion of the
Bcffa's Perfidioufnefs, and that this Letter newly
came from him. He polled immediately to give
me an Account of this Paflage; believing it to
be, as it ir, cf great Import. for he has a

iinguiar

Vol. IV. a Sp Y ai Paris. 6i

fmgular Regard for the Family, which firft exter-
minated the Greeks from Confiantinople.

Thou knoweft what Ufe to make of this Intel^
ligence. I am not cruelly inclin'd, but I muft do
my Duty. The reft I refer to thy Prudence.

I will only advertife thee of one farther Re-
mark of Ofminy who by comparing what he has
feen now, with a Difcourfe he once before over-
heard between Muzarini and a French Nobleman,
whilft he lay under the Cardinal'^T&hXe (which
I have inferted in one of my Letten) concludes,
That the Baja, there mentioned by the Cardi-
nal, was this fame Bilal Bajfa, who was at the
Ipllance of the Janifaries made BaJfa of the Sea;

I could not, without making myfelf an Ac-
complice, conceal fo foul an Ingratitude to the
Grand Seignior, and fo villainous a Treafon againU
the Empire, which holds \}i\z firjl Rank among all
the Dominioas on Earth.

Paris, 2^th of the (jth Moon,
of the Tear 1649.

LETTER XVIII.

^0 Cara Hali, Phyfician to the Grand
Seignior.

WE have had a violent hot Summer in thefe
Parts, with much Tlntnder and Lightning,
which has done confiderable Damage to the Far-
mers, in burning their Hay and Com in their
Granaries. Complaints arrive here daily from all
the Provinces, that Hcaten has confum'd their
Har%'e^t,

Tills

^2 Letters Writ by Vol. .IV.

This the Court Party interpret as a Judgment
on them for their Rebellions y caufing it to be in-
duftrioufly fpread about in all Companies that
Hea'ven is angry with the Inhabitants of Guyenne,
"Eourdeaux, and other Provinces^ for taking up
Arms this Year againd their So'vereign. I know
not how far this Cenfure is juftifiable: But 'tis
obferv'd th;.t the People of thefe Rebellious Pro-
i»nces have receiv'd more apparent and irrepa-
rable Injuries by the Lightning, than thofe of o-
ther Parts. Several Members of the Parliament
of Jix were found dead in their Bed?, after a tem-
peftuous Night of Lightning. And next Day,
the Roof of the Houfe^ where they affembled, fell
down and kill'd feveral.

In \.\\t great Church of BourJeaux, as they were
celebrating their Ma/s, a Ball of Fire broke in
from behind the Altar, fmote down feveral Ima-
ges, and, filling the Church with an intolerable
Stink, flew out of a Window, without doing any
farther Harm. And a great Bank of Money,
raifed by this City to pay their Soldiers, was all
melted down by Lightning, to the Aftoniihment
of thofe who faw it ; for it was done in the Day-
time, the Grandees of Bourdeaux being prefent.
It would be endlefs to recount all the Mifchiefs
that have been done in thofe Parti. We had no
great Harm here, fave that almoft all the Wine in
the City was turn'd to a Kind of Vinegar in one .
Night. Which the Philo/ophers attribute to the
peculiar Energy of Lightning ; which plays the
Chymiji vMh. this Liquor, and in a Moment fepa-
rates, and drinks up its Vital Spirits, leaving only
a mortuujn Caput behind-

The Scafon has been fo hot during the Dog-
Days, that the Air itfelf fcem'd combuiliblej
and the very Winds, from whence we look'd for
Jlefrefiimeat, were like the Breath of a Stove :

All

Vol. rV. a Spy ai Far i^. 6^

All Things feem'd ready to take Fire, as if the
E/emeNts waited for the Grand Conflagration.
Heat was the Cry every where. Men*s Bodies
were fcalded with internal Flames ; the Shade of
Trees aiForded no Relief, the Fountains could not
allay their Thirft, All Nature feem'd to be in a
Fever, ready to expire.

Now thofe Fervors are abated, and \v& begin
to have frofty Mornings. The nitrous Air re-
flores Men's Appetites. Abundance of Rain has
new moulded the gaping parch 'd Earth, and pro-
duced a fccond Spring. The Hu/bandman com-
forts himfelf with the Hopes o^ another Crop of
Hay, to repair the Lofs of x^t former, which the
Lightning robb'd him of. In the mean Time, the
"Winds arc very bufy in difrobing the Trees, and
fcattering not only their Leaves, but alfo the
Fruit that is not gathered, on the Ground ; .
whereby a Banquet is prepared for the ^gs in
every Orchard, who claim as much Right to feed
on what lies on the common table, as their Ow;/-
ers : And 'tis no unpleafant Mujick, to hear a
Herd of S'vAne fet their Teeth at work on the
wind- fallen Apples. Atleaft,. this Speiflacle and
Noife is delightful to me, who have been with-
out Appetite thefe three Mscw, and but juft be-
gin to recover my Stomach. I often ride out of
Paris, on purpofe to take the Country Air, where
my Bread taftes more favourily than in the City.
There appears fomething fo harmlefs and inno-
cent in the Faces and Behaviour of the Rujiicks^ .
as effedlually relieves my Melancholy. I cannct
difcern in them any Signatures of Court-Craft
and Villany. Their Converfation chears my Spi-
rits. I love to hear them talk of their rural ki-
fairs. My Eye follows the Ploughmen with En-
vy. Then I could wifh it had been my Lot to .
have b?cn bred up in fome homely Cottage,

whers

^4 Letters IVrit hy Vol. IV.

where I might have tended Oxen, Sheep, or
Affes J all which adl regularly according to
their Nature : Whereas he, that is the Seriatil-oi
Princes, is compelled to do many Things contrary
to his Reafon ; which is the greateft Unhappineft
that can befall a Man. How fweet is the Sleep of
the Hulbandman by Night, and how void is his
Mind of imbittering Cares by Day ? He rifes
with the Larky and is as chearful as that pretty
Bird, fs luting usurer a with a Song or Lejfon on his
Pipe. He fnufFs up the wholefome and fragrant
Dew of the Morning, as he walks over the Lands.
He beholds, with Admiration and Fleafure, the
gilded Clouds and Tops cf Mountains, when
the ^un comes forth cf his Bed- Chamber in the
Eaji. He fpurs himfelf on to his daily Labour,
by the Example of that aflive Planet, follcwirg
his Work with Content and Joy. His Food is
plcafant both in his Mouth and his Belly ; he
feels no After-pangs through Satiety ; but, well
refreflied and nourilhed with his homely Diet,
he lies down with the Lamb, and fleeps in Peace,
never dreaming of State- Intrigues, or the Plcts
of the Mighty. Thus he paffes his Life in a Cir-
cle of Delights.

Tell me, dear Hali, are not thefe proper Ob-
jcfls of Envy to a Man in my Circumftances ?
Or, canft thcu blame Mahmut, who has neither
Health cf Body, nor Peace of Mind, for wiihing
himfelf in a Condition, which would entitle him
to both ? I am entangled in a thoufand Snares j
my Employment is a perfefl Riddle. I muft fay
and unfay the fame Things, as often as Occafion
requires. I muft tell an hundred Lyes, fwear
and forfwear myfelf every Hour, if the Intereft
of the Grard Seignior be at Scake. I muft be a
Makctr.etan, ChriSian, Jew, or any Thing that

Wi:l

Vol. IV, a Spy t!f Vakis. 6^

will ferre a Turn ;diflremble with God and Man,
blafpheme the Prophets, curfe the True Belie-vers,
and myfelf too, rather than baulk the Cau/e I am
engaged in : And yet, all this while they will
perfuade me, I am a good Man, and (hall go to
Paradife. As if the MuftVs Difpenfations were
available to cancel the exprefs, pcfitive Law of
God ! Do they think to amufe me with fuch Um-
brages, and fend me muzzled to Hell with my
Eyes open ? I tell thee, I have a C:>nfcie?7ce, and
fuch a Coft/cience as will not let me be at reft in
this Mrinncr of Life. It were better to die, than
to live flain'd with fo many Prevarication?. I
know not what to do amidll fo many Terrors ; I
feel my Body decay apace, and ha.tening towards
its Diflblution. What will become of me, if I
fhould die under the Burthen of {o many Sins ?
What Anfv.er fhall I be able to make to the t--Mo
Inquijltors of the Grave, the Angeh who fhall exa-
mine me, who is my God, and who is my Pro-
plet, and what is my Faith ? The Darknefs of
that Region of Shadoivs will not be fufficient to
hide my Blufhes, and the Cdflfufion I (hall be in
at fo prefEng a Tr) al.

All my Comfort i?. That I have yet Friends
left, to whom I may freely vent my Thoughts
and afk their Counfel.

If thou haft any Remains of that Friendfhip
that has been between us, weigh my Cafe
throughly, and tell me whether I am not loft for
ever, without a Change of Life ? Flatter me not,
neither ufe the Artifices of Civility, in palliating
my Crimes j but fearch my Wounds, and give
me thy Advice without a Veil, and Makmut
fhall efteem the Phjlcian of his Ssul,

Paris, 24/^ of the c)th Moor,
of the Year 1649.

^6 "Letters rp'rit I'y Vol . I V.

LETTER XIX.

To Kenan Bafla, Chief .Treafurer fa
* bis Highnefs ^/ Conftantinople,

IF I have not addrcffed to thee before, attri-
bute it to my Ignorance of thy ^alltj snd
Per/on. As foon as J heard of thy Advancement
to this important Trull:, I refolved to filute thee,
as becomes a Slai-e in my Poft, and to wifli
thee all the Happlnefs thou canfl defire. Yet,
when I congratulate thy Rife, remember, I do
but Vr'elcome thee to a Precipice, a mere Pinnacle
cf Fortune, where thou hall no Reafon to expeft
fecure Footing. The BlaA of an envious Mouth
will make thee totter. Thou breathelt in an
Element full of Tempefls. The fly Pr."dices of
a Riial may undermine thee ; or the more
open Frowns of thy Scvereign may call thee
down. Thou art ever liable to the Malice of
the Vulgar, and not a little in Danger of thy own
"Weaknefs, the infeparab'e Companion of Hu-
manity. If thou fliouldell once look with Dif-
dain on thofe that are beneath thee, the vaft
Diftance and Height of the Profpeft may make
thee giddy. Therefore it would be good for
thee to have thy Eyes always fix'd on thyfeJf.
That will prove the bell Chart, by which to fleer
thy Courfe through the Rocks and Sands, which,
on all Hands threaten the Life of a Courtier. It
will not be amifs alfo to place before thee the
Examples of wife Men, thy Predecejfors. There
is a greater Force in thefe, than in the bell Coun-
fels ; becaufe Matter of Fa£l leaves no Room
for Dillrull : Whereas Men are naturally jealous
of thofe who pretend to inilrucl them. We are

all-

Voi. IV. ^ S p y ^/ Pa R I s. 67

all forvd of our own Reafon and Judgment ; and
are apt to fufpefl him of fome Defign who feeks
to perfuade us, though to our Good. Befides,
there is a Species oi Pride, zPunililio oi Honour
in Mortals, which will hardly permit us to yield
eurfclves in a Condition to need another's Advice :
Whence comes the Arabian Proverb, which fays,
A Man profits more bj the Sight of an Idiot, than
by the Orations of the Learned^^ We all love to
make our o.vn Experiments, and fooner trull any
Senfe than aur Ears. Therefore the Lacedemonians
caufed their Slaves to be made drunk in the Pre-
fence of their Children ; that from the Squalidnefs
of the Spectacle they might conceive a Hatred
againll that \'ice, which by all the InJlruSlions in
the World they would never learn to abhor.

The Crimes of feme in thy Station have more
of Sobriety in them, but lefs Honelly. Wonder
r.ot at the Exprcffion, nor accufe me of Impu-
dence. I rtflefl only on the Wicked : Number
not thyfelf among them.

Thou knoweft it has been an ancient Cuflom
for our renowned Emperors to divert themfelves
at certain Times with the Sight of their ineJUma-
hie Treafury. 1 am no Stranger to the Cere-
monies ufed at fuch Times j one would think it
impoflible amidft fo much Caution, that the
Grand Seignior faould be defrauded of the lealt
Part of his Wealth. I do not fpeak of the Cham-
ber oi Arms, or thofe others which make up the
Imperial Wardrobe. The Bulk and Weight of
thofe rich Velvet Brocades, and other Furniture
of Gold and Silver, difcourages the Theft. But
who can number the Robberies that have been
committed among the Jenuels, and invaluable Ra-
rities of the myjlerious Clofst ? It has been found
eafy to conceal and tranfport from thence whole
Beds of Diamonds, and Chains of Pearl, undif-

covered.

68 Letters JVrit by Vol. IV.

covered, I will not fay unfufpeded, at the Times
when Anackdar- Agafs gives three Knocks on the
Cabinst of" the Keys.

Thefe are Hours of Munificence and royal
Bounty, when the auoitft Lord of the Mines is
pleafed to gratify his Slwves iflxh. Gifts, and make
them fcnfible they fcrve kirn, who commands this
tipper World, and that underneath.

No Prince can difccmmend this domeflick
Sport of our So-vcreign, when he makes his Pages
fcramble for Diamonds and Rubies, fince it gives
him a Talle of his Humanity j nothing being
more agreeable, in Cafes on this Side of amorous
Jealoufy, than to let others partake of our Plea-
fures : And 'tis the peculiar Delight of Kings
fometimes to lay afidfe their Srjte and Granfeur,
to be familiar with their Attendants, making
them their CompaniofiSj or, atleafl, their Proxies
in many Enjoyments.

But 'tis Pity this Favour fhould be sbufed, as it
has been, in the Inllance I mentioned. Thcu art
no Stranger to the Records of the Ha/na, which
tell us. That when Gelep Chiaus Bajfa was made
chief Treafurer, in the Reign oi Sultan Mujiapha,
the Lucre of the glittering Jewels had tempted
him to defraud his Majler, to the Value of five
hundred thoufand 7.equins\ which, upon the In-
formation of three Pages, and a diligent Search,
were found in his Trunks.

It has been whifpered alfo, That ft^ have en-
joyed that Office, who have not purloined fome-
thingfrom the Imperial QoStrs. They fay, 'Tisan
hereditary Theft delivered by Tradition from one
to another ; every HafnadarbaJJt being advanc'd
to that Honour by the Recommendation of his
P>vflVf(/^r, for the Service he has done him in
conniving at thefe Praftices, which cannot be hid
from any of the Sixty who guard the Royal Wealth.

Thoik

Vol. IV. aSpY afVARis. 69

Thou canft not blame me, for putting thee in
Mind of thefe Things ; in Regard I am command-
ed to write with all Freedom to the fublime Mi-
nijlcrs, whatever concerns the Intereft of our
great Majier.

I have no more to fay, but to defire thee, in
tranfmitting what Money is appointed for me to
be timely and punctually, to fend Duplicates by
different Po/?f, that, if one Ihould mifcarry, I may
not be at a Lofs : For, there is no Oedit for a
hlujfulman in Paris. Eliachim would fupply me
with what may fufEce a Dervich ; but it belongs
to thee to take Care, that I want not what is re-
quifite for an y^^ent of the Grand Seignior.

Paris, zzd of the'ioth Moon,
of the Tear 1649.

LETTER XX.

To Peftelihali, his Brother,

I Unwillingly concluded my lad Letter, before
I had vented half my Thoughts, on thofe O/-/-
ental Subjeds, fo full of Inftrudion and Plea-
fure. Thy Journal^ become my Pocket-Compa-
nion. I carry it with me to the Gardens and So'
litudes, and even to the Libraries and Churches :
To which laft, I am obliged to go fometimes,
that I may avoid Sufpicion.

The Chrijiians, when they enter the moft de-
lightful Gardens of Paris, fpend their Time, and
weary themfelves, in walking forward and back-
ward. They will meafure feveral Leagues in
traverfing one yi/^y : Which vain Cullom, thou
knoweft, is contrary to the Pradliceof the Eafiern

People,

70 LuTTERs Writ by Vol. lY.

People, who love to folace themfelves, in fitting
ftill under the cool Shades, and feeding their
Eyes with the grateful Verdure of Trees, their
Nofes with the fragrant Smell of Herbs and Flow-
ers, and their Ears with the pretty Melody of
the Birds : All which ferve as Helps to their
Contemplation.

After this Manner I many Times pafs away
fome Hours in iht Gardens of this City, whereof
there are great Plenty, And when I am cloy'd
with the fore-mentioned Pieafure, then I take out
thy Journal, and fall to reading ; which winds
up my Thoughts afrelh, like a Watch that is
down : Nay, it opens new Sources of Contem-
plation, and ferves as a miraculous Talifman to
bring China, India, and all the Eajl into the Place
where I am ; fo lively and natural are thy Dif-
courfes of thofe Parts.

When I am in Churches it ferves me inftead of
a Prayer-Book : And, whiiil others are babbling
over they know not what, or at leaft they care not
what ; I offer up to God the Pirji-Fruit of my
Reafon and Knowledge, which he has given me
to diftinguifh me from all Sorts of Beafts, whe-
ther in human Shape, or not.

W' hen I go to the Libraries, I compare thy
ycurnals with the Writings of others who treat of
the fame Matters j and find, that thou agreeft
With fome, correfteft the Millakes of others, and,
in all, fheweft a Genius elevated above all others
of the common Hijlorians and Travellers ; who
feek rather to amufe the Reader with uncouth Sto-
ries and Adventures, than to inftrud him with
what is really ufeful and profitable.

Thus thy Journal is become the Companion
of my Solitudes, the Objeft of my Studies, and
the Help to my Devotions Abroad; and it is
no lefs the Diverfion of my Retirement and

Melancholy

Vol. IV. « Spy ^/ Paris. 71

Melancholy at Home. I am a great Admirer of
Antiquity ; and therefore an o!d craggy Rock,
o'er-grown with Mofs, and full ofgapiiig Ckafms,
is a more agreeable Sight to me, than the flow'ry
Meadows or verdant Groves ; becaufe the former
looks like a Relick of the primiti've Chaos ; where-
as, I know the latter to be only the Produft of
the lall Spring. 'Tis for this Reafon, thy Narra-
//f^ affords me fo vafta Delight, becaufe it treats
of the moft ancient Kingdoms and Gonjernmefits
in the World ; And is not fluffed with Chijmerc^s

and Fables, as moft Relations of thofe Countries
are j but gives us a fincere and true Account of
whatever is confiderable, without touching oa
Impertinencies.

But above all, I am delighted with that Part
which relates thy Travels in China : That Counr
try being of fo vaft an Extent, fo rich, fo po-
pulous ; the People fo induftrious, learned, and
politick (befides the Antiquity of their Empire
which cannot in that Point be match'd by any
Qo-vernment under the Hea'vens ;) that the exadt
Knowledge of thefe Things feems to me of
greater Moment, than any other Difcoveries
whatfoever.

What thou fayeft of the Chinefe Letters and
Words fhews. That thou haft made fome In-
fpedion into that Language. And thy Remarks
on the long SucceJJion and Series of their Kings
is an Argument, that thou art noStrange»to their
Chronology, which takes in many Thoufands of
Years before Noah^s Flood. Thou art very exaft
in enumerating their publick Tribunals and Courts
of Jujlice ; as alfo in defcribing fome remarkable
Bridges, Temples, Palaces, and other Struftures :
Which ferve to give the Reader a true Idea of
the Magnificence and Grandeur of the Chinefe
Emperors ; and of the Ingenuity of the People,

who

7.2 Letters /^ri/ hy Vol. IV.

who feem to excel all others in Arts and Sciences.
In a Word, it is evident, that thou didfl not pafs
thy Time with thy Arms folded, whilll thou wert
in that Kingdom. And I know not how better to
exprefs the Efteem I have for thee, on the Ac-
count of the Pains thou haft taken to inform
both thyfelf and me in Matters of fo great Im-
portance, than by giving thee an Account of what ,
Progrefs the Tartars have made in the Conquejl of
that Empire, fmce thy Return to Conjiantinople.
In my laft I acquainted thee with the Coronation
of the Tartar King at Pekin ; fince which, other
VelTels are arrived from thofe Pflr/j, which bring
an Account that the young Tartarian Conqueror
foon pufhed forward his Vidlorics ; and marching
with an Army into Corea (vi'hich Kingdom, thou
knowcft, borders on China) the King of that
Country made his Submiffions ; and, entering into
a League with Zunchi, held his Crcwn in Fe^
of that viftodous Emperor.

Afterwards he haftened to ftibdae the PrO'
rviKces which remain'd unconquered. His Me-
thod in accomplifhing this great Work was by
fwift Marches, like another Alexander the Great ;
and by laying Siege to the principal City of a
Pro<vince, which he never failed either to take by
FoTce, or compelled to furrender, that fo they
might efcape Famine : And, when this was done,
he took Pofleffion both of it and the whole Prc-
*vince, fummoning the Cities of lefler Note to
furrendA" ; which they feldom refufed after they
bad beheld the Fate of Xhtfirjl. Thus, in a lit-
tle Time he became Majier of all that fpacious
Empire.

i he Fame of his Succefs quickly brought in-
numerable Tartars out of their Natiaie Country to
follow the Fortune of their Emperor. To thefe
he gave the chief OJiics of his Ar?ny, and conti-

Vol. IV. « Spy ^/ Paris/ y^

continued the Chinefes in the Adminiftration of
Ci^ll AfFiiirs ; and, as a Token of their Subjecti-
on, he commanded all the Chinefes to cut their
Hair (hort, and to cloath themfelves after the
Fafhion of the Tartars.

They give a high Charafter of this young
Trince, who, amidll fo many SuccefTes and Tri-
umphs, difcovers not the leall Vainglory, but:
contains himlelf within the Bounds of a virtuoust
Moderation, afcribes all to the Decrees of Dejliny,
and is not in the leaft puffed up with any ol:
his glorious AAions ; which is an Argument
of a Sjsirit truly heroick. And yet this Prince is
an Idolater, as are all the Tartars of that Nation ;
or rather, they are Men of no Religion, which
make their Morals the more admirable ; For, ac-
cording to the Relation of thofe who came laft
from China, the Tartars are very temperater
and continent People, abhorring thofe Vices
which are but too common in other Parts of the
World, and from which the true Believers them-
felves are not free. They are rigorouflyjuft al fo,
and punifh all Manner of Fraud and Deceit with
immediate Death. As for their Conduft and
Courage in the Wars, tliere is no Nation fur-
pafTes them, few are their Equals. They are
pafiionate Lovers of an aftive Life, fpending
moft of their Time on Horfeback, either in
hunting wild Beafts, or fighting with their Ene-
mies : And their Horfes are the beft and moll
courageous in the World. There is nothing the
Tartars fo much defpife, as the fedentary Life
cf Students and learned Men ; accounting them
the Burthen of a Commonnvechh, lazy Drones,
fit only to be fold for Slaves : But Men of
Service and Merit in the Wars they have in
great Efleem ; never failing to reward fuch with
Dignities and Commands, proportionable ro
E • their

74 hzTT-ERS PFril hy Vol. IV.

their Deferts and Capacities. Nay, fuch is the
martial Genius of this Nation, that the very-
Women ride to the Wars with the Men, and
perform Exploits above what is expeded from
that foft and delicate Sex. Both Men and Wo-
men are habituated from their Infancy to live
in Tents or Waggons, there being very few Ci-
ties in all Tartary : There they are iriur'd to
Hunger, Cold, Thirft, and all the Methods of a
frugal and hardy Life. This is that which
renders them excellent Soldiers, and a Terror to
all the Nations round about them. This is that
which fo foon reduced all Ch'ma to their Obe-
dience ; the Chivefe, among all their Virtu^? and
Accompliihments, being the moft effeminate
People upon Earth. TJiis, no doubt, thou haft
obferved.

Brother, I advife thee to go to Kerker Hajfan
IBaffa our Countryman, and prefent to him thefe
Obfervations on the Tartars ; which thou may'ft
eafily do by tranfcribing what is for thy Turn
out of this Letter. He inherits his Father's
Genius ; who, thou knoweft, was one of the
grcateft Hunters in all Arabia, and has a Charadler
rot much different from what I have here given
thee of the Tartars. That Bajfa will take great
Delight in thefe Memoirs , and will think himfelf
obliged to make thee fome proper Acknowledg-
ment. He is generous and great, and it lies in
his Power to promote thee. I have writ to him
already, and have given him an Encomiufii of thy
Ability. I will feccnd it with another Letter, in
Aniwer to one I lately received from him, where-
in he defircs a farther Account oi China. I will
inform him therefore of feveral Paffages out of
thy Journal, He, no doubt, to make a farther
Trial of thy Knowledge, will afk thee feveral
i^eftions relating to thefe Matters. So ihalt

thou

Vol. IV. ^Spy^/Paris. 75

rfiou have a fair Opportunity of rendering thy-
felf confpicuous, and of gaining his Efteem.
Follow my Advice ; take Time by the Forelock,
and the Event /hall prove happy.

Paris, Sfh of the wth Moan,
of the Tear 1 649.

LETTER XXI.

7'(7 Kerker HaiTan, Bafia.

I Received thy Commands, and am proud of
the Honour thou haft done me in requiring
the fmalleft Service at my Hands, efpecially
one of this Nature, which is an Argument
that my former Relation of China was ac-
ceptable to thee. This I account my Honour
and Happinefs, that I have a Brother who has
made fuch confiderable Improvements in his Tru'
niels : For 'tis to him I owe the Knowledge I
have of that Country, and the other Parts of
the EaJI. As for my Coufin J/uof, he would ne-
ver vouchfafe to fend me a Syllable relating to
his Travels, though he had rambled throughout
j^a.

I defired this Favour of him in feveral Letters,'
but have received no Anfwer ; fo that I know
not whether he be dead or alive. My Friends
tre very backward in writing to me ; and, un-
kfs it be fome of the Minifers of StatCj wha
fometimes honour me with a Difpatch, though
very rarely, I hardly receive a Letter from my
familiar Friends and Relations in twenty Moovs ;
I'hich makes me conclude, that Abfcnce of io
E z long

q^ Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

long a Date has quite blotted me out of their
Minds.

As to what thou defireft farther to know, con-
cerning ChinUf my Brother fays. That Empire
.contains 4400 wall'd Towns and Cities ; 3000
Caftles and Towers of Defence on the Frontiers,
wherein are always garrifon'd a Million of Soldi-
ers, who are relieved at due Times by others of
equal Number. There are a Million alfo con-
ilantly kept in Pay to guard the Go'vernors of Pro-
fvinces, Amhajfadorst and other Officers of State :
The Emperor of China maintaining five hundred
thoufand Horfe to attend his Perfon. All this is
an Time of Peace. But, upon any Revo/t or Inva-
fton, the Forces are innumerable. There are in
China 331 Bridges, remarkable for their Strength
and Magnificence, beyond all others in the
"World ; 2099 Mountains ; Lakes and Medicinal
Fountains 1472; 1159 triumphal Arches and
other Monuments, ereded in Honour of valiant
and learned Men ; 272 Libraries, abounding
with all Manner of excellent Books ; Temples 300,
000, and as many PrieJJs, befides the Convents
of their Religious. They reverence 3036 Male
Saints, and 208 Female. All which have Temples
dedicated to their Honour, befides thofe which
are confecrated to the Sun, Moon, and Stars,
Fire, Air, Earth, and Water, and to the Hea-
<vens which comprehend All, and to the Cek'
fiial Gods who rule All, and to the fupremt
God, Creator of the fVorlds. In 0iefe Temples
they celebrate the Praifes of their Gods and He-
roes with Mufick and Songs, Incenfe and Sa-
crifices; believing, That all Things which are
confpicuous for the Excellency of their Nature,
or from which Mankind receives any general ot
extraordinary Benefit, ought to be worfhipped
jvith diwne Honours. In this they differ not

fxcnj

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris, 7/

from the ancient Pagans of Greece and Rome,
who had almolt as many Gods and Goddejfes as
there were feveral Creatures in the World ; lo that
there was no Beginning nor Ending of their Su-
perftitions ; and the moll learned and contempla-
tive of their Prief.s found the Ceremonies of theic
Religion to be an inextricable Labyrinth, where
they were often loft. Certainly, happy are the
faithful Mujfulmnns, who adore but one God,
the Fountain of the Uni-verfe, without entangling
themfelves in the Abfurdities oi Infidels.

The Chine fes are great Admirers of themfelves,
and their own Notions j believing, that no Peo-
ple can (land in Competition with them for Learn-
ing, Wifdom, and Riches. They have a very
contemptible Idea of all other Countries y with their
Inhabitants, efteeming them either as Idiots or
Ihnf.ers.

'^1 his Conceitednefs is owing to their Igno-
rance of the reft of the World ; for they feldom
or never travel beyond the Limits of their own
Empire.

1 could fay a great deal more of this People,
but it will be better for thee to hear it from my
Brother, who has been there, and can give thee
an ample Satisfaftion in all Things relating to
that Empire. I have wrote to him to go and
kifs the Duft before thy Feet. If thou makeft
Trial of his Abilities, thou wilt find him impro- ^
ved by his Travels, a Man fit for Bufinefs, and
one in whom tliou may'ft confide j which is a Vir-
tue never enough _to be priz'd in thefe corrupt
Times.

In thefe Things, however, mingle thine own
Difcretion with, the Kindnefs of a Countrj'man,
and the Affeftion of a Friend.

Paris, %th of the \ i ih Moon^
oftheTear\b\i^.

E 3 LET-

jrS Letters Writly Vol. IV.
LETTER XXII.

^Q Cornczan, Bafla,

■fTT" ERE Ox'/^ alive, the Events of this Year
' '^ would aiFord him Matter for ne^v FiSlions.
He would either tell us, I'hat the Goddejs oi Lo've
had fet a Spell upon Mars, and charm'd him into
good Nature ; or. That he had drank fo large a
Draught oi Nepenthe as has made him forget his
old Trade of embroiling Mortals in War. How-
ever it be, Hjmen feems to have the greateft Share
in this Year's Adlions. For, inflead of Battles
and Sieges, the Nazarene Princes have been en-
gaged in Encounters of a fofter Charader, the
gentle Affairs of Love and Marriage.

In the firft Moon the nenu King of Poland^
whcm they call John Cajtmir, married the Wi-
dow of his deceafed Brother. In the ninth, the
Prince oiHainault efpoufed the Duke oi Holjiein'i
Daughter : And the la^Moon was remarkable for
two Matches ; one of the King of Spain with
Anna Maria, the German Emperor''s Daughter ;
the other of the Duke of Mantua with Ifahella
Clara of Aujlria.

Thefe are all brufhing forward in the Crowd of
the Liinng j they are bufy in augmenting the Ge-
"71 er at ions oi Men ; whilft others of as high Blood
are gone to increafe the Number of the Dead ; be-
ing enroU'd among the Ghofts, and made Denizens
Jn the Region of Shadoivs.

The Empre/s of Germany died in the fifth Moon,
the Duke of Braganza in the ninth ; the Dutch'
<y} of Mo^(f»a in the eighth ; and a certain Ger-
man Prince, whofe Name I have forgot, died in
the Moon of Oiiober. Befides thefe, Death has

alfo

Vol. IV. aSp Y at P a'r: rs. . 79

alfo arrefted Ojfalmikl, the great Chancellor (f'
Poland ', J'Frangel, General of the S-Jjcdijh Army j
Frederick, the German ylmbajfndiir at }iome j Fifr-
dinand, Eledor of Cologne ;. and the Viceroy ( f '
Bohemia, who was by his Enemies thrown out of
a Window, and his Brains dafh'd out. So chat tho'
Mars may have feem'd to lie dormant this Year,
yet his Companion in Mifchief, old Saturn, has
been very aftive, as the Ajlrologers fay, who at-
tribute all Events to the Injlux of the Stars.
Sbme are alfo of Opinion, that the Eclipfes of the
Sun and Moon, this Year, were Prefages of the
Death of thefe great Pcrfoxs. They might as
well plead, that the daily Rijing and Setting of
thofe Luminaries portended all the tragical
Events that happened on Earth ; fmce it is not
more natural for them to continue unalter/'bly
moving from jf«/? to Weft, than it is for them
to be obfcur'd, at certain determined Stations, in
their Journey, by Lit erpcfu ions which^ happen of
Courfe.

We are Strangers to the Chronologies of the
Chine fe and Indian Gentiles. Neither can arj^
good Account be now given of the ancient Egyp-
tian and AJp^rtan Records : They run many Ages
back beyond the common Epocha of the Beginning
of the World.

But the whole Sy/lem of knoavn Hijlorf relates
but two extraordinary or preternatural Charges
in the Courfe of the Sun during thefe fix thoufand-
Years.

One, when that Luminary flocH rtill in the
Time oijehojhua. General of the Ifraelites, to
ferve Ends of Dejiini, and prolong the Light of
the Day to a double Proportion, till the op'pofite
Army was quite deilroy'd, and not one of the
Uncircutpcis^d could efcape the Swoxds cf the vic-
torious Sons of Jacob.

E 4 That

So Letters J^nl hy Vol. IV.

Thst Day prov'd a long Night to their Anti-
fodes : They turnM themielves in tlieir Beds,
when they had outflept the ufual Hours of
Night, and faid in their Hearts, Surely the Sun
is fallen ajleep, or is banqueting vjith the Gods of
the Sea : Perhaps Thetis detains him in her Em'
traces, niohilji the Tritons fajlen his Slumbert
mjith their foftejl Mufick ; or Neptune regales in
the Palaces /f the Deep. Thus the difconfolate
Nations argued in their Chambers : They were
alarm'd with Fears of unknown Events.

Such as dwelt on the Borders of the Earth, and
were accuftom'd to mark the conftant Ebbing and
Tlcvoing of the Sea, admired the Delay of the ufu-
al Tides, and ask'd, Whatnuas become of the Moon ?
for that Planet alfo flood flill with the Sun.

The Light of their Souls was eclipfed, and
their Reafon labour'd under a greater Darknefs
than that which troubled their Eyes. They were
ignorant of the Works of God ; and knew not
that the celejlial Orbs flood ftill at the Command
of the Spirit which formed them, even at the
Wordo{\]\t Prophet infpir'd from above.

So in the Days o^Hezekiah, King of the feivs,
the Sun went back in his Circuit, and all the
Frame o{ Heaven was retrograde to confirm the
Trophct'% good News, when he told the fick King,
That Fate had prolonged his Life for ff teen Tears.
1 his was in the Days of Merodach Baladan, the
King of Babylon, who fent Ambaffadors to con-
gratulate B.e%ekiaV% miraculous Recovery.

Befides thefe, nothing has happened to the Sun,
cr any of the beanienly Bodies, beyond the ordina- •
ry Courfe of Nature. A Man may as well prog-
noflicate, from cloudy Weather, the Calamities of
Emperors and meaner Men, as from the Eclipfes
of the 5'«wand Moon, fince \h.tone, as well as the
other, obfcures the Light oi ihok heaven /j Bodies:

And

\

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^?/ Paris; Si

And the former quite hides them from us ; which
is the greater Eclipfe of the two.

Let us pray Heaven to grant us the continual
Ufe of our Sen/es, and not eclipfe the Light of oar
Reafotiy and we need fear no Difajiers from the
common Appearances of Nature.

Paris, 7/^ of the Moon Chaha»t
of the Tear 1649.

The End of the Firft Book.

E 5 L E T-

( 82 )

LETTERS

W R I T by a

SPY at PARIS.

VOL. IV.

BOOK II.

LETT E R. L

To Muhammed Eremlt, Inhabitant of
the Prophetic Cave in Arabia the
Happy.

PA R D O N my Importunity, if I this
once trouble thee with an Addrefs of
Scruples, begging thy Counfel in the Af-
fairs of my Soul. I feem to myfelf as
a Traveller loit in a Wildernefs of Doubts and
Uiicertainties, without Guide or Condudl. Not
tlut I queuion the Truth of our Holy Religion f.
or miftruft the Authority of the Sent of God.
Certainly I revere the Book oi Glory, yjho^e facred
Verjicles are tranfcribed on my Heart. But there
is wanting to every Man a particular Condud

in

Vol. IV. a Spy at 'Paris. 85

in the Intricacies of this Life. I have not the
Art of applying the general Precepts of the Laiv
to my own perfonal Occafions and Neceflities.
Infinite Diihculties arife from my daily Affairs.
My Converfation with Infdeh, and the Duty I
owe my great Majler, entangle my Confcience.
I am embaraffed on all Hands ; and, whilll I
ftudy to conferve Purity, I find myfelf ftill de-
filed.

I am no Heretick, nor in the Number of thofe
who are predefiinated to be damned {or the inju-
rious Love they bear to Hali : Injurious, I fay,
becaufe it derogates from the Honour they owe
to Omar, Ofman, and Ehubecher, the true Suc-
ceiTors of the Apojile of G o d .'

As I firmly believe the Alcoran, .fo I give an .
entire Faith to the Book of AJfotiak, or the Agree-
ment of the Wife, with the Writings of the four
principal Imaiims, Haniff, Schafi, Melechi, and
Hambtli. And I am refigned to the Sentence of
the Mufti, . as our fathers were of Old to the
oraculous Determinations of the Babylonian Califs.
I curfe the Ky%ilbafchivji\\\ as much Devotion, as
I pray for the Health and Felicity oitrueBelic'vers.
I fpitat the naming of them, who deny the
Chapter Qi\)xt Covering, and the Verficles brought
down by the Squire of Gabriel, in Honour of the
Prophefs Wife. I never lifted up my Hand a-
gainft any, who defcended from the Divine
hleffenger : And if, in my Paflion, I have ever
curs'd a MuJJulman, I took of the Duft under his
Feet, and laid it on my Lips, before the Shadow
of the Sun had advanc'd a Hair's Breadth j and
fo I hinder'd the fwift Recorder of our Words .
from regiftring the Imprecation : For that Duft,
I believe, has Power to blot out tiie Memorials
of our evil Words and Works.

E 6 When

$4 Letters JVrit hy Vol. IV.

When I meet a Santone, or one of thofe di-
vinely mad, I put in praftife the LelTon of Or-
chanes ; and, honouring the holy Frar.tick, I fall
down and adore Virtue in that contemptible Dif-
guife.

I negledl none of the Purifications command-
ed by cur hohyLanxj-gi-ver ; but rather add thofe
that we Jrahiafis have received by Tradition
from oar Fathers, iheSonsof I/mae/: Yet, I hope,
in Cafe of Negleft, fome Indulgence is allowable
to a Mujfzilman in a Country of Infidels. I ufe
the Wajhing oi Ahdefi at all Times in my Cham-
ber, wh?re no curkjus Eye can cbferve my Clean-
lineff, or fufpicious Aprrehenfion draw Conclu-
fions of my being a Mahometan. But I cannot
thus praftife the Wafijing oiTaharet ; there being
not fuch Conveniencies for that Purpofe in Paris,
as in Confiantinoph : Yet I am careful to fupply
this Want by other Methods of Purity; other-
wife 1 Ihould be an Abomination to myfelf.
There is no Neccfiity that I (hould frequent the
Bath, who never touch'd a Woman j yet I often
go into the River, taking a Boat with me for
that End, and caufmg myfelf to be rowed half
a League from the City, where, in a little Bay-
er Creek, I wa{h my whole Body, that I may do
fomething beyond the Obligations of the La'^v, to
expiate the involuntary Breaches of my Duty.
Yet, after all this, I cannot call myfelf clean.

I pray at the appointed Hours ; or, at leafl,
if the Affairs oi my CommiJJion hinder me from
complying with the Latv, as to the exaft Times
of the Day, I attone for that Negleft, hy ivatch-
rng the greateft Part of the Night : And, to the
Oraifons appointed by j^uthority^ 1 add fuper-
numerary Prayers of my own, tO evidence the
the Sincerity of my Devotion,

Vol. IV. ^2 Spy tf/ Paris. 85

\ fafi and give ^Zw/ according to my Ability.
I beftow much Time in reading and medita-
ting on the Alcoran. In a Word, I, do all that
my Reafon tells me is neceflary to render me a
good Mujfulman ; and yet I have no Peace in my
Mind. Methinks, I fee our f>o/ji Prophet furrow-
ing his Brows at me, and darting angry Looks
from his Paradife : He feems to reproach me
with Uncleannefs and Infidelity. By Day, my
Imagination troubles me ; and, at Night, I am
terrified with fearful Dreams : Which makes me
conclude, that, notwithftandingall my Obedience
to the La-iv, and the ftrideft Care I take to acquit
myfelf a true Be/ie'ver, yet I am far (hort of
my Aim ; and therefore, T number myfelf with
thofe with whom God is dilpleafed.

It is impoflible to exprefs the Horror which this
Thought creates in me. I am ovenvhelmed
fometimes with Melancholy and Defpair. And,
becaufe I am forced to keep my Grief to myfelf,
without having the Privilege of venturing it to a
bofom Friend, it is ready to burft my Heart.

This is my Condition at certain Seafons, which
I efteem as bad, or worfe, than thofe who
are doom'd to Aaraf: For, as they cannot enjoy
the Felicities of Paradife, fo they are fecured
from the Torments of the Damned ; whereas, for
aught I know, my Portion may be in Hell.
Wilt thou know how I redrefs this evil Temper of
Mind, and what Method I take to cure my Me-
lancholy ? Receive it net as Flattery, when I
tell thee, thou art my Phyfician, and the Idea
of thy innocent Life, my Medicine. When I
have roird over ten thoufand Thoughts, which
afford me, no Eafe or Relief, no fooner do I fix
my Contemplation on the Solitary of Mount
Vriely but a fudden Beam of Light and Comfort
glances through my Soul, I promife, myfelf

greater

86 Letters Writ ly Vol. IV.

greater Satisfadlion from thy, Advice, than from
all the Imaums and ^lollahs of the Empire.

Tell me therefore, O holy and pious Eremit,
how fhall I diffipate thefe Milts of Grief and Sad-
nefs, which envelop my Mind, and threaten to
fufFocate my Intelleft.

If, in this Darknefs and Confufion, I fhould
apply myfelf to the Di/ciples of Alhazon for In-
ftrudio^, they will puzzle me with intricate Nice-
ties about the Ejfence and Unity of Go D ; where-
as I am too much troubled already with diftrafting
Speculations : I feek not to dive into that which
is incomprehevjible, but to be inftrufted in the
plain and intelligible Way to Happinefs. What
imports it, whether God be Gocd by his Goo'nefs,
or by his Ejfence ? This is to throw metaphyfical
Daft in my Eyes, and fo leave me in a worfe Con-
dition than they found me.

No better Light mull I expeft from the Mom-
fconderan: For, if they are ftrift Obi'ervers of the
La'Wy fo am I, where the Precepts are applicable
to my Condition and Circumllances. But I
wanta Diredion in many Emergencies, for which
the Alcoran feems to have made no Provifion,
but leaves every Man to the Conduft of his.own
Prudence j and I mull confefs, I dare not truft
mine in all Cafes of this Nature. Befides, in-
ftead of interpreting to me, in a plain Style,
the 5^<?/«/^i of the Laiu, they will confound me
with high and uninteiiigib'.e Notions of the Di'vine
Attributes, which are fufficient to dazzle the
Intelledl of the brighteil Senphim : and, if they
could (>nce perfuade me to be zealous for their
Specul.t ot^s, I might, in Time, turn fuch ano-
ther religiou' Fool, as was one of their Fo/Zq-xv-
ers, the Poet Namifi, who being wrapp'd in his
profound Speculation of the Divine Unity, and
hearing an hnaum pronounce the /acred Sentence^

God.

Vol. IV. ^ S P Y ^/ P A R I S. 87^'.

God is O;;^, gave him the Lye, and told him,,
that he multiply'd the Divlnuy in afligning it.
any Attribute, tho' it were only that which ex-
prefled his Unity. For which impudent Affertion
he was flay'd alive.

In as bad a Condition (hould I be if I afk'd the
Advice of the Muferin, thofe Infidels in Mafque-
rade, who, under the Difguife of Mujfulmans,
deny the Beifig of a God, affert all Things to
come by Chance, and live without Hope or Faith -
of another Life. For if this were true, that there
were no Reward or Punifhment of good or bad
Works, 1 would either foon make my Way to
earthly Happinefs, by not boggling at any Vice
that would conduce to that End : Or, if I fail'd:
io that Attempt, I would not tamely wait for a
Martyrdom from Men, but bravely rid myfelf of
a Life which was attciided with nothing but
Mifery.

Almoft as bad as thefc are the Hairet, thofe
Mahometan Sceptich, who dare not trull their own
Reafon, but are ever wavering and irrefolute. If
I fliould feek for Inftrudlion at their Hand, they
would anfwer me, God kno-wt hefi nuhat I ought
to do > and fo leave me in the fame Sufpence as I
was before.

Much worfe are the Guaid, thofe morofe In-
terpreters of the Laxv oi Merc)fVi^o damn a Man
irrecoverably to Helliox ccmmittlng one mortal
Sin. This is enough todri veal! Mankind to Defpair.

Indeed the Morals of the Sabin pleafe me, who
feem to be ^x{tdi.j\'Iahometan Stoicks, afcribing all
Events to Dejiiny, and the Infiuence of the Stars.
I could willingly embrace the Advice oi Philofo-
phers who appear fo void of Paffion ; but I
could never join with them in adoring the Sun,
Moon, and Conftellations of Heaven, becaufe
the Alcoran has exprefly forbidden it. And,

were

88 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

were there no fuch Prohibition, my own Reafon
would convince me, that I ought as well to adore
the Fire for warming me, and ferving my other
Neceffities, or the Water for quenching my
Thirft, and purifying me, or my own Hands for
feeding me, as to pay thefe divine Honours to the
Celejiial Bodies ; fince the one, as well as the
other, aft according to their Nature.

In a Word, of all the innumerable 5f^j into
which the Mujfulman Empire is divided, I cannot
expeft entire Satisfaftion from any ; for, if they
appear Orthodox in fome Tenets, in others they
are manifeftly Heretical. Yet I cannot but fee
a higher Value on fome than others, as their Doc-
trines and Pradlices approach nearer to Reafon
and Truth. For I am not yet fuch an Academick
astoalk thatMock-Queftion, What is Truth ?

Doubtlefs our Fathers knew it, and the Mejfen- ■
ger of God was fent to divulge it on Earth. But
if Ignorance, Superftition,and Error have banifh'd
it from Courts and Cities, let us feek it in the
Defart. Perhaps we may find this Wanderer
among the Rocks and Woods ; or, 'tis poffible,
fhe has fhelter'd herfelf in fome Den or Cave ; as
hoping for greater Favour from the wild Bcafts,
than from the Society of Men.

If Truth be no where to be found entire, but
has divided herfelf among the different Religions
and SeSls in the World, then, rather than mifs of
this di'vine Jewel, I will fearch for it in Frag-
ments, and whatfoever is rational and pious in any
Se£i I will embrace, without concerning myfelf
in their Follies and Vices.

After all, the Munajihi feem to be the only-
Orthodox and illuminated of God; who, decli-
ning the private By-ways oi Schi/maticks, walk
in the high Road of priftine Juftice and Piety, fol-
lowing the Steps of the Aticientf, and obeying the

Trail-

Vol. IV. a Spy at Paris. 89

Traditions which know no Origin. Among
thefe thou appeareft as another Pythagoras^ con-
firming them by thy Example in an innocent
Life ; enduring the utmoft Severities of Abfti-
nence, rather than be guilty of fhedding the
Blood of thofe Creatures, which the great Lord of
allThbigs created to enjoy the Herbage of the
Field, and to partake of the common Bleffings
of Nature as well as we.

To thee therefore I have Recourfe, as to an
Oracle : Tell me, O /acred Syhanian, am I not
obliged to obey the Infpirations oi my Nature ,
or better Genius, which tells me, 'tis a butch-
erly and inhuman Life to feed on flaughtered
Animals ? Did not all thofe whoaim*d at PerfeSii-
on among the primitive Difciples of the Prophet^
abftain from murthering the Brutes ? 'Tis true,
iht Mejfenger ofGoo did not pofitively enjoin
Jbftinence from Plejh ; yet he recommended it as a
divine Coun/e/ ; And thofe, to whom he indulg'd
the Liberty of eating it, he ty'd up to certain
Conditions. Do not all the religious Orders preach
up Ahjlinence, both in their Sermons and Li'ves ?
I make no longer Doubt, but the Corruption of
Manners, and Voluptuoufnefs of Men, are the
Caufes that this ancient Sobriety is now difufed
and flighted. My own Experience confirms me
in this Opinion, who have often attempted to
live in Ahjlinence ; but, by the Force of a vora-
cious Appetite, fufier'd myfelf to be carried
back to my old Intemperance.

Yet, in eating Flefh, I have been precifely care-
ful to obferve the Prohibition of our holy Prophet,
fo long as it was in my Power ; I never knonju-
ingly tafted of Blood, nor of any Thing jlrang-
led or knocked down. But it is impoffible for me to
aiTure myfelf of this, or that all the Flefh I eat
was killed in pronouncing that tremendous

Name

90 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

Name which gave it Life. Neither could I once
efcape a Neceffity of eating Sivine's Tlefl?,

But I abominate mylelf for this involuntary
Crime J and, to obviate the like Temptation for
the future, 1 will tafle of nothing that has
breathed the common Air ; being inclined to be.
lieve the Metempjychojis ; which if it be true, I
vvifh for no greater Happinefs, than that, in my
next Change, my Soul may pafs into the Body of
the Camel, which lh.Jl carry thee to Mecca.

Paris, \j^th of the \Ji Mocn,
of the Tear 1650.

LETTER IIv

To Minezim Aluph, Bafia..

MY Intelligence from the Imperial Pbrtt^
fometimes arrives late ; either through the
Negledl of Kifus Darmolcc, to whom that Lare is
committed, or through the Badnefs of the Roads,,
which many Times are impaiTable; befices the
frequent St' ps and Interceptions of the Pofs in.
this l ime of War ; which is the Reafon I do not.
always hear of the Alterations at the Seraglio^ .
and the Changes that are made in the Govern-
me fits of the fining Empire, 'till many Moons are
pafs'd : Who is exalted, or wh.o imde Manfou I,
are Things to which Mahmut is for a Time a great
Stranger.

Therefore thou hall no Reafon to be offended
that I am thus late in fending to thee my congra-
tulatory Addrefs ; but reft confident, that I wifli
thee Jncreafe of Happinefs, like the fproutivg of
the Paltn,

As

Vol. IV. « Spy «/ Paris. 91

As a Mark of my Duty and AfFeflion, I fliall
now acquaint thee with News, which though it
may feem of fmall Import to the Divatiy yet has
ftartled all Europe.

It is the Imprifonment of three of the French
Princes ; not thofe of the ordinary Rank, but
Branches of the Royal Stem, whofe Names are not
unknown in the Seraglio, the Rejidence of Fame.
They are the Princes of Conde and Conti, Bro-
thers, and the Duke of Longueville, Husband tp
their Siller. They are the principal Subjefts in
this Nation ; all three having the Majeftick Blood
of the Kings of France running in their Veins.

They owe their Confinement to Cardinal Ma-
zarini, or rather to their own inartificial Conduft.
The Prince of Conde is a p iflionate Man, and ha;5
never learned how to conceal his Refentments.
When he firll returned from the Battle of Lens in
Flanders, whereof I formerly gave an Account,
the InfurreHion in Paris began. The Prince
block'd up the City, and promii'd the Cardinal
(againft whom alone all this Storm was raift'd)
'I'hat he would either bring him back in Tri-
umph to Paris, or die in the Attempt. He per-
form'd his Word ; and the Cardinal rode through
the Streets oi Paris, in the fame Coach with the
King, Queen, and all the Royal Blood, after the
Siege was raii'd, and a Peace concluded. And
the Prince, when he alighted out of the Coach,
addrefs'd himfelf thus to the Cardinal : " Now,
** Sir, I elteem myfelf the happieit Man in the
•* World, in that I have been able to perform my
*' Engagements, in bringing your Eminence back
" to Paris J and that by my Prefence the Hatred,
*' which the Multitude have for your Perfon,
*' was reprefs'd whiift we pafs'd thro' the Streets.

This too nearly touch'd the Cardinal. And in-
deed the Queen, with all the reil, were fenfible,

that

92 Letters TVrit by Vol. IV.

that thePrince had too far over-flict himfelf in this
laft Expreffion. However, the Cardinal rc^'^y'' 6. in
a kindof Modefty, not wholly void of Cholerand
Difdain : " Sir, You hr.ve not only oblig'd me to
*• that Height, but have done the Kivgdom fo con-
*' fiderable a Service in this Aftion, that I fear
** neither their Majejiies nor myfelf fliall be ever
** in a State to make you anfwerableCompenfation.

Thofe, who flood by and heard thefe inter-
changeable Difcourfes, were apt to interpret the
frji for a Reproach, jind thefccond as a Menace.
Since it is not ufual for great Men to over-value
the Services they do their King and Country ; and
for Princes, when they cannot duly reward an
eminent Performance, to turn their Gratitude into
Hatred.

This is certain, That the Prince of Conde has
prefum'd much on the Merit of his late Services ;
and it wa.' noi eafy for the ^een or the Cardinal
to invent fuch Acknowledgments as he expected.
For he imagined they ought to deny him nothing,
who had fo often hazarded his Life for their In-
tereft.

It was on this Ground he thought he had a
Right to interpofe in a Marriage which Mazarini
defign'd to make between one of his Nieces and
tlie Dzde of Mercaptir.

This Duke is of a Family which has been a long
time at Variance with that of the Prince of
Conde : And therefore the Prince was jealous left
the Cardinal, by the intended Match, fhould
fortify his Intereft among the Prince's Enemies,
and fo be in a Condition not to want his Pro-
tedlion ; the only Thing he was ambitious of.
For, cou*d he have once reduc'd the Cardinal to
this Neceffity, he himfelf had been abfolute Ma-
Jler at Court. Therefore he oppos'd the Match
with all Vigour and Induflry. This nettled the

Cardinal,

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris. 93

Cardinal. He complains to the ^een of the
Prifue\ Unkindnefs. She intercedes, and ufes her
utmoft Endeavours to reconcile the Prince to this
Marriage. But his Brother, the Duke of Lon-
gueville, has fo pofTeiTed the Prince with a Jea-
loufy of the Cardinari Proceedings, that no Ar-
guments could prevail on him, or overcome his
fix'd Averfion for Mazarini\ defigned Alliance
with the Houfe of Vendofme^ (fo they call the Fa-
mily from whence the Duke oi Mercceur is fprung.)
He rails at the Cardinal, and lampoons him ia
all Companies. This begets ill Blood in the fw
preme Minifter of Ztate^ who fecretly refolves
the Prince' % Ruin.

In this, his Policy and Malice exceeded the
petty Revenges of the Prince ; who being of a
frank, opeu Heart, contented himfelf with
Railleries and fatyrical Expreflions, whilft the
Cardinal concealed his Anger under the Mafque
of extraordinary Civilities ; returning all the Con-
tempts of the Prince, with a Refpedl which
feemed to fpeak much AfFeftion and Devoir.

He has been a long Time tampering with a
TaSlion which goes by the Name of the Trondeurs.
Thefe were his Enemies, not fo much in Hatred
qf his Perfon, as out of a Zeal to ferve their
Country, which they imagined was oppreffed
under the Condui5l of this Minifter.

Thefe he has lately gained over to his Party, by
reprefenting to them the Prince of Conde, as the
Author of all thofe Evils which they afcribed to
himfelf : Whilft, at the fame Time, heperfuaded
the Prince, that they had fome Defign againft his
Pei'bn. Thus he artificially blinded both ParZ/Vx,
and engaged them in mutual Revenges, privately
animating theFrondeurs againft t\\tPrince,2iad pro-
voking the Prince to feek th? Ruin of the Fron-

dcurSf

94 Letters J-Frit by Vol, IV.

rffarj. By this Trap the Prince was inveigled to
confent, and give Orders for his own Imprifon^
went, whilft he was made to believe the Arrefi
was defigned againft his Enemies j and the People
werefatisfied, fmce they were perfuaded the Fac'
tion of the Frondeurs had a Hand in the Plot.

The 1 8th of the laft Moon the three Princes
were taken into Cufiody, and fent to a Place they
call the Crt/yA- of \!hs.Wood o^ Finciennes, fome
Leagues from Paris. The fame Day the ^een
fent for the Dutchefs of Longue-vUle to come to
her ; but the wary Dutchefs would not put her-
felf into a Ca^e. She immediately fled in Dif-
guife to a Sea Tenxin belonging to her Hufband.

*Tis faid, the Prince oi Coade had Notice given
him of his defign'd Imprifonment ; but that he
would not efcape, projedting to himfelf fome great-
er Advantages from the Difcontents of the People
(who now behold him as a Patriot) than from
a clandeftine or fugitive Liberty. This is cer-
tain, his Coach broke on the Road between Paris
and Vincier.nes ; and 'tis thought his Friends might
eafily have refcu'd him : For this Accident occa-
fion'd a Stop of fix Hours in their Journey, Time
enough to have raifed a thouiand Men to his
Relief, being only guarded by fixteen Cavaliers.
But it feems he courts the Cardinal's Perfecution,
that he may have deeper Grounds for Revenge.
I know not whether his Policy is juftifi.ible or
no ; but, if I were in his Circumftances, I fhould
hardly take this Method to gratify my Refent-
ments, which in all Probability I fhould not be in
a Condition to accomplifh 'till the Greek Cakfids,
that is, never.

Paris, i^thcfthe 2d Moo",
^ of the Tear 1650.

LET-

Vol. IV. aSpY al 'Paris. ^j

LETTER III.

To the Reis Etfendi, Principal Secretmy
of the Ottoman Empire.

TH E Devotees among the Franks talk much
of the Jubilee that is to be celebrated this
Year at Rome. They enrich their Fancies with
the Hopes of I know not what fphifual Trea/ure,
which the Roman Mufti, or Pontiff, will diftri-
bute among the Pilgrims that refort to Rome du-
ring this holy Tear.

This, as lam told, is celebrated in Imitation of
the Sabbatical Year, ioxvaitXy obferv'd by the Jevjs
when tliey poflefs'd the Holy Land. The Hebreiv
Writers, fuch as Jofephus, and others, call that al-
fothe Tear o{ Jubilee. Their Cabbalijis, like the
"Pythagoreans, pretended to derive great Mjfieries
from certain J>!umb. rs : And the Number Se'ven
was had in particular Veneration by the Hcbrenvs ;
Therefore they kept t\try feuenth Day, Week,
and Year, Holy. In thefe^uenth Year it was not
lawful to till the Ground, plant Vineyards, or
fowany Seed. And \v\\tn fe'vetiT'imcs fe-ven Years
were expired, the Yenr of Jubilee was proclaim'd,
being always ihQ Fiftieth : They proclaim'd it
by 7'rumpets throughout the whole Country of
Palejline, in the forty ninth Year. And the
Muezins cry'd in the Gates of their Cities and Sy-
nagogues, at the Beginning of the Jubilee : " Let
" every Man return this Year to his own Poffef-
" J:on and Tribe, whether he be a Sla've or Free.
" He that has fold his Houfes or Lands, if he
*' wr.s not before r^ble to redeem them, let him
•* this Year take Pcfleflion of his Inheritance.
*' He that is become another Man's Slave, and

*' neither

^6 "Letteks IVrii l>y Vol IV,

" neither himfelf norhis Friends can redeem him,
** let him this Year bedifmifs'd, and fent Home
*' to the Family to which he belongs ; for hence-
** forth he is free by the Indulgence of the Lanxj.
" Let no Man fow the Ground, nor gather the
*' Fruits that grow of themfelves this Year : But
*' let the Earth, as well as its Inhabitants, enjoy
*• Liberty and Reft \ for this is the Year of Grace
*' and divine Bounty.

After this Manner was the Hebrenxj Jubilee pro-
daimed and obferved : And, they fay, from
hence arofe the Cujiom among the Ckrijlians, who,
in many Things, may be ftiled the Jeivs Apes.
But others iay. That the pre lent Roman Jubilee
is derived from the fecular Games, celebrated
by their Pagan Anceftors ; in Regr.rd, this was
renewed every hundred Years at firft, even as
thofe Games were. Whence it was, that the
Crjer, in thofe Days, at the IndiSiion of the fecu-
lar Games, faid, " Come to the Plays which no
" Man living has yet fcen, nor fhall ever fee
** again." For, Man's Life being generally fo
Ihort, they thought it improbable that zny Mor-
tal fhould live to fee this Solemnity repeated.

The Modern Jubilee was firft publifhed by
Boniface IX. Bijhop of Rome, in the Year 1 300 of
the Chrifian's Hegyra: At which Time, he pro-
mifed full and entire RemiJJion oi Sins to all who
fhould refort in Pilgrimage to Rome that Year. Af-
ter him it was celebrated every hundredth Year,
according to his Inflitution, 'till the Days of
Clement VI, who, at the Inftance of the Reman
Citizens, reduced it to every fiftieth Year. Then
Urban VI, another Pope, reduced it to the thirty-
third Year. And, lail of all Paul II, contrafted
the Interval to five and twenty Years: Which
Space of Time has been obferved by all his Suc-
ceffors to this Day,

If

Vo]. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris. 97

If thou wouldft know the Reafon why they
have thus alter 'd the Periods, it is for Profic. For,
in the Year of Jubilee, there is a valt Conflux
of People from all Parts of Europe ; who bring
a far greater Treafure into the Roman Coffers
than they carry away from that City. Though
the Pope, 'tis laid, is very liberal of that which
they call the Treafure of the Church : Which is
a ccrtaia Futid of Merits and fuper abundant
Graces, left by the MeJJiah and his Saints m
the Cuftody of this Prelate, to fupply the Lefeifls
and Infirmities of fmful Men : And they be-
lieve 'tis only in his Power to difpofe of this
heavenly Wealth to whom he pleafes. They talk
alfo of Indulgence and Pardons, whereby the holy
Father can redeem Men from all Sin, and the
Punifliments that are due to it ; And this won-
derful Prerogative, they fay, does not only be-
nefit the Living, but extends even to the Souls
departed ; whom the Pope, according to their
Perfuafion, can free from the Torments of Purga-
tory, and at bis Pleafure admit into the Gates of
Paradi/e.

We that are Mujfulmans cannot declaim againfi:
the DoOrine of Praying for the Dead, fince it
is praftifed by all the Faithful : Neither have we
Reafon to inveigh againft Indulgences, or Releafes
from Penance : But that the Power of granting
and difpenfing thefe Favours fhould be only re-
pofited in the Chrijlian Mufti, will not accord
with the Faith of a trut Believer . We know
who fwore by the Hooves of his fiuift and faith-
ful Elborach, which in one Night carry'd him a
Journey of fix Moons, that from thenceforth
the Key of Aaraf, or the Place of Prifons , was
committed to him. Doubtlefs the Omnipotent
■can transfer his Commiffions when, and to whosi
he pleafes. \i he once gave this Authority of
f remitting

98 "Letters Wrii hy Vol. IV.

remitting Sins to the Mejfftah, and Peter\a% Lieu-
tenant, does it follow that all Peter"?, Succeffors,
the Cailiffs of Rome, have retain'd this Pri'vilegef
There have been many good Men in that Seat,
and not a few nuicked; fome Prophets, and feme
Magicians ; a Catalogue interfpers'd with SaintSf
Martyrs, Butchers, and Deijils.

But 'tis evident they forfeited their Authority,
when they dedin'd from the Truth, from the un-
blameable Profeflion of the Divine Unity, and re-
filled the Mejfenger of Hea'ven, fent to corred
their Error?, reform their Vices, and reduce
Mankind to one Laiv of Purity and Light.

I write not partially, nor am I imbitter'd
againft the Patriarch of the Romans : He is a Man,
like others, fubjeft to the Will oi Dejiiny. The
Babylonian Cailiffs, and thofe of Egypt, fuccef-
fively enjoy'd the fame Power, tranfmitted to
them from the Prophet, who feal'd up all the for-
mer Z)//^f»/2i//ow; Yet in time, through their
Sins, they forfeited their Authority, together with
their Empire, when the bright Oftnans conquer'd
all Things. Then was the Propbetick Office tran-
flated to our Mufti, the Guide of thofc who pof-
fefs the Sefulckre oi Mahomet: To him all the
World ought to have Recourfe for Solution of their
Doubts, Dire3icn\n X.h.t\T Li'ves, Ahfolution ixQva.
their Sins, and for the Pa/sport of Immortality,
t'le Vefta requir'd of all that enter the Gxtes of
Puradife.

But all "Mortals are naturally tenacious of
whatfoever advances their Honour and Intereft.
Ki)!^s hug empty Titles that yield them no Profit.
And the Roman Bijhops are unwilling to acknow-
ledge themlelves divelled of the Privileges which
were cnce annex'd to that Chair of Peter : They
fhew the Keys, the Symbols of a Power which they
have loll. And the credulous Nazarenes believe

that

Vol. rV. a Spy af V ARIZ. 99

that Heaven and Hi?// are open'd and fhut at their
Pleafure. On the Eve of the MeJJiah\ Nati'vity^
the prefent Pope knock'd three ti?nes with a golden
Hammer at the Gates of the principal Mofque in
^fl«7^ ; which were then open'd, to fignify the
enfuing Year of Jubilee ; when the Chriflians
are perfuaded, that Heaven is open to all that
vifit Rome in this holy Time.

I wi(h thee a Life of many Jubilee}.

Paris, 9/>& of the 3^/ M70//,
o/" /^^ Tear 1650.

LETTER IV.

Ti? the Flower of High Dignity, ths
moji Magnificent Vizir Azem.

Vy H E N I firft heard the News of the Trow
* ' hies that have been at Conjiantinople, the
Depojition of Mahomet, the late F/x/r Azem, and
the Advancement of the Jani%ar-Aga to that Z)/^-
k;V)», I imagin'd it had been CaJJim Hali. But it
feems that brave old Soldier is elevated to a more
lofty Station: He has enter'd the immortalPoJj^eJJionSf
being tranflated to an high Seat : For I underftand
he has his Reft in Paradife. On that Hero be the
Mercies of the fupremely Indulgent ; whilft I turn
myfelf to thee, his late Succejfor in that military
Honour t but now the Lieutenant of the Shado-iv of
God. I touch the Earth thrice vvith my Forehead
when I falute thee. Great Prince of the Vizirs, in
Token of my Humility and Reverence ; and in
Remembrance of my Original : That I, who
am but the Produd of Duft, a raeie Worm, may
F 2 not

100 Letters IVrit by Vol. IV.

not commit an Indecency, when I addrefs to the
bright Image of our auguji Emperor, who is the
Type of the Sun.

In fpeaking of Perfons of thy imtnenfe Finuer^
I drive equally to Ihun Flattery and Difrefpeft ;
endeavouring to deport myfelf with an even
Coarfe between thofe two Extremes, as Mariners
fleer between Sylla and Carjbdis. Thefe are dan-
gerous Places in the Sicilian Seas.

All Europe celebrates thy Praifes, and extols
thy Juftice for releafing the Ambajfador of Venice f
imprifon'd in the i^th Moon of this' Year. They
fay, fince thy Aflumption to this important Tray?,
<he Ottoman Port is reform'd, and grown more
civiliz'd ; (for the Franks efteem all the FolloW'
ers of the Prophet, who could neither write nor
read, as Barbarians.)

Here is much Talk about the Defeat given to
our Forces in Hungary : The French fpare for no
Encomiums on the Ba£'a of Buda, who fought
■valiantly till his Legs were (hot cfF; and then
caub'd himfelf to be carry'd up and down through
the Army to encourage his Soldiers. Neither
do they diminifh the Glory that is due to his Son,
who received his Death in defending his Father,
at what Time the old Captain was taken Pri-
foner.

But they bkme the Conduft of him who be-
feg'd the Foit oi CliJJ'a, in regard he undertook
it in the wrong Seajcn of the Year : The Defeft
of a General'' i, Judgment, in fuch Cafes, is ma-
ny times fatal to an Army. The French are the
beft in the World at fpyir.g Advantages, and the
moft dextrous in making ufe of them. Moll
of their Campaigns are Ipent in their Trenches,
or in light Skirmilhes ; feldom hazaiding a B:;t-
tle, unlefs on fome unequal Terms to their own
Intereil j and then they never let flip the Oppor-
tunity

Vol. IV. a Spy ai Varis. ioi

tunity. This commends their Po/icy, but is no
great Argument of thsir Courage : tor true Va.'
lour never regards Dangers.

Adonai the Je^M fends me Word, that the Ve-
netians are put jin greit Hopes of accomoJaticg
their AfFairl with the tnyjlerious Divan, fince the
Releafe of their Bath : Yet both they and all
the Nazarenes refent highly the Strangling of^his
Interpreter.

They underftand not the Meafares of the /«^-
/ime Port, full of Wifdom and Jullice ; and that^
by the Terror of fuch Examples, the Minijhrs
of the Righteous Throne feek to prevent future
Wickednefs.

In thefe Wefiem Courts, a little Gold, or a great
Friend, fhall eafily palliate and procure a Pardon
for thtgreateji Crimes. Their Procejfes here aie
flow in the Execution of Juftice; being Stran-
gers to the impetuous Orders and fwJf: Perfor-
mance praftis'd in the Eaft. Befides, this Litei pre-
fer fported himfelf to Death by the Licentiouf-
nefs of his Tongue. He delighted to play upon
htujejiy, and with an infolent Licivioafnefs of
Speech, to deceive him whofe high, fubliinc, and
remote Intelled ufes no other Expreflions of hij
Wrath, but the Hands of his Mutes. It does not
become the Emperor of the World to be profufe in
Words, as the Chrijiian Princes are, who take
great Pams to fatisfy xhdr Fajpils of the Juftice of
their Proceeding''. They cannot condemn tbt
Wicked without a formal Procefs, wherein vari-
ous Wits fhevv their Skill in canvaffing theCaufe,
which, upon fmcere Evidence, may be decided ia
two Words. This is the ^lafqutrade of Chrijiian
Jujlice, a mere Trap for Gold, the Secret of the
Wejlern La'v.yers ; who enrich themfelves at the
Price of other Mens Folly, and to the Difgrace
of the Monarch who there pretends to command.
F 3 Should

102 Letters TVrit hy Vol. IV.

Should thofe Men of Laiv fee this Letter, and
know who wrote it, how would they not circum-
cife and flay the minuteft Dafhofmy Pen to find.
Arguments of Revenge againfta Mujfulman ?

All Men are full of themfelves and their own
Principles : And the Nazarenes of the Wejl are fo
brimming with them, that there is no Room left
for Inftruftion or Amendment. Like the Chinefe,
they boaft of their own Science and Wifdom, re-
puting all the reft of the World ignorant and blind.

They are fo narrow in their Tenets, fo dogma-
tical in their Decijlons, and fo conceited of all,
that it is difficult for a Man, who has convers'd in
a free Air, to frame himfelf to their Rules.

By what I have faid thou may'il determine,
that it is no eafy Task for an Arabian Native,
bred in the Seraglio, to conform himfelf adroit
to the Humours and FaOiions of France. Yet I"
curb all the natural Propenfions of my Birthy
Blood, and Education, as much as in me lies, that
I may ferve the Grand Seignior. I am incognito in
all Refpefls, favc thofe wherein I cannot be hid.
And I would change my Mafque a hundred
Times over, rather than fail cf my Ends.

What can I fay more to him who only values
a Slafve for his Deeds ?

I turn not my Back on thee, fublime Idea of
ahfclute Pciuer ; but, retiring after the moft re-
fpedtful Manner of the Eajl, I make a thoufand
Obeifances, till the -r^»/;/o/-/ has cover'd me from
thy illujlrious Prefence.

Paris, 1 -]th of the ^tb Mooftf
of the Year 1650.

LET^

Vol. r\^ «Spy^/ Paris. 103

LETTER V.

to Sedrec Al* Girawn, Chief Page
of the Treafury.

THOU wilt have Reafon to wonder at a
Man pretending Acquaintance with thee,
whom thou canll not remember to have feen.
'Tis from my Brother Pejlelibali, thy former
Majier, I received the News of thy late Prefer'
ment, who art thyfelf but early in Years ; yet no
Time is unfeafonable to a Man mature in Virtue
and Wifdom.

I knew thee an Infant in the Arms of thy
Mother, the Widow of an y/r«<^/rt«- Soldier, who
fcrved my Brother in the I^Vars of Perfia. There
appear'd then fuoh evident Symptoms of thy
future. Wit and Dexterity, as prompted thy Fa-
ther's Captain to take thee into his Proteftion and
Care ; and thy Mother by her Charms foon found
a Way to his Bofom.

I vi'rite not thefe Things to reproach thee
with the Meannefs of thy Birth'. Thy Merits
equal tlice with thofe who are born of Nobles. 1 1 is
not the Cuftom of the Eaji to prefer Men for their
Parentage, or becaufe they can fhew the eiujiy Sta-
tues of their Anceftors. This is the peculiar Over-
fight of the Infidels, to give that Honour to
Names, and Men of a noijy Defcent, whicu is only
due to Virtue. There Are Families in Rome in this
Day who boaft of their Pedigrees, and that they
fpring from the renowned Heroes that are re-
corded in the Hijiories of that Empire : But they
glory in their Shame, lince they are quite dege-
nerated from the brave polities which enno-
bled their Progenitors ; and by their fordjd A£ii-
F 4 ons

104 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

ons are become a daily Subjeft for the Dcfcants
of Pajquil. This is an Image in a certain publick
PJace in Rome, to which in the Night-time they
affix the Libels which they dare not own : A kind
of dumb Satyr on the Vices of the Grandees, not
fparing even the chief Mufti of the Chrijiians, if
he is guilty of any Follies which merit to come
within the \'^erge of a Lampoon.

It is no contemptible Jell which was in this
Manner put upon the prefent Pope, and one of
his Nephe^^^s, at the latter End of the laft Year.
It feenis the good old Father had advanced this
Spark from a poor ignorant Taylor to the Dignity
of a Reman Baron ; bellowing on him Offices
which brought him a Re--jenue fufficient to main-
tain his Title and Port. All the ancient Nobility
were difgulled at this j and fome arch Wag was
fet at work to ridicule the Pope's Condudl, and
the new Baron'' i Honour. Wherefore on the
Day which the Nazarenes celebrate with great
Solemnity, for the Birth- Day of yefus the Son of
Mary, early in the Morning the 'fore mentioned
Image, Pafquil, was obferv'd to be apparell'd all
in Rags, and a very nally Habit, with a Sckidule
of Paper Ln his Hand, wherein was writ, H(no
Koiv, Palquil j ivhat ! all in Rags on a Chriftmas'
Day? (for fo they call the iV^//i;//)' of their Mef-
fias ) And underneath was inscribed this Anfwer :
Alas, I cannot help it; for my TAYLOR is
becc/ne a LORD.

Yet notwithftanding the Obfcurity of this Man's
Birth, and the Meannefs of his former Trade, he
became an eminent .S/fl/f/OTi2H after the Pope had
exalted him to that Dignity ; and lived with an
unblemift'd Reputation, whilft he faw all, or
moll of the ancient i\^:;^i//V)' pafquill'd every Day
for their effeminate Vices.

By

Vol. IV. a Spy al Paris. 105

By what I have faid thou may'ft be affured,
that I have not the lefs Elteem for thee, becaufe
thou waft not the Son of a BaJ/a ; fince, had thy
Father liv'd, his Fortune and Courage might have
promoted him to that Honour, or a Command
equal to it ; and thou thyfelf art in a fair Way to
fupply fome future Vacancy in thofe great Charges
of the Empire.

I have no News at prefent to fend thee, fave
that the three French Princes, of whofe Impri-
fonment I gave an Account to Minezim Alouphy
are remov'd by Cardinal Mazarini% Order from
the Cafile of Vinciennes, to a Sea Tcnun call'd
Havre de Grace, for fear they fhould be refcued
by Marjhal Turenne, who is much devoted to their
Intereft. The Princefs of Conde is retired to
Bourdeaux, a City at this time in Arms againft
the King, having alfo with her the young Duke
of Enguein her Son.

The Marjhal de la Meilleray is gone with his
Army to befiege this Place > and 'tis faid, the
King will foon follow with the whole Court. All
Things feem to portend another Relapfe of this
State into the old Diforders.

But this is not of fo near a Concern to us that
are Mujfiilmam, as the Quarrels that I hear are
broach'd between the Janizaries and Spahi''s.
They fay, the whole Ottoman Empire is warp'd
this Way and that Way into contrary Faftions ;
and that the Seraglio itfelf is full of diiferenC
Cabals, on the Account of thefe Military Orders.
It afflifts me with extreme Grief to receive no-
thing but fad News from the Port, ' iiich is, or
at leaft ought to be, a Fountain of Joy to the
ivhole Earth. I pray Heavemvert the Omen f for
it looks with an ill Prefage, when the CL^mpions of
the divine Unity are thus divided againlt them-
felves.

F s If

io6 Letters /STr// /^y Vol. IV.

If thou wilt take my Advice, enter not thy"
felfinto the Secret of either Party ; but, pofing
thy AfFedions with Prudence, ftand Neuter to
all Things but the Grand Seigtiior's Intereft. In
that be as zealous as thou canft. As for the reft,
wait the Decrees of Dejiinj.

Paris, zqthofthe <^th Moottt
of the Tear 1650.

LETTER VI.

^0 the Kaimacham.

GFapluI Ehen Zhahefjhnh the Arabian
Philofcfher has faid it, and every Man's Ex-
perience confirms it. That no human Care can pre-
vent the Accompliniment of what Heaven has de'
creed. There nre certain Moments of our Lives
wherein Fate delights to mock our Wit and Pru-
dence, to baffle our ftrifleft Caution, and to ridi-
cule all cur Condud, that we may learn the Lcffcn
ci MeJignation,zr[6.riOt. trull too much to ourfelvef.
When I firft faluted the Light of this Morn-
ing Sun, my Spirits were ferene and joyful : No
melancholy Dreams had left their black Impref-
fions on my Mind, no faddening Thoughts poffef-
fed my Soul ; I awak'd chearful and fprightly as
the Lark. After I ador'd the Omnipotent, and
performed my accuftom'd Holy Things, I began
to refleft on my own Happinefs ; in that I had
fo many Years ferved the fuhlime Tort in this
Station, full of Difficulties and Perils, yet by no
Misfortune had ever betray'd the leaft Secret of
my CommiJJion. It pleas'd me to thinlc I ftill

pafs'd

Vol. rV. a Spy ai Faris. 107

pafs'd for Titus of Moldavia among the French^
who are the moft apprehenfive People in the
World ; and even in the Opinion of Cardinal
Mazarini, who, like Janus, has more Eyes than
two. lembrac'd myfelf (if J may fo fpeak) in
the Conceit of my good Succefs ; concluding I
was born wvAtt fortunate Starst and that no Dif-
after could ever hurt me.

But I took wrong iMeafures of the Ways of
Dejiiny, which are as untraceable as the Mines :
For before Mid-day my Sun was cclipfed; the Air
of my Soul ruffl'd with Storms, and all my Joy
turn'd to Mourning and Sadnefs.

Wilt thou know the Occalion of my Grief? It
was this. In the Year 1645, according to the
Style of the Nazarenes, I receiv'd fome particular
Inilrudions from t\i& then Vizir Jzem, putting
me in Mind of the Hazards I run in this Poft,
and giving me ftridl Charge to beitow all my
Letters in a fecure Place, whether the Tranfcripts
of thofe I write to the Minijiers cf the Port (for
I always retained a Copy'of the Original) or the
Difpatches I receive from thence.

'i hat Minijicr was afraid, left I might fome
Time or other be difcovcr'd ; and confequently
that my Chamber would be fearch'd. Therefore,
obeying his Hint, I immediately carry'd all my
Writings to Eliacbim the Jeiu; knowing his
Hoiife to be free from any Jealoufy of the StatZi
and that the moft important Secrets in the World
might be there an Age unreveal'd.

The Letters of my writing v.ere inclofed in
one Box, and thofe which I receiv'd from the
invincible Poit in another. And this was my-
conftant Cuftom from that Time ; as oft as I writ
to the Minijiers of the Divan, or had perU'>'d the
Difpatches which came from them, I difpofcd of
both in proper places, leaving all to the Care of
BdiOfhim.. F 6 But

io8 Letters JVrit by Vol. IV

But neither his Caution nor mine were faffi-
'cient to prevent the Refohis of Heaven : It was
determined ab)ve that we fhould lofe fome of
thefe Papers. Eliachim came to me To-day, before
the Hour of UIana?>iiJi, all in Paffion, aftonifhed,
raving and Ilaring like a mad Man. As foon
as he enter'd my Chamber he tore his inner Veft,
which was of Crimfon Silk, fring'd round with
Gold, and cry'd, IFe are undone, betrayed, and
ruined.

I prefently thought of my Writings ; and aflc'd
him whether they were fafe. In a Word, he
told me he had loll the Box, which contain'd the
Letters fent from the Miniflers at the Port to me,
and that his Slave a Negro, whom he kept in his
Houfe, was miffing. Thou may'il imagine, fage
Minificr, That this News put me into no fmall
Confufion. I prefently fufpeded that this ^^illain
of a Negro had got the Writings, and was gone to
Cardinal Mazarini with 'em : But then recol-
ledling with cooler Thoughts, that this African
underllcod not Arahick, in which Language ?\oTLt
Eliachim and I us'd to converfe ; and that confe-
quentiy he never could know our Affairs, or read
the Lettersy which might tempt him to fuch a
Trea/cn, I was at lofs what tx) think of it : Nei-
ther am I better fatisfy'd now, though I have ru-
minated on it thefe twelve Hours : Only I think,
if Cardinal Alazarini has thefe Papers in his
Cuftody, he would have given Orders before this
Time to feize the fuppofed Titus of Moldavia j
for fomc of thefe Letters take Notice of my
having ?ffiimed that Name : But I cannot per-
ceive any Attempt that has been made in that kind^
or that any body has been to enquire for me at my
Lodging ; for 1 fet Spies to obferve, as foon as I
depa^rted thence with Eliachim, v/hich was about
Noon. We are now together in a Friend's Houfe,

V/here

Vol. rV. flSpy^/ Paris. 109

where we fhall continue 'till we hear farther of
this Event. As yet we are in the Dark, and full
of Fears ; but Time, which brings all Things to
Light, will convince us what we have to truft to.

In the mean while there is little News, fave a
Difcourfe of a certain Convention at Noremhergh,
and the great "Jubilee which is celebrated at Rome,
where they fay, the Chrijllans chief Mufti, th«
Week before their Beriam, or Eafer, wafh'd the
Feet of twelve Pilgrims ; and that Cardinal Lw
donjifio cntertain'd nine Thoufand of thefe DenjO'
tees at once with a very magnificent Feaft. They
fay alfo, that the Pope will get this Year two
Millions of Z^^«/» J, by the Refort oi Pilgrims to
that City.

The King of Denmark^ Refident at this Court
has received a Letter, which certifies him that
his Mafter has declar'd Prince Chrijiian his Son
Succeffor in the Throne,

1'hey talk alfo of a Marriage lately folemnized
between Charles a German Count and Charlotte f
Sifter to the Landgrave of HeJJg- Cajfel.

But that which moll takes up IVlens Ears, and
employs their Tongues and Thoughts, are the Ci-
vilfVars of this Kingdom ; which is all in a Flame,
by Occafion of the Imprifonment of the Prince of
Conde, dnd his Brothers. The Citizens oi Paris
are very jocund, attherepeatedNews ofthe King's
ill Succefs ; for they \vi(h not well to his Arms,
whilll employed againft the Mal-contents.

Illuflrious old Grandee, I wifh thee the Years
of Ncjior, and thofe calculated by Full Moons of
Projferity. But I pray Heaven avert from thee
fome of his Moments, wherein they fay he was
tormented with the Gout, as I am at this Inltant :
It is a Pain hardly to be f»pported.

Paris,, n th of the 6th Moon,

»f the Tear 1650, LET*

110 Letters IVrithy Vol. IV.
LETTER VII.

To the fame.

BY the Go D whom I adore, and by YAiShadovi',
I fwear there is no Difloyalty in Mahmut,
yet his Life is full of Temptations and Perils.
The Box of Letters, I mentioned in my laft, is
irrecoverably gone, and laid up in the Bowels
of the Earth, if we may believe the Confeflicn of
a Man ; every Angle of whofe Heart has been
fearched with exquifite Torments, even to Death.
EUachinti Slave, the Negro whom I fpoke of,
miftook that Box for one very like it, out of
which he has often feen his Majler take Je-ivels j
for this is the particular Merchandize of that
Jeiu : And the Weight of each was not fo une-
qual as to reftify his Error. Lucre tempted him,
and the Defire of Liberty j whilft the Darknefs
(for he committed the Villany before Sun-Rifing)
and his own guilty Fears, confpired to baffle his
intended Theft. The Boxes ftood together (fo?
careful was EUachim of the fublime Secrets., as notT
to%'tnture 'em in a Place lefs fecure than that cf
his yeivels) and the Villain, hafty to be gone, and
confounded for Want of Light, took up that,
wherein were the Writings, inllead of his defigned
Prey, the Jenuels. He went direflly into the
Fields, purpofing to bury this fuppofed Treafure
in the Earth, in fome private Place where he
might take it forth at Difcretion ; But firft open-
ing the Box, to fupply himfelf with fuch Stcnes as
he thought would be unqueftionable Pawns for
Money, to anfwer his prefent Neceffities, that.
fo he might the better provide for his Conceal-
ment;.

Vol. IV. «Spy^/ Paris. hi

ment ; he was aftonifhed, and his Heart became
like Lead, when he found nothing but Papers
full ofCharaders, to which he was wholly a
Stranger. A thoufand Refolutions prefented
themlelves to him in that Agony of his Mind,
and he knew not what to fix on. Sometimes he
thought to carry the Box back again as he found
it ; and fince his Defign had been thus ftrangely
baulk'd, tocontent himfelf 'till another Opportu-
nity. But then he confider'd it was too late to
return before his Matter would mifs both his Slave
and Box ; for the Sun was now far advanced in
our Hemifphere, and Eliachim is an early Rifer.
In a Word, therefore, he thought it the fafeft
Way to bury it in the Ground, as he firft intend-
ed, had it been the Box of yrouf A, and fo (hift
forhimfelf. Propofing to himfelf this AdvAntage
in hiding the Papers in a fecure Place, that, if
they were of Value, he might at any Time make
Compofition with his Majier, by difcovering
where they were.

All that 1 have here related is drawn from his
own Mouth, in the Midft of Tortures. For Eliu'
chivi foon heard of his fugitive Ni^ro, who was
-feizcd on the Road to Lyons by fome Correfpon-
dents of this ye^. Who, having Intelligence of
it, took Horfe immediately, and went to the
Place. He did not think it fafe to make a publick
Bufinefs of it, or to arraign him before the ap-
pointed Judges of the Country ; but, relying on
the Jufiice of his Canfe, and the Right of a A/<a-
Jier,he privately put him toTortures of diversKinds,
in a Houfe where he could command any Thing.

The flout African at firlt deny'd that he had
meddled with any Box, faying, he efcaped purely
for the Sake of Liberty. But when a SucceiTion
of divers Torments had quite overthrown his Corir-
Uancy, ha confeffed all that J have already related.

Lliachim

112 Letters Writ by Vol. IV.

Eliachim ftill fufpeAing worfe, and that he only
fram'd this as a plaufible Story, to be freed from
or at leaft to refpite the Pains he fuffered, caus'd
fliarp Thorns to be thruft under the Nails of his
Fingers and Toes ; believing that the Extremity
of fo fenfible a Pain would extort the true Secret
from him. But he could get nothing elfe from
the poor excruciated Negro, though now almoft
ready to expire, than that he had hid the Box un-
der Ground in a certain Corner of a Field out of
the City, to which he knew not how to diredl
Eliachim, but promis'd to fhew it him if he
would carry him alive to Paris.

This was no hard Tafk to perform in the Opi-
nion of the Je^ ', it being but a Day's Journey
tothi? City from the Place where they then were.
But he was deceived in his Hopes; and now all
the Applications and Cordials, they could ufe,
came too late; for that very Night the Negro
breath'dout his Soul.

However, when Eliachim came to Paris, he
foUow'dthe Direftionsofhis dead Slate, as well
as he could, in fearching every Corner of the
Fields on that Side of the City where this Blaci
had been feen to go out. But all to no Purpofe.
Ke cou'd find nothing ; nor have we any HopC3
ever to fee that Box again. Yet I have many
Qualms of Fear, left feme time or other it fhould
come to Light, to our Difadvantage and Ruin.

I defire thy Inftruftions, fage Gyvt7fior of the
Capital City, how I {hall deport myfclf if it be
my Lot to be difcover'd. As* to the remaining
Box, which has in it the Tranfcripts of my own
Difpatches, I have taken it home to my Lodging,
believing it will be a'^^ fafe here as in the Houfe of
Eliachim ; fince that faithful Jen-v is no more ex-
empted from Contingencies tlian myfelf : And I
have no Servant to betray me.

Tim

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^2/ Paris. 113

This Kingdom abounds at prefent in Treafons
and Rebellions, 1 he French (pitc not to maflacre
one another for the fake of a Paffion : While the
Spaniards make their Advantages of thefe intef-
tine Feuds ; for, under Pretence of affifting the
Princes of the Blood, they get Footing in Ficardj^
from whence it will not be eafy to expel them.
Leopold, Arch-duke of Aufiria, is at the Head of
the Spanijh Army, and has taken feveral Towns
belonging to the French King.

When the parrels of thefe Infidels will end
I am not follicitous ; my Thoughts being ever
taken up in the Service which I owe to the Em^
pire of true Belie'vers.

I cannot bid thee adieu, illuflrious Kaimacham,
'till I have affur'dthee I am macerated with Zeal
for the Grand Seignior.

Paris, z^d of the qth Moon,
of the Year 1650.

LETTER VIII.

^0 Solyman Knflir ^Aga, Prince of
the Black Eunuchs,

AFter I had perus'd thy Difpatch, wherewith
thou haft honour'd thy Sla've Mahmut ; and
I was full of Joy for the continued Demonftrati-
ons of thy Friendfhip and Protedlion ; fo my Breaft
conceived an Indignation at the Affront which
has been offer'd to the fublime Port by the Cham
of the Tartars, in prefuming to demand the Tute-
lage of our auguft Emperor, it is an Indignity to
the Minifen offupreme Jufticezxiii Honour y Lights

of

ri4 Letters JVrit hy Vol. IV.

of the Imperial Di'van, to whom is committed
the Cognizance of all human Events ; the illuftri-
ous Viziers, who manage the Affairs of the migh-
ty and invifible Sultan Mahomet, whofe Throne
may God fortify, 'till the Moon ihall no more
appear in the Hewvens.

Thofe People have been ever thirfty of Rule,
and 'tis number'd among the Virtues of their
Anceftors, that they enlarged their Dominions by
the keen Edge of their Swords. But, in all the
Regijiers and Archinies of the Empire, it has not
been found, that any of that Nation challenged a
Right to govern our Sultans, though during their
Minority. It is fufficient, that they fhall have
the Honour (according to the ancient Capitalati-
ons) to fucceed in the Throne of the Ofman Prin-
ces, if ever that /acred Line fhould be extinft r
WhichGoD avert, 'till the final Confummation.

It is a Wonder they demanded not alfo his
J?(7)'fl/ Brothers, the other Sons o^ Sultan Ibra-
him; that fo they might, atone Blow, cut off
the whole Ofman Race, and take PuJfeJJion of the
vacant Throne.

I have not heard any Thing thefe many Moons.
what i^s become of thole high-born Infants ; whe-
ther they are alive, or facrificed to the Jealoufy*
of the Sultan, as has been the Cuflom. Here are
various flying Reports concerning them. Some
fay that thou haft conveyed away Sultan Achmet,
and that he is privately educated in the Houfe of
a certain Georgian. The Blefling oi Mahomet be
upon thee, and refrefli thy Heart, if thou haft
taken this Care to preferve the Life of an Ofman
Prince, which is more precious than ^a hundred
thoufand o^ common Birth.

As ior So lyman, and the reft of th^Lt fublime
Race, the French gave 'em over for loft ; and I can-
DOt contradia 'em for.Want of true Intelligence.

Befides,

Vol. IV. aSPY alPARis. 115.

Befides, I have Reafon to fear it is too true, in
regard it has been the cruel Pradice of all, or
moft of our late Emperors, either to flaughter
their Brethren as foon as they afccnded the
Throne, or to put *em to a more lingering Death
and Martyrdom in a Prifon.

'Tis true, indeed, our prefent Sovereign is not
yet arrived to thofe Years wherein Children com-
monly lofe their native Innocence. I believe he
fufpeds none of his Brethren, nor harbours any
unkind Thoughts againft their Lives. Yet Cru-
elty may be infinuated into his tender Years by
the Artifices of his Mother ; efpecially againft
thofe of his Father's Blood, that did not alfo par-
take of her's. For, Sultan Ibrahim, thou know-
eft, had Children by other Women befides the-
Sultana-Valede.

The Maltefe think they have one of thefe Royal
Infants in their Poffeffion : Thou knoweft the
whole Story of thy PredecrJJor''s Voyage toward
Egypt, with his beautiful Sla've and her Son,
whom thefe hfJeh honour as the Off-fpring of
the Grand Seignior. Thou art not ignorant, alfo,
that this hfant, with his Mother, were banifhed
cut of Jealoufy, by the Order oi her who bore
in her Womb Sultan Mahomet, cur glorious So-
vereign. The Remembrance of which makes
me tremble for the Sake of the young Prince, if
there be any yet remaining alive. It is in thy
Power to certify me, and, in doing fo, thou wilt
rid me of much Anxiety..

1 am but a Slave of the Slaves who ferve the
Grand Seignior ; and it is not decent for me to de-
fcanton the Aftions oi out moil abfn lute Monarch,
whofe Will is not to be controul'd : But I am ftill
a Man, and have fome Share of Humanity and
Reafon. Thou alfo art my particular Friend,
and wilt permit me to difcourfc with Freedom.

Was.

ii6 Letters TVrit hy Vol. IV.

Was it not a blooJy Feaji, to which our King's
Great Grandfather iV/fli'c>7/;f/ III. invited nineteen
of his Brethren en the Day of liis Inauguration ?
Was it not a cruel Ad., to caufe thofe Rsyal
Guejij, in whofe Veins ran the BJocd of his (nvn
Father, to be ftrangled before they departed from
his Table ? No lefs inhump.n was it oi Makotnet,
the late Vizir A%em, to guide the Hand of this
our prefent Sovereign, v/hen but fix Years old, and
incapable of knowing what he did, to fign a War-
rant for the Execution of his Father. Well may
the Nazarenes call us Barbarians, when they con-
template the Empire of the MuJfulmanSy fup-
ported by fuch unnatural Methods.

Thou, that haft the fuperlative Honour of be-
ing the immediate Guardian of our young Etnpe',
ror, wilt pardon the Liberty I take. Alcribeall
to the Force of my Zeal and Lpyalty. Thou art
valiant and wife- Proteil thy Charge as the Cry-
_/?fl/ of thine Eyes, which thou wilt not fufFer to
be hurt by the Duft of the Streets.

Paris, \/^th of the \cth Mcon^
of the Year 1650.

LETTER IX.

'to Dgnet Oglou.

NOtwithftandingallmy Philofophy, I have not
Command enough of my Paflion, to con-
ceal it from thee, who haft always been the Par-
taker of my unequal Fortunes. Whatever Mag-
nanimity of Spirit I pretended to formerly in my
Sicknefs, 'tis at prefent overcome by the Defire of

Eafe

Vol. IV. <2 Spy rt/ Paris. 117

Eafe. At that time, I remember, fome Stoical
Confiderations made me induftrioufly hide from,
thee the tormenting Pains I felt. I endeavoured
todifguifemy Sufferings, and to paint my Mifery
in fuch Colours, that it could hardly be di-
ftinguilhed from Happinefs. But now I have not
Courage enough to hide from thee my Fears and
Apprehenfions : j^nd all Setieca\ Morals are too
little to hinder me from complaining of the Un-
certainty that we daily experience in human Af-
fairs, This is a Theme (o popular, that, were not
particular Misfortunes very preffing, 'twould
make me fick to fay any thing on a Subjeft, that^
has been in every Man's Mouth fmce the Time
that our frji Father appear'd among the Trees.
Therefore thou may'ft be afTured, I am not going
about to make a Declamation, or play the Orator i
to expatiate and make large Defcants on the In-
fiability of all Things. What I have to fay re-
fers to myfelf, and no Body elfe, fave to thofc
who are the Occafion of my Melancholy.

In the loth Moon of the lalt Year, I fent a
Letter to Kenan BaJJa, the new Hafnadar Bajy.
I have a Copy of it by n;e, as I always retain of
whatever Difpatches I fend to the fublime Port,
whether to the public k Minijiers, or my private
Friends.

I haveperus'd this Zf//^r feveral Times within
thefe eight and furty Hours, and can find no
jull Ground of Offence, which that Grandee cou'd
take thereat ; unlefs he was angry with me for
defiring him to be careful in tranfmitting my
Money. As for the Reft, I only obey'd the par-
ticular InftruAions I received from Mahomet the
late Vizir A%em ; who commanded me not to
fpare the greateft Minijler of the Port. If I had
Reafon either to counfel, or to reprehend him : For
faid hi in his Letter, " To this End art thou pUc'd

" at

Ii8 Letters Writ by Vol. IV.

*' at fuch aDiftance, that, befidcs the Service thou
*' doft our Smrreign in difclofing the Secrets of
*' the Infideh, thou may'il alfo be free to write
*' whatever thou thinkell wilt conduce to his Inte-
** reft, without ftanding in fe:ir of the Revenge of
*' th. Grandees." Thefe were the very Words of
of the prime MiniJIer of the Ottoman Empire.

Now I only told him of feme Mifcarriages in
his Fredecejfors, warning him to be wary in his
Station. Either he was offended at this Freedom
I took, or becaufe I prefum'd to advife him how
to order my Bills. Be it which it wil', I have a
feverc Reprimand from the Reis EJ'endi, whom
I have the greateft Reafon in the World to efteem
my Friend.

It would never have vexed me, had he wrote
• plainly, and not difguifed his Sentiments. But
all was obfcure, faving one bluni Expreflion,
which convinced me. That the real Ground of
all this Anger was my Letter to Kenan, wherein
I defired his Care as to my Money.

Can that Minifter blame me for being appre-
henfive of Want in a foreign Country, a Re-
gion of Ltfdeli, where I have no other Commerce
but with Courtiers and Strangers, where, if I
fhould be in the leaft fufpeded, they would pre*
fently put me in Prilbn, which would hazard a
.Difcovery of the fuhlime Secrets F Does he not
Icnow that Money commands all Things ; and that
the greateft Potentates obey the Power of Gold ?
It cannot be imagin'd, but that a Man in my
Po^ has a thoufand preffmg Occafions for Hlonej ;
which 'tis troublefcme to exprefs ; and I have
had very wrong Notions of my Employment,
if I deferve, on this Account, to be reproved
and threaten'd with fuch politick Circumlocuti-
ons : For the ^S^trf/ar); charges me with Unwil-
lingnefs to continue in the Service of the Ever-

happy

Vol. IV. a Spv at Pari^. u^

happy Tort \ as if he thought my Fidelity were
corrupted, or that I had an Inclination to the
Nazarene Intereft.

I tell thee, my Dgnet, Perfidy I ever abhorr'd^
This appears to me the moft terrible and odious
of all Vices ; I could bear the Guilt and Re-
proach of a great many Crimes, which have lefs
of Malice in their Conftitution. I am not afham-
ed of many venial Frailties which I daily com-
mit, though the Laiu is fevere againll them.
But cou'd any Man accufe rae of wilful Treache-
ry and Ingratitude, I wou'd pray inllantly. That
the Luminaries of Heaven might be extinguifh'd,
and that no terrene Subjiance might henceforth
have in it the lead potential Light ; that fo I
might neither be capable of feeing myfelf, or of
being exposed to the Eyes of others : And, the
better to efcape the Confufion which would at-
tend that horrid Guilt, 1 would not only avoid
human Society, but, if it were poflible, would run
away from myfelf.

After all this, methinks fuch a Temper need
not be fufpefled, as averfe from the Intereft to
which he has fo folemnly fworn.

I wou'd not have troubled thee with the News
of any other Affliftion ; but to be fufpedled of
what I never was guilty of, and to be menac'd in
dark myfterious Terms, not by an Enemy, but
by my Friend, and one who has in his keeping
the immortal Records of my Xeal and Integrity ;
this cuts me to the Heart : And I had no other
way to eafe myfelf, but by venting my Anguilh
to thee.

If any of the Minijien will charge me with
Weaknefs, or Want of Ability to aft in this Stati-
on, 1 fhould have no Reafon to repine } fince none
of them can think fo meanly oi Mahmuty as he
does of himfelf. I boaft of nothing, but a Loyalty

to

120 Letters /Fr/V ^ Vol IV,.

to my TrufV, incapable of being corrupt-
ed.

But I forget that I am a MuJ'ulman, and there-
fore ought to be refign'd to the PFUl of Heaven
in all lliings, without Complaint or Murmur,
£efides,I am infinitely obliged, in many Regards,
to the Reis Ejendi ; and therefore he may be
allow'd to take his own Advantages. Perhaps his
Reproofs may be juft, and''tis my own Peevifh-
nefs that hinders me from difcerning it. Howe-
ver, I could wifh he would henceforth exprefs
his Refentments with lefs Obfcurity, and not
give me Grounds to apprehend the Lofs of his
I'riendlhip.

For, where I once love, I hate a Change.
And, if thcu beeft of the fame Mind, we two
fhall continue oftr Frwidjhip to the other Side of
the Grave.

Paris, 30/'?' of the i \th iSfloon,
of the Year 1 650.

LETTER X.

^othe Reis Effendi, Principal Secretary
of the Ottoman Empire.

IF thou wilt permit me to learn fomething from
Husbandmen, they fay, 'tis not profitable to
plow the Fields, whofe barren Glebe brings forth
nothing but Briars and Thorns. Such are the
Grounds of Pafllon and Anger among Friends :
Let 'cm lie fallow for ever. Perhaps thou wilt
call it Prefumption in me, to challenge fuch a Re-
lation between us : Or, if thou owneil the Title

of

Vol. TV. a Spy at Fa r'i s. 121

■of a Friend, thou wilt claim a Right to reprove
me. Be it how it will, Reproofs make the bell
Impreffion when they are given with Mildnefs
and Moderation ; efpecially, they ought not to
be founded on a Miftake, or falfe Apprehenfion.
For they appear like Arrows difcharg'd in the
Dark, which, being fliot at random, may, hy
giving an undeferved Wound, make an Enemy
of a Friend, or atleaft render a Friend fufpeded
to be an Enemy.

But I tell thee, I will not blow up the Embers
of a Fire, whofe Flame is extinguifli'd long ago,
and whereof, by this Time, I hope there remains
not the leaft Smoak. I never love to add Fuel
tofiiich Cafes -. Othcrwife, had I retum'dan An-
fwer to thy Angry Letter in the Heat of my Re-
fentments, I might have play'd the Incendiary:
For I had both Matter enough, and Paffion fuf-
ficient to ventilate the already kindled Sparks.
And, of this I know thou art fenfible.

Well ; to make the beft Conftruftion of it :
The Hafnadnr-BaJJy was affronted, I believe, at
the Freedom I took in advifing him, not know-
ing that I had pofitive Orders to do fo, even to
the/r/? Minijler of State y if I faw Occafion. And,
to vent his Choler, he mifreprefented the Biifi-
nefs to thee, hoping by thy Means to awe me in-
to a fawning Acknowledgment of my fuppofed
Crime. If this was thy Intention in writing that
fharp Letter, I fmile at his Millake, but am for-
ry for thine, becaufe I efteem thee my Friend.
''Twas but an Overfight in you both j and fo let
itpafs.

Thy Friendfhip I court, and refufe not his, nor
that of any Oficer of the Seraglio. I honour all
the Bajfa's and MiviJIers of the Imperial Port : I
fliew to every one the Refpeft that is due to his
i^ality : But I am commanded to write with
G Freedom

-122 Letters PFrit hy Vol. IV.

Freedom to all, and not to fpeak, as if I had the
bearded Head of a Barley Stalk on my Tongue,
which is apt to flip down a Man's Throat, and
threatens to choak him that fpeaks vvhilft it is in
his Mouth. This Charge I firft receiv'd from the
late Vizir A%em Mahomet, and it has been fince
renew'd with frelh Inftrudlions from others of
great Authority. They all tell me with much
Affurance, that one chief End of my being placed
here is, that being out of the Limits of the Ot-
toman Empire, yet holding a conflant Intelligence,
I may freely, and without Fear, reprove the
Vices, and encourage the Virtues of the greateft
Gcvernors and Princes among the MuJJulmans.
Nay, I am threatened with Punifliment, and the
Sultan's Difpleafure, if I negledl any Opportu-
nity of this Nature, or appear partial and timo-
rous in my Reprehenfions.

For it feems this is judged the moft ready
and efFedlual Method to reform the Corruptions
that are crept into Court, Camp, and City ; iince
every Man is obliged to communicate the Letters
which he receives from me : And they are all
regijlred by thy Care : Whereby the Grandees are
compeird, either to live within the Limits of
Juflice and their Duty, or elfe to be the Difco-
verers of their own Faults j which will unavoid-
ably bring them into Difgrace, if not the Lofs
of their Liberty and Lives ; or at leaft put them
to the Expence of coftly Prefents to make their
Attonement. And thou knoweft feme Men would
almoft as willingly part with their Lives as their
Money, which is their God.

After all this, I hope thou wilt not be difpleaf-
ed if I periorm my Duty. It is not forme to be
frighted with Menaces, or foftened with Bribes.
My Integrity is Proof againft the Pride of the
4Hie, and falenefs of the other. Yet I have great

Elteem

Vol. IV. a Spy af "Parts, i2J

Efteem for the Trca/urer and thee, with other
Miniflers who are my Friends. I could, to ferve
fuch, freely hazard my Liberty, Fortune, and
any Thing but my Honour, which I value at a
far higher Rate than my Life,

Thou may'ft regijier it for a Truth, That an
Englip JmbaJJTador w^i in the 6th Moon of this
Year murder'd by Villains in his Chamber at
Madrid, the Capital City of Spain. There has
been alio a great Battle fought in Scotland, be-
tween the Army of that 'Nation, who maintain
their King's Intereft, and the Forces of the new
Englijh Common-iuealth ; wherein the latter ob-
tain'd a fignal Viftory, having kill'd three thou-
fand on the Spot, taken nine thoufand Prifoners,
fifteen thoufand Arms, two hundred Enfigns, and
all their Cannon and Baggage. Thefe are prof-
perous Beginnings of that Republick, and redound
much to the Honour of the Englijh General Oli-
vjer, whom every body extols for a gallant Man.
And I can affure thee the Wejlern Nations are
not barren of Heroes.

Principal Scribe of the Mujfulmans, I wi(h thy
Heart may be a Tranfcript of the beji Copies,

Paris, \J} of the \zth Moon^
of the Tear 1650.

G 2 LET-

J 24 Lii T T E R s Writ hy Vol. IV.

LETTER XI.

21? Solyman Aga, Principal Chamber-
. lain of the PFomens Apartments in the
Seraglio.

THESE Tartars, of whom I fpoke to thee
in my lafl, are a ftrange fort of People in
their Manner of Life. But we mufl not cenfure
'em, becaufe we are of Kin. I fpeak not of my-
felf ; for though I am an Jrab, yet the greateft
Part of thofc, who ferve in the Armies of the
Grand Seignior, are defcended from the Crims, I
mean the Spahis and Timariots. Thou know'ft
the Originals of the Military Orders, and that they
are more honourable than the Janixaries j who,
being Strangers by Blood, are brought up to die
Lure of the Sei-aglio. They know neither Father
nor Mother ( I fpcak to the Tributary Youths)
nor have they any partial Fondnefs for their Ka-
tive Country. 1 hey are educated in a perfefl Re-
iignation to the Grand Seignior, and his chief Mi-
mjiers ; yet often difobey both, and not feldom put
"•em in Hazard of their Lives. How many Vizirt
have been facrihced to a cunning J anixar-Jga ;
who, to prevent his own Ruin, has tempted thofe
under his Command to mutiny, and accept of no
Atonement for their pretended Grievances, lefs
than the Life of the /^y? Deputy? The rigid Fate
oi Sultan Ofman, Uncle to ourprefent So^'ereign,
wiU not be forgot by thofe who love the Ottoman
family htttti tlian thefe baft or d Hcdiors. Shal 1 the
Empire of true Belienjers be ruin'd by the Rene-
gades? Belides, their Z)(/2-//'/rM(f is extremely cor-
rupted ; they marry, and follow MechanicKYxzAt^^
lepuguant to the Aiiilere Manners of the primi-

iiv*

Vol. IV. a Spy «/ Parts. 125

iive Guards, who are wholly attentive to Mar-
tial Exercifes.

Were this to come to the Hands of a Janizary-f
he would curfe me to the Pains which have nei-
ther Medium nor End. Yet I had once a Friend
of tliac Order, CaJJimHali , the chief Aga, a brave
Man, and of the fame Sentiments as myfelf:
He fought to reform that diforderly Militia, but
was oppos'd by the wife Men in Power. He wou'd
freely have facrificed his own Grandeur and In-
terell for the Good of the Mujfulman Empire ; but
was over-aw'd by thofe who had no other Intereil
but in its Ruin.

Thou know'ft who I mean. Neither am I a
Stranger to the heroick Bravery of the faithful
Solyman, when he bearded the Bojlangi Aga, on
that Account. That Gardiner was of the FaSIion,
being the Son of a "Janizary, and train'd up in all
the Praflices of the Seditious. It makes mea{ham'd
when I hear the Infidels upbraid the Wifejl of th«
Wife, thtfupreme Monarch on Earth with Folly,
for permitting this infolent and mutinous Soldiery
to continue in the Empire. And I tremble to
think, that one time or other the renown'd Off'
fpring of Ertogriet vjiW owe its Ruin and Catajiro^
phe to thefe difloyal Vipers, whom he cheriihes in
the Seraglio,

Much more afTur'd is the French King of his
Guards of Sivitzers ; whofe Fidelity was never
ilain'd with the leaft infamous Brand of Perfidiouf-
nefs,in taking up Arms againft their Mafer, whofe
Bread they eat. Thefe are mercenary Soldiers, who
travel out of their Nati've Country to ferve Foreign
Princes, and will fhed the lafl Drop of their Blood
rather than betray their Truft. Therefore they are
admitted into the Palaces, and nigh the Bed-
Chambers of the Pope and the King of France,
with full Confidence of theirValour and Integrity,
G 3 A8

126 Letters /fr// hy Vol, IV^

As for their Country, it is barren and poor,
confifting chiefly of Rocks and Defarts ; which-
occaiions the Youth, who are generally very
ftrongand hardy, to feek their Subfiftencc abroad,
by ferving in the Guards and Armiei of neigh-
bouring Mcnarchs and States.

Some Regiments of the S^'itxers now ferve in
the Wars of Candy, under the Standard oi Venice.

There are Veffels arriv'd lately in fome of the
Trench Harbours, which bring News of the il!
Succefs of our Arms in the Siege of Candia, the
chief City of that IJland. They talk, as if above
two thoufand MuJJulmans were blown up in the
ninth Moon j and that Chufaein BaJJa, difcourag'd
by this Lofs, and with the Inconveniences of the
approaching Winter, was forcM to raife the Siege
in the Moon of October.

The French magnify the Valour of the Knights
of 'Malta, who fignaliz'd themfelves by many
brave Actions during this Siege : And if all be
true that is related of thefe Chrifiian Champions^
we cannot in common Juftice deny 'em their due
Charadler, and number fome of them at leaft
among the Heroes.

Otherwife, we fhouM come Ihort of thefe
Wcftern Nazarenes in Generojity, who, with no
lefs honourable Expreffions, extol the repeated
•Courage and invincible Conftancy of the illuftri-
CU3 Chufaein, and the Alacrity of all the Mujful-
man Soldiers in the Service of omt great Mafier.

Yet they cannot forbear refiedting on the Cow-
ardice of the Janizaries ', who, after that fatal
Blow, had they ftoutly maintain'd their other
Ports, that brave BaJ/a wou'd not fo foon have
quitted the Siege of this important Place.

As for other News I have little to acquaint
thee with, fave a feeming Calm at prefent in this
Kingdom of Francey which has, for the greateft

Part

Vol. IV. <7 Spy ^/ Paris. 127-

Part of the Year, been harrafs'd with Civil Dif-
forrt'j and Slaughter. Bourdeaux, the chief City
which held out againfl the King, is now reduc'd
to Obedience, the pacify'd Monarch retired, and
there is now Appearance oi Peace.

The ^een of S^veden, we hear, was folemnly
/•roccv/Vin the tenth Moon of the lad Year,having
declared for her Succejfor Carolus Gujlavus, Prince
Palatine, and her Coufin.

In the fame Moon died the Prince of Orange ;
and foon after the Count d^A'voux, a French
Grandee, and Minifler of State.

In the mean time I rejoice to hear, that my old
Friends are alive and flourilliing ; and that the
Knot is not loofened which was tied in our Tottth.
May it continue firm to the Day of the Earth'
quake y and to a Term unlimited*

Paris, 29^/5 of the \ft Moon,
of the Year 1651.

LETTER XII.

"To Kifur Darmelec, Secretary of the
Nazarene Affairs at the Port.

IN the Name of God and his Prophet, what
Occafion hadft thou to fend me fuch an angry
Letter ; thou art thyfelf but a Slave, as I
am, to the Slaves of him whofe Throne is above
the Flight of the Eagle ! Doft thou think to
frighten Mahmut into fordid Compliance with
thy Ambition, whom nothing can terrify, fo
long as he preferves himfelf free from any Stain
of Difloyalty ; I tell thee I'm another Achilles^
invulnerable all over, fave the Soah of my Feet^
G 4 whic^

12 8 Letters PFrit by Vol. IV\

which are the Emblems oi omv moft tender JffeBi-
cns. There thou may'it wound me with the foft
.Arrows of pretended Frieiidlhip. But, if once
thou appeareft with the naked Face of an Enem}V
I'm prefently on my Guard.

Thou accufeft me of many Crimes whereof
I was never guilty, loadeil me with a Thoufand
undeferved Reproaches, and all to vent thy Cho-
Jer : Threatening me with Revenge, becaufe I
once excus'd the Latenefs of my Addrefs to Mine-
mha Aluph Baffa, then newly veiled by our muni-
ficent Sultan, by laying the Blame on the Cadnefs
of the Ways, or the Infolence of Soldiers, by
whom the Pojls are often intercepted in Time of
War : Or, in fine, on thy Negleft in not fupply-
ing me with more early Intelligence. Wherein
'tis eafy to difcern, that thou wert the laft I
wouM accufe to that Minijler, though thou wert
principally in the Fault. For I was afterwards in-
lormM, That the PoJls were neither retarded by
any impajfable Roads, or ftop'd by the Orders of
military Men, but arriv'd here at their ac-
cuftom'd Sextons. Wherefore thou haft no Rea-
ibn to be offended at me, unlefs it be for the
Shortnefs of my Accufation, and that it was de-
feftive in Malice.

Thou would'ft take it ill, if in my own Defence
I fhould complain to the Vizir Azem of thy fre-
quent Neglefts in this kind. But 1 fcorn to vin-
dicate myfelf at the Price of another Man's Dif-
grace and Peril. Only I advife thee to forbear
'i hreatening. It is a Refledion on thy Prudence
to menace a Man who has no otKer Refentmcnts
of thy Paffion, than to own himfelf oblig'd ta
thee for fo open a Difcovery of it.

Would'll have the very Spleen of my Humour >
I fmile at thee. Thou haft made me as jocund as
Dezaocritus, If thou know'ft not how I mean,

he

Vol. IV. a Spy at Paris, 129

he was a pleafant fort of a Philofopher, to whom
all human Aftions were Objefts of Mirth. There
was another whining Sage that perpetually wept.
The moft comical Paffages, and fuch as mov'd
all Men to Laughter, drew Floods of Tears from
his Eyes : His Name was Heraclitus. It is hard
to determine which of thefe two was in the right.
But I think I am not much in the wrong to be a
little pleafant with thee : Perhaps it may put thee
into a better Humour. However, 1 would not
have thee difpleafed with thyfelf for being of fo
pcevifh a Difpofition. 'Tis obferv'd. That paffio-
nate Men are always beft natur'd, and free from
fecret Malice. Chohr is as neceflary as our Blood',
Without the latter we cou'd not live ; and, if we
were void of the /pz-wfr, omt Lives wou'd be as
unacli've as that ol Snails and Oyjlers : Welhould
beabfolutely Droves.

Hippocrates , the famous Phyfician, fay?, This
Complexion is the moft noble of all the/o«>-, tranf^
forming Men to Heroes, and refining our carthlf
Mould, in a Conftitution like that of the imtmrtal
Gods ', whofe Bodies, according to l\it Poets, ccn-
fift wholly of an /ethereal Flame.

Therefore be not difcouraged, neither repine
at a Temper which ranks thee among thofe to
whom Sacrijices are made. On the other fide,
take it nbt amifs from Mahrnut, if he tells thee,
ke has not Devotion enough to become thy vo-
luntary Viilim.

Yet if I cannot be fo obfcquious as to throw
myfelf away by acknowledging Crimes wherein-
I was never concerned, and for which I have a
natural Abhorrence; reft fatisfy'd at leaft. That
} will ferve thee as far as I can, without intrench*^
ing on the Duty I owe to the Grand Seignior.
And be aflur'd, I will do thee no Harm, fo long,
as thou obferveft that Rule.

G 5 In.

Xjo Letters VFrit hy Vol. IV.

In fine, I advife thee to order thy Steps like a
Man that is walking in the Bogs of Egypt, where,
if he obferve the Track of thofe who have gone
before him, he may be fafe ; but, if his Foot flips,
he finks in the Mire, Such is the Life of Coitx^
tiers,

Paris, \%thofthe id ^loon^
of the Tear 165 1.

LETTER XIII.
To Minezim Aliiph, Bafla.

T N the Beginning of the laft Year I fent thee
•*■ a Difpatch, wherein 1 acquainted thee with
the Imprifonment of three Princes of the Royal
Blood oi France j now thou flialt receive the New$
of their Liberty.

They wexe releasM by an Order from the King
on the 13/^ Day of this Moon, and arrived in this
City on the \()th, which was Yefterday, attended
by a numerous Cavalcade, confifting of fome
Princes, divers of the Nobility and Gentry, andy
one would think, of half the C///z^»/ of Paris.
Even thofe who triumph'd Jail Year, and made
-Bonfire? for their Confinement, Yefterday throng'd
©ut of the City to welcome them Home with,
^Acclamations of Joy, and to congratulate their
Releafe. So fickle and inconftant a Thing is the
Multitude, driven hither and thither with every
artiiicial Declaration oi Statefmeny or Pretence 0^
MadiQM^

fiat

Vol. IV. « Spy ^/ Paris. 13 r

But there were divers Princes and Nollemenf
who, from the firft Hour of their being feiz'd, re-
folved not to leave a Stone unturn'd to procure
their Freedom. The Grandees, that were their
Friends, retir'd to their Governments, and rais'd.
Rebellions in the Provinces. All the Kingdom was
harrafs'd with Civil Wars. The Parliaments de-
creed againft the Court ; and there wanted not
Cabals offeditious Courtiers, even in the Palate
of the King, to undermine the Royal Authority j
which the Cardinal Mini jler thought to eftabliQi,
by the Imprifonment of the Princes. In all Places
the King's Intereft ran retrogade.

Thou wilt not wonder at this when thou (halt
know, that the Princes of France are not Slaves to
the King, like the Bajfa% of the moft ferene Em-
fire, who owe all their Greatnefs to the fole
Favour of our munificent Sultans. Thefe Princes
enjoy all that and more by Inheritance, whicb
our Gratidees acquire only by their Merits, and
the Smiles of their Sovereign. Hence iti?, that
their Intereft is riveted in the Hearts of the Peo-
ple, who revere the Blood Royal, in whatfoever
Channel it runs.

Therefore thinking Men blame the CardinaPi
Conduft in this Affair; faying, there wa? nei-
ther Jufiice or Policy in it. Indeed, if a Man's
"Wit is to be meafur'd by the Succefs of his Con-
trivances, the Cenfure of thefe People is true j
for the Cardinal feems to have made a Trap for
himfelf.

As foon as he perceiv'd the King was prevaiPd
on by the Importunity of his Uncle, the Duke of
0< leans, and the Parliament of Paris, to releafe
the Princes, and that they had at the fame time
earnellly bcgg'd of him, that this Minifier might
be removed from the Court ; he fuddenly pack'd
up his Moveables, and withdrew privately
C 6 towards

132 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

towards the Place where the Princes were con-
iin'd : Hoping, that, though he had loft his firit
Point, yet he might make an indifferent After-
Game, by going in Perfon to the Royal Prifaners,
and affuring them, 'twas to him they ow'd their
Releafe ; fince it was in his Power to carry them
away with him, as alfo thofc w ho brought them-
the King^ Mandate. For he travell'd not with-
out a confiderable Guard.

'Tis faid the Princes receiv'd him with feem-
ing Compliments and AddrefTes of Civility ; pro-
mifmg their Friendfhip to the Cardinal, now a
^voluntary Exile, and in a worfe Condition than
themfelves.

It i^ very ftrange that fo great a Minijier, who*
inherited all that ab folate Po^urr which his Prede-
cejfor Ricklieu had at this Court, (hould thus on a-
fudden abandon his Fortune. But it is thought-
he is not gone to pick Str.iws.

However, he ha?, by this timely Flight, avoided-
the Difpleafure of feeing himfclf compell'd to-
depart by an Arrefi of Parliament, which was-
publifli'd within two Days after he was gone ;
commarding him to depart the Kingdom within:
ifteen Days.

The wife Minijler forefaw this Difgrsce ap-
|>roachiflg, and therefore thought- it more be-
coming his Honour to depart of his own Accord:
Having (till ihe Advantage to reproach the State
with Ingratitude, in that they have reduced to
fuch Sti-eights the Man, by whofe aufpicioa*
Conduft, France has been elevated to an extraor-
dinary Grandeur in Europe.

By this thoa may 'ft comprehend, illuftrious5fl/^'
fa<, that there's no Stability in human Great nefs ;
but that the Wheels of a. Courtierh Life run thro',
uneijual Tracks, often ilicking in the Mire of the
IfaUey, and not fcldom threatening to overthrow.a

Vol. IV. fl Spy ^/ Paris. rj3

Man, and caft him headlong from the Precipice
of a Mojintaiv. Againll thefe inc^njiant Turns-
of Fortune, I advife thee to be arm'd with Modt-
r at ion ; fince no Man can avoid his Dejlitiy.

Paris, i^th of the '^dMoon^
of the Tear 1 65 1 .

LETTER XIV.

To Ifouf, his Kinfman ai Fez.

I Am glad to hear thou art alive. Thy Letter
came in a good Hour ; for I bear a true Af-
faftion to thofe of my Eloid, and have been par-
ticularly anxious for thee thefe many Years. The
Sun has nine times meafur'd the t^vclve Signs of
the Zodiack, fince I received thy Lift Letter be-
fore this, or heard any News of thee. It feems
thou haft trnvell'd a great Part of the Earth du-
ring that Time.

Twas kindly done of thee, to remember thy
fick VncWf, Requeft when thou wcrt at Aleppo in
making Oblations for his Health to Sheigh Boubac
the Santone j and diftributing Corban to the Poor,
in Honour of Sytaria FiJ/a.

Thou haft fent me a large and fatisfidlory Ac-
count of thy Ob/ervations in Jjia : Yet I am forry
thou hadft not Time to penetrate into the Religion
and Secrets of the Indian Bramins. I am more
ambitious to pry into the Wijdom and Learning of
thofe Philofophers, than into any other Species of
Knowledge whatfoever. Methinks 'tk Pity the
Records of fo vaft an Jjitiquit^ (hould be ccn-
oeaKd. from the rejl of the World, and only

known.

134 Letters JVrit hy Vol. IV.

known to thofe happy Priefls. I protefl 'tis im-
poffible for me to think of it without Envy : But
perhaps it is the Will of Hempen to lock up thofe
Myfieries in the remcteil Pro'vinces of the Eaji, as
a Reward of their Conftancy, in adhering to the
Traditions of their Father, which know no Ori-
gin; and as a Reproach to all other Nations, who,
in Matiers of Religion, have been mutaBle as the
Winds.

I have conversed with feveral yefuits and others,
who have been in the Indies ; but they feem to
relate all Things partially, out of a natural Avtr-
iion for the Manners of the Eaft ; and I knew not
how to difprove 'em, 'till thy Brother Pejlelihali
undeceived me. He has alfo vifited thofe Parts,
and refideda confiderable Time in China. It is
a difficult Thing for a Traveller to keep himfelf
within the Bounds of Truth in his Relations ;
but I believe he has not exceeded. Thy jfour-
r.al touches but lightly the Indian Affairs, not
having Lei'fure, as thou telleft me, to obferve
much. However, thou haft made Amends in thy
Relations oi Perjia, Tartary, and the Land of the.
Curds.

I depend much on thy Promife of fending me a
yaurnal of thy Tra<vels in Jfrick. To that^/ir-
ter of the World I am mucn a Stranger, not hav-
ing met with any authentick Relation of the Re-
gions of the South.

It feems thou haft been in jEthiopia, Lihya,
^gypt ; and in fine, all over the Torrid Zotic.

Hiftorians tell wonderful things of thefe Parts j
Herodotus mentions a fort q{ People in ^;7V/z,whofe
Bodies were more venomous than Serpents. Thefe
affronted once at the Winds for driving the Sands
of Libya into their Country, and filling up all their
Wells and Streams, enter'd into a War againft
the Kingdom of .^Eolus i but the South Wind met

'eia

Vol. IV. ^Spy^/ Parts. rj^

*ein in their March, and bury'd'em under Mauw
tains oi Duji.

I do not reprefent this to thee as a Truth, tho*
related by that learned Grecian. Thou may'ft re-
pute it for a Fable, as I do, but let this PafTage be a
Hint that I expeft from thee none but folid Re-
marks.

It would pleafe me to be aflured of one Thing,
which perhaps thou haft heard of when thou waft
in Barbary. Very credible Authon report, that
when the Phoenicians were expell'd by the Ifrae^
lites, and driven into this Corner of A/rick, they
fet up two Pillars of Marble, whereon they en-
graved thefe Words, as a lajting Monument of their
Expuljion, We are a Remnant op those,

WHO FLED FROM THE FaCE OF ^0 S HUA,

THE Robber, the Son of ^t/iVi.

Theyfr/? Innjention of Ships is by fomeafcrib'd
to thefe People, whom Necefilty taught to feek
Reft on the unquiet Ocean ; fmce the more tur-
bulent Sons oi Jacob would not permit them to
enjoy any Repofe on the Land, having harrafs'd
'em from one Place to another, till at length they
drove 'em to the very Borders of the Earth. But
thou knoweft, the Chinefe pretend to the Vfe of
Ships many thoufand Years before this Depreda-
tion of the Ifraelites. Every Nation aims to be
efteem'd the moft Ancient. And when there was
formerly a Difpute between the Egyptians and
Scythians on this Point, 'twas adjufted in Favour
of the latter. But the Chronologies of the Chinefe
and Indians far exceed all others in the World t
For they feem to outftrip Time itfelf in Antiquity ;
at leaft, they tranfcend the common Date of the
World's Creation.

I have heard a Tra'veller aflert, that, as he was
journeying through the Defarts of Lybia, he dif-
covec'dan Altar of Stone y with, this Infcription on

is*

136 Letters U^rit hy Vol IV-

it, in Grecian Charaaers, I, POLTSTRATUS
OF ATHENS, HAVE Consecrated this
Altar, to allthat is Good in Heaven;

AND IF that all BE BUT ONE, AS SOME
SAY, MAY THAT ONE ACCEPT MY VoWS.

I defire thee to inform me, whether thou haft
ever feen or heard of fuch an Altar, when thou
wert in thofe Parts. You Travellers muft expedl
this kind of Trouble from your Friends : Every
body is naturally inquifitive, and defirous of
KniTMlcd^e.

'Twill be acceptable alfotofend me TtXiAhfiraSl
of the prcfent State oi Fez. I {hould be glad to.
hear of the Health of Abe I Melee Mul/ O.rar, the
Superior of the magnificent College in that City,
built by Al^ Habu Ennor, King of the Country.
They fay. it coft him Two hundred and forty
thoufand Zequins.

'Tis added, that in Ee% there is a Mofque near
half a League in Circuit ; in which are as many
Gates as there be Days in (kt Revolution of a Moon.
And that the Number of the Pillar?, which fup-
port it, is equal to the Tear of the Hegira where-
in It was founded ; being encompaffed alfo by
feventeen high Minarets, befides innumerable
Domes and Terraffes ; having alfo 900 Lamps
burning in it by Night, and 300 Windows to let
in the Light of the Day. The Revenue of this
famous Mofque is faid to be 36500 Zicjia/^j a Year.
They relate many other Things of Fez, and the.
Provinces belonging to it. Of all whicli I defire
thee to fend me a dillinft Account.

I hadalmoft forgot one Paflage, which I have
read in the Ancients, concerning a certain fubtle
African, whofe Name was Pfaphon. This iVIaa.
]^d train'd up a Parrot, to repeat very frequently
Uieie Words, Pfaphan is. a great God. When the

Bixd

Vol. IV. a Spy at "P ARTS. 137

Bird had perfeflly learn'd his Leflbn, he let it
loofe ; which, being accuftomed to a Doinei'uck
Life in a Cage, fled not prefently to tlie Fields,
but pearch'd on the Temple of the Town, where it
was heard by the People to utter the aforefaid Sen-
tence aloud, and very often. They, ignorant of
the Quality oi Parrots, and led with native Su-
perfiition, elleem'd it zn'O/acle from Hea-ven,
Wherefore, immediately flocking to the Houfe
of P/aphon, they offer'd Sacrifice to him, and ia
all Refpefts treated him as a Di'viniiy.

Whether this Story be true or no, 'tis certain,.
Idolatry had no better Foundation than Artifice
and Lyes : Unlefs we fhall conclude with the Poet,
That Fear made thefirjl Gods in the World. Cou -
fin, let there be a frequent Intercourfe belweea
us. It will be proHtable to thee and me.

Paris, f^th of the \th Itloon,
ef the Year 165 1.

LETTER XV.

'To Kerker Haffan BafTa.

' TT* I S a Cuftom in the Court of Rome, TTiat
I. every Nation of the Weji has a ProteBor
among the Cardinals there, who are Princes of
the Raman Church. Such I efleem thee, in the
moft exalted Court of the Eaji.

Arabia gave thee thy firft Breath : But thy own
Merits have lifted thee up to the Dignity of a
Bajfa, a Prince of the Ottoman Empire, whole
Limits far exceed thofe of the Modern, or even
of antient Rome,

•Til

138 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

'Tis from hence our Countrymen addrefs to
thee, as to their Patron, ufmg thy Power and
Mediation with the Granti Seignior in all their
Neceffities.

Among the reft, wonder not that the humbleft
of thy Slaves, Mahmut, the Son of thy Father's
Neighbour, falls at thy Feet in a Time of great
Dirtrefs, in the Agonies of his Spirit, the Hazard
of his Fortune, and Peril of his Honour, which
he values more than his Life.

I complain not of the many repeated Abufes
and Contempts I have received from fome in the
Seraglio, to whom It belongs not to meddle with.
Things outof their Sphere, ravLch lefs to difcourage
the faithful Agents and MiJJioners of the Grand
Seignior. Yet the Perfecutions I have felt from
their Hands are fuch, as would drive another
Man, lels patient of Injuries, either to Revenge
or Defpair.

They have vilify'd all my Condu£i in this Sta-
tion ; reproach'd my beft Adlions with the odious
CharaSler of Imprudence and Dijloyalty ; and mif-
reprefented thefmalleft Peccadilloes (for which al«
fo I have the Mufti's Difpenfation) under the ig-
nominious Title of Infidelity and Atheifm. In a
Word, they thirft after my Blood : Nothingwili
fetisfy their greedy Malice, but my Life.

I never was afraid to die, fmce I perfe^lly un-
derftood what it is to li'-ve. Nor can I be fond of
protrafting my Breath, when my Great Majier fhall
pleafe to call for a Surrender of it, for whofe Ser-
vice only it was given me.^ But it would render
the Scene of my Death tragical, and ftrew my Paf-
fage into the ether World with Thorns, to be fent
out of this, under the Notion of a Tray tor, who
have adled my Part without a real Blemifh.

Ikingi, that learned Tutor of the Royal Pages ,
was the firft that broach'd this Emnicy againft

me:

Vol. IV. «Spy^/PARis. 139

me ; (for I have forgot the Prevarications oi Sha-
fiiim Ijlham, \\it black Eunuch, fince the Time he
acknowledg'd his Fault wirh much Candour and
Ingenuity.) 'Twas that Athenian Sophiji, who de-
bauched the Integrity of my Cotijin Solyman ; and
perfuaded the unwary Youth to enter into a Con-
fpiracy againft his Unc'e. But I reprehended
my Kinfman's Folly in one Letter ; and his An»
fwer, though late, convinc'd me, that he was
not guilty of Malice, fo much as of Rafhnefs and
Credulity. I was extremely obligM to the Kai-
macham for his Benignity and Friendfhip in this
Affair. The good old Minijier had a real Kindnefs
for me, and took no fmail Pains to penetrate into
theCaufes of my Coufin'% eager Paffionand Malice
againft me. At length he found it to be only
the Praflices of Ikingi, who took Advantage of
Sofyman's Temper, equally loyal and flexible, in-
finuated into his youthful Mind monftrous
JJea^j ofme; and, in fine, fet him a railing at
me with a fierce kind of Liberty where-ever he
came. The wife BaJ/a foon open'd my Kinfman's
Eyes, brought him to his Senfe, and the I flue
of all was. That Solyman writ me a Letter of
Apology.

But, fince this, the Mafier of the Pages has laid
new Trains for me, and drawn a great many
more to his Party. He has corrupted Muftapha
Guir, an Eunuch, and Page to the alii ^een ;
with whom I once held a Correfpondence, and, as
I thought,had contradedaFamiliarityandFriend-
fhip ; but, it feenis, it was only an Appearance,
without Reality. I could give thee a long Lift of
thofe, whom this Academick has taught to fiander
Mahmitt ; but I will not appear fo revengeful :
Behdes, this is not tl^e only Grievance of which
I complain.

SliaU

140 lu-ETTERS Wrii by Vol. IV.

Shall I remonftrate to thee, mod excellent an<J
ferene BaJ/k, the true Caufe of my Uneafinefs ?
I am weary of living among Infidels. Favour me
with thy Affiflance and Interceffion, that I may
have Leave to retire from this Place, and vindi-
cate myfeif before the Faces of my Enemies.
And having had that Honour, rendering alfo a
juft Account of the Affairs wherewith I am en-
trufied, I may vifit my Natit's Country, and fpend
the Refidue of my Days in Arabia, the Scene of
all our Prophet's great Aftions, the Place where
I firft drew my Breath, I languifh for the Aro-
matick Air oi Admoim, the Chryftal Fountain,
and cooler Shades of that happy Province. I long
to fee the Groves which encompafs the Village of
my Nati'vity, the Turrets of thy Father's Houfe,
and the Mofque of Hafen the Prcphet ; for tho' I
took no Notice of thefe things in my Infancy , yet
having once feen 'em in my riper Years, when I
was able to make more lafting Refleflions, I fhall
never forget thefe delightful Objects fo long as I
live.

If this be an Infirmity, pardon it, illuftrious
Arab, fince it is natural to all Men. Thou, thy-
felf, hall enjoy'd the Pleafure of revifiting that
fweet Region : Pity Mahtnut, who burns with
Defire to tafte the fame.

Or if this fnall be thought too great an Indul-
gence to the poor exiPd Mahmut, yet it will ba
eafy for thee, who art a Favourite, to obtain of
the Grand Seignior^ that I may at lead be recall'd
from this Employment, and fome body elfe fubfti-
tuted in my Place. There are thofe among my
Enemies who are ambitious of the Fatigue ; and
Jkingi, my old Friend, would exchange all the
Honours he is pcflefs'd of in- the Seraglio for this
obfcure, yet hazardous Poft. '^Tis Pity but fuch
aMaa's Tbirii of Perils Ihould be gratify 'd.

But

Vol. IV. tf Spy ^/ Paris. 141

!^ut if, after all that I have faid, my Superiors
fhall think it expedient to continue me here, I am
refign'd ; only defiring, That from henceforth
my Slanderers may be lufpeded, as Men ill af-
fedled to the fublime Port, for traducing a Man
that has waded through a Thoufand Difhcalties,
Temptations, and Perils ; and ferv'd the Ottoman
Empire in this Station Fourteen Years, without
making a falfe Step, or tranfgreffing the leaft Point
of his Initrudions.

I hear that Clmfaein Bajpi is made Vizir Azem,
TJie French have a very great Opinion of his \ a-
lour. They are generally impartial Criticks in
Martial Affairs, Icorning to deny a brai'e Eiietny
his due Charader.

We are at prefent barren of ether News, fave
a new Arreji of Parliament againll Cardinal Ma-
yxirini, and all his Kindred and Creatures ; where-
by they are declar'd Enemies of the State, and
charg'd witha large Catalogue of Crimes, where-
of perhaps ihey were never guilty.

Here are alio fome flying Reports of the Car'
dinaPi, Death ; who, fay they, haspoifon'd him-
felf for Grief of his ill Succefs in this Court : But
I elleem this only as the Froth of his Enemies
Malice, who really wifh him dead ; and, to dif-
courage his Friends, give it out that he is fo.

Serene BaJJa, I commit my Affairs to thy Pro-
teftion ; beieeching thee, to do the Office of a
Countryman and a Friend, to the Betray'd for
God.

Paris, z6th of the ^th Moon^
ef the Tear 1 65 1 .

LET-

142 Letters Writ by Vol. IV,

LETTER XVI.

To Chufaein BafTa, the Magnanimous
Vizir Azem, and Invincible General
of the Ottoman Forces in Candia.

I Am not much above forty three Years Old,
yet have feen great Changes in the Worlds
mighty Revolutions in Kingdoms and States, and
the Death of many Sovereign Monarchs, illuftri-
ous Generals, and wife State/men. Doubtlefs,
all fublunary Things are fubjedl to Vicijfitude,
There appears nothing conjlant zxid, fettled, but
the Heavens and Stars : 7 hey indeed perfevere
in their immutable Courfes, never change their
Orb, nor Hart from their eternal Pof.s. The Sun
rifes and fets at his accuftom'd Hours ; and the
Moon exadtly obferves the determin'd Periods of
her Encreafe and IVane : Thefe vary only as the
Seafons of the Tear^ with exquifite Regularity and
conftant Returns.

But, here below, there is an univerfal Tran/mi-
gration and Metempfychofis of States, and Forms
ofThings ; a perpetual Flux and Reflux of human
Eventi. Men die hourly, and others are hourly
born to fupply their Places. One y^ge treads clofe
upon the Heels of another. And we, who live
at prefent, as we walk in the Steps of our Fathers,
fo ihall we follow them down to the Grave,
where our Fle/i>, by a new Metamorplofis, Ihall
be turn'd into the Bodies of Worms, InfeSs, and
Serpents ; and what fliall become of our Souls is
uncertain.

I was born in the Reign of Sultan Achmet, from
whom our prefent Sovereign v^ the fixth Emperor,
that has afcended the glorious throne of the O/rt-

Vol. IV. aSpY ai Paris. 143

mans. May God grant him a long Life, and a
Series of Years blefs'd with a continual Health,
and Vidlory over his Enemies. I pray Hewven
al fo to perpetuate thy new O^ce to the lalt Period
of the Sultan's Life ; and, in wifliing this, I fay all
that can beexpedled.

But when I refleft on the frequent and bloody
Tragedies that have been aded in the Seraglio fince
I can remember; and the many 5i7cr//ff^/ that have
been made oi Sultans ^ Viziers, Bajas, and princi-
pal Minijlers of State, befides the iVIafiacres and
Butcheries of meaner Perfons, it makes me me-
Jancholy amidll the Joys I conceive for thy late
Exaltation ; and fills me with Fears left my
Good Wifhes to the Grand Seignior and thee,
who art his Right-hand, ftiould, by fome finiftcr
Decree of Fate, be almoft as foon difannuU'd as
pronounc'd. 1 pray Heaven avert my melancho-
ly Prefages-

The Death of the old ^een (the News of
which is lately arriv''d at this Court) does but re-
vive and encreife my Apprehenfion of greater Tra-
gedies to come, becaufe one Ad of Cruelty ftill
propagates another : Revenge is prolific!?, and
Mifchief is never at a ftand. 'Tis true indeed, as
it is not decent to infult o'er the AJhesol illujirioHS
Perfons; fo neither has a loyal Mujfulman any
great Reafon to mourn for the Fall of a Woman,
by whofe Connivance her Royal Son, and our late
Great Majier Sultan Ibrahim, fell a Sacrifice to
the MuftP^ Indignation. 'Twas an unnatural Part
in a Mother : And we may fay, the divine fufiice
has overtaken her, in making her Grand/on fign
the Warrant for her Death, with the Con/en t of
that very Mufti, at whofe Infiigation (he had con-
fented to the Murder of his Father.

Yet, after all, may (he not have left behind her
a Party in the Seraglio, or at lealt in the State,

who

144 Lettep.s JVrit by Vol. IV,

who will ftudy to revenge her Fall ; or, how-
ever, do fcme"Mifchief to prevent their own ?
Let me not feem to contradidl my own Argu-
ments, and, whilft I plead againft Revenge and
Cruelty, appear an Ad'vocate Tor thofe inhuman
Pafiions. I do not mention the furviving Creatures
of this unhappy ^een, to excite in thee falfe
Sentiments of J uftice, fufpicious Chimera's ci d,
Tpo?ii\AeConfpiracy, andfo Ilimulate thee to punifh
them by Anticipation for Crimes of which per-
haps they never will be guilty. I rather fug-
jgcft thefe Things, That, after fo many Tragedies
in the Rvyal Family, a Step may be now put to
future Mifchiefs ; left, whilft Men pur fue a par-
ticular and felf-interefted Revenge, the Conta-
gion fhould fpread, and Cruelty become univerfal
and infinite.

Let it fuffice, that no lefs than three of our
Sultans have been depos'd and ftrangled within
thefe thirty Years : Not to mention the Deluge of
Royal JBlcod thzt has overflowed the private Cham-
bers of the Seraglio, the Prifoners of the Ottoman
Princes, Brothers or Sons to the Emperors for-
merly reigning.

Thefe were barbarous Cures of untimely Jea-
loufies ; and it is Pity that fuch Royal Maflacrcs
fhould ever be repeated again. Why Ihould the
Pofterity of Ottoman be in this Regard the only
unfortunate Princes en Earth ? Were it not much
more noble, and equ".!ly wife, to take the Mea-
fures of Aithiopian Policy, where, to prevent Se-
dition and Difcords about SucceJJion, the Princes
of the Blood are confiu'd indeed, but to a verj
pleafing Liberty : Whilft they have Palaces,
Parks, and large Fields at command; are ferv'd by
?t. princely I rain, and deny'd no lawful Pleafutcs
within the Pale of their Rejlraint. For there is
an exceeding high Mountain in the Country, the

Top

Voi. IV. aS?Y atVh r"i s; 145

Top of which is very fpacious, containing largs
Tradls of Ground, many beautiful Seraglio'^ fur-
nifh'd with whalfoever can contribute to the
Enjoyment of thefe Princes^ or at leall to com-
penfatefor their Want of greater Liberty. This
Mountain is environ'd with a high and ftrong
Wall, having but one Entrance, and that guarded
by Soldiers, fo that no Man can go in or out who
has not the Emperor % Warrant, or at leaft a Per-
mii£on from the Prime Minijler of State : For he,
upon the Death of the Emperor, immediately
calls a Council of the Jhpreme Oncers, who, from
among thefe imprifon'd Princes, chufe him whom
they think moll worthy to fucceed. The reft,
who never felt the Appetite to reign (for they
are carried to this Place in their Infancy, and
kept in perpetual Ignorance of State-Jffairs) paft
away their Time without Envy, or repining at
the Exaltation of their Brother, addifting them-
felves wholly in the innocent Delights of that
rural Life, or to the Study of Books, whereof they
have great Plenty in their Libraries, and thofe
altogether treating of Matters of Divine and Na-
tural Speculation. Whereby, though they know
nothing of State- Jrtijices and Intrigues of Courts,
yet they become able Philo/ophers, and vers'd in
all the Liberal Sciences.

Would to Go D our OttomanPrinces (I mean the
younger Brothers)had but half this Liberty grant-
ed them, then the Infidels wou'd have no Reafon
to call the exalted Port a liefi of Vultures.

But we muft not find Fault with the A6\iona
of our Sovereigns, though they tend to the Scan-
dal and Ruin of the hlujfulman Empire. Yet I
know to whom I write thefe Things; having
often heard thee declaim againft this barbarous
Cujlom of fhutting up the Royal Offspring in a
Duigeon, without Light or Comfort during their
H Lives >

14^ Lett:ers TFril by Vol. IV.

Lives ; which many times are alfo cruelly fhort-
en'd by the Hands of the Executioner.

But, turning ocr Eyes from the Tragedies of the
Bajf, let us fix them on the Affairs of the Naza-
reties in ihcJ^'eJ}.

The chief Difcourfe at prefent is about a Mar-
riage lately folemnized between the Emperor of
Germany and the Dutchefi o'i Mantua. She is his
■third Wife fucceffively ; for Polygamy is not al-
!ow'd, even to the Sovereigns in. thefe Parts, where
the Priejis bear all the Sway.

The Port from S'weden informs us of the Death
tA General Torjlenfon, of whofe Exploits in Ger-
tnany thou haft often heard. That Empire is very
unfortunate, fpending its Time and Vitals in un-
profitable Jjfemblies and Confults ; whilll her
adive Enemies take whole Provinces from them
with Eafe ; but this need not grieve us.

Great Atlas of the MuJ/ltlman Empire, I wi(h
thee the Continence of Scipio, the Fortune of j^lex-
ander^ and the Temperance of Cato \ who, when
he was marching through the Sands of Lyhia, with
his Jrmy, all ready to expire with Thirft, and
one of his Soldiers brought him his Helmet full
of Water, as a rare Prefent in that general Di-
ftrefs, gratify'd the Soldier for his Gift, but fpilt
the Water on the Ground, faying. That, fince
there was not enough to fatisfy the whole Army,
he would not tafte a Drop; and that he was un-
worthy to be a General, who would not endure as
much Hardfliip as the meaneft Soldier.

Paris, z6th of the ^th Moon,
of theTear it-iu

LET-

Vol. IV. aSpY ai Faris. 147*

LETTER XVII.

^0 NaflbufF, Baffa of Natolia.

PRaife be to God, F^r^of x!iitfe'ven Heavens t
and of all that is within their Circumference :
Thefe Wejiern Nar.arenes arealw.iys a quarrelling.
They are rePjlved to do their Parts towards the
fulfilling the Mujjfuh.tan Prediclions, and thofe of
'their own Prophets, It ma-;es me fmile to fee
thefe Infidels employing their Arms againll each
other, contending about petfy Rights and Poffef-
fionsjwhilft they negle£l theGV«cr«/Confervatioii
and Defence of Chriflend'im, from the impetuous
Tcrrents of our in^oincible Armies. ^

The Ele^or of Brandenhurgh\% enter'J into the
Dutchy of Mons with conHderable Forces, pre-
tending to adjuft I know not what Differences be-
tween thofe whom they call Catholicks and Pro-
tejiants.

'Twould be too tedious for a Letter to run
back to xkitfirjl Origi/t^/ of this War, and trace it
down from above a hundred Years ago to the
prefent Time. Befides, 'tis of no Import to a
Muffulman, to hear a long Story cf the Marri-
ages, Deaths, Heirs, and Luv-Difputes of thefe
petty hifidel Princes. Yet, that thou may'll know
fomething of it, I will relate the whole Bufinefs
aa. briefly as I can.

In theYear i ^\6JFiniamDukeofMons,yu?ierSy
and C/eves, married Mary, the Daughter o{ Ferdi-
nand I. Emperor of Germany, and by this Match-
obtain'd of the Emperor (whom they call C<.-efar,
as thoy did the ancient Emperors of Rome, whofe
Succejfor he pretends to be ) fome Privileges,
touching the Succejfion of his Children, and their
H z Rizh

148 Letters ^r/V^ Vol IV/

Hight to his Dominions ', and particularly, that this
vail EJiate fhould not be divided, but reft in the
entire PoffefTion of one Heir-Male ; or, in Default
of that, it fliould defcend to the next Female;
which, as I ani told, is a Cuftom in Germany;
that fo the Grandezza and Authority of Princely
Families may be fupported.

I will not trouble thee with the Particulars,
which would take up a Volume. But in fhort it
appears, that, notwithftanding all the ftrift Pro-
vifion that was, or could be made, this great
Fjlate, after it had remain'd fixty Years united,
was at lergth di'viJedhziviCtn two Princes, both
claiming an equal Right to the Wl>ole ; yet, to
prevent V/ars and Effufion of Blood, each was
contented with Half. Thefe were Wolfang, Duke
of Ncivburgh, and Ernejl, Marquifs of Branden-
hurgh. In whofe Families the parted SucceJJion
has continued to this Day.

The Occafion of the prefent Quarrel is their
Difference of Religion ; the Duke of Neif:burgh .
being a Catholick, and he oi Brandenhurghz Pro-
tejiant. It feems the Brandenburghers had former-
ly made Inroads on thofe ofMons and Juliers,c&v-
rying away Captive iht'nPrieJis and Der<vi/es from
their Jltars and Coni'enfs, and detaining them in
Servitude for many Years, contrary to certain
ylrticles that had been dr?wn up between them
Theyalfo us'd them with great Cruelty, and ccm-
mitted a thoufand Infolencies on the Roman Ima-
U7KS, whereever they got 'em in their Power.

Thus their AfEiirs continu'd till the late Agree-
ment at Murfer. Since which Time the Duke of
Neiiburg/j cndeavour'd to free his Subjeds from
their former Calamities, and reftore Things to
their ancient State.

The FleBur of Brandenburgh, making this an
Occafion oi fVar, has now invaded the Dctninions

of

Vol. IV. aS?Y at "Paris. 149

of the faid Duie. He is not gone in Perfon, but
has fent a good Soldier, whom they call Otho
Spar, with four thoufand Men, to begin the Cam-
paign : who, 'tis faid, will be followed by a
greater Army.

But, before he took the Field, the EleBor of
Brandenbiirgh had an Inter'vic-TU and Conference
with the Duke 0^ Saxony shont this Affair, who is
alfo a Protejlant : So that 'tis thought no fmall
Diflurbance will arife in the Empire. All Joy and
Peace to frue Belie'vers !

He of Brandenburgh has caus'd a DeclaratioH
to be fpread abroad full of fpecious Pretences, that
fo his Conquefts may be the more eafy. He talks
of nothing but reftoring the People of yiiliers and
Mons to their ancient Liberties and Rights, both
in Civil and Religious Matters, promifing the
faireft Things in the World to thofe that obey
iim, and receive his Armies with Friendfhip :
On the other fide, threatening to treat thofe who
refill him with the utmoll Severity that is due to
Tray tors and Rebels ; and all this for the Sake
of two or three xn^igrnfiCZXiX. Ceremonies and
Cpiniotis wherein they differ ; mere Trifles, li-
teral Whimfies, the Sport pf their DoSlor), the
*Spawn of wanton and luxuriant Brains. For
lio greater was the original Differences between
the Lutherans and thofe of the Roman Church.
One will be faved by the Strength of his Fancy,
which he calls Faith, without doing any good
Work towards it : The other toils all his Life-
time to merit Hea-ven, and thinks he can ne\ e:
do enough to obtain his End. He wears out ih?
Pavement of Churches, and makes the Skin of his
Knees, like that of a C««^/, with perpetual kr eel -
ing and praying to Images and Pihures. And
after all, they may be both damned for aught I
know for their ill Lives. They tear and devour
H 3 one

I5P Letters /FnV hy Vol. IV.

cnc another like wild Beaft?, and think to gaia
Pan^a'ijc by their unnatural ZeaJ.

The Duke of Ne-~julurgh has pub'iiVd a Mani-
fi-JIo againft the Proceedings of Brundenburgh, and
follicited the Duke of Lcnaiti's Aid, as alfo that
of Leopold, Arch-Duke of Aujlria. What will be
the Iflue no Man know? ; but oft-times a fmall
.Sprk kindles great Fir^s : And it is not impofli-
b!e, that this little Feqd may fet the whole Empire
jn a Flame.

Mighty Bajpz, I pray Heaven blefs thee with
Peace, Healthy and thy due Rei'er.ue. If thefe
.be not enough to make thee Happy, I wifli thee an
Increafe of Honours, and all the glorious Fatiguti
which Mortals court as their Way lo Bli/s.

Pari, zQth of the "fth Mootiy ;

of the Tear 165 1.

LETTER XVIII,

"To Ufcph Bafla.

SUfpefl me not : I have an equal Efteem fop
thee, as I have for the other Ba£as and Mini-
Jicrs of the Divan. Bat I find it difficult to pleafe
iiny. They are captious, and every one wou'd
have al! my Letters addrefs'd tohimfelf : As if I
were plac'd here toferve/)a;/;Va/<3/Intereft5, and
not the Publick. However, I can but acknow-
ledge the tacit Honour they do me in being fo
covetous of poor Mahmui^ Correfpondence. I
wifh I were in a Condition to be more partial :
Then I would quickly make thee and fome others
fenfible, which are the Perfons for whom 1 have
a peculiar Regard.

Biit

Vol. IV. a Spy at Paris. 151

But, as the Cafe is at prefent, I muft obferve
the Ififlru3ions I have received; and by turns
write to all.

Wherein, if I fail o£ Arithmetical Proportions^
I will make amends by the Rules of Geometry : If
I write bat feldom to fonie, I defire that the
Length of my Letters, and Solidity of the Matter,
may be accepted as a proper Supplement.

But thou haft no Reafon to complain on this
Score, unlefs it be with thyfelf for travelling into
remote Countries, whither I know not how to fol-
low thee with Letters, or any other Way. Be-
iides,- the former Friendlhip, that has been be-
tween us, is a fufficient Counterfcarp againft all
Sufpicion of Negledl on my Part, who am a
thoufand Times obliged to thee for many rC'
peated Favours. For the Sake of God therefore
and all that is Good, wound my Heart no more
with thefe undeferved Reproaches ; but believe
ftcdfaftly, that ^lahmut can never be ungrateful
and falfe.

Thy Letter is a Mifcellany of friendly Com-
plaints and Compliments. Thou giveft me a
Character to which I do not pretend. *Tis true,
indeed, and I thank Go d and my good Stars for it,
that I was not born Blind, Deaf, or Dumb. A'^-
ture gave me my Senfes free from any manifeft
Defed J and I have an indifferent good Memory.
When I 'was young I had an Inclination to read
Books ; and Fortune has fince favoured me with
many Opportunities for that Purpofe. But I
found the moft profitable Study to be that of Mv-
SELF, to which all the laborious Pains of ths
Schools and Academies ferve only as a certaia
Gradation and Difcipline. Nay, without thefe a
Man may attain all the Knowledge that is neceffli-
ry to the Acccmplilbment of his Nature ; for fo
did the firil Philofophers, before Booh or Let-
H 4 /f/-i

152 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

ters were extant. If tliou wilt be perfeftly wife,
read the Alcoran, and the Universe ; after
that, perufe Thy Self j thou wilt find Matter
cf Wonder and Improvement in each; but
moft of all in the laji j for Man is a 'Medley oi all
Things.

Were this LefTon well Icarn'd and praftis'd ia

the Court of Fiance, there would not be fo many

little Quarrels among thefe Infidels ; or at leall

fuch petty Originals would not produce fo many

fatal Confequences.

From the firft Time the Prince of Conde with
his Brothers were releas'dfrom their Imprifonment
(whereof I have given an Account to Minezim
Aluph ) there appeared much Coldnefs in the
Recti's, Reception of 'era, and their AddrefTes to
her. On both Sides they were at a Lofs how to
behave themfelves, for all their Civilities were
forc'd. 'Tis true, there was a fplendid Um-
brage of Reconciliation ; but it foon vanifh'd.
Their fupprefs'd Paffions difcover'd themfelves by
Degrees, and at length broke out into an open
Enmity.

The ^een appeared full of Condefcenfion and
Favours : But young Corde is as full of his Me-
rits and brave Exploits ; remembring what Servi-
ces he has done to this Cro^'n. Befides he is not void
of Sufpicion and Jealoufy, left all thofe Excefles
of Royal Kindnefs are ftrain'd only to render him
more fecure, and fo entrap him a fecond Time
with greater Advantage. The Horror of his
firft Imprifcnment is yet fix'd in his Mind ; from
whence it will not be eafy to efface it. Three
principal Servants of the ^een were banifhM to
remove his Fears ; for he imagin'd them to be In-
ftruments of Correfpondence between the ^een
and his old Enemy Cardinal Mazarini. Yet fhe
publilh'd ^Declaration,{^gr^\iy\r\gy TkattheQzr6\x\z[

Jhould

Vol. IV. « Spy J/ Par IS. 153

Jhouldhe for e'ver bamjh'd, not only from the Court,
but from the Kingdom.

And this Moon the King, being come of Age,
invited the Prince to the Ceremonies ufual on fuch
Occafions : Which Conde apprehended as a Snare,
and fo fled out oi Paris.

The Event of thefe Emergencies is yet in the
fecret Pages of Defiiny : But in all Likelihood a
Civil War will follow. People are whifpering.
caballing, and making /*^r//V/ on both fides. All
the Powder in Paris is engrolTed and gone ; but
• no body knows by whom. Some fay the Prince
is polled into Flanders ; others report, that he is
xctir'd to his own Government, there to raife an
Army. The moll knowing aver, that, where-
ever he is, he has two hundred thoufand Sequins
in Bank to give Life to his Defigns, let them be
what they will.

Think not this News of fmall Importance, fe-
rene Bajfa : But when thou hearell of the Civil
Wars among C/{'r//?/flff/,efpecially in the Realm of
France f the frji a,r\d moll vicarious Empire of (he
Wef, look on thy Right Hand and on thy Left,
for our holy Prophet, or his Herald,n near at Hand.

Paris, 2 id of the gth Moon,
of the Year 1 65 i .

LETTER XIX.

To Solyman his Coufin at Ccnflan-
tinople.

THOU feed what thy Libertinifm has brought
on thee. For my Part, I am fick in read-
ing thy Letter, full of Melancholy, and the
w orft kind of Enthufafim.

H 5 Hadil

154 Letters Wrii hy Vol. IV.

Hadft thou follow'd my Advice ; or, if that be
ccntemn'd, hadft tJicu-but cbey'd the Precepts of
thy Father, an honeft Man, and one that went
down to the Grave in Peace, thou would'ft have
liv'd as happily as other Men ; but now thou art
ovcrwhelm'd with HypochoKdriack Vapours, and
Dreams of a filthy Brain. I counfel thee to purge
thyfelf with Hellebore ; for thou haft more Need
of that than of Bath. In all my Life I never
heard of fuch religious Nonfence from a MuJfuU
man, as thy laft Letter is ftufPd with.

I have no Patience to make Repetitions, or
anfwer every particular Whimfy of thine. But in
God's Name, what makes thee fright thyfelf with
fuch a wrong Notion of Hell? It is a common
Maxim in Nature, That tiothincr fviolent is perma-
nent. Either therefore the Pains of the Damn' J
are not infinitely Intenfe, or clfe they are not Etet'
nal in their Duration. Thou wilt fay. The Jlco-
ran itfelf afterts the Eternity of thofe Torments.
But doft thou underftand the figurati've Manner of
Speech us'd in that divifie Booky and in all'Our
Eafiern Writings ? Is it not common to call a
\ejy high Mountain, The Mountain of God? As-
if all the Mountains and Vallies of the Earth
'«\ere not equally his. So, to cxprefs an uncertain
length of Time, 'tis cuftomary to ufe the Epithet
\Eierr.ar\. Thus we in ordinary Converfation fay
\xi Arahia, 1 love you eternally ', I njcill fer'veyou,
fght fcrycu, &c. eternally ; and the fame of the
ioKtrary PaJJions : And yet we all know we fiiall
live but a few Years. ' , ^••

Eu*: granting, that the Alcoran fpeaks in a lite-
r^r/Senfe; it does not follow, that thofe Prtz/rr
are without hterials of Reji. We read of the
Tree Zacon, which grows in tlie Center of Hell :■
l^nt who will inLcrprct what is underitood by this
r/ant ?

Ciujir.y.

Vol. IV. ^Spy^/PARis» 155

Coujin, make ufe of thy Reafon, and pracflife
the heft Things. As for our Condition after this
Life, trouble not thyfelfj for no Man knows
what will become of him when he goes hence.
However, we cannot believe the Supremely Mer-
ciful delights in Cruelty.

There is a Path which thtEagle has not wing'd,
nor the Serpent tra.c'd, though *tis obvious to both.
But their own Rafhnefs blinds them, and they
cannot difcern the Way of the Wife. There arc
Men of tow' ring Speculations, and others very
cnifty ; neither one nor t*other can grope out
the dire.51 Road to Blifs. If I may advife thee,
let Nature be thy Guide. Do nothing but what
Hutnanity prompts thee to : 'Tis this alone diflin-
guilhes thee from other Animals. Honour the
Mi'mory of thy deceafed Parents, love thy Friends,
and be generous to thy Enemies : Do JullicetoMi
Men : Obferve the Purifications and Prayers pr^-
fcrib'd by the La^M: But give no Credit to the
Fables of Infidels. It is common here among tl>e
Chrifiians, to print Hell with horrid Flames »hd"
Deijils flying up and down with red hot Prongs,
to tofs the Damned from Fire to Fire. And their
Preachers make long and direful Harar.gups on
the fame Subjedl : When, all the while, neither
they nor-wt' know, tuhat or luhere Hell is, or after
wliat Manner the Wicked ^zW be chaftis'd.

Only the Illuminated of God have this Stand-
ard oi Truth ; that both our Pains and Pleafures,
after this Life, fliall be exadly proportion'd to our
Virtues and Vices. There is no Malice or Injufiice
in X^t good Creator of all Thing:.

Coufin, once again, let thy Senfes be awake,
and fufFcr not thy Reafon to dream of Things
which have no Exigence. For, afTuredly, GoD
is the moil impartial fudge of the Univerfe.
Taris, zidofthe icth Moon,

of tht Year 165 1 . H 6 LET-

156 Letters J^r/V ^ Vol. IV.

LETTER XX.

to Endel Al* Zadi Jaaf, Beglerbcg of
Dierbekir.

T Have not the Honour to know thee in Perfon,

•■• but have heard of thy Fame. So Mortals are

unacquainted with the Secrets of ih.tjixed Stars^

'yet we obferve their Luftre and Rank, and the

■ Figure they make in thofe remote Worlds.

Thy Exploits among the Curds and Georgians
are not unknown in thefe Parts. The Franks, that
travel in the Eaji, have tranfported hither fuch
a Charafter of thy magnanimous Adtions as makes
all Men of Honour in love with thee : and I have
conceiv'd a particular Veneration for thy Vir-
tues. May God encreafe them with thy Hours,
and grant thee a Monopoly of Blifs.

Thou art placed in an eminent Seat, and may'ft
with Reafon be call'd Lord of Lords, as thy Title
imports ; for thou art PoJfeJ/or oi the terrejiial Pa-
radife, if we may give Credit to the Tradition of
the Ancients. They tell us, that for a Time Jdam
dwelt there with his fecond Wife; and that the
particular Place of his Abode was an TJland, en-
compafs'd with the Rivers Euphrates, Tygrisy Pi-
fen, and Gihott. From whence it wa? call'd Me-
Jbpotamia by the Greeks ; which fignifies, a Re-
gion en^uiron^d luith Pinjers.

All the Weji of AJia have a profound Refpeft
for this Country. And the feiKis relate ftrange
Stories of a Tree in Dierbekir which grew Five
hundred Miles high in the Days of Adam ; which,
they fay, was cut down by an Ange/, left Man
fhould c/imh to Hea^ven by it before his Time.
f cii it feems. Ambition was a Fice early as oar

Nature %

Vol. IV. <2 Spy ^/ Paris. 157

Nature ; and Adam was no fooner fenfible that
he was a Man, but he afpir'd to be a God,OT fome-
thing like one. So great a Charm there is in Ho-
nour and Authority.

They fay alfo, that Abraham was born in this
Region. However, 'tis certain, if there be any
Certainty in Recordszxi^ Hlfioriesy that he refided
there a confiderableTime. But thou knoweft beft
yj\iZ.^raditions thy Subje£ls|have of thefe Things.

The Chinefe and Indians laugh at all this, as a
Romance oi later Date than their Chronic/es,which.
make thofe Extremities of the Eajl to be the Stage
o^ x)\t fir Ji Mortals. Inftead ai Adam and Eve^
or Alikth, they affert the Names of the original
Parents of Mankind to be Panzon and Panzona j
whofe Off- Spring, they fay, continued ten Mil-
lions of Years ; but at length were all deftroyed
from the Earth by a Tempell from Heaven. After
whom, they tell us, Go d created Lontixam, a Man
with tnuo Horns, each as big and tall as a Tree in
that Country, which they call the Plant of God,
being the largeftand firft of all Vegetables. This
Man's Horns being prolifick, according to their
Tradition, out of the Right fprang a thoufand
Men every Day for a Hundred Years ; and as
many Women out of the Left, in the fame Space.
From whom defcended all Mortals of both Sexes
to this Day ; though we are much diminilhed in
Bulk, thro' the general Decay oi human Nature.
For thefe People affirm, that the firji Race of
Men were all Giants ; but that, through Intem-
perance and other Vices, their Off-fpring fhrunk
by Degrees into fmaller Dimenfions, 'till at
length they arrived at the prefent Stature, and
appear'd like Pygmies in Ccmparifon of the primi-
tive Sons of Lontixam. In Confirmation of this,
the Indians (hew to Travellers fome of their 7i?»j-
/■/^r/hewn out of vaft Rocks, with the Images of

thofe

«5^ Letters U^rit hy Vol. IV.

:rhofe Gigantick Men, who they fay were em ploy 'd
in the Work. Thefe they honour as Heroes, or
Demi-Gods,

I do not relate this for Truth, but only to di-
vert thee in reprefenting the different Opinions of
Men. God only knows hmv to feparate the Truth
from Faljhood in Hiftories.

But to return to Dicrbeker : This Country is fa'
raous for the Ttrwer of Babel, built by Nimrod and
his Folloivers ; at what time the Lafiguages were
confounded, as ^iofes relates. 'Tis remarkable
alfo, for the JJ^Z/A- fought between \.\ve Parthians
and Romans at Harran ; and for the Death of Ca-
racalla, the Son of Se'verus, Emperor of Rome,
who was murder'd by ISiacrinus, the Roifian Gt-
veral. Thek Emperors were all call'd Cefars, as
the Kings of Egypt were call'd Pharaohs and Pto-
lemies. Itfeems, the Word Cafar was firft ap-
ply'd to yulius the Roman Dictator, for that, his
Mother dying under the Pains which were to give
him Life, her Belly was ript up, and he drawn
forth from her Womb by the Hands of a Surgeon.
In Memory of which, he and all his Succejfors were
call'd C^fars ', that Word fignifying [drawn forth
by Violence]. But howfoevtr the Manner of his
Birth was, this is certain. That he, and forty of
hi Succejfors, were hurry'd out of the World by
untimely Deaths : For they either laid violent
Hands on themfelves, or were murdered by
Tray tors.

If thou wouldeft have any News out of thefe
Parts, the chief Difcourfe at prefent is, of a
great Viftory obtain'd by the Polanders againft the
■Cojfacks and Tartars. And I could wifh this were
all : But the Nazarenes are continually made joy-
ful with the Succefs of the Venetians again li the
Arms of the in-vincible Empire. They beat us by
Sea.,, and bafile all our Attempts by Land. We

iav-e:

Vol. IV. ^ Spy rt/ Paris. 159

have not got an Inch of Ground in Candia, du-
ring the iail Campaign, but loll many thoufandsof
Men, and brought the Name of i\iC fublime Port
and 'viSlorion.s Mujfulmatis, into Contempt and
Scorn. Where .the Fault lies God knows. 'Tis
too melancholy a Theme to infill on Particulars.

Don Jaan of Aujlria has alfo befieg'd Barce-
lona by Sea and Land.

Several Arrejis of Parliament are here publiihed
againft the Prince of Con Je und his Adherents; ?Lad
*tis reported, the King will recall Cardinal Maze-
rini from his Banifiment.

Illullrious prince and Governor of a happy /?<?-
gion, I beg thy favourable Conftruflion of this
Addrefs, And thus, in Reverence, I defitl, full
of dutiful and affeftionate Vows for thy Pro-
fperity.

Paris, \gthofthe\zthM)on,
cf the Tear 1651.

The End' of the Second Book.

L E T-

( i6o )

L E T T E R S

Writ by a

S?Y at P^RIS.

VOL. IV.
BOOK III.

LETTER I.

S'o Abdel Melech Muli Omar, Pre-
fident of the College of Sciences
at Fez.

THOU haft formerly receiv'd a Letter
from me, wherein I menticn'd the
Tenets of a certain French Phito/opher^
who maintains that the Earth moves
like the reft of the Planets, and the Sun ftands
ftill, being the Center of this our World : For he
afferts that there are many.

The Name of this Sage is Des Charles, renown-
ed throughout the World for his Learning and
Knowledge. He lays as a Bajis of all his Philo-
/ephythxi ihort Pofition and hferente, I think,

THERE-

Vol. IV. « Spy ^/ Paris. i6i

THEREFORE I A M. In this alonc he \s- dogmatical ^
allowing a lawful Scepticifm in aU the uncertain
DeduSlions which may be drawn from it.

PardoH me, oracukus Sage, if I expofe before
thee my Infirmities. I am naturaily dillruftful
of all Things. This Temper puts me upon perpe-
tual Thinking. And that very Aft convinces me
of the Truth of my Being, according to the Me-
thod of this Philofopher. But what lam, I know
not. Sometimes I fancy myfelf no more than a
Dream or Idea of all thofe other Things which
Men commonly believe do really cxiil ; a mere
Imagination of Poflibilities. And that AU, which
we call the World, is but one grand Chimtera, or
Nothing in Mafquerade.

At other times, when thefe wild Thoughts are
vanilh'd, and my Spirits tired, in the Purfuit of
fuch abllraded Whimfies, begin to flag, and that
my lower Senfe, awak'd by fome prefent Pain or
Pleafure, rouzes my fleeping Appetites ; when I
am touch'd with Hunger, Thirft, or Cold, or
Heat, and find experimentally I am fomething
that cannot be a mere Thought or Dream, but of
a Compofition which ftands in need of Meat,
Drink, Garments, and other NecefTaries ; then,
rather than fret myfelf with vain and endlefs
Scrutinies, I tamely conclude I am that which I
call a Man ; I lay the Sceptick afide, and without
any farther Scruples or Doubts fall roundly to
eating, drinking, or any other Refrelhments my
Nature craves for.

But no fooner have I tafted thefe Delights,
when my old Diftemper returns again. I then
confider myfelf as a 5f;>ff capable ofHappinefs
or Mifery in fome Degree ; as I (hall poffefs or
want thofe very Delights I juft before enjoy'd.
This is a fufiicient Damp to a thinking Man,

when

1 62 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

when he knows that he ftands in Need of any
thing out of himfclf. But 'tis fir greater, when
he will take the Pains to number all the Train of
his particular Neceffities, which he is not fure he
fhall always be able to fupply.

This makes me prefently conclude, thit, as
I am indebted to other Creatures for my fenfible
Happinefs, fo I owe my very Being to fomethinw
befide myfelf. I examine n\yOrigi/ial, and fina
I am born of Men and Women, who were in
the fime indigent Circumiiances as myfelf:
And that it is not only fo with my particular
Family, but with all Mankind ; our whole hu-
man Race being born natural Mendicant i from the-
Womb. As foon as we breathe the vital Air, we
cry ; and, with thofe Inarticulate Prayers, beg for
Help and ?rotei;Hon from others, without whofe
generous Aid we could rot fubfill a Moment :
So poor and beggarly a Thing is Man, from hi»
Birth. This is the Condition of all ; Neither
is a King any more exempt from that cotnman
CharaScr oiMartaliy than ^^tSlwvt ^hojhuee^s
the Streets.

If I could have refted in this Thought, I
fiiould have been happy t For it would have had
this Influence on me, either to convince me, that
I ought to be content with the Condition to which
1 was born, or, to rid myfelf (Hit of fo defpfca-
ble a State by Death.

But alas ! one Thought produces another : And,
from the Contemplation of our prefeat Miferjr
in this Life, 1 fall to thinking what will become
of us after Death. For as we know not n^;hat or
luLere we were before we came into this World ;
fo there is no human Certainty, '\uhither we
{hall go, or in luhat Condition we ihall be, when
we leave it : And therefore, it would be an un-
pardonable Madnef?, to throw myfelf headlong

inta

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris. j6^

into a State of which I have no Account. And
to avoid the little Miferies of this Life, which
muft have an End one time or other, call myfelf
down a Precipice (for aught I know) of intdera-
lle Torments, which has no Bottom.

I hear the Philofophers tallc of Immortality, the
Poets of Elizium, the Chrijiian Priejis of Heanierty
Hell, and Purgatory ; the Indian Bramins of Tranf-
migration : But I know not avhat or which I have
Reafon to believe of all tkefe.

I fpeak after the Manner o^ Philofophers ; for,if
we come to the Faith, the Cafe is alter'd. Think
not, I befeech tJiee, that I call in queilion the
Jacred Oracles, the Revelations of the Sent of
God. But I only acquaint thee how my natural
Reafon hatters me with Doubts.

I fee Men every where profeffing fome Peligioa
or other ; paying divine Honours to (ome fuperior
Being, or Beings, according as they have been edu-
cated: Which manyTimes tempts me to think, that
Religion is nothing but the EJ^e^ of Education.

Then I wonder how Men, when they come to
Years of Difcretion, and their Reafon is able to
diflinguilh between Things prohahk, and mereRo'
mances, canftill retain tlae J^rrorj of their Infaticy.
' Tis natural for Children to be wheedled or aw'd
into a 5f/t(/^of what theirP^jrf;;//, Nurfes, or Tu-
tors teach them. But, when they come of Age,
they foon redify their mifled Undcrflandings, in
all Things, fave the Affairs of Religion. In this
they are Children ftill, tenacious of the /acred
Fables of their Priejis, and obllinate in maintain-
ing them, fometimes even to Death.

It puzzles me to find out the Caufe of fo
llrange an EfFeft, That Men otherways endu'd
with mature Judgment, and an extraordinary-
Sagacity in all Things elfe, fhould yet be Fools in
l^Iatters of Religion, and believe Things incon-

fijlent

1^4 Letters Tf^rit hy Vol. IV.

ften with the common Senfe and Reafon of IMan-
kind.

I could never give Credit to the Wftories of
the ancient Pagans, which acquaint us with the
devout Adoration they paid to the Creatures of the
Painter or Carver, did I not fee the fame prafti-
fed among the Chrijiians ; Or, that thofe luife
Men old could fwallow the Forgeries of their
Triefts concerning the Gods and Goddejfes, were
I not an Eye Witnefs how bigotted the modern
Nazarenes are to the Legends of their Saints, and
the yeivs to thofe more ridiculous Figments of the
Talmud.

It perplexes me to fee Mankind generally la-
bouring under fo great a Darknefs, not fo much
the EfFeft of Ignorance as of Superjiition : To be-
hold Men well vers'd in Sciences, and all kinds of
human Learning ; yet zealous Afferters of mani-
feft Contradiftions in Matters of Z)/'v/«//>'> rather
than oppofe, or fo much as examine, the Iradi'
tions of their Fathers.

When I behold M:»yfrW divided into fo many
innumerable different Religions in the World, all
vigoroufly propagating their own Tenets, either by
Subtlety or Violence, yet few or none feeming
by their Practice to believe what they with fo
much Ardour profefs ; I could almoft think that
thefe various Ways ofWorJhip were firft invertted
by Politicians ', each accommodating his Model to
the Inclinations of the People whom he defign'd
to circumvent.

But when on the other fide I confidcr there
appears fomething fo natural and undifguis'd in
th.€ furious Zeal and unconquerable Obftinacy of
ihegreatejl Part ; I am as ready to join with Car-
dan, and conclude. That all this Variety of Reli-
gions depends on the different Influence of the
Stars. This was a femous Philofophtr in Europe j

and

Vol. IV. <2 Spy <«/ Paris. 165

and held, That the Religion of the Jeivs ow'd
its Original to the Forces of Saturn ; that of the
Chrijiians to Jupiter, and Ours to Mars. Ai for
the Pagans, he affigns to them many Conjiella-
tions and AfpeSls.

Thus there is fo equal an Appearance of Truth
and Falfhood in every Religion, that I fhould
not know how, in human Reafon, to £x on
any.

Superfiition renders a Man a Fool, and Scepticijm
is enough to make him mad. To believe all
things is above Reafon ; to give Credit to nothing
is below it : I will keep the middle Path, and di-
reft my Faith by Reafon.

That Faculty tells me, That, if I were inclined
to adore the Sun, Moon, and Stars for their Peauty
and Influence, I might on the fame Ground
luerjhip my own Eyes, without which I could not
behold their tempting Splendors : Or, I might as
well pay divine Honour to that more intimate
Sen/e my Feeling, or any of my other SenCts which
only render me capable to know the Vertue of
thefe Luminaries. The fame maybe faid of the
Elements, and all vifible Beings,

What then fhall I adore, or to whom fliall I
return Thanks for all the BleJJings 1 enjoy ( for
even in this miferable Life I tafte fome Happi-
nefs) ? To what Being, I fay, Ihall I addrefs my
Fo<ws and Supplications, for all the Good that I
poflefs and want ? Is it to any Thing that I have
feen or can fee, or that I can reprelent to myfelf
under a Figure ? Is it to any Part of the Uni'
I'erj'e, or no ? No. To the whole Complex toge-
ther ? No ; I have a thoufandkind Thoughts for
the Sun, Moon, and Stars, for the Elements, and
many other compound Creatures. My Soul, and
that of the World, are Unifons. But 'tis the pro'
found Depth gf Eternity, the infnitt and immor.,

tal

i66 Letters TVrithy Vol. IV.

tal, who is the Diapa/oii, and makes perfeft Har-
morf\<.

To that Being which has r\oRefemhlance,Xit'nhtT
is di'Vj<ied h\io Parts,nor circumfcr2h''dwuh Limits;
whofe Center is e-very nvhere. Circumference no
nvhere, who hath neither Beginning nor End ; To
the only Omnipotent, from whom all other Things
flow, and to whom they all return j to whom I owe
all that I have, and will pay what I can. And
fomething by hisDetermination I am indebted, and
will dilcharge it to thee, Orient Light of the Mo-
refco Mitjjfulmans i that is, the Duty of an humble
slave, in begging Pardon for this Pre/umption.

Paris, xi^hofthe zdMoon^
of the Tear 1652.

LETTER IX.

^0 the Kaimacham.

' "in WAS the Contemplation of Ifovf Eh'n Ha-
J[ drilla, an Arabian Philofopher, that all
Men were at frjl created in a State of War ; For
this Sage gave no Credit to the Writings of Mofesy
the Jenjjijh Hijlorian, and Prophets j neither could
any Arguments perfuade him to believe. That all
Mortals defcended from Adam. 'Twas an Article
of his Faith, That in the Infancy of the World
Men were fort/I'd of the prolifick Slime of the
Earth, impregnated by the vigorous Warmth of
the Sun, and that all other Animals had their Ori-
ginal vci the fame Manner : But that, in Procefs of
Time, the Richnefs of the Seminal Soil being ex-
haufted by a continual Spontaneous Produiiion of
living Creatures, there was no other Way to per-

fetuace

Vol. IV. a Spy atTAKis. 167

petuate the various Kinds of Beings, and multiply
the hdi'viduals, but by the ordinary Method cf
Generation. For which Re:U"on Nature i'eems to
have fubdivided every Species into two Sexes.

Hence this Pbilofifhcr concludes. That at iirft
there was no nearer Relation between Man and
Man, than there is now betwixt a Lion and a
Sheep, or any other difFerent Kinds of Animals ;
faving only. That as thefe arc diftinguifhed by
their Forms, in four-footed Beafts, Fowls,
Fiihes, and creeping Things, fo Men afium'd
to themfelves the Charadler of rational Crea-
tures : And a Principle o{ Se/fPre/er-vation was
the firft Ground of a tacit and common League
between Men, againft the reft of their Fellow-
Animals ; efpeclallyagainfl thofe, which made a
more frightful Figure on Flarth than we do,
and feem'd more rapacious, and inclin'd to
Mifchiefs ; fuch as Dragons, Tygers, Bears,
Lions, ^c.

But notwithftanding this general Aflbciation of
our Race, againll the more falvage and fierce
Troops of Beajis ; yet one Man ftill flood upon
his Guard againll another : And all the Sons of
the Earth endeavoured to maintain the Pofts
which Nature had allotted each Man ; that is, the
Place where he was firft form'd, and drew Breath.
But Things could not laft long in this State :
For either by InflinS or Reafon (call it which
you will, fays this Author) Men being ftreightened
for want of Fruits, or fpurr'd on by feme fecret
Defire of Novelty, foon went out of their
Bounds, and encounter'd each other, more by
Chance than Defign ; whence arofe the firft
Occafions of aiSlual War : For every Stranger ap-
pear'd like an Invader ; they naturally ftartled
and fufpefted each other. Reciprocal Paffions of
Choler fprungin their Breafts ; and every Man, to

prevent

i68 Letters Writ by Vol. IV.

prevent the Effeft of his own Fears and Appre-
henfions, rufh'd on his Neighbour ; who was, on
the fame Ground, as ready for an Affault as him-
felf. Thus an uni-verfal War commenc'd in the
World, which, by various Methods of Improve-
ment, was carried on by the fucceeding Genera-
tions, and continu'd to the prefent Time.

As for the Original oi Gcmemments, the parti-
cular Time cannot be jdetermin'd ; but it may
be fuppofed, that Men generally finding the In-
convenience of thefe private perfonal Combats,
and by degrees arriving to greater Maturity of
Experience, form'd themfelves at firll into little
Societies and Friend/hips, or as they dwel t near one
another, or as they agreed in fome common In-
clinations Principles, and Interells. From which
fmall Aj/ociatiofisthty gradually fpreadinto larger
Communities, living under certain Laws and Ob-
ligations of mutual Peace, Juftice, and Afliilajice
toward each other, and of Defence againil their
common Enemies : Some living under the Form
of a Commoniuealth, others of a Monarchy ; each
Body of Men fetting up fuch a Model, as beft
fuited their own Interells and Neceffities.
From hence fprung the DiHinftion of Nations,
Kingdoms, and Empires. Ihus far the Arabian
Thilofopher.

But, without enquiring into the Trutli of his
Principles, one would think, that fome of the
Wejiern Nazarenes were his Di/ciples. And indeed
all Civil Diffentions feem to be grounded on the
fame Maxims. Whilft Men, on the Jesft Diicon-
tent or Jealoufy, lay afide the Obedience they owe
to their Sovereigns, claiming I know not what
natural Right to defend themfelves againft the
Incroachments and Ufurpations of others.

Thus no fooner was it fuppos'd here. That the
King intended to rec&llCfirdinalMaxarini irom his

Exile i

Vol. IV. ^ S P Y ^/ P A R I S. 1 69

Exile ; but the Parliament of Paris, who are fe-
cret Friends to the Prince of Conde, publifh'd an
Arrefi againft the Cardinal^ whereby all Perfons
are forbid to contribute toward the Return of this
Minifter : r.nd ordering, that his Library, with all
his Moveables, fhould be fold, to raife a Sum of a
Hundred and fifty thoufand Liiires ; which is pro-
mifed as a Reward to thofe who (hall either take
him Prifoner, or kill him. They alfo petitioned
tht Duke q{ Orleans to make the utmoit Ufe of
his Authority againft the Cardinal i who there-
upon raifed confiderable Troops, and gave the
Command of them to the Duke of Beaufort.

In the mean Time the Cardinal is not idle,
but, with what Forces he has, performs fome con-
fiderable AiSlions in his own Defence. He has.
taken Prifoner zn eminent Counfellor o( Parlia'-
ment. The Parliament fent a Trumpet to demand
his Releafe. This Meflenger was rejeded. Where-
upon the Parliament are taking new Me-
thods.

The Prince of Conde has fent a Letter and Re*
queft to the Parliament, defiring them to fufpend
the Execution of the Arrefl publifli'd againft him;
fince the Time given him to lay down his Arms
was not yet expired, and that the Cardinal was
returned into the Kingdom, contrary to the Pro-
hibition fign'd by the King.

But,notwithftandingall thefe Traverfes,A/rt2^-
rini is come again to the Court, which is now
kept at Poiiliers ; wiiere he was received within-
finite Rcfpeft and Carefles by the A7H^,the ^een,
and all his Friends. Animofities daily increale
between the different Parties : Pri-oaie Grudges
are improved to fublick Faftions : An uajverial
Peeviftinefs has pcfTcfs'd the Hearts of the French
Nation : They are jilarm'd and offended at one
another's Looks. If a Man fmilej too much, or

I tC«]

170 Letters fVrit hy Vol. IV.

too little, in converfing with his Friend, *tis
enough to give him the Charadler of an Enemy,
or at leaft to render him fufpefted. So that he,
who would live peaceably here at this Junfture,
had need to be well fkilled in all the Secrets of
Phyjiog?romy, and make frequent Ufe of his Look-
ing-Glafs ; left an oblique Call of his Eye, or
facyrical Wrything of his Nofe, fliould be inter-
preted for Symptoms of hidden Malice. For now
they'll fpy Treafon in every Feature of a Man's
Face.

As for me, when I go abroad I conform to all
Companies, yet alter not my Addrefs ; I neither
play the Ape, nor counterfeit a Statue : But, ob-
serving a Medium^ I pay a civil Refpeft to all,
without being courtly or rude ; For this Carriage
beft fuits with my Circumftances. Hence it is
that no body fufpeds the plain, deform'd, blunt,
crook- back'd T.itus of Moldat'ia, to be what I am
really, hlahmut the Slave of the exalted Port.

Paris, 1 4/-^ of the 2d Moo»y
of the Tear 1652.

LETTER III.

To the Reis Effendi, Principal Secretary
cf the Ottoman Empire.

TH E Prifice of Conde'i Takirg up Arms has
more puzzled the Counfels cf the King of
Travccy and more embarrafs'd his Affairs, than
any Occurrence that has happened fmce the Death
of his Father.

I have

Vol. IV. /r Spy <?/ Paris. 171

1 have already inforra'd the K limacham and
others of all Paflages hitherto relating to tlic'c in*
tejline Broils ; fince which they fetm to be im-
prov'd into a War, wherein Foreign Nations take
a Part. After the Return of Cardinal Mazarini to
this Court, the Prince of Conde was driven to great
Strcights ; being compell'd by the fwift Marches
of the King^s A: my to retire to Bourdeaux :
Where, confidering that it would not be fo much
his Intercft to keep this Place, as to encreafe his
Forces, he fent Envoys to the Ki»g of Spain and
Arch- duke Leopold in Flanders^ to defire their
Afliftance.

The former immediately diftjatched away Or-
ders for a confiderable Body or Men to approach
the Confines of Gafcoigne, where the Prince had
a great lotereft ; and the latter fent him eight
thoufand Men, to aft on the fide of Flanders, and
,loward Paris, as Occafion ofFer'd.

This is the particular Game of the Spaniards,
to take Advantage of the Civil Wars in this
Kingdom, that fo, by affilling the weaker Party,
they may balance the contefting Power of the Na-
tion, and keep 'em in a perpetual Quarrel ; whilll
in the Interim they gain Ground, recover the
Places which the French took from 'em in Time of
domeftick Peace, and fo pave the Way to ne'vt
Conquefls.

In the mean Time the Parliament fent Deputies
to the Ki7ig, befeeching him to remember his
Royal Word, by which he had for ever banifhed
Cardinal Mazarini, and reprefenting to him the
fatal Confequences which were like to proceed
from his Return. But the AVw^n^, inilead of com-
plying with their Requeft, caus'd an Ediii of
Council to be publifh'd, wliich juliify'd his Con-
duct in thii Matter.

I z He

iy2 Letters /FnV hy Vol. IV.

He alfo writ a Letter to the Parliament full of
Complaints, that they had not yet publifh'd any
Order to hinder the Entrance of a Foreign Army
into the Kingdom. But all fignified nothing to
Men paflionately bent to maintain the Prince of
Conde'i, Quarrel againft their Sovereign. He has
but few trufty Men in that Senate, and they are
over-aw'd by the reft. Befides, the Duke of Or-
leans bears a ftrange Sway, both in the Parlia'
ment and Country.

At the Inftigation of the Prince, the Citizens
of Orleans fhut up their Gates, when they heard
the King was coming that Way in his Return to
Paris : Yet the Country was open for the Prince
of Conde a Subjeft j he travell'd up and down the
Provinces to make new Jnterefts, and confirm
the old, leaving the Command of his Army in
Ga/coigne, to his Brother the Prince ofConti.

There have been many Skirmifhes and Encoun-
ters between the King^s Forces and thofe of the
Male-contents, and one fierce Combat, wherein
the Prince of Conde defeated the Vanguard oi the
King's Aimy, as he was marching to this City :
Whereby, getting the Start of his Sovereign, he
arriv'd here and was receiv'd in the Parliament,
whilft the Monarch was forc'd to lie encamp'd in
the Field.

The Prince found a different Reception, ac-
cording to the various Humours of People : The
greatelt Fart favour'd him ; and he receiv'd infi-
nite CarefTes from the Citizens of Paris : But met
with feme Oppcfiticn from Perfons of higher
Pank, &nd more fledfaft Loyalty to the Crcwn,
The Duke cf Orleans is his greateft Friend, and
one for whom the Parlian ent have a great Defe-
rence : not fo much in Contemplation of his
Wit and Policy, as for the fake of his near Rela-
tion to the Cro--wn, he being Uncle to the prefent

Kivg ;

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Par IS. 173

King : Whereby he has a Right to affume more
Authority than others, in regulating the Difor-
ders of the Court ; among which the greatell \%
elleem'd that of Cardinal MazarinPs Return.

In a Word, both Parties ferve themfelves of
thofe who have the greateft Intereft, and are
moft likely to compofe the Quarrel. The exil'd
^een of England and her Son, who have taken
Saniftuary in this Kingdom from the Perfecutions
of their own Subjefls, make it their Bufinefs to
mediate between the Court Party and the Faction
of the Princes.

The Prince of Conde alfo fent Deputies to the
King, to reprefent to him, that the only Means
to give Quiet to the State was to baniih the Car^
dinal Minijier : And, as they were delivering their
Addrefs, MazarinicvLvnexn, attheSight of whom
they aggravated their Charge, and faid to his
Face, " That he v/as the Caufe of all the
" EVILS which the Kingdom fuffer'd." 7he
Cardinal, interrupting them, turn'd to the Kin^^
and faid, "Sir, It will not be juft that fo flourilh-
" ing a Kingdom, and to whofe Grandeur I have
'* contributed all that lay in my Power, fhoulj
** ruin itfelf for my fake ; therefore I humbly
*' intreat your Majefty to grant that I may re-
'* turn to my own Country, or whitberfoever
" my Fortune fliall call me. No, no, replfd th*
'* ^een (not ivithout fome PaJJion) this cannot
" be granted : the King had nevermore Need of
" your Counfels than at this Junflure : We can-
" not confent, that fo ferviceable a Man (hould
** be banifli'd only to humour his Enemies ;
*• therefore let us hear no more of that.

The Z)^/«/;V/, perceiving nothing of Hopes, re-
turn'd to Paris. Then the Parliament deputed
others to go to the King, and remonftrate the de-
plorable State of the Realm. This was done a few
Days ago. I 3 In

174 Letters tVrit by Vol. IV.

In the mean Time, we have been alarra'd her&
in the City, with daily Ir.furredlicns cf the Mul-
titude. The Occafion was, fome private Orders
which the Duke of Orleans had given to the Pro-
voft of the Merchants, relating to his Charge, and
the Welfare of the City. This being mifunder-
ftood by the People, who have not the Senfe to
dirtinguifh the good Offices of their Go-vemors
from Injuries, put 'em all into a Tumult. They
aflaulted the Frcvojt in his Coach, as he was pal-
fmg the Streets : And, had he not efcaped into an
j^pthecarfs^Vo^, they would, perhaps, in their
Fury, have torn him in Pieces ; for fo they ferved
his Coach, as an after Revenge.

I am weary of beholding the malicious Quar-
rels of thefe Infidels. But when I confider, that
their Difcord will be inftrumental to the future
Conquefts of the true Belie'vers, I am patient and
refign'd.

However, 'tis one Comfort to me in this Thor-
ny Station, that one Time or other, inflead of
the perpetual Jangling of Bells in Paris, I may
again have the Happinefs to hear the Muezins cry
on the Minarets in Conftantinople, There is but
One God, and Mahomet his Prophet. Or if I
fliall not live to enjoy this Willi, yet, in the invi-
Jible State, I Ihall hear the fame Cry, and fhall
be pad doubt of thofe Thing=, whereof I have
no Certainty in this Life.

Paris, 29/^ cf the \th Mo9»f
tf tht Year 1652.

LET.

Vol. IV. ^jSpy ^/ Paris. 175

LETTER IV.

7<? Cara Hali, Phyfician to the Grand
Seignior.

TH E Chrijlians fcem to have too proud an
Opinion of themfelves, and fet a greater
Value on human Nature than fuits with Reafon.
They aflert, that all Things were made for Man,
and ftile him Lord oi his Fell<rui-Creatures ; as if
Gort'had given him an abfolute Dominion over the
reji of his JVorks, efpecially over the Animal Ge-
nerations ; and that all the Birds of the Air, Bcafls
of the Earth, and Fifh of the Sea were created
only to ferve his Appetite, and other Neceflities
of Life. I remember a Letter I formerly fent to
thee, wherein I difcourfedof the Cartejian Phiiofo'
fbers, and their Contempt of the Beafts, in de-
nying them Souls, or the Vfe of Reafon.

Give me Leave to entertain thee now, and di-
vert myfelf with fome farther Remarks on this
S'jbjeft. ' Tis a Refuge from Melancholy, when I
can thus freely difcover my Thoughts to a Friend,
who I know will not be partial to the Truth.

I have been long an Advocate for the Brutes^
and have endeavoured both to abftain from injur-
ing them myfelf.and to inculcate this fundamental
Point of JulUce to others. This is owing to the
.Example and Phihfcphy of Mahummcd, the
Eremite in Arabia, that Light and Glory of reli-
gious Men. And, were it not that my Humour is
to be doubtful in all Things, the Influence of his
Converfation would make me a profefsM Pythago-
rean, a Difciple of the Indian Brachmans, a
Champion for the Tran/migration of Souls.

1 4 Th«

176 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

The laft Lettersfave one I writ to that Solitary^
was upon this Subjed; fuch an one as would divert
him in his Ca<ve. Ic contain'd an Account of the
Frimiti-ve Manner of Life, praftifed by the An-
cients, a Narrati've of the Golden Agey a Hijhry
of human hr.ocence, and the Steps which Men
hrft took to uie Violence and Cruelty to their Fel-
lew Creatures. Now I will prefent thee with
fome additional Obfer'/ations, fome Remnants of
an antiquated Truth, glean'd from Phitofophers
nnd Hijiorians, and winnow'd f rom the C/iiS^ of
Error and Superfition.

Who would not believe the Benfts to be endued
with Reafon, v/hen he beholds them perform all
the Adtions of rational Creatures with more
Caution, though lefs Pride than Men ? They are
more provident than we, and much more fubtle
in avoiding any AfHidion or Danger. Witnefs
Ihaks the Philofopher''s Mule, which he often
employed to carry Salt to a certain Market ; but
the cunning Bcaji, finding herfelf over-loaded,
when fi)e was palflrg through a River, lay down,
whereby the Water, penetrating into the Sacks
cf Salt, melted it away, and lightened her Bur-
den. And this was her ccnibnt Pradlice, 'till the
PlAlofopher, perceiving himfelf thus out-witted
by his Beajl, was refolved to circumvent her an-
other Way. Wherefore, inftead of Salt, he loaded
her with Wool, which he knew would grow
heavier by being wet. But the wary Mule, fenfi-
ble of the DiiFerence of her Burden, would couch
no more in the Water ; but, feeing no other Re-
medy, went forward on her Journey.

Who will not admire the Wifdom of the Fox
in cold Countries, v/hich the Inhabitants ufe as a
Guide when they would pafs over any frozen
Lake or River ? For this Creature, going before
ihem, lays her Ears clofe down to the Ice, and

liftens

Vol. IV. <2 Spy ^/ Paris, 177

lifiens to try if fhe can hear any Motion or Noife
of the Water running underneath ; which if
fhe does, Ihe will not venture on the Ice ; but, if
all be ftill, then by a logical DeduBion (he con-
cludes the Ice is thick enough to bear Paffen-
gers ; and fo (he leads the Way, whilft the Men
follow.

When a Dog is hunting in the thick Wood?,
and by chance comes to a Place where three Paths
meet, he firft fcents the one, then the other ;
and perceiving, that the Game is not gone by
any of thofe two Ways, he throwshirafelf fwift-
ly forward in the third, without fuch a particular
Application of his Nofe. Which is an evident
Argument, that he makes ufe of the like Choice
we ourfelves (hould do.

And now I have mcntion'd this Creature, I
cannot forbear celebrating their Virtue and Fide-
lity, whereof we have daily Experience ; and
there are many pleafant Examples recorded by
grave Hijionans.

Such is that of Hyrcanus, a Dog belonging to
Lyfimachus, who would never depart from the
Body of his dead Mafter, but, following to the
Funeral Pile, leap'd into the Fire, and was burn-
ed for Company.

But the Gratitude of a Lion to a certain Slave
in Rome, is beyond all Parallel. This Slave
was one of thofe who were appointed to
combat with ^jjild Beajls in the Amphitheatre, ac-
cording to the Cuftom of the ancient Romans, in
the publick Shows which were exhibited to the
People. As foon as the Lion was let loofe in the
Pavement, he ran furioufly at the Slave; but.com-
ing nearer, he ftopp'd on a fudden, as one afto-
nifhed : Then he came gently towards the Slave^
fawning upon him, and licking his Hand, which
caus'd all the People to give a Shout. The Em-
I 5 peror

'iy^

Letters IVy-ithy Vol. IV

^ror being prefent, and taking Notice oftfie Teem-
ing Friendiliip and Acquaintance that was between
the Sla've and the Lion, fent for the Sla've, and
enquired the Occafion of fo ftrange an Accident.
-To whom the Slave made the follo\ving Relation.

*' My Name, faid he, is Andredusy and T am
** SlanjB to a certain Proconful, who having deter-
*♦ min'd to kill me, I made my Efcape, and hid
" myfelf in a Cave ; where I had net lain long
•* before this Lien, which yon now fee, came in,
*' being very lame of one Foot. As foon as he
" efpy'd me, he came limping toward me, and
** ftretched forth the Paw that was wounded, as
•' thoughhebegg'dof me to eafehim. Affrighted
*' as I was, I took his Paw in my Hand, and
** pu!l'd out a great ragged Thorn which ftuck
•• feft in it. Then I wafh'd the Wound with

■ *' my own Water, whilft he lay very patiently
■♦• 'till I thoroughly drefs'd it. The Eafe he found
** by my Application made him fail afleep ; and
** when heawak'd,helick'd myHands,andfhew'd
** other Signs of Affeftion and Gratitude. 1 liv'd
** with him thus threeYears in that Cave,and eve-

-*^ ry Day he brought me a Share of his Prey, on
*' which I fnRain'd myfelf. But at length, tir'd
** with this mariner of Life, I took my Opportu-

■ *• nity when he was gone abroad to make my Ef-
" cape. I wandered up and down three Days^
** when a Company of Soldiers meeting with me^
** and knowing to whom I belonged, took me»
" and brought me hither to my old Majfer, who
•* has condemn'd me to this cruel Death. But it
'* feems Fcrnme fo order'd it, that this Lien fhould
** be taken about the fame Time, and appointed
•* to be my Executioner this Day. Yet you fee he
■** refufes to perform his Office out of Gratitude

•* to me for my former Kindnefs.

Vol. IV. <z Spy ^/ Paris. 179

The Emperor, aflonifli'd and pleafed at this Paf-
fage, gave the Sla've his Life and Freedom, bellow-
ing alfo the Lion on him, which brought him in
a conftant Livelihood, by fhewing him to all
People ; who, having heard of this wonderful Ac-
cident, were defirous to fee both the Lion and his
Tenant, for fo they ftil'd the Slwve j and feme
call'd him the Lion's Phyfician.

I fhould think I had faid enough already to tire
thy Patience, and make thee forfwear reading my
Letters for the future, were I not well acquainted
with thy Genius, and know that thou delighteft
in Relations of this Nature, being no Enemy to
the harmlefs Brutes.

Whatever thy Sentiments are towards thefe, I
dare be fure thou art my Friend, and wilt bear
with my Importunity, when I ftrive to convince
all Men, and confirm myfelf in this Truth, that
the nviU Beajls are not void of Reafon and iU<?-
ral Virtue.

Paris, %oth of the jth Moon,
of the Tear 1652.

LETTER V.

To the Captain Bafla»

IN the Name of Go^, fuperlativeTy indulgent and
benign, Lordoi j^rmies which cannot be num-
her''d, Confer-vator of the Empire founded on his
own Unity ; Praife be to him that has neither5<?j^/a-
vini^ nor £';/d'/ What is theReafon that we are always
baffled by the Infidels ? Every Year our augujl Em-
peror fends out mighty Armies by Land, and cur
I 6 Fleets

i8o Letters ^nV ^j Vol IV.

F/eetJ hy Sea are termed Invincible, yet they
are flill overcome by the Cbrijiians. Where the
Fault lies is beft known to thee, and the Generals,
to whom the Command of all is committed.

My Spirit is difquieted about thefe Thing?,
and I am uneafy by Day, neither does the Night
afford me any Repofe. This hot Weather I go
up to the Terrafs of my Houfe at the Hour of
Sleep, thinking that the Coolnefs of the Air
would incline me to reft ; but I can find none. I
turn myfelf on the Leads to the Right Hand and
to the Left, yet all Poftures are alike. Sleep has
abandoned my Eyes. My Zeal for the Empire of
the Faithful will confume me.

One Night I made folemn Preparations to wel-
come the firft Appearance of the Moon, after the
manner of my Countrymen. I fprinkled Water
on the Floor of theTerrafs, and with a newBeefom
fwept away all Vvcleannefs : I fiU'd a Lamp with
the moil precnus Oil I could get in Paris ; which
having lighted at the going down of the Sun, I
placed dircftly on that Part which is neareil to
Mecca. Then I fell on my Face and prayed the
eternal Source of Light, " That at the Moment,
" when the Moon firfi afcended our Hsrisum, an
*• intellectual Splendor might fnine in ray Breaft ;
" that I might there, as in a Mirror, behold the
" future Tate of the Muffubna-ns, and the Events
*' which as yet were hid in the ^rk Womb of
•• Poffibilify.

My Petition was granted. The Night was in
her {hady Courfe, the Stars en their Watch, and
T?V/7if, as from a Limhsck, diftill'd the filent Mi-
nutes, 'till the Moment w h'erein the Neighbour
Planet firft peep'd on the Tops of Mountains.
At that InHant I fcw and heard Things (or at
leaft I thought fo) which I never fo much as
dream'd of before, neither caa I remember the
thoufar.dth Part. Believe

Vol. IV. ^j Spy ^/ Paris. i8i

Believe me, fupreme Commander of the Ma-
rine, I do not boaft or joy in this : For I think,
there can be no greater Affliftion than to be
once made Partaker of fuch a Blifs, and then to
lofe it almoft as foon as gain'd. Yet there are
fome Foot-fteps of the Fijion remaining on my
Memory.

*' Methinks T beheld Armies of Muffiilmatis
" (for I thought 'em to be fuch by their Turbants)
" making feveral Defcents on the Shores of Italy:
" Methought I faw them proftrate themfelves on
*' the Ground ; and, after a confiderable Space of
•* Silence, the Air eccho'd with the Sound of
*' Jllahy Allah, much like the Noife of great
♦ • CafcaJes, or Falls of Water.

" Then they feem'd to difperfe themfelves all
*" ever the Country in divers Bodies. The In-
*• habitants of Rome appear'd all in a great Con-
" fternation: The r^/^il/iiy^r/ of that Place went
*' forthwith into the Streets, followed by his
•' Cardinals and Der'vifes, accompanied by an
" innumerable Multitude of People. They carried
'* their Gu^/r of Gold and Silver along with them;
** and being apparelled with Garments of coarfe
" Hair, they fprinkled A flies on their Foreheads
" in Token of their Humility, and to pacify the
** Indignation that was kindled againft them.

" But Heaven was deaf to their clamorous
** Vows, neither could all the Pomp of thciry«-
*' perfiitious Solemnity dazzle the Eyes which are
•* a thoufand times brighter than the Sun, pene-
** trating into the darkeft Corners of the Heart.
•• In a word, tl^efe Infidels feem'd a while after to
" be in a great Confuiion and Hurry, running
' ' this Way and that Way to hide their Goods,
*• and fave themfelves from the viftorions Stran-
*' gen. In fine, I faw the Crojfes taken down from

««^ the

i82 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

•' the Minarefs of the Mofques in Rome, and
'* Crefcents advanced in their Place.

I do not relate this, as if I gave Credit to Viji-
ens and Trances : Perhaps all this might be but a
nva/kin^ Dream. Yet fuch Vifionary Entertain-
ments happen of courfe to our Countrymen, when
they obferve the aforefaid Ceremonies. But I tell
thee, I am not afleep at this Moment ; and yet it
appears to me a very probable Undertaking, for
the Muffulmans to fit out a mighty fleet y which,
having afufficient Army of Land-men a-board,
might deliver them with little or no Oppofition,
on feme of the wealthy Shores of Italy : And if
it is not thought worth the Labour to make new
Conqucfts, which would be difficult to maintain ;
yet at leafl our Soldiers, by plundering only the
rich Temples zr\A Con'vents of the Nazarenes, might
carry away ineftimable Treafures.

I wrote formerly to one of thy PredeceJJors
about the fame Matter, propofing the Surprize of
Lorettot as a very eafy Attempt, and that the
Booty would infinitely furpafs the Expence and
Trouble : But Mahmiti'% Advices are never re-
garded 'till 'tis too late. We fquander away
Thoufands of Men, and Millions of Money, to
purchafe little infignificant IJlands, which are de-
fended indeed with feeming Vigour by the Chrifii-
ans, but 'tis rather to amufe us, than out of any
real Value they have for thofe Places.

It is only a Maxim of Wejiern Policy, thus to
give Diverfion to the Arms which are deftin'd to
fnbdue all Nations. They fport themfelves, to
fee the Flower of the Eajiern Militia confum'din
their Trenches, before the impregnable Fortrefs
of Candia, which, if won, will not quit the Coft
of fo tedious a Siege. Whereas, in half tliat
Time, our invincible Forces might have over- run
all Italy.

Thoa

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris. i8j

Thou wilt not think this an imprafticable En-
terprize, when thou (hah confider the Divifions
of the Italian Princes, the univerfal Security and
Voluptuoufnefs of the Inhabitants, and yet the
Oppreffions and Tyranny they live under, being
fleec'd and poird of all their Subftance, to main-
tain the Grandeur of their Governors, and the
Pride of the Clergy ; which renders 'era equally
difgufted at their prefent flavilh Manner of Life,
and defirous of a Change. It is not hard to furmife,
after all this, that a Conqueft would be eafy to the
viftorious Mujfulmans ; or at leaft, fuch Depreda-
tions would mightily enrich them.

The moft proper News, that I can fend thee, is
of a Combat lately fought at Sea, between the
^nglijh and the Dutch. The Generals on both
fides are faid to be brave Men. He of Britain is
called Blake ; the other's Name is Trump. Which
had the beft on't, is not certainly known : Men
fpeak as they are byafs'd. Yet the Dutch loft two
Ships in this Engagement, tho' their Tleet was far
mo-^e numerous than that of the Englijh.

If I were worthy to advife my Superiors, I
would propofe fome notable Exploit by Land; for
God has given the Earth to the true Believers f
but the Sea to the ChriJIians.

Paris i^th of the 6th Mbon^
of the Year 1652.

LET-

1 84 "Letters PFrii ly Vol. IV.

L E T T E R VTI.

To the Kiaya Bey, or Lieiitenant-Ge-
neralofihe Janizaries.

I Had once a great Intimacy with Cajfim Haliy
the brave Jga, who now is no more on Earth ;
that honeft old General merited all Men's Love :
Follow thou his Example, and in Time his Poll
will fall to thy Lot. Thou art already in the lall
Advance to it ; let no airy Vice make thee giddy,
and give thee a Fall. 'Tis a common Aphortfm
That Health, long Life, and Honour defcend
from above. But if they do, I tell thee, 'tis like
the Rain, which only then does good, when it
penetrates the Earth, and moiftens to the Root.
An humble Heart is like a kindly ^LU, receiving
the Dews oF Heaven with Advantage and Profit ;
but Pride is a Rod, which fpatters away the
BleJJings fhower'd down on it.

Perhaps thou wilt be affronted at my Blunt
Way of writing : Yet affure thyfelf, I honour
thee more than a thoufand Flatterers. I am not
fent hither to fludy nice Expreffions, but to ferve
the Grand Seignior with Integrity. Befides, I
know thou haft not been accuftom'd to the foft
Entertainments of Ladies Chambers, but the
rough Dialed of War. It is thy Honour to be un^
acquainted with the Delicacies of Difcotirfe,Diet,
or Drefling ; Things only fit to enervate a Man's
Courage, and change his Fleart into that of a Wo-
man. Thou knoweft how to handle the Cui-
rafs and Lance, the Sabre and Shield, the Bimj
and Gun ; and art perfeftly vers'd in all the Mili-
tary Terms of Art. A Difcourfe of Sieges and
Campaigns, florming of Forts, and plundering of

Camps,

Vol. IV. rt Spy «/ Paris. 185

Camps, is more agreeable to thee than all Tullfs
Oratorf, or the fineil Strains of the Perjian Poeti.
I am therefore confident thou wi't not take it ill,
that I addrefs to thee in a Style void of Artifice,
yet full of real Refpeft and Love.

If I counfel thee, 'tis for thy Good ; and I am
commanded to exprefs my Sentiments with Free-
dom. Befides, I have a /i^ryS»<j/ Privilege to ad-
vife thee, the Right 0(3. Friend; which thou \vi!c
acknowledge, when I tell thee, that I once had
the Happinefs to fave thy Life, as we travelled to-
gether in Arabia.

Thou can'il not but remember that Paflage ;
and how that, in Heat of youthful Blood, tlioa
had'il provoked an Emir to kill thee in the Sight
of the whole Cara'va)i,hcLd I not fallen at his Feet,
and told him, thou wert a Stranger to the Cujionu
of the Country.

Believe me, I do not reproach thee with this,
but only make ufe of it, as an Argument to
convince thee, that the fame Motive, which

Erompted me to interpofe myfelf at that time
etween thee and certain Death, induces me now
to give thee Warning of a Precipice, of which
thou art in danger. Every one gives thee the
Charafter of a brave Man ; and no body likes thee
the worfe, for being of an Air as fierce as a Tar-
tar. All this becomes a Idan of the S^ord ; and
they fay, thou doft every thing with a martial
Grace.

But I am told likewife, that thou art guilty of
Avarice : And that,for the Lucre of Prefents, thou
enrolleft Men in the Liji of the Janixuxries, who
are not fit to ferve in the I'f'ars ; fuch as are Houfe-
keepers, Perfons entangled with Wives and Chil-
dren, with Debts and other Incumbrances ; that
they only appear on certain Days in the Military
Habit, and then return to their Domejlick Bufineis,

without

i86 Letters JVrit by Vol. IV.

without ever r ■ e Di/cip/ine of the Royal

Chambers, or:.. eiTuelves obliged to learrt

the Jrt of fi'i^r : i ha.t thou in the mean Time
.takeft their Pay, and many additional Bribes,
whilll they are only contented with the T^itle and
Privilege of a Janizary, to Ihelter themfelves from^
Juflice, and prote^ theai in their Rapine and
Viilanies.

I tell thee, fhould this be known, and proved
againft thee, it would be to thy Ruin ; But I hope
better Things, and that thei'e are on! y the Surmile»
of thy Enemies. For thou knowell, That none
ought to be admitted in that ancient Order, but
the Tributary Sons of the Naz.arenes : who, be-
ing in their Infancy iiited in the College, know
neither Father nor Patron, fave the Grand Seig-
nior, who, is the common Parent and ProteSlor
of the Ofman Empire. On his Service is all their
Zeal and Courage fixed, having no private Byaff,
no partial Inclinations, to warp them from the
Fidelity they owe their great 'Majler, They are
devoted to ir;defatigable 1 oils and Hardihip du*
ring their whole Lite.

This was thefrjl Injiitution of the Janizaries,
though, through the Corruption of the Times,
they have much degenerated from their primiti've
Rules. But thou, who art honoured with an iuj-/^
Command, wilt fignalize thy \irtueand Loyalty,
in reforming thefe Abufes, and in not fuffering the
College of Men of ^ar to become a Receptacle
of Rogues and Drones.

Such Diforders as thefe have promoted the in-
tejiine Broils of this Kingdom, I fay not that they
are the original Caufes ; yet 'tis a great Diminu-
tion of Sovereign Majejly, when a King Ihall find
his own Armies fighting againft him, as they dio
at prefent here in France. How many Muti-
.nies acd Rebellions have been rais'd by the licen-

tioui

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Parts. 187

tious ya>:ixartes at Coyijlantinople ; when, laying
aftde all Refpeftand Duty, they have not fpar'd
to violate the Seraglio itfelf ; but, entering within
thofe fncred Walls with Bands of armed Men,
have turn'd all Things Topfey-Turvey, feizcd oa
the Imperial Treafure, chang'd the Domejiick Of-
ficers of their Sovereign, and fometimes chas'd
him from his own Palace, to the Hazard, if not
to the Lofs of his Life?

If thou would' ft know what they are doing
here in France, the Men of ^rms are cutting one
another's Throats, whillt the Rabble are burning
their Neighbours out of their Houfcs.

Two Days ago, the Multitude affembled in the
Streets, and, having befet a certain Palace in this
City, they put Fire to it, refolving to kill all that
ihould atempt to make their Efcape out of the
Flames. A Perfon of ^ality, coming OHt to
pacify them, fell a VicJim to their unbridled Rage:
And had not the Duke oi Bequford (of whom I
have often made mention in my Letters) interpos'd
his Authority, they had murder'd all that were
within thofe fufpeded Walls.

Sometime before this, the Marefchal turerine
took a Place of Strength from the Prince of Condei
who in lieu of it took St. Denys, a Town not far
from Paris, wherein there is a Temple, which, the
French fay, is the richeft in Europe. But they are
laagh'dat by the Italians, who boaft of far richer
Mofques in Venice, Milan, Naples, and Rome.

The Duke of Lorrain plays faft and loofe with
the Prince of Conde. Heenter'd the Kingdom with
an Army, pretending to efpoufe the PW^e's Quar-
rel, but was quickly brought oiFby the ^een, fo
that he is now gone to Flanders z^xn ; by this Ac-
tion leaving a free Paflage to the King's Army un-
derlilarefchalTurenne to range whither they pleafe,
which were before block'd up by his Forces.

Four

i88 'L-ET TER5 Writ by Vol. IV.

Four Days ago there was a bloody Encounter
between the 7 roops of the Prince and thofe of
Mare/chat Turcnne, in one of the Suburbs oi Pa-
ris. Neither could boaft of the Viftory, tho' the
Battle lalted five Hours ; But at length, the Prince
of CoKiie^s Troops retir'd into the City, being
frighten'd with the main Body of the King's Ar-
my, which appeared on the neighbouring Hills.

Illuftricus Janizary, fortify thy Heart with all
the neceflary Retrenchments of beroick Virtue ;
and, rather than furrender to Temptations of
Vice on difhonourable Terras, run the Hazard
of a Storm.

Paris, ()th of the 'jth Moony
of the Tear 1652,

LETTER VII.

to Nathan Ben Saddi, a Jew at
Vienna.

WE are altogether by the Ears in this King-
dom, killing, burning, and deftroying one
another, whilft you in Germany enjoy abun-
dance of Peace. The Occafion of our Quarrels
here is, the Return of Cardinal Mazarini,
againft whom the Duke of Orleans and Prince of
Conde are inveterate Enemies. The former is de-
clared Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom by the
Parliament of Paris ; who give it out, that the
King is Cardinal Mazarini''^ Prifoner. They
have alfo beftow'd the Command of all Forces un-
der the Authority of the faid Duke, on the
Prince of Conde.

Their

Vol. rV. ^Spy ^7/ Paris. 189

Their principal and only Pretence, is the Remo-
val of the Cardinal from the King and his Council.
What will be the lifue. Time will demonltrate.

There has been a Duel lately fought, between
the Dukes of Beaufort and Nemours, two eminent
Friends to the Prince of Conde.

The King going to a Town call'd Pontoife, fome
Leagues from Paris, drew a great many Counfel-
lors and Prejidejits of Parliament thither ; Men
who are loyal and ftedfail to his Caufe. This en-
couraged the King to put forth a Declaration,
commanding the Parliament to meet at Pontoife.
They, on the other fide, publifli'd an Arreji
againll this Declaration. Thus they continue Pi-
quering one at another.

But here is News arriv'd from Cologne, which
furprizes People very much. I know not the true
Ground of their Allonifhment ; but the Priejh
feem to be mad for Joy, All that I can hear
about it is, the Reftoration of the Roman Catho-
lick Religion in that Province, which is a Novelty
unexpefted ; efpecially the Ecclejjaf id Grandeur,
which, it feems, has been laid afide above thefe
hundred Years. I tell thee only as I am inform'd
myfelf: It lies in thy Power to certify me of
the Truth of Matters.

They fay alfo. That the famous General yo/jn
cie Werdt is dead ; as likewife the Archbishop of
Tre'ves. It is added. That Frankendal is furren-
der'd to the Eledor of Heidelberg, according to
the late Agreement at Munjier ; and that there is
a £)/>/ begun at Ratishon.

I defire thee to inform me of all thefe Things
particularly, and of whatfoever elfe occurs in the
Court where thou refideft.

As to Matters of Religion, be not over fedulous :
Piety is corapriz'd in a few Rules. Yet the Soul
oi Man i$ naturally Inquifuive, and would fain be

acquainted

ipo Letters P^rit hy Vol. IV.

acquainted with all Things. I advife thee to caft
thy Eyes frequently on the Earth that is under
thy Feet ; furvey the Groves and Fields, the
Mountains and Vallies, Rocks and Rivers : Then
look up to the Heavens, and take a ftedfatt View
of the Stars ; confider the Beauty and Order of
all Things : And after this tell me, if thou can'll
imagine. That the great and immenfe Creator of
this ijuonderful Fabrick form'd all the Nations of
the Earth to damti 'em eternally, fave only thofe
of your Race.

Son oi J/rael, I wifli thee heartily adieu.

« Paris, 1 1 th of the %th Moon,
of the Tear 1652,

LETTER VITI.

^0 the Kaimacham.

np H E Varljlans feem to be all in a Dream or

■*■ Trance : They know not what they fay or
do, or at leaft they care rot : Such is the im-
menfe Joy for the Return of the King to this City.
The Steps to this fudden Change, were the reti-
tiring of Cardinal Mazarini from theCoar/j which
was ieconded wkh a. Declaraticn oi Indemnity, or
VLge?!era I Pardon for all that had paffed during
thefe Troubles, fave fome particular Referves,
Sacrilege, Fires, and fuch like. This worked
ftrangely on the Inhabitants of Paries. But the
Prince of Ccvde not finding any Satisfadion, as to
his own Perfon in this Jihnejly, calTd in the Duke
of Lor rain'' s Army to his Affillance. Thefe re-
duc'd the King't Forces to fo great a Streight and

Extre-

Vol. IV. aSpY aiFAKis. 191

Extremity, that the Parliament, being fenfible of
the Advantage, made ufe of it, and fent Deputies
to the King^ befeedhing him to continue in the
fame good Refolution he had taken before tliis
Misfortune.

The Monarch fuffer'd himfelf to be overcome,
by a Violence mix'd with fo much Submiffion,
and yielded to their Requefts. Immediately the
Hearts of the Prince of Conde^s Friends grew
cold, and began to change their Sentiments. In
a Word, they were refolved to defert their new
Majier, and caft themfelves at the Feet of their
lawful Sovereign. The Grandees, who had mod
affedled ConJe^s Intereft, laid down their Offices.
The Foreign Armies of Spaniards and Lorrainert
retired out of the Kingdom. The Citizens of Pa-
ris fent a Deputation, confiding of Sixty-fix Per-
/o>!s of Honour, to invite the King to the City,
and affure him of their future Allegiance. All
tht Officers of tht Militia did the like. The King
being fati^fy'd with the timely Penitence of his
SubjeSls, and having commanded fome prepara-
tory Alterations in Places of T^rufi, entered this
City on the Twenty-firft of the lafl Moon, with
the Joy and Acclamation which could exprefs
the Love of his People, and the Regret they had
laboured under during his Abfence.

Thou feeft, illuftrious Minijier, that though by
the Artifices of a Faction a King may be rendered
odious to his SubjeSls, be banifhed from his
Palace, and have theGates of his Cities (hut againll
him, as befel to this King ; Yet the Inconvenien-
ces they feel, in taking up Arms againft hio), foon-
er or later bring them to Repentance ; and they
are glad to court his Return, whom but awhile
ago they forced away by their Undutifulnefs, to
gratify the Ambition of a bold young Prince of
the Bloody who promifed, and ventured all things

in

192 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

in hopes of a Croivtt. For it cannot be fuppofed.
That the Prince of Cor/de had lefs Aims when he
firft began this War ; tho' his Pretences were fpe-
cious, only to remove Cardinal Mazarini, and
other evil Minijiers from the King, and to proteft
the French from the Machinations of Spanijh and
Italian Counfels ; whilfl. it is evident, That all
along he and his Party have been fupported by
the Kiitg of Spain in their Rebellion. One would
wonder how the French, a fenfible and witty A«-
thiH, could be thus impofed upon. But the Jirabi- .
an Pr<n.'erb fays, There are none fa blind, as thofe
that luilfullyjhut their Eyes.

Yet whateverStupidity reigns among l\\tFranks\
methinks nothing but Light and Realon ought to
appear in the Adions of the MuJJulmans. Ism
confounded to hear of the Rebellions in Syria and
Egypt. Will they never give Reft to the Banner
of the Prophet! Muft \.\\e Jupretne Minijierhe ever
employ'd in proclaiming the KiJIraun: F What
Offence has been given to the BaJ/ii of Datnajcus,
or to him of Cairo ?

Sage Prejidtnt of the Imperial Cit-t, I am
abafti'd before the hfdels, when I hear thefe /ra-
j'fV<?/ Reports out of the Eaji.

But what can be expeded, when the Manners
of the Faithful are quite eitranged from thofe of
their Fathers? The Mufu/fnans almoil out- do the
Franks m Vice and Debauchery.

When thou readell this, draw thy Scymiiar and
make a Scabbard of the next Man who mutters a
Word againft our laiiful So-zereign.

Paris, iSthcf the <^th Moon ^
of tie Year 1651.

LET-

Vol. IV^ ^Spy^/ Paris. 193

LETTER IX.

^0 Dgnet Oglou.

T Tell thee, I am neither melancholy nor merry
-*■ but in a kind of mungrel Humour, between
both. I am lialf Democrittis, and t'other half
Heraclitus i being equally difpos'd to laugh and
weep r.t the Vanity of all Things here below.
That Thought touches me fenfibly, yet not
enough to carry me into Extremes. The Mi-
fcry and Happinefs of the whole Life of Mor-
tals, are Themes fcarce worth a Paffion. What-
ever we endure as an £1;//, or poflefs as a Good,
are both fo lliort, that as the one reed not fink us
to an Excefs of Grief, fo neither docs the other
deferve a Paroxifm of Joy. A Sigh or a Tear are
enough for the firft, and a Smile is too muck
for the lalt. My Mind at prefcnt is an jE^ui-
librium.

What fignifies the Birth of the greateft Mo-
narchy or that he can boall of a long Defccnt of
Kings, his Progenitors ? He is born to Labour
and Trouble as well as other Men ; and all the
charming Pleafures that attend a Craivn are fcarce
fufficient to recompenfe his Cares and Fatigues,
his Hazards and Toils, and the perpetual Rifques
he runs both in Peace and War.

If from the Cradle he make an early Step to .i
Throne, 'tis but a meek Honour to be c/cu^i^J
with a Wreath of Briars, fquecz'd and prefi'd in-
to his tender Temples by the deceitful Hands of
his Guardians and Miniilers, who ftrive only to
lay the Foundation of their own Honour in his
Ruin, by improving the Time of his Minority,
and making Opprellion chymical ; that, during
K. their

194 Letters Writ by Vol. IV.

their prefent Authority, they may expefl the Life
and Elixir of his Subjedls Wealth, and hoard it in
their own Coffers, leaving only the Lees to him
when he comes of Age, and thefe generally com-
pounded with the 111 will of his People. I wifti
the Cafe prove not the fame in our prefent Sove-
reign Sultan Mahomet ; who, thou knoweft, was
lifted to his Father's Throne before his Time, and
by Methods which cannot be juilify'd. It was
the Mufti^ Plot, who is the Oracle of the La'vjs ;
and fo the MuJJulmans acquiefced. But mark the
End ; fuch Treafons feldom efcape unpunifhed.
Tho' Sultan Ibrahim was depos'd and imprifon'd,
(not to mention that which grates the Ears of any
loyal Ottoman) though his eldeft Son be placed on
his Throne to ierve the Ends of a FaQion ; yet a
Younger than he may live to revenge the Wrongs
that were done to his Father, and reftore the £;w-
//r^ of the Faithful to its priftine Grandeur. There
are now above three Years elaps'd fmce the
Change Affairs at the Seraglio. In the mean
Time, doft thou notobferve the Difcontents of the
People ? Is there not a general Coldnefs and Neu-
trality to bedifcern'd in the Converfation of thofe
who, at firft, were moft forward to approve the
^Jufti't Proceedings ? Men begin every where
to ref.eiSl on the prefent Re^jolution, and its fatal
Confequences. The Venetian War, they fay, has
qnite impoverifh'd the Empire. Decay of Trade,
Want of Money, and a Thoufand other Things
are the daily Complaintsin Confantinople : This
I am told from very good Hands, Men of fe-
veral Nations, Merchants who trade in that
City, Perfons altogether unbyafs'd. They, as
Strangers, have been inquifitive, during their
Rcfidence there, into the Humours of the People,
to find how the MuJ/ulmans Hand affedled to the
prelent State of the Ottoman Affairs. I who ap-
prove

Vol. rV. aSpY atFAKis. ig^

prove not the Prefumption cf thofe InfJels, yet
make ufe of it to inform myfelfof feveral material
PafTages, which I could not othenvife learn at this
Dillance from the auguji Port.

They tell me, Th6 Sokliers murmur that fo
many thoufands of Men have been facrific'd iti
Candia and Daimatia ; whilll what they gain in
the IJlandt\\zy lofe on the Continent : for it feems,
the Venetians are Itill too hard for us oneway or
other. They grumble alfo for Want of their du?
Pay, and that they have not Bread enough to
keep 'em from ftarving. A certain Greek affur'd
me, he had heard feveral of the Spahi'% fwear fo-
lemnly. That it was agreed among them, not
to go into Daimatia the next Campaign. But this
I took as a Strain of the Grecian''^ natural Faculty
who, thou knoweft, are much given to Roman-
cing. However I hear enough both from them
and other Travellers of £(i/?and Wejl, to convince
me, That fome of the Grandees at the Imperial
City are in a tottering Condition.

AH which ferves but to confirm my firft Dif-
courfe, that hardly any Thing on Earth is worth.
a Thought, fince all Things are of fo fhort Du-
ration.

In a Word, the World feems to be a Garden in-
termingled with Rofes and Weeds. The yf^y? are fo
clofe encompafi'd with Thorns, That aMan can-
not gather 'em without wounding himfelf : Aqd,
if there be more Eafe in cropping the latter, yet
they are unwholefome, and {link j putting a Man
to as frequent Purifications, as the Times he
touches 'em.

Let thou and I, dear Dgnet, pafs along the Alleys
of this Garden, view her Beauties and Deformities
with an even Mind ; not putting ourfelves to
the Fatigue of gathering her Flonxiers, or fufFering
ourfelves to be tempted with htv/ifter Plea/ures.
K % BuC

ig6 Letters B^rit hy . Vol. IV.

But let every Thing we fee and hear in this en-
chanted Grcund ferve the Ends of our Contem-
plation, being ftedfaflly mindful of this Truth,
7hat all thofe 7hhigi, tvl.ich appear fo gay and full
of Charms, are nothing but mere empty IdtiCs and
fieetir.g Shad(yivs of that fubjlantial and perma-
nent Plea fur e ixhich has her Rejidence only, in
Paradife.

Thou may'ft tell the Kaimacham, our Friend,
that now the King of France begins to play the
Monarch on the bottom of his own Wit and Cou-
rage, without the Affiflance or Counfel of Tutors.
He has brought the Parliament to an abfolute
Compliance with his Will, having purged that Se-
nate of difaftedcd Member?, and banifh'd from
the Court the Duke of Orleans, who pretended a
Right to rule his Sovereign. In the mean'f ime, the
Prince of Conde has taken Re the I, and. ^l.Menebcud,
whilll Barcelona is furrender'd to the Spaniards.
Thus what is gain'd in one Point,is lofl in another.
Doubtlefs there is nothing liable on Earth.

Paris, %th of the wth Moon,
of the Tear 1652.

LETTER X.

^0 Melee Amet.

TH Y Adventure, and miraculous Efcape
ever the Danube, put me in mind of a
certain French 'Nobleman of the Prince of Condt^s
Party, who laft Summer being clofely purfu'd
by fume of ihe King'i Hnrfe, and himfelf excel-
lently mounted, kap'd Hedges and Ditches to

avoid

Vol. IV. « Spy <?/ Paris. 197

avoid Captivity. At length they had chas'd him
into the Corner of the Land, from whence it was
impoffible for him to efcape but by fwimming
o'er a fmall Arm of the Sea. What Rifques wiil
not a Man run for the Love of Liberty ? This
Perfon, like an o'er-heated Stag, perceiving his
Hunters clofeat his Heels, boldly leap'd on Horfe-
back into the Sea, chufing rather to perifh in the
Waters, than to fall inco his Enemies Hands.

None were fo hardy as to follow him through
the uncertain Waves. However, his Horfe, being
of matchlefs Strength, carried him fafe over to
the oppofite Shore. As foon as he arrived at the
next Town, where he hnd many Friends, he re-
lated this wonderful Paffage. But, inftead of che-
rifhing his Hor/e for fo faithful and invaluable a
Service, he drew his Sword, and immediate!/
kili'd the Bead that fav'd his Life, faying, He
did it for the Sake of Fame, being refolv'd that
his Horfe fhould never perform the like Service
to any other Mortal.

This was an ungrateful Caprice, and far from
the Morality of Sultan Selim, the Son of Bajazef^
who, when his trulty Hor/e Cai-abulu: had once
fav'd his Life by his extraordinary Swiftnefs ; he,
in Token of his Th inkfulnefy, built a Stable on
purpofe for him in a large Enclofure of Mea-
dows allowing a Pcnfton to a Groom to wait on
the meritorious Bcaji, and give him his free De-
light in all Things as long as he liv'd, com-
manding that he (houkl never more be forced to
labour or travel. And, to compleat the Happ>
nefs of the Beaji, he cuU'd out iome of the beau-
tiful'il Mares of Arabia to accompany him, charg-
ing aifo, that the Doors of the Stable fhculd be
always open for the Horje to go in or out, and
range when and where he pleas'd. 7 his was a
Gentrofity worthy of an Enjhrn Moaarc/?, whom,
K 3 as

198 Letters ^^r/V ^3' Vol. IV.

?t thy Letter informs me, thou haft in Part imi-
tated.

But fuch is foine Mens Ambition and vain
Defire to be talk'd of, that they care not by what
barbarous Methods they accomplifh their Aim :
It was a Motive of this Nature which tempted
Erofiratus to fet Fire to the famous Temple of
Epbeftis ; which had been two hundred Years in
building, and was numbered among the Seven
ly^onders of the World.

This happen'dcn the very Night that Alexan-
der the Great was born. And the Villam being
ask'd, why he committed fo deftrudive a Sacri-
Ugt, anfwer'd, " That it was to acquire an im-
*' mortal Fame by fo ftupendous a Wickednefs,
*' fince he could not hope to be recorded for his
" Virtue.

Plutarch mentions a Jeft that was made on this
Deftrudion o{ Diana's Temple. For it was com-
mon in every Body's Mouth, That the Goddefs be-
ing call'd that Night to the Labour of Oljmpiasy
the Mother of Alexander, could not be prefcnt at
Home to fave her Houfe from burning. For the
Gentiles believ'd. That Diana (whom they alfo
call'd Lucina) was invifibly affiflant at the Birth of
Children.

However, the Priefis made no Jeft on't ; but
ran up and down howling and making Gafhes in
their Flefti, prefaging, that Fate was that Day bu-
fy'd in figning the Decree of y^a's Ruin. This
is certain, that that very Night the Man was
born who was deftin'd to fubdue all AJia, and
rn the Ruins of the Perfian Empire raife the
Monarchy of the Macedonians. However, the
Villain who burnt the Temple had not his Defire ;
for it was decreed throughout all Ajla, that his
Name fhould never be mentioned in /////(?;j, or
any publick Writings.

It

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris. 199

It is recorded of a certain Governor of a City
in Italy, that being on the Top of an high.
Toiver with only the Pope^ the German Emperor ,
and an Ambajfador from Venice in his Company,
he was tempted to throw the two former over
the Battlements, as they were taking a Survey of
the City ; which he might have eafily done, for
they were both aged, and incapAblc of refilling
his Strength. This Pafflige he confefs'd to his
ghoflly Father ; and being ask'd, what induced
him to think of fuch a horrid Trea/on ? He an-
fwer'd, '• That it might be faid. He did a Thing
" which never was done before, nor in all proba-
" bility would ever be done again; fince noPrince,
" having heard fuch a Story, would ever venture
" himfelf into the fame Danger without a fuffici-
" ent Guard of his own." But however, he ha4
not Refolution enough to go thro' with his Proje6>.

1 hear thou art like to acquire Fame by other
Methods than thefe, being in a fair Way to rife
by thy Virtues to fome confidcrable Employments
in the Empire ; for which I equally rejoice with
thyfelf.

In the mean Time 'twill perhaps be obliging to
tell thee fome News out of thefe Parts j which will
make thy Company welcome to the Grandees :
They love to converfe with Men who can furnilh
'em with Intelligence of Foreign Affairs.

The frefheft Difcourfe, here, is of the Impri-
fonment of the Cardinal de Rett, who was arrell-
ed by the AT/^g-'s Order on the nineteenth of thig
Moon. What his Crime is 1 cannot inform thee,
unlefs it be that he is an Enemy toCardinal Ma-
Tcarini. People generally give him the Character
of a very honeft Man ; but thou know'ft Honefiy
is counted a Vice in the Courts of thefe Wejlern
Princes. The Crafty are the only Men of Virtut
and Merit among the Infidels.

K 4 Thou

200 Letters TFrit by Vol. IV.

Thou m.iy'll alfo report for a Certainty, That
the Spaniards have taken Dunkirk'm Flaniiers,2irA
Cazal in the Dukedcn of Mantua. This Tonvnis
faid to be the Key of all Italy : I cannot tell thee
which is the Lock it belongs to ; nor, I believe,
they themfelves. But this I obferve, that when
the KiJig of France fits down before any Place
with his Army, whoever has the Key, neither
Locks nor Bolls can keep him oat long. And 'tis
fen to one if he do not find an Entrance into this
Place ag?.in very fpeedily, when the Spanijh King
has pleas*d himfelf for a while with an imaginary
Poffeffion of it.

I conclude my Letter jufl at the Hour when
the eld Year expires, according to the Account
of the Cbrijlians, wilhins thee a Scene of Ninu
reJicihes.

Paris, "i^^Jiof the \ 2th Moon,
of tie Tear 1652.

LETTER XI.

To the fame.

HAving the Opporrunity of a Day or two
more before the Poji goes out of Town,
1 make ufe of it to ask thee, Whether there be
any Notice taken in your Parts of a Comet newly
nppenrir.g above the Orh of the Sun ? It has not
been cblerv'J here till within thefe few Nights.
And the AJlroncmers, notwithftanding ihe'CcH-
nefs of the Scafon (which I alFure thee is ftiarp
enough) are very bufy with their Tele/copes to
pry into the Figure of this Meteor, and obferve its

Motions.

Vol. IV. ^SpY^/PaRIS. 201

Motions. They take great Pains, and endure all
the Rigour of Froft and Snow, in hopes of making
fome new Difcovery.

The Vulgar look on it as a great Prodigy ;
There are a Thoufand Opinions among them
about its Confequences : Every Body fees up for
z judicial Mjlrologer. Nay, the Learned x.}\cm(e\\tSt
and fuch as are elleem'd ^t2XPhilofophers, cannoc
agree in their Judgment concerning it. Some
affert that the Matter of the Hea'vens is fubjedl
to Corruption and Change, and that this Comet is
generated after that Manner : Whilft others hold a
contrary Opinion. They are all divided, and dif-
pute hotly in as unintelligible Terms as the Lan^
guages of America are to us of this Continent,
They amufe one another, and themfelves.withfar-
fetch'd Words : And all this while, for aught I
know, the wifeft among 'em may be as much
under a Miftake as thofe who never ftudy'd fuch
Things. All the Inftruments of the Opticks are
fought out to help their Sight ; and yet they may
be as much in the Dark as the Men in Plato'iCa've,
It is an Article of my Faith, that we Mortals
know very little of thofe far-diftant Beings. But
thefe Franks are the moll opiniated People in
the World : No Man has the Modefty to allow
another as much Right to Reafon as himfelf.
Every one fets up for a Dogmatift, and requires the
Intelleds of all others to be refign'd to his j the*
perhaps that be only form'd by the Rules of his
Parents, the Impreflions of his early Years, the
Force of Education, the Falhion of his Country,
or by fome notable Accident in his Life : Ail
which are equally liable to Falihood and Truth.
How many Seils were there of the ancient Philo-
fopkers, ftifHy defending their fevcral Opinions ?
One fays, the Hea'vens are made of Brafs ; ano-
ther of Iron ; a third of Smoke. This will
K 5 have

'202 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

have *em to be folid, that fluid : There is no End
of their Controverfies.

In the mean Time no Man knows what they
are made of, or what is the Figure of the World i
whether round or fquare, or beyond all Dimenfi-
ons ; whether Matter be divifible or indivifible in
the laft /^tom. Who can affure me, if there be
only one World, or whether there may not as well
be a thoufand Millions ? Whether the Stars be
Opake Bodies as this Earth, and inhabited, or no ?
I tell thee again, there is no Certainty of thefe
Things. Man's Senfes are too weak, his Imagina-
tion too frail, and all his Faculties far too ftiort
to comprehend the Works of the Otnnipotenty who
alone is nfjife zvAperfcSi in Science.

Wilt thou have my Opinion of this Comet ? I
am apt to think 'tis fome fuch Globe of combujiibie
Matter as our Earth appears to be, and perhaps
burJen'd with as •a\zx\y Sinners, that either by
the Ccur/e of Nature, or Decree of Dejliny, the
xnclos''d Fire has broke its Bounds, and fpread its
confuming Flame o'er the Surface; which embody-
ing thcmielves in the Pyramid of Smoke, arifing
from fo vaft a Coj:^a£ration,c?iuk that Jppearance
which we call the Tailoi a B/azing-Star And,
for aught I know, after the fame Manner fhall all
our G/obe appear to the Inhabitants of thofe re-
mote Worlds at our Day of Judgment.

I am not pofitive in thefe Matters, nor will I
fhut up my Soul from future Lights ; but leaving
Things as I find 'em, full of Myltery and double
Faces, I will expeft no better Fate than that of
Socrates, That as I have liv'd, fo fhall I die in
Doubt, only hoping for plenary Satisfaftion in
the next World.

i^aris, 2d cf the \Jl Moon,
of the Tear » 65 2 .

LET-

Vol. IV. /z Spy «/ Paris. 203

LETTER XII.

To Pefteli-Hali, his Brother^ Mafter of
the Grand Seignior'j Cuftoms.

NO W thou beginneft to reap the Fruit of thy
Tra'uels : May'ft thou live to have a /u/J
Hawejl. I efteem myfelf infinitely obliged to the
illujirious Bajfa, our Countryman, for this parti-
cular Friendinip in this Bufinefs. 'Tis true, thy
own Merits were a fufficient Recommendation,;
But what Light can a Candle give that is fhut up
clofe in a dark Lanthom ? So thick was the Veil,
which thy own Mode fly had drawno'er the 5^/f«-
dor of the moft accomplifh'd Virtues.

Son of my Mother, let not what I have iaid
pafs for the Words of a Flatterer. Thou knoweft
I am as free from that Vice, as I am from Envy.
'Tis Affeftion only guides my Pen, when I tell
thee, I heartily rejoice in my Brother's Profperi-
ty ; and that the Grand Seignior has a faithful
Sernjant. I hope that So<vereign ofSovereigm will,
in time, find Reafons to acknowledge to the no-
ble Kerker Hajfan the good Office he has done
him, in prefenting fuch a Slave. Let no £rr9r
of thine baulk my Expeftation.

'Twill be an eternal Honour to the Houfe and
Tribe from which we delcend, if, by acquitting
thyfelf fairly in this Poll, our "great Alafler fliaU
think thee worthy of a more fublime Station.
Therefore efteem this only as a 'TVya/ of thy Fide'
Uty, and how far thou art capable of ferving the
Sultan. Be induftrious but not afFefted in dif-
clofing thy Abilities. Obferve a Gradation ; for
the flowell Steps of Greatnefs are the moft fecure.
Aim not to be rich and mighty on a fudden.
K 6 Swift

2-64 Letters Writ by Vol. IV.

fwift Rifcs are often attended with precipitate
Falls. If in other Cafes 'tis commendable to be
niggardly of Time, ard fquecze every Minute
to an Improvement of Virtue ; yet thou wilt find
it expedient to follow other Maxims, in the Way
of growing Great : And that to be liberal, in
Years of Patience, will be no unprofitable Fru-
gality in the main ; fince what is fooneft got, is
generally fhort in the PofTeffion ; and he, that mo-
nopolizes Hor.ours or Wealth, is moil times en-
vied to his Ruin.

Nature itfelf (hall convince thee of this, if thou
wilt but contemplate her moft olnious Works. Call
thy Eye on the Oak among the Plants : What
Vegetable is more permanent, Or of greater Ser-
vice to Men ? Yet the Tree of fo vaft a Bulk, in
whofe aged hollow Trunk I have feen fixteen
Men fitting round a Table, under whofe wide-
fpread Branches the H^ufe of Erom Eh'tsiel Eben
Sherophaim, the f iff Emir oi Arabia , is built and
ftands at this Day. I fay, this Tree, in its firft
Original, was not fo big as the Thumb of thy Right
Hand : And, if Naturalijis fpeak Truth, 'twas
a Hundred Years a growing to thefe Dimenfions,
as many in a fix'd and flourifhing Condition, and
that it will not take up a lefs Time in decaying
to its laft RotctJinefs,

They f^y alfa. That an Elephant, the biggeil
and (Irorgeit of all the Bettjis on the Earth, lives
two hundred Years, and continues encreafing in
its Suture the grea eft Part of that Term. The
like they relate of Crocodiles and Dragons.

But not to tire thee-with Examples of this Na-
ture, let us conf;der, that whatfoever is great
md durable : mong Men, whatfoever is illuftrious
and excellent, is (lew in the Produdion, and
makes not hrdy Le;:ps to Maturity, View all
the I/Ionard'us that have made fo much Noife on

Earthy

Vol. IV. aSpY^/ Paris. 105

Earth, and thou wilt find, that, in Proportion to
the Time of their growing Greatnefs, was the
Term of their Duration. How fwift was the Rife
and Fall of the Perjian Empire ? Equally precipi-
tate was that of the Macedonians. None could
everboart of fo permanent and univerfal a Sway as
the City of Rome, of which it is commonly faid,
Rome ivas not l>uilt in a Day.

To come nearer Home : How lafting and per-
petually vidorious is the /acred Empire of the
Muffulmans ? Yet it took its Rife from very
fmall Beginnings, met with frequent Repulfes, and
has made a flow Progreflion to the ^xtitnt formi-
dable Height of Sovereign Ponjuer it now pofleffes :
For, thou knoweft, this is the thoufandth, fixti-
eth and third Year, fmce the ^i3/)» F//^-^/ of the
Meffenger of G o D.

What I have faid may be apply'd, with Pro-
portion to Mens perfonnl Advances in the Honours
and Fortunes of this World. Be content therefore
with thy Seafons wherein Defiiny ftiall think ft to
raife thee, and ftrive not to out-run thy Fate.

All the News I can tell thee is, that Cardinal
Mazarini returned the 13th of the laft Moon from
his fecond Banifhment ; which thou mayll report
for a Truth to the Minifers of State.

We are all Exiles here on Earth. God reftore
us to a Region more agreeable, and admit ps to
the Careffes of our Friends in Paradife.

Paris, i^th of the ^d Mcon,
of the Tear 1 65 3 .

LET-

2o6 L5 T T E Rs Writ hy Vol. IV,

LETTER XIII.

To Kerker Haffan, Bafia.

THE Bleffings of God and his Prophets de-
fcend upon thee from a thoufand Sources.
Thou art a true Friend, and our whole Family
are obliged to thee for Favours which have
no Number : But none more than my Bro-
ther and I J Our Engagements to thee are equal j
fmce what Kindnefs thou haft fhewed to him,
in recommending him to the Sultan's Favour,
and to a Place of Honour and Trofit, I take as
done to myfelf, we being naturally Sharers in
each other's Profperity, or adverfe Fortune ; for
fuch is the Method of ftrift Relations and Friend'
fiips. And I have a particular Reafon to thank
thee, becaufc it was at my Inllance thou promo-
ted'ft him. Yet, tho' he is my Brother, I fhould
not be fo partial as to fay thefe Things in his be-
half, did I not know him to be a Man of Merit.
For Places of Truft ought not to be beftow'd for
Favour or AiFeftion. We are bound to facrifice
all pri'vate Regards to the Interefi of the Grand
Seignior ; and not a£l like the French, who get
Officers of the greateft Importance many times
hy being of a Fa8ion, or Tarty, oppolite to their
King.

Since the Return of Cardinal Ma%arini to this
Court, which was in the foregoing Mocn, the
King has reform 'd many Abuies of this kind. He
begins to feel his own Strength and Authority
cv'ry Day more and more.

In theMww oi December 6y''diCardinal Richlieu^s
Brother, who was Bijhop of Lyons, ?.nd Grand
Almoner of France. The King has beftow'd thefe

Honourj

Vol. IV. ^Spy at Paris. 207

Honours on Cardinal Antonio Barberini, who
took SanStuary in this Court, from the Perfecu-
tions of the prefent Roman Pontiff, almoft ten
Years ago. He has always efpoufed the King of
France's Intereft in Rome. And the grateful Mo-
narch received him with much AfFeftion ; and,
as an additional Honour, has made him a A^w/^/^/
of the Holy Spirit. This is the chief eji Order of
Knighthood in France.

It is frelhly reported here, that the Duke of
Ne'wburgh , a great Prince in Germany, is dead.
They talk of certain Prodigies that have been
lately feen in England, Ireland, and other Parts
of Europe ; as raining of warm Blood, Tin, and
Copper. And 'tis affirmed for certain, that three
Suns were lately feen at Dublin, the chief City of
Ireland.

There has been a Sea-Combat between the En-
glijh and Hollander son the Coaft of Italy. Where-
in they fay the Dutch had the Viflory, having
funk two of their Enemies Ships, and taken one,
without any conliderable Lofs on their own
fide.

Here is no other News ftirring at prefent
worth the Knowledge of a Muffulman Grandee.
The Eyes of all the Wefiem Nazarenes are fix'd
on that Refuge of the World where thou refideft,
and on the Actions of our invincible Vizir in
Candia.

They difcourfe of fome Overtures of Peace
which that great General has made to the Vene-
tians, if they will forthwith furrender the City of
Candia to the njiiiorious Ofmans.

If this be true, one would think fo great
Clemency muft needs tempt the proud Infidels to
SubmiJJion and Compliance. But, if Dejiiny has
otherwife decreed, I wilh they may feel the Force
•f our Arms, which appear more keen than

even

2o8 Letters TVrit hy Vol. IV.

even the Scythe of Time, that Devourer of all
Things.

Paris, I \th of the ^d Moon,
of the Tear 1653.

LETTER XIV.

Tb Nathan Ben Saddi, a Jew at
Vienna.

TH Y laft Letter fpeaks thee at once willing
to be enlightened, yet tenacious of thy old
FrepoffeJJions. I wonder not at the Difficulty thou
findeft in fhaking off the Precepts of thy RabbPs,
thofe Religious ^riflers. The Influence of Educa-
tion \i as forcible as that of our Birth: And the
Habits that are rooted in us in our tender Years are
harder to be difplanted. than tht inherent Affec'
tions of our Blood: This is fignified by the Ara-
bian Proverb, which fays, T^he Tutors of Youth
have an Afcendant over the Stars of their Na-
tivity.

I know it has been efteem'd the peculiar Glory
of thy Nation, that you have been rigid Obfer-
vers of the Traditions of your Fathers : From
which, rather ihan deviate a I'ittle, there have
not been wanting fuch as freely expos'd them-
felves, and have bravely endur'd Racks, Scourg-
ing?, Burnings, and all forts of Torments, even
the moftexquifitely cruel Deaths, that the Malice
of Tyrants could invent. But do not I know alfo
that, in feme of the moft weighty Points of your
Laiv, your Zeal has exceeded your Prudence ?
I fpeak not of the private Bigotry of one Man,
or a ffvo ; but of the Reprefentative Body of
your whole Nation, How foolifhly fuperllitiaus

were

Vol. IV. a Spy af Faris. 209

were your Armies in the Days of Mattathias,
when being aflkulted by their Enemies on the Sab-
bath-Day, they refufed to draw a Sword in their
own Defence, and fo were all cutofFby the Army
oi Antiochus ? This is no invidious Remark of your
Ad'verfaries in Religion, but the Obfcrvation of
Jofepkus, a Man of the fame Faith, and fprung
from the Stack of Ifrael as well as thyfelf.

Now tell me thy Opinion, didyour Fa/^tr/do
well in thus facrificing themfelves and the whole
Intereft of Ifrael to a miftaken PunSiilio of that
Obedience they ow'd the Lniv, or no ? If thou
allowed the former, then Mattathias did wicked-
ly in making a Decree, that from thenceforth it
Ihould be lawful on the Sabbath- Day to refift
their Enemies ; and all the ye-ivs were guilty of
many notorious Breaches cf the Laiv, in obey-
ing this Decree, and fighting on the Sabbath-Day :
But if thou fay'rt, they did ill in not fighting,
tho' at a prohibited Time, and prohibited under
the feverell Curfes, then it follows, that there is
no PoitJt of your iaiu which may not, nay, which
ought not to be difpenk J with, and give way
to the Interert of State, and the Good of the
Common-nxealth. So that,atthi3 rate, the Religion^
for which you are all fo zealous, will appear to
be but a Form of Gcvernmcnt, divinely contrived
for human Regards. I do not call in Quellion the
rniraculous Delivery of your Lanu on Mount Sinai.
SufFv-T me to plead without Sufpicion of Partiality :
I do not go about to invalidate the Tejiimony
cf Mojes and the Prophets. Doubtlefs the mc'jl
///]^-6 came down through i}\e Heavens, attended
wi'^h Myriads of Jngels, and thirty two thoufand
Chariots of Fire ; and, when he ftood on the Top
of the Mountain, the Rear of his Train had not
pafs'd the Silver Gates of the Myon. The Sun .-.p.
pear'd in his Circuit, as oaeaftonifti'd j he blulh'd,

and

210 Letters PFr'it hy Vol. IV.

and fled away from the eternal Brlghtvefs, not
able to endure the Lujlre of a Glary fo far furpaf-
fing his own. The Stats were dazzled at the ;w
mortal Splendor, and miftook their Courfe ; they
runagainft one another in their affrighted Careers.
And, as a lafting Memorial of t.h:it glorious De/c£Kt,
the Jngels left their bright hiprejfions of their
Footf.eps in the Path ; that heavenly Road is to
this Day diflinguifh'd from all the reil of the Sky
by its Whitenefs, which makes the Afirotiomers
call it The Milky Way.

The Nations of the Earth were amaz'd at the
tremendous Vifion and Noife ; for the Mountain
was all on Fire, whofe Flames reach'd up to the
Clouds, and its Smoak to the Mid-Heat'en. The
Globe trembled and quak'd at the dreadful Thun-
derings, and the Lightnit.gs penetrated the Myfs
cf Hell. The infernal Spirits were ftartledat the
uncouth Flajhes j and ask'd one another. If the Day
of Judgment ivere come ? The Waters hid them-
felves in their Fountains, and the Ocean utter'd a
deep Murmur. Every thing in Nature was fur-
priz'd with Wonder and Dread ; and Mofes him-
felf, when he came down from the Mountain^
was all transform'd into Light.

Thou feeft, Nathan, I am no Infidel, but believe
as thou doll, that the La^M of ^i}fes was brought
down from Hea'ven. But does it therefore follow,
that this Laiv is uni<verfal zn^ eternal? Can none
be faved but the Sons of Ifrael, and fuch as are
profelyted to their Religion ? Doubtlefs this is an
. Error as thou thyfelf wilt acknowledge, when
thou haft well examin'd the Matter, Remove
thy Poft a little, if it be only in Imagination :
Rife from the Feet of thy DoSors, who have in-
ftill'd into thee Prejudices againft all the Sons
of Adam, except thofe of your own Race. Stand
aloof ibr a while^ and look round about thee to

the

Vol. IV. a Spy at "Paris. 211

the four Winds ; but fix thine Eyes on the Eajl,
for from thence WiJ'dom takes her Origin. Did not
the fame Go^, who created the Jeijos^ alfo create all
the "Nations on the Earth ? And cand thou be fo
blind and obdurate as to think. That S(rjereignty
Merciful made fo many Millions of Souls on pur-
pofe to damn them ? Or that it fhall be imputed to
them for Sin, that they were not born of the Seed
d Jacob ? Was it in their Power to chufe the Fa-
ther that Ihould beget them, or the Mother that
fhould concei've them ? How abfiird are the Con-
fequences of this narrow Opinion ? It is an un-
pardonable Pride and Malice, thus to contema
and judge thofe that are compounded of the fame
Ingredients as yourfelves.

Doubtlefs God has fent Prophets into all Nati-
ons, to guide them into the right Way, and not in-
to the Way of Infidels. Thofe who believe the
Prophets, and obey their Precepts, Ihall be faved :
For they preach the Unity of the Divine EJfence,
the RefurreSfion of the Dead, the Day of Judg-
ment, the Joys oi Paradifc, and the Torments oi
the Deimn'd. They teach the Neceffity of Juftice,
Purity, and good Works ; exhorting all to prac-
tife the Golden Rule, without entangling their
Minds in endlefs Niceties, which are but the
Superfetation of Piety, the excrementitious Bur-
dens of a religious Life. Such are m^oft of the
troublefome and ridiculous Ceremonies obferved
by the Zealots of your Laiv, at which I have
known the wifer fort of Je^^s to laugh. Thefe lit-
tle Superjlitions, like unprofitable Suckers, exhauft
the Vitals of Religion, and leave it only zfaplefs
Trunk, from which no Fruit can be expeded.
Were they commanded in the Laifj of Mofes,{ome-
thing might be pleaded in their Defence; but, as
they are only tlie Dreams of yonr Rabbi's, a wife
Man would beware how he put on a needlefs

Yoke,

212 "Letters fFrii hy Vol IV#

Yoke, the Stratagem' o^ your crafty Guides, to
keep you in fubjeftion, and a fervile Awe of their
Authority, and a religious Timoroufnefs of yon
know not what.

Thy Letter replies to this by Anticipation : For
fuppofing that I fhculd argue thus, and charge you
with adding Traditions of your own to \\it pcjiti've
Jrjun^ionsof the Laiv, thou telleil me,That thofe
are greatly miftaken, who think that all which
was deliver'd to Mofes in the Mount was written
in the T^^o Tables, or comprizM even in the Penta-
teuch, as if the Prophet fpent thofe /or/y Days and
Nights only in keeping of Gee/e. For it is evi-
dent, fay 'ft thou, That, if Go d had nothing elfe to
give him but the Written La^in, he might have
difpatch'd him in an Hour or a Day at moll. There •
fore thou addeft, That by Dav he gave to him the
Written Laiv, and by Night the Mxjlet ious Expla-
nation of it, caird, The Oral La-.v : Which Expla-
nation Mofes tpught by Word of Mouth to Jojhua
his Succejfor, Jcjhua to the Se-venty tivo Seniorr ;
and that they tranfmittcd this Oral Traditionary
Comment down to their Pojierity, even to the lall
of the Prophets, from whom the great Sanhedrim
received it. After this every one deliver'd it to
his Son, as he had receiv'd it from his Anceflors \
and fo it continues to this Day to be the Rule of
your Lives, in thofe Cafes where the IVritten Laiu
is filent. I tell thee, Nathan, There appears a
great Shew of Reafon in what thou fay'it : And
it cannot be fuppos'd, Thzx. Mofes fpent all that
Time only in receiving the Written La-iv. But en
the other Side, I cannot believe that the eternal
Mind WHS bufied fo many Daysin prefcribing thofe
ridiculous Rules and Ceremonies which are found
in the Talmud, and the Writings of your Rahbi''i.
If thou canft convince me of that, I will ceafe to
perfuade thee to a Change.

I have

Vol. IV. «Spy^/ Paris. 213

I have a great deal more to fay, but the Hour
of the PoJ} calls on me to conclude my Letter.
In my next I will fully aniwer all thy Arguments.
In the mean Time, let not Cujlom, and the Dic-
tates of the Synagogue, fupplant thy Rea/on, b«t
remember thou art a iV/««.

Paris, I -jth of the ^d Moon^
of the Tear 1653.

LETTER XV.

To the Sublimely Wife, the Seignior of
Excellent 'Dignity^ Abul Recowawn',
Grand Almoner to the Sultan.

'T^ H O U art placed on a high Seat eminent
-*■ among the Faithful; and the Eyes of the
Diftrefs'd are fix'd on thee. Thou art the Patro>t
of all the Miferable. To thee, as to a SanSiuary,
flies the Man, whofe Misfortunes have bereav'd
him of all other Hope ; whofe drooping Spirits
can find no Comfort from the reft of Mortals.
His lad and only Refuge is to thee, who art the
faithful Ste<Txatd of the Grand Seignior s Liberali-
ties. Let not too much Prudence fuperfede thy
Charity. The Wicked and the Innocent have
equal Accefs to thee : And it ought to be fo ; for
no Man at firft can diftinguifti between the one
and the other by their outward Afpeft. Yet .1
little Examination and Converfe will ihew the
Difference.

There are thofe who get large Pofleffions un-
der the Mafque of Poverty. There are impu-
dent Beggars, who make a Trade of impofing on

human

'ti4 Letters IVrit by Vol. IV.

human Com paffion, and fport fhemfelves in this
humble Method of cheating People of their Mo-
ney ; whilrt, imagining they bellow it on Perfons
really indigent, it is thrown away on Counter-
feits, Villains and Infidels.

On the other fide, I have feen true Objefts of
Pity, Men reduc'd to the laft Extremities, who
would rather perifh, than expofe their Condition
to any, fave the Great and liable. They efteem
fuch to be wife Men, generous, and confi-
derate of the Accidents which commonly befal
Mortals. They think to thefe they may freely
unbofom themfelves, tell their Wants, and claim
Relief, without the Hazard of a Reproach,
which wounds more deeply than a fliort De-
nial.

Thou may 'ft know them by the Modefly which
appears in their Faces (fays our holy Prophet) and
that they are foon repuls'd. To fuch as thefe,
give plentiful Alms, and do not repine- For it
is as a profitable Merchandize^ fent to remote
Countries ; which though ventur'd on the uncer-
tain Waters, yet in Time, by the fpecial Bleffing
oi Heaven, fhall return with feven-fold Intereft.

Nay, give to all that ask : For it is better to
mifplace our Charity on nine unworthy Perfons,
than to deny an Alms to one that is really in need.
Befides, it is not for the Honour of a Sovereign
Monarch, that any Perfon in Dillrefs fhould de-
part from his Court, fad or difcontented for want
of Relief.

I have in feme of my Letters glanc'd at the
Vices of thefe Wefiern Nazarenes ; and have not
been altogether filent as to their Virtues. Among
which, their Charity is very confpicuous.

The French relate a pretty Paflage of a certain
Cardinal, a very good Man, and one that, by
the Multitude of his generous Anions, gave Oc-

cafioa

Vol. IV. ^Spy^/ Paris. 215

cafion for the World to call him, the Patron of
the Poor.

This Efslejiafiick Prince had a conftant Cuftom,
once or twice a Week, to give publick Audience
to all indigent People in the Hall of his Palace,
and to relieve every one according to their various
Neceflities, or the Motions of his own Bounty.

One Day a poor Widow, encourag'd with the
Fame of his Generofity, came into the Hall of
this Cardinal, with her only Daughter, a beau-
tiful Maid, about Fifteen Years of Age. When
her Turn came to be heard, among the Crowd of
Petitioners, the Cardinal difcerning the Marks
of an extraordinary Modelly in her Face and Car-
riage, as alfo in her Daughter, he encourag'd her
to tell her Wants freely. She blufhing, and not
without Tears, thus addrefs'd herfelf to him :
** My Lord, I owe for the Rent of my iloufe Five
" Crowns, and fuch is my Misfortune that I have
*' no other Means to pay it, fave what would
" break my Heart, fmce my Landlord threatens to
*' force me to it ; that is. To proftitute this my
*' only Daughter, whom I have hitherto with
" great Care educated in Virtue, and an Abhor-
*' rence of that odious Crime. What I beg of your
** Eminence is, That you would pleafe to interpofe
*' your facred Authority, and proteft us from the
** Violence of this cruel iMan, 'till by our honeft
*• Induftry we can procure the Money for him.

The Cardinal, mov'd with Admiration of the
Woman's Virtue and innocent Modelty, bid her
be of good Courage. Then he immediately wrote a
Billet, and giving it to the Widow's Hands, Ge,
faid he, to my Ste-juard ivith this Paper, and he
Jhall deliver thee Five Cronvns to pay thy Rent.

The poor Woman overjoy'd, and return-
ing the Cardinals. Thoufand Thanks, went di-
redly to his Steward, and gave him the Note :

Whica

ai6 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

Which when he had read, he told her out Fifty-
Crowns. She afionifli'd at the Meaning of it,
and fearing this was only the Ste'ward's, I'rick to
try her Honefty , refus'd to take above Five, fay-
ing, She ask''d the Q7ir6\n3.\ for no more, and f^e
ifsas fure ^ t-imas fame Mijiahe.

On the other fide, the Sfeivard infifted on his
Mafter'% Order, not daring to call it in Queftion.
But all the Arguments, he cou'd ufe, were infuf-
ficient to prevail on her to take any more than
Five Crowns. Wherefore, to end the Contro-
verfy, he ofFer'd to go back with her to the Car-
dinal, and refer it to him. When they came be-
fore that munificent Prince, and he was fully in-
formM of the Bufmefs ; ""lis true, faid he, Imif-
took in nxriting Fifty Crcnuns ', gi've me the Paper,
and Imuill reSlify it. Thereupon he wrote again,
faying thus to the Woman : So much Candour and
Virtue defer'ves a Recompence ; Here, I ha've or-
der''d ycu Fi've hundred Cro^vns ; iihat you can
fpare of it, lay up as a Donfjry to gi've luith yout
Daughter in Marriage. . ^

If I miftake not, this Cardinal wz.^ cairdivzr«(/f.
But, whatever his Name was, this was an Adion
truly hcroick, and which has but few Parallels.

It will be much to the Glory and Intereft of
the Shining Port, if thou femetimcs, by an ex-
traordinary Largeneff, raife the Fortune of de-
ferving Men ; and put them in a Capacity to ferve
ihQ Grand Seignior : At lea ft, fuch Bounty will
oblige 'em not to differve him.

Among the reft, permit me, to recommend the
Cafe of Ebnol Barntsana Kayemas, thy Country-
man : He was once FrofefTor of a fair Timariot,
but was turn'd out by Sultan Ibrahim, to gratify
a Creature of Shechir Para : Thou know'ft the
Life of that infamous Woman. I fay no more,
Paris, zd of the t^th 'Moony

ef the Tear ib^l. LET-

Vol. IV. a Spy at Paris, 217

LETTER XVI.

21? tbe Captain Bafla.

THOU that art a Man of War delightef^,
no doubt, to hear of Combats and Bat-
tles : and I tell thee, that fince the Beginning
of the World there have never been known fuch
dreadful Sea-Fights, as during the prefent /i^^zr be-
tween the Englip and Dutch. It feems there is aa
Emulation fprung up in the latter : They grudge
the Inhabitants of Britain the CharaSler, which
has been given 'em froin a.\\ ^ntijuity, Ofbeinrr
the mojl Fi^lorious on that Element of any Nation sn
the Earth.

'Tis poffible there may be fome more particu-
lar Grounds of their prefent parrel, to which I
am a Stranger : But afTuredly they have purfued
their Animofities very eagerly on both Sides; and,
let the Occafiou be what it will, the Dutch arc
ftill Lofers.

I fent thee an Account of a Comhat between
their Fleets laft Year, fince which they have had
many other Engagements. And 'tis faid here, that,
during this IVar, the £//^///2' have taken from the
Dutch near two thoufand Merchant Ve^th, have
funk and burnt many of their Ships of War, fliin
fome of their chief Commanders, fpoil'd theirTrayif,
and reduced 'em almofl to as great Streights as
when they firlt courted the Prbtedion of the
Englijh againll their Sovereign the King oi Spain ^
from whom they had then newly revolted.

But the molt terrible Cor.flidt was on the fe-

cond uf this Moon, wherein the Dutch had {tven

and twenty of their greatclt Ships either funk

or b'jrnt, two thoufand of their Seamen and

L Soldiers

2i8 Letters ^n'/ ^y Vol. IV.

Soldiers killed, and a Thoufand taken Prifoners,
with many Captains. That great General Trumps
whom I mention'd in my laft, was flain in this
Fight, after he had performed Prodigies of Va-
lour.

The French fay, that, during the Heat of this
Engagement, Trump y being exceffive thirfty, calPd
for a Bowl of Wine : which his Servant had no
fooner delivered to him, but a Cannon-Bullet took
his Hand off juft as he was retiring from his
Mafier. The brave General, touch'd with a* noble
Ccmpaflion, fpilt the Wine on the Deck, faying,
// is 7iot Jit that I Jhould quench tny Thirjl ivith the
JBlood of a faithful Slave. And as focn as he had
fpoke thefe Words, another Bullet took from
him the Power of ever drinking again.

If fuch an Accident fhould happen to thee
when thou fighteft againfl the Infidels, know for
certain that thou fhalt be immediately tranfport-
ed to the green and Jhady Banks of the Rivers
of Wine in Paradife, where thou may'll drink
thy fill in eternal Security : For he that dies
fighting for the Faith is a Martyr.

Paris, izthof the ^th Moon y
of the Tear 1653.

LET-

Vol. IV. ^ Spy 5/ Par IS. 219

LETTER XVII.

To Sale Tcrcheni Emin, Superinten-
dant of the Royal _Aifenal at Con-
ftantinople.

T Remember I promlfed in my laft to give thee
-■■ a farther Account of Packicour, the famous
Pirate of the Black-Sea. ','Twere eafy to perform
it, but a Temptation diverts my Pen another
Way.

I remember when thou wprt Chiaus, I have
heard thee fpeak of the Kitigctom of Tunist whi-
ther thou was fent by Sultan Amurat., to com-
pofe the Differences that happened between the
Dey and the Di'van of that City. At the fame
Time thou mad'ft mention of a certain admirable
Engine, contrived to draw up Ships, or any
thine elfe from the Bottom of the Sea : And that
the Divan of Tunis gave to the Artiji who fram'd
it an Hundred thuufaud Piajlers, as a RewarJ oi
his Ingenuity.

I have read in a certain French Author of fuch
another Device at Venice, made on purpofe ta
draw up the famous Carrack, which they call'd
die Cajile of the Sea, This Galleon was built of
a monllrous Bulk, more for State than Service ;
and was overturn'd by her own Unwieldinefs,
as fhe lay at Anchor, and funic to the Bottom :
From whence neither that 'fore-mentioned En-
gine, nor all the Art of Mnn could rsife hor.
Yet the Skill of the Engineer was highly com-
mended, and tlie Senate honour'd him with the
Title of ClarijJImo, and fettled a noble Penfun on
him during Liii;.

L 2 If

•220 Letters JVrit hy Vol. IV.

It is quellioned, whether the States of Holland
will be fo liberal to a certain French Engineer^ who
has made a Ship at Rotterdam, which, they fay,
will cut-do all the Miracles of NoaFi Ark.
' This Ship is at prefent all the Talk at Paris.
Our Merchants receive Letters full of Wonders
from the Lon-u-Countries, concerning this Whirli-
gig of a Veffel, which is to move by Clock-work,
without Sails, Oars, Rudder, or any common
Marine Tackle ; yet fiiall cut her Way through
the Sea with a fwifter Prcgrefs than the Moon
glides along the Sh, or Bullet out of a Cannon.
This is the Difcourfe of thofe who love to advance
all that they hear to the Height of a Miracle or
Romance. Yet, 'tis certain, the Jrtiji has pro-
mis'd it fhall equal the Motion of forae Birds, and
run twelve Leagues an Hour. Neitlier Winds nor
Tides fhall forward or hinder its Courfe, which,
depending on an internal Principle of perpetual
Motion, is to be dire>fled only at the Pleafure of
h'lta. who manages the Springs and Wheels. So
that the Mafter of this Vejfel fiiall be ab'e with a
fingle Tci:ch cf his Hand to turn it to any Point
of the Compafs in the moll boiflerous Weather
that blows.

This Engineer farther engages, that his Veffel
fhall make a Voyage to the Eaji- Indies in the Re-
nolutioi: of a Moon, and to fome Regions of Ame-
rica in a fourth Part of that Time. If he be as
good at Performance as he is at Promifing, he will
iail round the Globe at this Rate in three Moons.

In farther Cf mplendation of this wonderful
Machine, 'lis faid, that by a new invented Art it
fnall ffcrcdy, under V/ater, dif;;ble cny Ship,
ptovided fhc be within Cannon fhof ; and this
v/ith fo fuJden a Force, that in the Space of fiit
Hours it will fucceflively fink a fleet of a hundred
3h'ps oi li'ar.

Moreover,

Vol. IV. « Spy j^ Paris. 221

Moreover, this Artiji, to appear not lefs fubtls
againft the Efforts oi Hcavai, than in furpafiing
all the Iffventions on Earth, promifes, that his
miraculous Veffel fhall, at the Dillmce of a
League, cut alunder any Spouts or CafaraJIs of
Waters, which ufually threaten Mariners in the
Mediterranean and other Seas.

'Tis poffible tjiou art very well acquainted with
the Nature of thefe Spouts, and the D.ingcr of
Ships that fail near them. Yet give me Leave
to inform thee what I have heard from a certain
Corfair, who has often met with them in the
Levant.

This Pirate tells me, that a Spout is a kind of
.AqueduSl between the Clouds and the Sea, by
which thofe pendulous Cillerns Above are reple-
nifli'd with Water from the Oceait, drawing it up
as through a Pipe ; which feems to be let down
for that End, at certain Seafon*:, and in feme
particular Places, where the Water boils up firil
above the S irfice of the briny Plain, as a Signal
to thole thirlly Bladders, to make a Defccnt
there, and fuck their Fill.

If this be tri:e, v.'ho knows but that all the
Rain, to which the Earth is indebted for its Ferti-
lity, comes thus originally from the Se^. r For,
it may be made frelli, either in its firll Afctnt
through the Rofcid Air. or after its Reception in-
to the Clouds by fome hidden Energy oi that Ele-
ment, or the natural Force of the 'Middle Region :
Or at leall by fome unknown \''eriue, perhaps
not inferior to that by which the Waters of a Bit-
ter Lake in the Defart became Siveet at the Inter-
ceffion of our Hsly Prophet, when the whole Ar-
my of the primitive Mujfulmans was like to have
perifh'd of Thiril.

And then how will the Wefiern Phihfiphers

difpofe of all the Vapours which they fay arc

L 3 exhal'd

222 Letters ^rit hy Vol. IV.

exhal'd from this Globe, and afterwards condcns'd
into Clouds ? I tell thee that's bat a loofe Noti-
on of fuch retentive Bodies, as the Clouds feem
to be. And 'twould tempt one ton flc. What the
Veflels are made of which hold thofe condens'd
Exhalations, fo that they do not fall at once upon
oar Heads and overwhelm us, but only diftil in
fmall fucceffive Showers drop by drop, to refrefh
the barren Parts of the Earth, and ferve the Ne-
cefiities of Men ? And why the Rains fall in the
Indies, and other Regions of the Eaji, whole
^loons together without Intermiffion, the reft of
the Year being dry : Whereas, in other Coun-
tries, the Periods of the Weather's Alteration
are uncertain, and in fome Parts it feldom or ne-
ver rains at all.

Doubtlefs the Works of the Ommpotent are in-
fcrutable : And though it may bean Argument of
a great Wit, to give ingenious Reafons for many
wonderful Appearances in Nature ; yet 'tis an
Evidence of Imall Piety or Judgment, to be poii-
tive in any thing, but the Acknowledgement of
onr ow n Ignorance.

Now, I have made as wide nn Excurfion from
my firll Difccurfe, as theM/7«'/«did, who began
an Oration in Praife of NoaJ/s Ark, and ended
with telling a Tale of an Armenian Wheel-Bar-
ronv. But I will not forget that I was fpeaking of
the P/omife which the Rotterdam Engineer has
made of his Machine, That it fhould efFe<flually
break all the Force of Spouts; which would render
him very ferviceable to "Merchants, as a Cmwoy to
defend them from thofe terribleliugbears to Sailers.
For the Cor/air tells me, That thefe Spcuts very
often occafion Ship-wrecks ; either by entangling
the Mails of a Ship, and fo overturning it: or,
by breaking in the Encounter, over>vhelm it with
Water and fo fink it.

Vol. IV. a Spy at Va^is. 223^

He fays likewife, that the Chrijiian Pirates zre
accuilom'd to ufe a certain Charm aeaiaft thefe
Spouts. They have a Knife, whofe Haft is made
of the Bone of a Man's Right Arm ; and every
Vejfel is bound to provide one or two of thefe
Knives when they loofe from the Shore. They
buy 'em of certain Perfons who have the Cha-
rader of Magicians : And when they fee a Spout
at fome Dillance from 'em at Sea, the Mailer of
the Vejfel, or any body elfe, takes this enchanted
Knife in his Right Hand, and holding the Book
of their Go/pel in his Left, reads fome Part of it,
and when he comes to a certain Verjicle which
mentions the hcamation of their MeJJiah, he
makes a Motion with his Knife towards the Spout
as if he would cut it in two ; whereupon imme-
diately the SpTjut breaks in the middle, and all the
inclos'd Waterfalls into the Sea.

But I tell thee, he who gives Credit to the Sto-
ries of Charmst or the Projefts of Men pretend-
ing to excel all the relt of their Race, has more
Faith than is requifite to him who reads jEfop''i
Fables, fmce in perufing that ingenious Figment
we are only defired to believe the MORAL.

'Tis thought by fome that this Engineer will,
by the natural Clock-work of his Heels, be much
rnore nimble* than his Veffel in flying the Dif-
grace which will attend him, if his phantaftick
Projeft prove unfucccfsful. In vay next thoa
flialt hear of Pachicwr.

Parin, \zth (f the %th Moon y
of the Tsar 1 65 3 .

L:4 LET-

2 24 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

LETTER XVIII.
To Murat, Bafla.

TH E Englijh, at prefent, make the greateft
Figure and Noife of all the Nations in the
Weji. Spain, Portugal, and even France itfelf
courts the Friend/hip of that IJlanJ, fince the In-
habitants have formM themfeives into a Common-
nveaiih. It appears as if the Englifl? were but
newly awaken'd to a Senfe of their own Strength,
and by thus rouzing themfeives had alarm'd all
their Neighbours. •

However it be, this King has fentan Ambajfador
to the Englijh Court to break the Negotiation of
the Spaniards there, and to eftablifti a Peace be-
tween England and France, if poffible.

One cannot tell what to make of the Maxims of
thcfe Infidth. For, at-thefame Time, x.\\q banijh'^d
i/tvV of the Er.gltjh Cro-wn takes his SanSuary in
this Court, where he is carefs'd, and made to be-
lieve great Things they will do towards his Rejlau-
ration : But Literejl fuperfcdes all Arguments of
Ajfeilion and Confanguinity. They are more foUi-
citcus here fortheSuccefs of the AmbeiJJy, than for
the Right of the poor exiled Prince. He is call'd
the K:':g of Scot land, hcivlr.g been folemnly croiui'd
in that Kingdom fince the Death of his Father ; and»
entering into England with an Army of Scots, was
routed ; and, having narrowly efcaped the Trains
that were laid for his Liberty and Life, at length
landed in this Kingdom, where he has been enter-
tain'd with much feeming AfFedtion. But the
Dread, they are under of the viftorious new Englijh
Comman-^ealth, makes 'em begin to talk of his
Departure from hence.

The

Vol. IV. ^? Spy ^/ Paris. 225

The Prince of Conde has taken Rocroy ; which
was the firft Place where he fignaliz'd his Arms
in the Infant Reign of this King about ten Years
ago ; which the Supercilious interpret as an Omen
of ill Luck to the King. This fort of People are
led by Maxims void of Reafon, and fo there is
no Regard to be given to their Obfcrvations : Yet
fome of the wifer fort think this will prove a long
War.

That which amufes People moft, is the fmall
Concern the Prince of Conti and the Dutchefs of
Longueville (hew for their Brother's Caufc. For,
while the Kingwzson his March againft the Prince
of Conde, they came and fubmitted themfelves to
him, and were received to Favour. Thofe, who
are apt to fufped an Intrigue in every thing, fay,
that this Reconciliation is only feign'd on their
Part, it being a Means to ferve their perfecuted
Brother with greater Security and Succefs. Others
are of Opinion, that it is real, efpecially on the
Prince of Conti\ Part ; fince he and his Brother
had never any good Underftanding.

There has been a Battle lately fought between
the French and Spanijh Forces in Italy : Wherein
the Spaniards loll twelve hundred Men, and the
French above half that Nnmber of their beft Sol-
diers. So that the King of France may fay with a
famous General, " Vidories, attended with fo
*' little Advantage, will ruin rather than enlarge
*' an Empire.

Bajfa, in the midft of thy Grandeur I wifii
thee Health, which fweerens tlie worlt Events.
As for me, I'm like one hovering between two
Worlds.

Farif, I :^th of the qth Moon,
of the Tear 1653.

L /; L E T-

226 Lb T T E R s Jf^rit hy Vol. IV.

LETTER XIX.

"to Afis, Baffa.

THE Go^s of the Nazarefi£s, one would
think, were ftudying how to perplex their
Adorers. Thefe Wefiern Parts abound with Pro-
digies and furpaffing Events. More efpecially
the Lonjo-Countries feci the Strokes of a Handy
which, by making 'cm fmart, feems to put them
in mind. They're too high in their oivn Conceit.

For feveral Weeks we have been alarm'd from
thence with the Tragical Stories of Ship-wrecks,
Inundations, Tempells of Thunder and Lighten-
ing, not ul'nal at this Time of the Year ; mon-
ftrcus SpcJlres feen rifing out of the Seas, Lakes,,
and Rivers ; Jrinies in the Air^ with Comets and
other 'wonderful Apparitions.

The States of the United Provinces have lofl by
Wreck fixteen Ships of IVar, and thirty fevcn-
Merchant Vejfels. It looks as if Aiolus and Isep^
tune, the z\i\ziGods of the Hollander!, had enter'd
into a League to punilh 'em for ftruggling againft
their Fate, whilil they maintain a Fleet to brave
and plunder the Englijh, under whofe Shadow
they firft rofe to the Power they fo ungratefully-
now pcffefs.

For, befides thefe Loffes at Sea, the Winds
and Waves have confpir'd to break down their-
very Banks, the only Guards they have againll
tliat encroaching Element. All the Lo^ui Countries
?,re overuhelm'd with Water : Infomuch as, five
Miles within Land from Ojiend, thcr'e has been
found a Whale newly call up, {Q\'cVi. times as long
a£ a. Man.

Thi*

Vol. IV. /? Spy ^/ Paris. 227

This the hfideh look on as a great Prodigy, and
the Forerunner of feme ftrange Revolution ; tho*
it is but a natural Event, and frequently happens
in thofe Seas where JVhales are more plentiful.
The Naturalijls fay, That this King of the Scaly
Nations never makes his Progrefs through the
Seas without his Guide ; which is a certain fmall
Fifli, that always fwims before him, and gives
him Warning of Flats and Shallows, upon which
he often ftrikes, and fometimes on the main
Shores, if this little Guide chanc'd to be devour'd
by any other Fifh, or come to other Mi(hap.
And this may be the Reafon, why fo mVinyWkales
are found on the Sands when the Tide ebbs.
They fay alfo, that, when this little Fifli is in-
clin'd to Reft, it retires into the JVhale's Belly,
repofing itfelf there for fome time ; during
which the Whale refts alfo, not daring to venture
forward, 'till his Guide comes forth, and leads the
"Way. If this be true, it feems as if there were
a League or Friendihip contracted between thefe
two, they mutually performing all the neceflary
Offices of Love and Gratitude. And how this
can be done without fome Species of Reafon^ I
cannot comprehend.

Let them at the Port call me Minejtb, or what
they pleafe, I cannot forbear doing this Juftice to
to the Fijh of the Sea, as well as to the Animals on
Earth, to acknowledge, that either they are in-
dued with a kind of Reafon ; or that Faculty, which.
we call fo in Men, is no other than Senfe. If the
Brutes perform many things without any Deli-
beration or Couni'el, fo do moll Men : And no
Man can demonftrate, that even thofe dumb Be-
ings do not advile and projeft, before 'they at-
tempt any thing of Moment towards their own
Prefervation, or the Service of others. And if
they fecm to dg many things raihly, it may be
L 6 attributed

22 8 Letters Writ by ^ Vol. IV.

attributed to the Quicknefs and Mvacity of their
Senfe, which needs not the flow and flegmatick
Methods oi human Counfel.

Suffer thefe Digreflions, courteous Bajpi ; and,
fince I have led thee fo far out of the Road, take
but another Step, and I'll fhew the a great Mo-
narch, who commands Millions of Men, carried
away Captive by a filly Beajl.

The King oi France, t'other Day, as he was a
Hunting, difcharg'd a Fovvling-Piece at a Par-
tridge on the Wing. The Bird drop'd, and the
Monarch, eager to take up his Game, gave the
Reins to his Horfe, who ran away with him over
a great Plain, for the Space of half a League,
And had not the King fallen off, within fix Paces
of a great Chafm or Hole in the Earth, he would
liave been carry'd, for aught I know, to keep
Company with Horatius Curtius, the venturous
Roman, of whofe Exploit thou haft heard ; for
the furious Steed not being aware of the Danger
before him, as foon as he had caft the King, grJ-
lop'd full fpeed into the gaping Precipice, and
was never more heard of.

This the Priejis cry up for a miraculous Efcape
and Prefage, That the King is refemj'd by Proii-
dence / or great Things.

The King of Portugal hzs an Amhafpidor here,
who in his Majler''% Name propofes a Match be-
tween this /T/wj-and the Infant a of Portugal, pre-
ferring four Trillions of Crowns as her Do^jLt)..
But the Court entertains this Motion coldly, the
Cardinal being averfe, for what Reafon is not
known ; for the Infanta h"s an illuftrious Cha-
rafter, and known to be a Princefs of incompa-
rable \ irtue.

This Minijler is mtinagmg a. Match of nearer
Concern to himfelf, defigning to marry one of
iis Nieces to the Prince ofCoK/i, Brother to the

Priiue

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris. 229

Prince of Conde. And 'tis faid, this Prince re-
ceives the CardinaTs Propofals with lefs Scorn,
than did Count o{ Soijfons thofe oi Cardinal Ricb-
lieu, on the like Occafion.

Here is a Rumour, as if the Prince oi Conde
would be condemn'd by a Procefs of Parliament^
and that he will be put to Death in P-ffigy.

This Indignity is common among the Infidels,
who efleem whatfcever Honour and Difgrace is
fhewn to Images, as done to the Per/ons whom
they reprefent. They have no other Excufe for
their Worjhip of Things made by the Hands of
Men like themfelvcs, but that it is purely relative,
and centers in the Prototype.

In the mean Time the Prince ofConde's Friends
and Well-Wifhers fmile at his imaginary Death j
knowing, that, if no efFedlual Stroke of Fate carry
him out of the World, he will be at the Head of
a potent Army in the Spring, to put many to
Death in Reality, and by the Edge of the Sword,
who fight for his Enemie?.

A while ago a Man was imprifon'd here by his
own Folly ; having voluntarily declar'd, that he
was hir'd by this Prince to affaffinate Cardinal
Mazarini.

I have formerly fpoken of the Count d'Har court,
and the Difgrace he was in at this Court, for not
continuing the Siege of Londa, a llrong Holdoi
the Spaniards in Catalonia. The General is Z
brave Man, and has done eminent Services to the
Cro^jsn of France. It is no Wonder, therefore, that
he laid to Heart the Coldnefs and Contempt
with which he was receiv'd at his Return from
that unfortunate Campaign. Great Souls are to
be carefs'd with more than ordinary AfFeflion in
their ad'verfe Fortunes ; and faithful Servants
ought not to be reproach'd with every falfe Step,
«r ill Succefs in their Affairs . The Count refent-

ing

ijo Letters TVrii hy Vol. W.

ing in the King's Carriage towards him, removed
himfelf from Court, and then out of the King'
dom ', defigning, as is fuppofed, to ferve the Em-
feror of Germany,

Laft Week his two Sons, that were detain'd
as Hojiages in this City, made their Efcape ; the
Duke of Lorrain having promifed to give the Eld-
elt his Daughter in Marria2;e.

The Duke roves up and 9own like a Free-Boo-
ttr, with an Army 6{ Ban.^iftt at his Heels.

Renown'd Jfis, I make an humble and affec-
tionate Obeifance ; wiQiing thee as many Years
of Life, as thou canft paft without languifhing
for Death.

Paris, ijtb of the wth Moofiy
of the Tear 1653.

LETTER XX.

To the Dgebe Nafir, Bafla.

'T' H O U fucceedeft a righteous Minifer, Chi-
-* urgt Muhammet : I wifh thee a Surplufagc
of Happinefs ; which thou wilt not fail to poflcfs
if thou inherited the Virtues of that Bafa, as well
Hi his OJice. May his Sou/ now talle the Reward
of his juft Life: And I doubt not but he has
made an happy Experience of my Wiflies. He fits
down in Quiet under the Trees of Eden ; his Head
cncompafs'd with a Garland of Flowers, which
rever fade j veiled with the immarcefcible Crimfon
and Purple of Paradife. He repofes on his Bed
ci Delights, whilft beautifal Pages ferve him in

Vefels

Vol. IV. a Spy ^z Paris. 231

Veffeh of Gold, fet round with Sapkires and Eme-
ralds : He drinks the delegable Wine which never
inebriates ; and eats of the Fruits, every Morfel
of which prolongs his Life for a thoufand ^^j.
He hears nothing but the Voices of fuch as are
foil of Benedi(Elion and Joy. The Virgins of Pa-
i-adife falute him with a Grace which cannot be
exprefs'd. They chant to the new-come Guefis
Songs of immortal Lo've. To the Stranger from
Earth, they tell their Paflions in Strains which
ravifli his Heart. He is diffolv'd in a Thoufand
Ecfiacies. This is the Re-ivard of a pious MuJJul-
tnan, a wife Minijier, a juft Judge of the Faithful.
Follow his Example, and thou fhalt be tranflated
into his Company : For he is in a goodly Place,
near the Spring Head of perfeft Blifs.

Thou wilt expeft fome News from me, as a
Teitimony of my Refpefl. And I cannot pre-
tend there is none ftirring, at a Junfture when
all this Part of the World is fo full of ASion, or
at leaft of Counfels.

Here has been great Rejoicings lately for the
taking of St. Mcnehoud, a llrong Tofwn in the
Hands of the Prince of Conde. All the Officers of
the French King's Army endeavour'd to diiTuade
him from the Siege of this Place ; but Cardinal
Mazarini ovcr'TwVdx.hcir Argument?, and, having
reprov'd their groundlefs Fears, caus'd it to be
invefled and attack'd the zzd of the loth Moon.
Some fay he had a Party there ; yet he held out
'till the 27th of the laft Mcon, at which time it
was furrendered upon Articles to the King, who
was there in Perfon, with his Brother the young
Duke of AnJQU, the ^een, the Cardinal, and the
whole Court. They returned to this City the
f th of this prefent Moon.

They

232 Letters IFrit by Vol. IV.

They were receiv'd with great Acclamations,
and fccming Joy, by thofe who would have tri-
umph'd more heartily, had they been defeated, or
forc'd to raife the Siege. For the Citizens of Pa^
ris wifli well to the Prince of Condi^ Arms, not
fo much out of Love to him, as in Hatred of his
Enemy the Cardinal Minijler. And they are fen-
fible. That this fuccefsful Siege will redound
wholly to the Cardinals Honour, by whofe fole
Orders the P/ace wa.s invefted.

It is difcours'd, that this Mini/ier has forae new
Defign on Foot, to conquer the Kingdom of Na-
ples. This is certain, a mighty Fleet is fitting
out to Sea : Whither bound no Man knows but
thofe of the Cabinet, among whom the Cardinal
is chief.

In the mean while, the common People liften.
after certain Prodigies that have been feen in the
Air. They fay, Tijlamitjg ^oua^v/ appear'd lately
to rife in the North, and take its Courfe South-
Eaji-v:ard. From whence People make various
Prognojiicks, as their PaiGons or Interefts infpire
'em. Some are of Opinion, it prefages the Con-
quejl of Naples by the King's Arms. Others ajv
ply it to the new Ccmmon-vjealth of England,
and to the vidol-ious Sword of Oliver ; who,
from General oi tht Englifi Army, is now, in this
very Moon, exalted to the Height of So^oereign
Ponver, governing the Nations of England, Sect-
land, and Ireland, under the Title of their Prc-
teSor.

Here are divers of his SuhjeSis in this City ;
and other Englijh, Scots, and Irijh, who embrace
the Intereft oi Charles, the Son of their late mur-
der'd King, v.ho has been fince crown'd Kin^ of
the Scots. They give a different Charadlcr of
Oliver ; yet all agree, that he is a ivi/e Stale/-
man, and a great General.

The

Vol. IV. a Spy at Par is. 233

The Scotch KijigWd-riy fpeak contemptibly of
Oliiieri Birth and Education : Yet thou knoweft
this hinders not, but he may be a Man of Cou-
rage and Virtue. They relate many odd Paflages
of his Touih, which feem to me fo many Evi-
dences of an extraordinary Genius, and that he
is a Perfon of a deep Reach.

He tampcr'd with ieveral religious TaSlions in
England, counterfeiting an exquifite Piety, where-
by he firH rais'd himfelf a Name among the
Zealots of that "Nation, who look'd upon him
there as a very holy Perfon, and one mark'd out
by Dejliny for great Undertakings.

He foon got a confiderable Command in the
Army of the Reiohers ; where he fignah'z'd him-
felf by many brave Adions, which fpoke him a
Man of an invincible Courage, and admirable
Condudl. So that at length none v.as thought
more fit than he to be General. In fin'.-, he ac-
quitted himfelf fo gallantly in that high Office^
and has fo wrought himfelf into the AfFedions
of the People, that they now Irok upon him as
a Prophet or Saviour ; and the Divan, or Parlia'
went of that Nation, have conferr'd en him the
Scvereign Authority.

Thole of the Englip, which are afFefled to his
Intereft, fpeak great Things in his Praife : They
call him another Mofes or Jojhua j they prefer
him to Hannihal, Scipio, and even to the Great
Alexander. It is difiicult for them to fpe^dc of
him without Hyperboles. 'Tis faid the King of
France ViWl court his Friendftiip. 'Indeed all the
Neighbouring Countries Hand ina\ve of this fuc-
cefsful Hero. And the Hollanders, who are the
only People that durft engage in a Ifar with the
Englijh Commonivealth, now feek for Peace, fince
he is invelled with t.\ic/upreme Authority.

In

2 34 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

In the mean Time the poor cxiPd King of the
5ro/.•^^\ke* Sanftuary in this Court, with his Mo-
ther the late ^een oi England, and his Brother,
whom they call the Duke of Tork. ^he French
King allows them all very confiderable Penjhns ;
and the latter has fome Command in the Arti^ in
Flanders. There is another Brother alfo ; but
little talk*d of as yet, being the youngeft of the
Three.

They are generoufly entertain'd here, it being
the peculiar Honour of this Court to be a hofpi-
teble Refuge to Princes in Diftrefs. Yet obferving
Men fay, the King will in Time grow weary of
his Royal Guejls ; it being \try chargeable to
maintain them, and their birrdenfome Retinue.
Befides, he will have fome Reafon of State ta
difcard them, if he enters into a League with
Oliver, the new Englrfly^ Sovereign, who is court-
ed on all Hands.

Eliachim the Jero (of whom thou wilt hear In
the Di'van) is jull come into my Chamber, and
brings me Word, that there is an Exprefs newly
arriv'd, who informs the ^een of a Defeat giverr
to the S^paniards near a City called Rozes, which-
they liad befieged in Catabnia. The French
were going to the Relief of this Place, and the
Spaniards fet upon them in their March, but
were beaten into their Trenches ; from whence
they fled by Night, leaving Three hundred
Spaniards on the Spot, almoll Two thou-
fand Prifoners, and all their Cannon and Bag-
gage.

This has put the Court into a jolly Hu-
mour. Nothing but Revelling and Dancing
employs their Time : The young King taking
great Delight in Balls, Mafques, and uich Re-
creations ; having left off Hunting, ever fxnce
]iis Horfe ran away with him in the Tenth

MoOH

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris. 235

Moon of this Year, after he had fhot a Partridge.
Whereof I have fpoken already in one of my
Letters.

The greaf God preferve thee from PrecipictSy
Poi/on, the Glances of a Witch, and from being
canoniz'd a Martyr in a String : And, for other
Deaths, thou haft VirtMs enough to encounter 'eia
bravely.

Paris, 30/-6 of the i zth Moon,
of the Tear 165 J,

the End of the Third Book,

LET-

( 236 )

LETTERS

Writ by a

SYY at P^RIS,

VOL. IV.

BOOK IV,

LETTER I.

Tb Bedrcdrin, Superior of the Con\''ent
of Derviches, at Cogni at Nato'ia.

WH E N I firfl open'd thy venerable
Letter, my Heart on a fudden be-
came frefli as a Garden of Rofes or
Field of Cinnamon and Myrrh, whofe Odours are
exhal'd by the Wejl Wind. In my Breaft there
fprung a Fountain of Joy, ferene as Chryftal, and
refrefhing as the Waters oi Euphrates.

I contemplate thee as a CcJar among the Trees
of the Foreji, or as the durable Oak of the De-
fart. May Heaven prolong thy Life, till the
5<i««</of the Trutr.tetm

The

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris. 237

The Commands, with which thou haft honour'd
me, came in an acceptable Hour. I have receiv'd
them with a Complacency which I cannot ex-
prefs. My Eyes were fo fix'd on the Lines of
great Purity, that I could not for a long Time
take them olF. Thou haft hit the Mark of myAf-
feftion, in employing me to write what the moft
impartial Hijlorians iay of Jefus, the Son of Ma-
ry, the Chrifiian MeJJias.

Thzt Hofy Prophet wa.s honour'd by his very
Enemies. Jofephtu, a learned J eiv, who liv'd in
his Time, and wrote the Hijfory of that Nation,
makes worthy Mention of him.

So did many of theG\«/;7^ Philofophers, though
they oppos'd his Dlfciples :i.i\6.Follo^ii:ers. Porphyry^
whom the Chrifiians commonly repute as a bitter
*Enemy to their P/-i?/'^?ff, yet calls Jefus, Wifcy
Blejfed, and Divine. That Sage was exafperated
againft a certain Se^ of Naxarenet in his Time,
whom they call'd Gnojlicks. Thefe corrupted the
Doiirines of Plato, and the Theology of the An-
cients ; wantonly mixing human Fables with di-
I'ine Truth. Againft thefe Porphyty ftiarpen'd his
Pen, and, not m.ikinga Difference between them
and other Chrifiians, drew upon himfelf the Ill-
will of tiiem all. Yet he rctain'd a profound At-
tachment for the MeJ/ias.

Would'ft thou know the Circumftance of this
Holy Prophet''^ Birth ? They were glorious even
in Obicurity. For, though his Father and Mo-
ther were then upon the Road to ye/u/alem,Sira.n-
gers at Bethlehem, and forc'd for want of Room
in the Cara-vancera to lodge in a Stnble with an
Ox and an Af , where the MrJ/ias waf born, and
l.'iid in a ]\' .or ; yet in this contemptible State
there came k;;'V*ofthe hJaoj out aA Perjia and
ChalJ.ta, win. brought Prefents to the Holy In-
fant ; and having laid at his Feet Gold, niyfrh,

and

238 Letters /Fr/V ^ Vol. IV.

and Incenfe, they proftrated themfelves on the
Ground, and praifed God, the Mo^ His^h King
of Jil, in that he had honour'd them with a
Sight of the Mejftas.

This was in the 43d, Year of the Reign o^ Au-
guftui Ctefar the Roman Emperor ; at which time
one Hercd was Prefident of Judea. This JVIan
being inform'd, that certain noble Strangers were
come out of the Eajl to Jerufalem, he fent for
them, and acquiring the Occafion off© tedious
a Journey, they gave him this Anfwer.

*' Peace be to thee, O Sultan ; There was of
** old Time a Prophet of great Fame in our Na-
** tion; who, among other Predictions that have
** fincecometopafs, left alfothisin Writing.
■ " That in Palejline Ihould be born a Child oi
*' hewjenly Race, who would rule over the great-
" eft Part of the World; and by this Sign ye
" fhall know the Time and Place of his Birth : A
** ftrange Star fhall appear in the Firmament,
** which Ihall direft you to the very Houfe where
*• you may find him. When therefore ye fhall be-
** hold this 5/flr, take Gold, Myrrh, and Incenfe,
*' and following the ConduiSt of the i'/rtr, go and
*' offer thefe Gifts to the young Child; then re-
" turn immediately to your own Counsry, lelt
** fome grievous Calamity befall you,

*• Now this Star has appeared to us, we are
** come to perform what was commanded us.

Herod faid to them, Te ba've done ^well. Go
therefore and feek diligently for the Infant ; and
n^vhen ye hai'e found him cone and tell mCy that
I may go and fay Homage alfo.

But they never return'd to him again. Where-
fore Herod in his Anger and Jealoufy command-
ed all the Infants in Bethlehem to be ftrangled,
that had not been born above Four and twenty
Moons. But the Father and the Mother of the

Vol. IV. a Spy al Fakis. 239

Ho/y Infant fled away with him into the Larid
where it never rains, the fame Night that the
Magi came.

What I here relate to thee, fage Bedreditiy is
taken out of approv'd Hiftorians, for many
among the Gentiles wrote of thefe Things befides
the ChriJiianS'

There was a Roman Philofopher, much about
the fame Time, a Man in great Elleem with
Ceefar ; to whom he wrote a Letter, wherein he
mentions the coming of the Magi after this Man-
ner. " Certain Oriental Perfians, fays he, have
** fet Foot within the Limits of thy Empire^
" bringing Prefents fit only for Kings, to a cer-
*' tain Child, newly born in the Country of the
' ' Jenxs ; but who this Infant is, or whofe Son,
*' we are yet ignorant.

Thou feeft, O pious Dervich, that the MeJJiai
appear'd with no fmall Luftre, even in his Cra-
dle ; and, in his early Years, he enter'd into the
Temple, and difputed with the Hebrenv RabbPsy
convincing them of an univerfal Defeftion from
the primitive Laiv of 'Mofes, declaring himfelf
the Mejfas; and yet in profound Humility ac-
knowledging. That a Prophet fliould come after
him, who fhould be preferred before him, the
Duft of whofe Feet he was not worthy to kifs.
This PaflTage the ChriJlians have perverted to a-
nother Senfe ; but the true Faithful know it was
fpoken only of Mabcmetf the SEAL of the
PROPHETS.

The Time would fail me, to recount all the
ftupendious Aftions of this il/a«'s Life : And, in
calling him MAN, I imitate his own Example:
fmce throughout the whole he never called him-
felf God, or the Son of God, as the Chrijiians
do, but moft frequently gave himfelf the Title of
the Son of Man, He turn'd Water into Wine,

fed

240 Letters /^V/V ^y Vol IV.

fed five thoufand People with five Cakes and two
fmall Tench : Heal'd all Difeafes, reftor'd Sight
to them that were born Blind, rais'd the Dead,
went invifibly through Crowds of hi 5 Enemies,
and, finally, was taken up into Paradife.

If thou would'ft know more of this Holy Pro-
phet ; there are Hijlorians who fay, He was ini-
tiated in the Myjlerics of the Ejfenes, a certain
SeSI among the yenvs.

That Nation, it feems, was then divided into
feven Clajfes : Among which, this of the Ejjenes
was none of the leaft confiderable, as being the
moft religious Obfervers of the La^jj. Their Con-
verfation was full of Humanity, both among
themfelves, and towards Strangers j avoiding
Pleafures as Enemies to the Mind, and elleem-
ing Chaftity the very Cement of all Virtues.
Therefore they defpis'd Marriage, as an Entan-
glement to Men devoted to Contemplation. They
had alfo an equal Contempt for Riches : No
Man of this Sed call'd any Thing his own,
though 'twere his lawful Inheritance ; bat their
Poffeflions were in common, and equally dillri-
buted.

It was among their MyJIeries, to anoint their
Bodies frequently with Oyl, and as often to wa(h
'em with running Water. 1 hey neither bought
nor fold, nor frequented ihe puhlick Places ; but
every one communicated freeiy fuch Things as
he poflefi'd to him 'hat flood in Need. 1 hus
there was a reciprcciJ Exchange of KindiiefTes
and AfTiflance, according to every one's Faculty
and Power. 1 hey were very afllduous in Watch-
ing, Fafting, and Prayers, curious in obfervir.g
the various Names of the A/igeh, which they
frequently repeated, in vc eating thofe hnppy Be-
ings, m th.t Minijlers of (t^e King eternal : And
tbofe, wlio ws:e exercis'J in tliif kind of .'elt^-imis

VoJ. IV. a Spy a^ "Paris. 241

, Life, arrlv'd to fo great a Conlbncy of Mind,
that neither Racks, tire. Sword, or any other
Tortures, could ever move 'em to renounce their
Laiv, or fpeak the leall Word in Contempt of
their Jnjlitution. Nay, they v/ould rather fufFer
Martyrdom, than be prevail'd on to tafte of any
Thing that had Life in it : For they were ftridl
Obfervers of the Laiv, Which commands perpe-
tual AblHnence from the FleJJjo^ Animals.

It was an eftablifh'd Article of their Faith, that,
as foon as the Vnion of Soul and Body was dif-
folv'd by Death, the former by a natural Inclina-
tion afcends to the Skies, even as Sparks fly up-
ward when freed from the grof?, earthly Matter
in whjch they lay imprifon'd.

I have here given thee a (hort and true Charac-
ter of the Effenes. Of which SeB all Chrijlians
own the MeJJias to be a Favourer, if not a Mem-
ber; in regard he is no where recorded to have
upbraided them as he often did the Phari/ees,
S'ttdduces, Herodians, and the reft.

Time will not permit me to fay more at pre-
fent concerning that venerable Prophet. But, if
thou would'ft have a perfect Idea of all his Vir-
tue and Sanftity of Life, turn thy Eyes inward,
and fix them on thyfelf. For thou art a lively
Tran/cript of the Holy Jefus.

Paris, \ft of the \ft Moon,
of the Tear 1654..

M ,L E T-:

242 Le T T E R s Writ hy Vol. IV.
L E T T E R II.

To the Venerable Mufti.

TH OU haft heard of the Jefuits^ an Order
of Naza7ene Dewifei. All Europe abounds
with them ; and they have attempted to fettle
themfelvesat the /ul>Iime Port, andfeveial Places
of J/:a : Befides their aftual Poffeffions in the
Indies, where they are very numerous and pow-
erful. They are efteem'd the richeft Order of the
Eotnan Church, tho' the Covjlitutions of their
/oa«^(fr oblige them X.o perpetual Fo-certy. But
what will not the yJzr/-^^ Hunger of GoZ^ tempt
Men to ? Bor the Sake of this charming Metal,
they can difpenfe with antiquated Laius, and dull
melancholy Vc-ivs.

Thefe religious Perfons have lately fpread about
a Letter in Print, which they pretend comes from
one of their Order in Armenia.

This Difpatch relates a ftrange Accident that
has happen'd at the Sepulchre of our holy Prophet^
(upon whom reft the Favours of the Eternal.)
For it afHrm5, That, in the eighth il/oe/r of the laft
Year, the Shrine which contains the Body of the
lea'venly MiJJioner, fell from the Hoof of the fa-
cxcAMofque (to which, fay they, it adher'd by
Vertue of a Magnet) fattened in the Cantrel of the
Arch ; and that, at the fame Time, the Pavement
of the Temple opened, and fwallow'd up that ve-
nerable Ark, wherein was repofited the moft holy
Jieliques in the World, And that from the Chajm
there ifl'ued out a Flame like that oi Sulphur, ac-
c< mpany'd with" fuch a Smok r and intolerable
Stench, as caus'd all the Pilgrims that were pre-
fect to hvoon away : Whereupon many of them
are fioce turn'd Chrijlians.

This

Vol. IV. a Spy ^z/ Paris. 243

This Forgery is believ'd liere by thofe who
never examine any Thing their Priejls tell rhem,
but take all on Truft. 1 he common People b'efs
themfelves in that they were born of Chiijiian
Parents, and not of the /y//f;/i/^j of that wicked
Impofior : So they blai'pheme the Man in whom
the Promifes of their MeJJias are verified, when
he faid. He tvuoud intercede nvith Gon to fend a
Prophet njjko Jhould lead ""em into all Truth.

They would never be at the Pains or Coft to
examine, whether the Foundation of this Story
be true or falfe. All the Muffuhnans who have
been at that Holy of Holies know, that the Body
of our Divine Laiv-gi'ver repofes in a Sepulchre^
built after the fame manner as the Tombs of our ««-
guji Emperors, and other Dormitories of the Great:
Chily with this Difference, that it furpafies all
the Monuments of the World in the invaluable
Richnefs of its Ornaments, the Gi.'ts of devout
Ivlujfulman Princes. There appears always fuch an
infupportable Luftre of Gold and precious Stones
in every Angle of that myfterious Recefs, as may
well dazzle the Eyes of mortal Spedators, finci
the Angels themfelves are forced to be veil'd
within thofe tnajejiick Walls.

Hence it is not hard to fuppofe, that the cir-
cular RefraQions of fuch a glittering Orh of
Jeiuels might create the Refemblance oiz.Tomb
fufpended in the Air, or cleaving to the Roof of
that glorious Edifice, deceiving the Eyes of fome
ignorant, but devout Mujfulmans, from whom
this fnagnetick Fable firft took its Origin. How-
ever it be, no Man o^ common Faith, or but or-
dinary Senfe, will believe, that God, who has
for fo many Ages protefted the Sepulchre of his
Jpofle 2cnA Favourite, verifying therein the P/o-
phecy of Mahomet himfelf, who foretold, as did
Other Prophets before him. That the PLice o/hisRefi
M z Jlimli

244 Letters Writ by Vol. IV.

Jhould be glorious, and that the greatcfi ^hnarchs
of the Earth pould <v:/it it : I fay no Man will
believe that God would at length fuffer fo vile a
Difgrace to happen to the Totnb of his Mejfenger,
the Refuge of Sinners.

But the Nazarenes will believe any thing fave
the Truth. They are given up to a Spirit of
Delujion and Error, incapable of Light and In-
ftruftion.

Thus I leave 'em 'till the Day of Alarm, and
the Hour of Scrutiny ; when the Angels of the
left fhall enter the Graues, and, having made Ex-
periment of every Man's Works and Faith, fliall
give the Juft a Regifter of their Virtues in their
Right Hand, but to the Wicked in their Left
Hand, a black Record oi their Sins.

In the mean Time, I proftrate myfelf before
thee, begging, that, when thou turneft thy Face
to the Houfe of Ibrahim, and the Tomb of the
Prophet, thou wilt fend up one Ejaculation for
Mahmut, that he may perfevere in (hunning the
Errors of the Infidels.

Paris, \C)th cf the \ft Moon,
of the Tear 1654.

LETTER III.

To Cara Hali, Phyfician to the Grand
Seignior.

SINCE what I wrote laft, in behalf of the
Brute Animals, is fo acceptable to thee, I
will comply with thy Requeit, in continuing
that Difcourfe.

'Tis

Vol. IV. <7Spy^/ Paris. 245

'Tis certain the Ancients hid another Opinion
of the Beajls than thefe French PhUofophers," who
deny them the Ufe of Reafon. Socrates us'd to
fwear by the animal Generations, and fo did Rha-
damanthus before him. The Egyptians form'd the
Imaf^es of their Cods in the Similitude oi Beafts,
or Birds, or Fipes. So the Grecians fix'd the Horns
of a Ram on imH^ad oi J upiters Statue, and thofe
of a Bull on the Image oi Bacchus. 1'hey com-
pounded the Image oi Pan of a Man and a Goat ;
painted the I^Iufes and Graces with Wings : And
the Po(?/ Pindur makes all the (/o^'j winged, and
difguifes them in the Shapes of feveral Bcajisy
when, in his Hymns, he introduces them chas'dby
Tryphon. Thou knowelt alfo, tljat our koly Doc-
/c^rj affirm the Angel Gabriel to have Wings, with
one of which he once give a Mark to the Ahon.

When the Poets bring in Jupiter courting Pa-
Jipbae, he appears in the Form of a Bull. And
in his other Amours, if we may believe them, he
chang'd himfelf foraetimes into a -Stc-j?;?, then in-
to an Eagle : They report alfo, that he was
fuckled by a Gcat.

For thefe and other Reafons, the Ancients not
only forbore to injure their Felloxu-Aninuils, but
entertain'd them with fingular AfFe£lion and
Friendihip. A Dove was the Darling of Semira-
mis. A Dog was the Joy of Cyrus. Philip,
King of Macedonia, made a Sivan his Companion.
And our holy Lazv gia/er was often wont to fport
himfelf with a Cat. He lov'd this Creature for
its Cleanlinefs and Aftivity ; and therefore we
Mujfulmans generally have a Cat in great Efteem
and Veneration.

That Favourite of God underflood the Za»-

guages of Beajls, and convers'd as familiarly with

them as with Men. So it i5 fam'd of Melampus

and Tirejias of old, as alfo of Apollonius TyanauSy

M 3 who

246 Letters Writ by Vol. IV.

whoaffirm'd to his Friend, fitting by him, that a
Spnrrc^.v, which he heard chirping to his Fellows,
told them of an Afs which he' had feen fall down
with his Load a little Way off from that Place.
It is alfo recorded of a Boy, who underllocd all
the Fo'uesoi Birds, and by that Means could fore-
tel Things to come. That his Mother, by pouring
Urine into his Ears when he was afleep, deprived
liim of this incomparable Gift, for fear he fhould
be taken from her, and prefented to the King.
There is no Queftion, but feveral Nations have
a certain Knowledge of the Speech of fome y^ni-
mals. My Countypncn, by a peculiar Gift beflow'd
on our Fathers and their Pojhrity for ever, under-
Hand the Language of Crc-ius and Eagles. And the
^indents were {o well vers'd in this Kno-zvUdget
that when they convers'd with the Birds, or at
leaft when they heard them in their Layiguages
utter Pre/ages of what fhould fhortly happen to
Earth, they perfuadcd themfelves that thofe Birdsr
were the Mejfengers of the Gods. Therefore the
Ecgle\N?L% fuppofed to be the Mejfenger ci Jupiter ,
the Cro^v and Haivi of Apollo, the Stork of y««»,
the Ooi/of Minerva, and fo of others.

Jt is evident, that our common Hunt/men un-
derfland the different Voices of their Dogs, when
at a Diftance they fignify by one kind of Cry,
that they are quelling after the Hare ; by ano-
ther, that they have found her ; by a third, that
they have taken her, or that (he is turn'd to the
Jfigh Hand, or to the Left. So thofe, who look
after Cattle, know by the Voice of the Bull when
he is hungry, thirlly, or weary, or when he is
(lung with Luft. So by the Roaring of the Lion,
the Honvling of Wolves, the Bleating of Sheep,
Men .ire made fenfible of the various Wants, In-
clinations, and Paffions of thofe Creatures.

Nor

Vol. IV". ^Spy^/ Paris. 247

Nor are thefe Animals ignorant of our Lan-
guaiCf but by our Voice and Words they know
when we are angry or pleas'd, when we call
them to us, or drive them from us : And our do-
mejiick Animals obey accordingly, with as much
Promptnefs and Alacrity as a Man or Maid-
fervant. All which could not be, if they were
not endu'd with Faculties conformable to ours.
They alfo teach their young Ones to fmg artifi-
cially. In a Litter oi Dogs^ Hunt/men chufe the
bell by this Experiment : They take all the
Whelps from the Bitch, and carry them to fome
Place a little diflant ; then they obfervc which
fhe firll carries back again, and thofe always prove
the bed Dogs. What is ibis diflinguiflnng Faculty
in the Bitch but Reafin, or fomething like it ?

We fee apparently, that every living Creaturf
knows its own Weaknefs or Strength, and knows
how to ufe mod dexteroufly thofe Weapons with
which Nature has furnifli'dit foritsoivw Defence.
They are alfo fenfible what Places are moft con-
venient for them to dwell in, and which not.
Thus the nveakejl Creatures, as Dogs and Cats,
live altogether in Houfes and Cities with Men ;
whilft the Lions, Tigers, and fuchyfrrr^ Animals
dwell in theDe/art. Thus Sparro'u.-s and Sivallctvs
make themfelves almoft domejiick wirh Men ;
whilft Eagles, Haivks, Vultures, and other Birds
of Prey build their Nells in Woods or Rocks, re-
mote ifrora human Society. Some Birds change
their Habitation at certain Sea/ons of the Year,
as bell fuits with their Convenience ; others al-
ways remain in the fame Place. The fame is cb-
ferv'd in Tijhes. And in all living Creatures it is
eafy to trace the Footfteps of Prudence and Fore-
caft, in order to their own Prefervation. Let
Men call this what they pleafe, InjlinSl, or Nature,
or Sen/e, it is evident, that there is an exaft Con-
M 4 formity

248 Letters Writ by Vol IV.

formity and Refemblance between thefe Famlties
in Brutes and what we call Reafon, JVifdom, or
Prudence in Men. And we have no mere Ground,
to conclude them void of Reafon, becaufe they do
not enjoy it in that PerfeSion as ourlelves, than
v/e havfe to conclude curfelves blind or deaf, be-
caufe we fee not fo clearly^ and hear not fo readi-
ly as the Brutes, and that we have no Legs, be-
caufe we run not fo /xt//> as fome of them do.

Doubtlefs, the Brutes are endu'd with a Fa-
culty of Reafon as well as we ; but this Faculty in
them is weak and imperfeft for v^ant of Dif inline
and Art, which polilli all Things, This is ma-'
nifcll from thofe Creatures which are taught to
dance and play a thoufand Tricks, to tell Mo-
ney, tofhootoffGuns, to find cut hidden Thirg«,
and bring them fome Miles to their Mnfiers, as
well educated Spaniels will do. What can be
a greater Argument of the Proficiency they make
in Reafon and Knotvledge? Are not Elepha?its
taught all the Arts of tVar, and placed in the
very Front of the Battle ? Do not the Indian
Princes repofe as much Truft in their Carrisge
and Conduft, as in the Service of their ftouteft
and wifeft Ctmmanders ? This Cre,rture is as
traclable and prompt to learn any Thing when
young, as a Boy at School, which cannot be
done without the Ufc of Reafon.

To conclude, I have omitted five hundred
Arguments, which might be brought to prove
the brute Animals to have Souls as well as we, to
have Faculties and AffeSlions conformable to ours.
And therefore it is little lefs Injuftice to kill and
eat them, becaufe they cannot fpeakand converfe
with us, tlian it would be for a Cannibal to mur-
der and devour thee or me, becaufe we underftood
not his Language, nor he ours.

Goo

VoJ. rV. aSpvai'PAR rs. 249

God, who locketh up the JVinds during the
Time the Halcyon hatcheth her Toung, thereby
fhewing that this Bird is his Favourite, will af-
furedly grant us a perpetual Tranquillity, ifwc
abftain from injuring our Felloiu- Animals.

Paris, zzd of the \Jl Moon,
of the Tear 1654.

LETTER IV.

I'o Muftapha, Berber Aga, at the
Seraglio.

THOU haft formerly heard me fpeak of the
Duke of terrain, and his feveral Loflea
wliichinoft People thought wou'd have ended
with the Excommuincation pronounc'd againft him
by the Roman Mufti, whereof I gave thee Intel-
ligence. But Experience teaches us, That Mis'
fortunes feUomfet upon any Man Jin? ly, but ajfault
him in Troops 'whom Fate has marlCd out for Ruin.
Yet this Prince owes his Sufferings chiefly to his
own Inconltancy, whilil he has all along play'd
fall and loofe with the Kings of France and Spain,
taking up Arms by fucceflive Turns for one, and
at the fame Time underhand and pradtifing with
the other, always unfaithful to both, and only
driving on an independanc Intereft of his oivn.

This is his true Charadler. To which we may
add, an ungovernable Difpofition, and infa-
tiable Thirft of Money, which has prompted
him, by all the Methods of Rapine and Violence^
to heap up an incredible Treafure of Gold and
Jewels. So that having procur'd the Enmity of
M 5 feveral

250 Letters Writhy Vol. IV.

feveral Monarchs, the Jealoufy of his late Mafler
the King of Spain, the Ill-will of his own Bro-
ther (whom they call Duke Fravcts) and the Cur-
fes of all People where-ever his Army has been
quartered ; he is at length feiz'd and imprifon'd
by Arch-Duke Leopold, in the Cajlle oi Antzverp ;
for which joyful News the Inhabitants of the
Spanijh Netherlands every-where made Bonfires
for Joy. He was confin'd on the 2^th of the
laft I^Ison. And foon after his fecond Wife was
taken into Cuftody, that by her Means they
may difcourfe his Papers and Money : This lat-
ter being the chief Thing they aim at, he being
reputed prodigioufly rich ; and the Spanijh Cof-
fers want a Supply. They conniv'd at his Rob-
beries, whilil there was any Thing left for him
to plunder, and that they faw he hoarded up.
But now he has done his Work, they punifh.him
for the Crimes which they themfelves encou-
rag'd, that fo they may become Mailers of hh
Wealth. 'Tis faid, he brook'd his Reftraintvery
well at firft ; but a while ago, being deny'd the
Liberty cf the Cajlk Walls, he grew raving
Mad, flung a Candlejiick (which was all the Wea-
pons they allow'd him) at the Gon)ernor''i Head,
and broke the V/indows of his Lodgings. So
that they have been forc'd to confine him to a
Hole without any Light, fave a little that finds
Admittance through an iron Gate at the Top of
the Room.

His Brother /Vflwm oi Lorrain is to command
the Army in his ftead ; who pretends great Fide-
lity to the Houfe of Auftria, yet may in the Iffue
prove as waverirg as his Brother : For the King
ei France has Baits wou'd tempt the Virtue of an
Angel. Yet nothing fhall ever corrupt the Integri-
ty of Mahmut the Muffulman, on whofe Forehead
fat& has engraven this Motto, Prepared to fuffer.

■ Iblufli

Vol. IV. a Spy at Paris. 251

I blufh, ferene Aga, when I think I am fo bar-
ren of Virtues^ that I have nothing elfe to boaft
of but my Loyalty : Whilll thoufands of illuftrious
Sou/s, crown'd with a Circle of Merits, daily af-
cend to Paradife : And tho' they made but an ob-
fcure Figure on Earth, even as contemptible as
the exil'd Arabian in his Hutch at Paris, yet now
take their Seats among the hundred zn^ twenty four
thoufand Prophets, Favourites of the Eternal.

May'ft thou encreafe that happy Number, but
not till thou haft had thy Fill of Blifs on Earth ;
and that all thy Enjoyments here feeni like the
Perfumes of Ointments, which, tho' they pleafe
for a Time, yet at length cloy the Senfe.

Paris, zid of the ^d Meon,
cf the Tear 1 654.

LETTER V.

To Nathan Ben Saddi, a Jew at
Vienna.

DO not fufpcfl me of Partiality, or that I
am fond of making Pro/elytes, becaufe I
take fuch Pains to reftore thee to Rcafon, and
make thee fenfible thou art a Man. I have no
Defign, or Self-Intereft, in doing thee this good
OfRce ; and 'tis remote fifcm my Humour to
bufy myfelf in gaining Ccn'verts. Only the Love
of Truth fets my Pen at work in this Manner ;
being ever of the Mind, That a free Difquifition,
in Matters either of Religion or Philofaphy, is the
only Way to get quit of Errors. Perhaps my Cafe
may be the fame as thine : and, for aught thoa
knoweft, I feek not more to undeceive thee, than
M 6 to

'252 Letters Writ by Vol. IV.

to fatisfy myfcif, by thus frankly venting my
Thoughts ; fince nothing is more commonly
obferv'd, than, that, whilft a Man is teaching an-
other, he improves himfelf. Our Memories are
frail and treacherous,, and we think many ex-
cellent Things, which, for want of making a
deep Imprcffion, we can never recover after-
wards. In vain we hunt for the llraggling IJea ;
and rummage all the Solitudes and Retirements
of our 5W for a loft Thought, which has left
JK) Track or Footlleps behind it. The fwift Off-
fpring of the Mind is gone ; 'tis dead as foon as
born ; nay, often proves abortive in the Mo-
ment it was conceived. The only Way therefore
to retain our Thoughts, is to fallen them in
Words, and chain them in Writing. This is one
Caufe that I trouble thee with Letters of this Na-
ture, that, whilft I am inftrudling thee, I may
eilablifii my own Reafon, and confirm myfelf in
the Method I have taken, to live according to
my Nature ; that is, by not fufFeringmy rational
Faculties to fall afleep, whilft my Paflions are
r.ftive and" vigorous in working my Ruin : For I
reckon no greater Shame or Misfortune can befal
a Man, than to be deprived of his Humanity,
that is, his Reafan.

What I have faid, concerning the Perfidlouf-
nefs of our Mctncries, may ferve as a proper In-
troduftion to the Objeflions I fhall make againft
your Traditionary La'as.

If one ask you, nv^j thefe Laws luerenot ivritten
as I'.ell as the other ; you anfwer, That God took
Cart in this, lejl the Gentiles, getting Copies of etn^
Jhculd corrupt and per'vert their Setife, ei'en as they
hai'e done the written Laws. But how then came
he to fulFer any to be nuriiten ? Had he not equal
Care of one Part, as of the other ? Or, could
^eGf>7//A,f do more Harm, by altering and cor-
rupting

Vol. IV. «Spy^/ Paris. z^g

rupting the lefs fubftantial Traditions, than the
very fundamental Statutes ? For, that thcfe »«-
ivritten La^vs contain'd only Circumftantials,
your Z)(75<?rj thcmfelves confefs. What Man of
common Senfe then can fit down contented with
fo trivial an Anfwer ? Or will you fay, that God
took more Care to preferve thefe Traditions incor-
rupt from the Gentiles, than to retain them in
their Purity among the Jen^js ? For that commit-
ting them to Writing had been the fareft Way
to retain them in their original Purity, is evident
by the Prefervation of the ivritten Laiu ; of
which there was fo great Care taken in tranfcrib-
ing it, that if but a Letter or Point were added,
diminifh'd, or mifplac'd, they took it for d, fatal
Omen of feme Calamity, and the faulty Scribes
vere feverely punifn'd, nay, the whole Congre-
gation were bound to expiate the Offence by Faji-
ing, Prayers, and j4/ms. So that it was in a Man-
ner impofTible, that, with all this Circumfpeftion,
the leaft Corruption or Alteration fhould creep
into the ivritten Laiv.

I appeal now to thine own Rcafon, Whether
this was not a much fecurcr Way of preferving
the Laivs uncorrupt, than by trufling them to tlie
fickle Memories of Men ?

Befides, I would fain know what became of
thefe Traditions during the various Capti'vities of
the Je-Ls, and Depopulations of the Holy Land'?
Who took Care to deliver thefe Traditions unal-
ter'd to Pojlerity when they were without Brief s.
Prophets, ox Synagogues ? When they were difpers'd
over the remote Province: ci Media, Perfa, Egypt,
and Babylon ? In thofe Days your Fathers were
Slaves to the Gentile Kings of Jfta ; there were
then no Seniors fitting in the Sanhedrim, who
might take Care of thefeThing<:. Neither do I find,
that Efd/Ri the Scribe was any ways concernM

for

254 Letters /Fr/V ^ Vol. IV.

for thefe Traditions^ when he with his Brethren
the fe^Kis return'd from their long Captivity in
Perjia and Babylon. All his mod flrenuous En-
deavours were employ'd in recovering the loft
Books of the Written Lain, without fo much as
regarding or mentioning the other. From whence
I gather, that either thefe Traditions were of no
great Importance ; or if they were, yet they
were wholly, or for the moft part chang'dor loft,
many hundred of Years before the Talmud was
firft compos'd, which, thcu fay'ft, is the grand
Repcjitory of thefe /acred InfiruBions. And, in
faying fo, thou contradideft thy own Arguments :
For if thefe Traditions were appointed to be tranf-
mitted by Word of Mouth, from Father to Son,
to all Generations y as you fuppofe, then what need
was there of writing them in the Talmud, or any
other Book ? And yet the Writings of your Rab-
bi% are full of them. Thus thou confoundeft thy-
felf, and runneft blindful round in a Circle of
Abfurdities.

Rcuze up therefore thy Reafon, and fuffer not
thyfelf to be hoodwinked by the Eables of your
Rabbrs, thoie induftrious Mid^vi-ves of old \\'o-
mens Tales. Doubtlef? thofe Traditions, about
which you make fuch a Buftle, are no other than
the Whini/ies of your Cabalijis, who pretend to
fpy more Myfieries in the Order of two or three
Hebrinv Letters or Points, than they are able to
unfold in whole Volumes. They crack their Brains
in conjuring up far fetch'd Interpretations, from
the particular Fafiaion and Placing of one fingle
Dafh of a Pen. They puzzle and amufe their
Difciples, with teaching them more knotty and
romantick Di-vinity out of iht four and tiventy
Letters, than ever Pythagoras did with all his ^-
fiick Numbers. The Alphabet to them is the Oracle
of Theology;. They have turned the Law into a
perfeft Riddle » Believe

Vol. IV. tf Spy ^/ Paris. 2^^

Believe not therefore thefe Religious Mounte-
banks, thefe holy Jugglers, who with their fanc-
tify'd Legerdemain would turn you into ^pes, that
they may laugh in fecret at your Folly : while
they behold, how precifely devout you are in
cringing, jumping, dancing, howling, braying,
and all your other antick Poftures and A£lions in
the Syna?o?ue ; in thePraftice of which you have
beftowedfo much Care, and are fo exa£l, that
you quite neglefl the nxieighty Points of the Laiv.
I hope what I have faia is fufficient to convince
thee, that thofe Traditions, which, you are taught
to believe, were deliver'd to Mofes in the Alount of
God, are no other than the Impojitions of your
blind Guides, who are ftudious of nothing more,
than to entangle you in a perpetual Labyrinth of
Superjiition and Error.

It will not be a greater Difficulty to demon-
ftrate, that the ivritten Laiv itfelf, tho' Di'uine
in its Original, is not of univerfal Obligation to
all -People, but only calculated for your particular
Nation, and fuch as were willing to enter into
your Interefts, among the Nations adjacent to
the Holy Land.

And becaufe my Time haflens me, I will only
fugged one Argument for all, and leave it to
thy Deliberation ; whether it was poffible for all
Mankind to repair once a Year to Jerufalem, to
facrifice in Salomcn's Temple, as is requir'd in your
Lanxi ? For that it was not lawful to facrifice any
where elfe is evident, both from the Lww itfelf,
which exprefsly forbids it, and from the Exam-
ples of your Fathers ia their feveral Capti'vities ;
and from your own Pradice at this Day, who
have made no Sacrifice fince the Days of Titus
Vefpafian, the Roman Emperor, who laid wafie
your Ci:y, aiid burnt your Temple to Alhes.

And

156 Letters fVrit by Vol. IV.

And this alfo may ferve to convince thee, that
the Laiu of Moj'es was not o^ perpetual Obligation f
even to the Jevjs themfelves ; fince 'tis evident
from Matters of Faft, that, for thefe Sixteen hun-
dred Years, you have not been in a Capacity to
keep it: And doubtlefs, God would never re-
quire any thing of Men, which he forefaw they
would not be able to perform.
- Ceafe then to think fo highly of thy Nation , as
if none but they were the Ele^ of God, or capa-
ble of his Favours: Ceafe to infult over the reft
of MafikinJ, and to curfe thy Brethretj the Sons of
one Father, even Noah the jtiji Man, and Prophet
of God. Behold the Sun and Moon, with all tlie
Conflellativns in Heaven : Their hjluences are
equally difpers'd to all oi human Race. Behold the
Elements ; they ferve all the So?is of j^Jam alike ;
they are not partial to Mortals, neither does any
Tadion byafs the Winds and Rain. Thefe happen
all at their appointed Time and Place. And the
four Seafons of the Year return with even Courfes
to the Inhabitants ofihcfour^arters oftheWorld.
The Plants know no Difference between the Cir-
cumcis''d and the Vncircumcis'd ; but yield their
Encreafe with equal Indifferency to the one and
the other ; And the Brute Animals equally ac-
knowledge both for \!ti€\x Lords. The Birds of the
Air are as foon caught by a Heathen, Chrifiian, or
Mahometan Fo^-ler, as by one that is a Jeiu. And
the Fijh of the Sea, when they fwallow the Hook,
or plunge themfelves into the Net, regard not the
Difference of Religion in thofe that catch them.
All Things happen to every Man according to
their Nature and the Pleafure of Dejiiny : Only
Man himfelf tranfgreffes the Condition of his
Being. But thofe that obey the internal Latu-
git'er, let them be of what Nation or Religion fo-
ever, doubtlefs they live happily, and die in Peace.

However,

Vol. IV. a Spy «/ Paris. 257

However, left Men fhould err for want of
Kfwnvled^e, a Light is fprunjf forth in the Eaji,
even the Book of Glory, which confirms the Writ'
tan Laiv, and inilrufts Men in the Truth. Doubt-
lefs this Book was brought down from Hea'ven :
It carries its own Evidence, and a Teftimony of
its Di'vine Original, in the Majefty of the Style:
There is a Spirit and Energy in every Word, fub-
limating the IntelleB of the devout Reader, and
purifying his Affeftions : It is written in Arabick,
in a Dialed fo pure and perfect, that the moft ac-
curate Criticks can find no Blemifh from the Be-
ginning to the End. One Part coheres exadlly
with the other ; 'tis void of Contradidlion. All
the Chapters in this glorious Volume mq. of a piece ;
which Excellencies could not have thus met toge-
ther without a Miracle, in a Book divulg'd by a
Man, who could neither ivrite nor read.

The Succefs, it has had in the World, fpeaks it
cf celeftial Dejcetit. The greateft Part of Jjia, and
J/rick,\\ix.\\ manyKingdoms i nJ^r^ri?/?, have obey 'd
the Alcoran for above thefe thoufand Years. Cou'd
fuch a Thing come to pafs, without the Decree of
Hea'ven ? When the Prophet and Fa'vourite of Goo
firft rt-ceivVl his Di'vine Comttiijfion , he was like a
Pelican in the Wildernefs, folitary, and without
Companion. Nevcrthelefs, he was not difcou-
rng'd, but obey'd the Orders oi Heaven. He faw
himfelf in the midft of Pocks and Sands, encom-
p::fied on all Sides with terrible Beajls : Yet he
defpnir'd not of Affiftance from aboi'e, but com-
forted himfeL^ in the Promife of the Eternal. He
iirll preach'd to the favage Lions and Tigers ; who,
as if they had heard another Orpheus, grew tame
and fociable at his powerful Words. Thofe
fierce Inhabitants of the Woods came and pro-
flrated themfelves before the Sent of God ; they
lick'd his feet, in token of Submiffion ; they

cuviron'd

253 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

environ'd the Place of his Repofe, as his Guards,
and brought him Food Morning and Evening.
The Prophet wonder'd that fo great Grace was
given to the Beajis of the Earth He prais'd the
Creator of all 'Things, and his Mouth was full of
Bejiediiiions. He blefs'd the Day and the Night,
and the Ob/cur ity that comes between them. He
blefs'd the Deivs that fall at the rifmg of the odo-
riferous Star, and the refrefhing Winds that ftir
the Leaves of the Trees at Midnight. And in the
Morninfr he pray'd that all Men might become
true Belie'vers. Doubtlefs God had granted his
Petition, had not the Angel, who carry 'd up his
Prayers to Heaven, met with the Devil, a little on
this fide the Orb of the liloon, who ftole from him
fome of Mabn'.ut''i Words, that fo the Prayer af-
cended imperfe«ft to the Throne of the Merciful.
Neverthelefs, a great Part of Men became Betit'
I'crs ; and more lliall be added to the Number.

In a little Time the folitary Prophet faw him-
felf at the Head of a numerous Army, all Fo-
luntiers, who refcrted to him in the Wildernefs, as
they were infpir'd from Abo-ve. The mighty RIen
of Arabia oppos'd the facred Hero : They led the
Flower of the Eaf againft him ; but they acce-
lerated their own Fate, and incens'd their angry
Stars. The Elements took up Arms againft them,
and the Meteors fought in Defence of the Mejferi'
ger of God. Lightning and Hail, with Stones of
Fire, blafted the Troops of the Infidels : And ter-
rible Storms of Winds buried whole A rmies in
the Sands. Thus the Hofi of the Muffulmam
became vidlorious without drawing a Sword, and
the Empires of the Wicked {t\\ to the Poffeffion of
true Believers. Perfia, Babylon, and Egypt were
fubdued and embrac'd the undefiled Truth. The
Alcoran was receiv'd from India to the Mauritani-
an Shore: From the rifmg of the Sun, to the going

down

Vol. IV. ^Spy^/ Paris. 259

down thereof, this holy ProfeJJton is made vvitli
one Confent, There is but one God, and Maho-
met his Prophet.

Now Nathan confider, whether ever the Lifut
of Mofes had fuch Footing in the World., or the
Children of Ifrael could boall of fuch uniuerfal
Conquefis : Your little A^/rg^^ew has had its Pe-
riod long ago ; and both that, and all the Em-
fires oi JJta and yJfrick, are fwallow'd up in the
./ill-conquering Monarchy of the Ofmans. Your
Tabernacle, Temple, City, and Sacrifices are quite
extindl : Your Nation fcatter'd over the whole
World, witliout Lands or Pojfejfions that they call
their own. Neither is there Prince, Priefi, or
Prophet, to whom you can have Recourfe for De-
livery from your Misfortunes.

Come out therefore from x\\z Synagogue, which
lies under the Scourge of Heaven; JhakeofFthe
Maledidion-, and, being purified, join thyfelf to
the/;a? Believers, who are ble/s^d in this World,
and fhall be happy in Paradije. Or at lead Hand
by thyfelf, and follow thy own Light. Adieu.

Paris, zidofthe %d Moon,
of the Tear 1654.

LETTER VI.

To Dicheu Huflein, Baffa.

'T* H E Policies of Cardinal Mazarini are no

•*■ Secrets at the Imperial City. Now he is

about to p!ay his Mafter-piece. He has all along

maintained Penjloners in the Service of the French

Grandees,

26o Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

Grandees. No Man of prime ^ality cou'd be
fure he entertain'd not at his Table Ibme Crea-
ture of this Mbiifier. I^iiguifes of all Sorts, both
for Body and Mind, were never wanting to Men
dexterous at Treachery, and officious to do Mif-
chief.

But now he is fetting Sfies of another Charai^er
on the Princes of the Blood, and the chief Nobility
of France. Women are to become his private
Agents ; Females oi Km own Blood, trae- If alians,
and brought up under his particular Care and Ma-
nagement : In a Word, his Sijlers and Nieces.

Five of them arc newly come to this City,
having been conducled hither by the Cardiiiafi
Secrttary, acconipany'd with a confiderable Re-
tinue of Courtiers, who went to meet them fome
Leagues from Paris. 'Tis faid, 'I'hat one of
thofe Ladies is a great Beauty, and that the
young Ki7igf having feen her Pidure, fell in love
with her.

This is certain, the Prince of Conti has married
one of them ; with whom the Cardinal has given
his Palace, and two hundred thoufand Crowns in
Dcnury.

They talk as if another of them was to be
married to the Duke oi Candale ', and a third, to
the Son of General Harcourt. And, as if Maza- ,
rini were emulous of JofeplPi Charadler and Au-
thority in Pharaoh'^ Court, he has fent for his
Father alfo, with all his Family, to come and re-
fide in France. He is refolv'd to ftock this King-
do7n with Sicilian Blood, a Race of Ma%^rins :
Who by Inftind, as well as by Rules, fhall car-
ry on the Defign he has laid ; and either raife this
tottering State to the Height of his Msdcl, or
abfolutely ruin it. For that aftive Spirit cannot
take up with Mediums.

'Tis

Tdl. IV. aSpY at V ARis. 261

'Tis faid, That the Duie of Orleans refents
very ill the CardinaPs Ambition, in marrying
his Nieces into iht Blood Royal. ThatPr/wf^ vvili
not be prevail'd on to come near the Court ; but
rather favours the Prince oi Conde, and the other
hlalecontents ; whence fome People are apt to
prefage another Turn of Affairs before 'tis long ;
for the Generality of the French are inclin'd to
the Prince's Party.

There is great Caballing all over the Kingdom ;
and the Cardinal llrives to pufli his Intereft for-
ward by all the Methods of a cunning Statefman.
He knows the Prince of Conde^ Spirit too well to
dream of a Reconciliation, and he has a double
Intereft in the Ruin of that unfortunate Ge-
neral ; his own Prefervation, and the Aggrandi-
zing his Niece, thePrzV/ff/Jof Cow// ;,who, by the
Fall of her Brother-rn-LaiUy will be Mijlrefs of
his Eftate.

He is endeavouring alfo to make an Alliance
with the Cardinal dt Ret%, his profefs'd Enemy,
and one rais'd by the Pope to that Dignity, on
purpofe to counter-ballance Mazarini^s Power at
this Court ; where he is fufpefted to animate the
King againft the Court of Rome.

That Cardinal de Retz is now a Prifoner of
State, and has been fo a long Time ; being firft
confin'd by Mazarini^s Orders. But the wife Mi'
nijier now thinks it fafer to compound with aMan,
whom he cannot longer perfecute, without draw-
ing on himfelf the Revenge of all the Ecclefi-
aflicks, and efpecially the Thunder of the Roman
Court.

Therefore, to reconcile Matters, and fortify
himfelf, he has propos'd a Match between his
Nephew and de Retz^s Niece. The Court is wholly
taken up \Wth making Friendfhips of this Na-
ture ; which is an evident Sign they feel their

Power

262 Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

Power at an Ebb, and fear it will be much lower,
if the Prince of Conde fhould once take the Field
in France.

'Tis nothing to the MuJJulman Intereft, which
Side gets the Advantage, for they are all equal
Enemies to the Sent of G o d .

If I can by any fuccefsful Artifice promote the
Divifions of thefe Infidels, I Ihall notdifferve the
Jhining Fort. However, I will ftill pray. That
thofe Swords may be turn'd againft each other ;
which, united, would hazard the State of the true
faithful.

Iliullri^us Friend, let thy Prefence in the Z);-
'van be as a ftrong Bajiion^ under the Covert of
which Mahmiit may be fheher'd from the Artil-
lery Kii et'il Tongues and Sycophants.

Paris, x/^hofthe^thMoonf
of the Tear 1 654.

LETTER VII.

To Dgnet Oglou.

THOU art not ignorant that when I firll
heard of the cruel Sentence executed on our
late Friend Egri Boinou (on whom be the Mercies
of the Creator) I wrote to his Succeffor Jfmatl
MoutaFaraca. a Letter of Condolence; wherein,
to keep a Medium between the Tendernefs I ow'd
to the Lofs which my Friend had fuftained of his
Eyes, and the Diftruft I had of a Stranger, I
-filled up my Letter to Ijhmael with coniblatory
Expreffions ; fuch as I would have ufed to Egri
himfelf, had I been in his Company : JBelieving

thac

Vol. IV. aSpvaf Paris. 263

that Ifmael would read my Letter to his blind
Predecejfor.

I plaid the Steick, and encouraged the DoBrine
of Apathy j or, at leaft, I abounded in Philo/o-
phical Counfcls, almoft as impradlicable as the
other : Nothing but fevere Morality drop'd from
my Pen. And all this, to cover my real Con-
cern and PafEon for Egrd Sufferings ; who, thou
knoweft, was beloved by more than thee and me.
I told thee in a former Letter, That I did not
dare to truft my Sentiments, though difguis'd, to
a Man, who, on the Score of his new Preferment,
might become more quick-fighted than before,
and would foon penetrate the thin Veil of Words,
and fpy fomething in that Difpatch, to my Dif-
advantage, fhould I have ventur'd to defcant on
the Sultans Severity, or Egri\ Merits.

Therefore I thought it bell to pretend an In-
differency, to which I am as much a Stranger as
any Man, in Cafes that too nearly touch our
Senfe. 'Tis eafy to give Counfel to another,
which in the fame Circumftances we are far from
praftifing our felves. Then we can be full of
Wifdom, and grave Morals ; but when it once
comes home, all our Philofophy vaniflies ; there
remains nothing to be feen, but a mtxt fenjitivt
Animal, without Virtue or Patience.

My own Experience, but two Days ago, forces
this Confeffion from me, when, by an unlucky
Blow, I loft the Sight of both my Eyes, for the
Space of eight and forty Hours, 'Tis true, I
fhould not have ufed them much during a Third
Part of that Time, had they not been hurt ; un-
lefs thou wilt fay, they are ferviceable in our
Dreams, and help our Souls to fpy the dark Chi-
tnera\ of the Night. However, I remember
' twas no fmall Grief, even in that Abfence of the
Sun, to be only fenfible of the Privation of my

Ears :

264 Letters Writ by Vol. IV^

Ears : For, whilft the Windows of my Soul were
fhut, 'twas in vain for thofe of my Chamber to
be open ; which before this Misfortune would,
by letting in the Light of the hloon or Stars, have
convinc'dme, That it was Night, without being
beholden to the Clocks and Bells of the Corfjents
for my Intelligence, as I was under this Affliftion.
Then it was, that in my Heart I unfaidall that
I had written to the Eunuch^ on the Subjeft of
Blindfiefs, and curfed the Philofopher for a Fool
or a Madman, who put out his own Eyes for the
fake of his Thoughts. I envied thofe more happy
Fools, who are without Thoughts, but enjoy
their Sight, which helps to form and regulate the
Conceits of the moft wife and thinking Men.

Nay, fuch was my Faffion and Melancholy,
during this fhort Eclipfe of my Eyes, that I pre-
ferr'd to mine even the Life of thofe dumb Ani-
mals, whom Men have learn'd to call irrational,
becaufe they exprefs their Sentiments by inarticu-
late Sounds, a Dialed which we -don't under-
lland. And T could almoft have wifhed myfelf
metamorphos'd, though it were into a Dog, pro-
vided I might have but that Senfe, the Want of
which renders our Humanity imperfed, and a
Burthen to itfelf. Or, if thou wilt blame me for
fuch a Wifh, I cannot forbear thinking that Dog-
happier than his Majier, whom I have feen lead-
ing a blind Man in a String along the Streets of
Paris. How prudently did that faithful Crea-
ture adl the Guide, in crofiing the Way, if any
Danger threatened his Charge, as a Cart, Coach,
or Throng of People? And all this Conduft
was owing to his Eyes, which made him wifer
than his Majier, who, had he enjoy'd this
Senfe, might not, for aught I know, have fur-
paffed his tind Brute in the Exercife of Rea/an.

And

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris. 26^

And now I am fallen on this Subjeft of the
Wijdom of Brutes, I muft not forget a Story
which I have read in Plutarch, as alio in a cer-
tain French Author, of a Dog in the Court of the
Roman Emperor Vefpajian wnich would aft to the
Life all the Agonies and Symptoms of Death at
the Command of a Mountebank, who had taught .
him many fuch comical Tricks to divert the
Grandees of Rome.

The fame Frenchman mentions certain Oxen^
which it feems had learned Arithmetick : For be-
ing employed in turning the Wheel of a Well
an hundred times every Day, when they had
finifli'd that Tafk, would not ftir a Step more; but,
having refolv'd that Number in their Minds, de-
filted of their own accord ; nor could any Vio-
lence compel 'em to farther Labour. Who will
deny now that thefe Oxen were Mathematicians ?
or, that that Ship Dog had any need toftudy Ew
clid'% Elements ; who, having a great defire to tafte
of feme Oil that he faw in a. deep earthen Veffel,
and not being able to put his Head in far
enough, by reafon of the long ftrait Neck of the
Pot, after fome Study ran to the Ho/d of the Ship,
which was ballafted with Gravel-Hones ; from
thence he brought in his Mouth, at feveral times,
as many of thofe little Stones, as, half filling the
Pot, forced the Oil up to the Mouth, fo that he
could lap his Belly full ? Of this Plutarch fays,
he was an Eye-Witnefs. Was not this, thinkefl
thou, an Archimedes among the Dogs ? Are not
the Goats of Candy abfolute Phyficians, when,
being wounded, they never ceafe ranging the
Plants of that fertile IJland, 'till they have found
the Herb Dittany, with which they reftore them-
felves to Health ?

Should the French read thefe Lines, and the

others I have writ on this Subjeft to Cava Halt ;

N and

266 Letters JVrit hy Vol. IV.

the great Mahummed of the Defart, they would
cenfure me as a Heretick, a Fool, or a Madman :
Or, at leaft, they would conclude, I am too
importunate an Advocate for the Beajls. They
would call me Brute my felf, and fix my Pedigree
among fome of the dumh Generations.

But thou who haft been educated in the ferener
Principles of the Ea^, and haft had the Honour
to pour out Water on the Hands of the abftemious
Eremit, wilt have another Opinion of what I fay,
in Defence of our Kindred Animals.

He that has given Wifdom and Language to the
Pi/miresy and inftrudled them to converfe toge-
ther by mute Signs, fo that, when the Signal was
given, the Alarm was t:^en throughout their
humble Territories, and they all fled away with
their Bag and Baggage when the Army of Solo'
mon approached : Infpire us wiih Grace to under-
ftand the Language of the Beajls, or at leaft, not
think ourfelves wifer than them who underftand
ours.

Paris, \/^th of the ^th Moony
of the Year 1654.

LETTER VIII.

"To Afis, BalTa.

^TTf

HIS Court is wholly taken up at prefent
_ with the Preparations that are making to
cronxin the young Kitig. The Place, defign'd for
that Ceremony, is a City call'd Rkeims. 'Tis faid
the Duke of Orleans will not be there, though the
King has fummon'd all the Princes and Nobility to
attend ^th.'i% Inauguration, according to the ancient

Cuftom :

Vol. IV. tf Spy ^/ Paris. 267

Cuftom : But that Prince flomachs the great Sway
Cardinal Mazarini bears at Court. Befidcs his
Daughter, who has no fmall Power over him, is
afFeded to the Party oi 'Malecontents. 'Tis thru*
her Perfuafions the I>uke her Father abfents himfelf
from the King his Nephew. Yet there are thofe
that fay, his Mind will change before the Time
appointed for the Coronation : And that he will
rather diflemble his Grudge, that fo he may more
advantageoufly ruin the Cardinal, who keeps the
King lull'd in a Circle of Pleafures agreeable to
his Youth, that fo he may not have Time or In-
clination to pry into his Management of Affairs.

The Court is at prefent at Fontainbleau, a,
Houfe of P/ea/ure belonging to the King. 'I'hey
pafs their Time away in Delights, drowTi'd ia
Security : Whilll the wakeful Princes of the
£lcod are plotting new Methods to rouze 'em
from their Lethargy, and teach the young iWa-
narchy that the Sound of the Trumpet and Beat of
the Dru7n will in a fliort Time be more ncceflary
Mufick than \}s\!t foft Airs of the Lute^ and fuch
Chamber- Melody.

In the mean Time, the Prince of Conde being
condemn'd, the Princefs, hx6 Wife, has petition'd
the Parliament, that her Dozvry may be fecur'd
to her . But they have referr'd the Matter to the
King. Her Hulband feems to be loft in all Re-
fpeits, fave thofe of the People's Affeftions, who fa-
vour any that are Enemies to Cardinal Mazarini.

Monjieur Broujfel, one of the Counfellors of Par-
liament, whofe Imprifonment I formerly men-
tion'd to be the Caufe of the ^r/? Sedition at Paris,
is newly dead ; yet the Caule, whereof he was a
Patriot, dies not with him, but rather takes frefh
Vigour from daily Grounds of Difcontent.

It was more particularly reviv'd upon the

DeatJi of the late Archbijhop of Paris; the Clergy

N 2 cliufmg

iCS Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

chufing for his Succejfor the Cardinal de Retz, a
Prifoner of State, and under the fevere Difplea-
fure of the King. This EleSlion was counter-
manded by a Declaration from the Council Royal.
Neverthelefs t\\t Ecclejiajiicks perfift in their firft
Choice ; whilft Cardinal Mazarini threatens 'em
with the PunifViments due to thofe who contemn
the King's Authority. But they flight his Me-
naces, trufting to the j^rms of the Prince oiConde,
which they hope will deliver them in time from
the Oppreffions of that great Minijier.

1 he Men of Jbility cabal, whilft the Vulgar
are eafily drawn into Parties, as their Affedlions
byafs 'em. Here is nothing but Murmuring and
Whifpering againft the Government. Every Man
endeavours to purchafe Arms, and lay 'em up
privately as againft fome publick Invafmn. Nay,
the Citizens walk not abroad without Daggers
hid under their Garments, as if they either in-
tended a Majfacre, or were afraid of one . All
Things feems to portend fome fudden Eruption
o^ popular Fury j and the Wifeft know not what
will be the liTue of fo many threatening Occur-
rences.

Only Mahmut (furrounded with hfidels) is re-
fign'd to Dejiiny ; knowing that no human Coun-
/el can haften or retard the Decrees fign'd above.

Paris, I -jth of the ^th Moon^
,ofthe Tear 1654.

LET-

Vol. IV. « Spy ^7/ Paris. 269

LETTER IX.

To Murat, Bafla.

IT feems the Devils have been lately let loofe
in thefe Wejiem Parts, if we may give Credit
to the Depofuion of fuch as have accus'd certain
fuppoi'd Witches.

\\\ Bretagne, a Pro-vince of this Kingdom, above
forty old Women have been feiz'd and imprifon'd,
for holding Correfpondence vj'\ih.it:fernal Porvers,
and above ha;f of them condemn'd to Death :
God knows with what Jullice.

Some of them are accus'd of enchanting the
Perfons of tlieir Neighbours ; others for bewitch-
ing their Cattle ; and a third Sort for diflblving
the mifchievous Charm of the firft and fecond :
All of them for aflembling in the Night time,
and ufing certain diabolical Ceremonies, which,
they fay, begin and end in kiffing the Pojierioit
of a Goat, or the Devil in that Form

I know not how far thefe poor fuperannuated
Figures of Mortality may be wrong'd. 'Ti? a
Queftion whether their Judges are always in tl.e
Right, A fliriveird meagre Face, a hollow Eye,
join'd with irrecoverable Poverty, are many
times the chief Grounds of Sufpicion, which,
improv'd by Superftition, Miftakes, and Malict,
have often prevail'd on thofe who ought to
adminifter Jullice, to condemn poor Wretches
more innocent than themfelves, as guilty if
Witchcraft.

Yet it cannot be deny'd but that there have

been both Men and Women vers'd in magicol

Arts, as they are commonly called, which I take

to be only the more mvfierious Science of Naturr.

N 3 Suci

2yo Letters Writ hy Vol. IV.

Such was Zoroajier, the great Grand child of
Noah, ar.d Kir.g of that Part of y^yfa, which was
then caird BaSirta. Such was Jpallomus Tyattetuif
Philijlides Syracafanus, with many others of an-
cient Date : Thefc underflood the hidden Force
of the Elements, the Influence of the Stars, the
fpecifick Operation of Metals, Minerals, and
other fubterranean Bodies, with the Virtuesofall
Vegetables. They knew exaftly how to frame
Ajiral Images and Tali/mans^ by Help of which
they were able to' efFeft Wonders. And all this
perhaps without once dreaming of infernal Spirits,
or having the leaft Society with De-vils.

Yet I believe Luclan, an ancient Writer, who
never fpoke ferioufly of any Thing, fcarce be-
liev'd himfelf, when he related the Story of Pan-
crates, a famous Magician of Egypt, who by thefe
Tali/mans was able to transform inanimate Things
into the Appearance at leaft of li^o'ng Creatures.
Thus he wou'd turn a Stick or Piece of Wood in-
to a feeming Man, who fhould walk, difcourfe,
and perform all the Adlions of a rational Being.

A certain Stranger travelling with him once to
Memphis, and lying with him in the fame Cara-
'vanfera, as focn as they were alighted from their
Oimels, Pancrafes took a Plank of Oak, and ha-
ving touch'd it with his Tali/man, and pronounc'd
two or three Syllables, incontinently the Stock
mov'd, flood upright, walk'd, and, taking the
Camels by the Bridle, led them to the Stables :
After which this '•jooodtn Man came in and pre-
pared their Pilaiv, went on whatfoever Errands
Pancrates fent him ; and when they departed, the
Magician ufmg a certain private Ceremony, this
officious Servant return'd to a Plank again. This
wss his Praftice all along the Road.

One Day his Fellow Traveller, being refolv'd
to try the Experiment, took Advantage of the

Magicians

Vol. IV. a Spy at Paris. 271

Magician^s Abfence, who was gone to the TVw-
p/e, and left his Tali/man behind him. The cu-
rious Traveller, having been often an Eye-VVit-
nefs of this Trick, takes a Piece of Wood and
touches it with Pancrates'^ Tali/man, repeating
the Syllables he had heard him utter. Immedi-
ately the inanimate timber became a Man, ask-
ing his Pleafure. The Traveller, aftonifh'd at the
Event, commanded his new Servant to bring him
a Bucket of Water. The enchanted Spark obeys.
The Traveller told him it was enough, and bid
him return to a Piece of Woodz^xw ; but, inllead
of that, he continued drawing of Water, and
bringing it in till the Houfe was full. The Tra-
veller, fearing the Anger oi Pancrates, thought
to diffolve the Enchantment, by cleaving the
Wooden .^.nirnal in two. But this augmented his
Trouble ; for each Piece, taking a Bucket, fell
to drawing of Water, fo that of one Servant he
had made two. This continued till the Magician
came to his Refcue, who, having iternly rebuked
the Traveller's Raihnefs, at a Word turn'd the
two bufy Drudges to their primitive Loggifhaefs
and Inadlivity again.

I do not tell this Story as if I would have thee
believe it, or that I give Credit to it mylelf. Let
us imitate the Author of it, who, laughs at all that
delight in fuch Fables. But the Chrijlians, who
believe a Piece of Bread is transformed to FUjb
and Blcod, and becomes an immortal God at the
pronouncing of four Words by the Priefi, may be
excus'd, if they put Confidence in the Figments
of Poets and Orators.

I have in my Cuftody the Journal of Carcoa,
who formerly refided at Vienna, a private Agei.t
for the Ever Happy Port. Some of his Letters
fpcak of the Superftition and Credulity of the
Germans in this kind. Yet in a Letter to the
N 4 Mufti

lyi Letters If^rii hy Vol. IV.

Mufti, he acknowledges himfelf overcome by the
unqueftionable Tellimonies of fuch as had been
P^ye-Witneffes of the Life and Death of one Faw
JluSf a German Magician, who play'd a thoufand
infernal Pranks (as he calls them) even before
the Emperor himfelf.

He tells alfo of another Magician^ call'd 7.yt0t
who liv'd in the Days of the Emperor Charles 1 V.
And when the Efnperor\ Son, to whom Zyto be-
long'd, was to marry the Duke of Bavaria'i
Daughter, the Duke to oblige his Son-in-law,
who was much taken with Magical Tricks, as
were all the Germans, fent for a great many
famous Sorcerers to the Wedding. Among the reft,
while one was performing a rare Exploit, on a
fudden 7,yto the Prince' a Conjurer came up to him
with a Mouth feeniing as wide as that of an old
Crocodile, and fwallows him up at a Morfel. When
Jbe thus had done, he retires and voids him again
in a Bath, and brings him thus drench'd into the
Company, challenging any of the other Magici'
ans, to do a Feat like that, butthey were all filent.

I hear of no fuch Tricks done by thofc French
Witches, who caufe fo much Difcourfe at prefent.
The worft they areaccus'dof, is bewitching their
Neighbours Hogs toMadnefs, which thou know-
eft may be only a natural Malady.

I pray Heaven defend us from the Enchant-
wents of a deluded Fancy, that DomelHck Incw
bus of every Mortal, and we need fear neither
IVitcb nor Wizard.

Paris, zoth of the t^th Moon,
of the Tear 1654.

LET-

Vol. rV. a Spy at Paris. 273
LETTER X.

To Cornezan Muftapha, BafTu.

TH E Fame of Chrijiina, Queen oiS-iceJen,
has no doubt reach'd thy Ears : I have
made mention of her in feveral of my Letters,
That Royal Virgin is now about to furrender her
Croivn to her Coujffi, whom they call Charles
Prince Palatine. This is a voluntary Refignation.
And her Motive is faid to be a ftrong Inclination to
Solitude unA. a. pri'vate Life, being efteem'd the
moft accompliih'd and learn'd Princefs of this Age.
But thofe, who pretend to know more than others,
fay, that the true Ground of her abandoning the
Kingdom, is a Refolution fhe has taken to change
her Religion, and embrace the Faith of the Roman
Mufti, which is forbidden by the Laws ofSiveden.

Thou wilt fmile at the Propofals which this
^een fent to her defign'd .S«f f(/7or j and his An-
fwer to them.

In the firft Place, " She will keep the greatcft
*' Part of the Kingdom and Revenues in her own
" Hands.

Secondly, '* She will be no SubjeS!, but alto-
" gether Independant and Free.

Thirdly, " She will have Liberty to travel in-
** to Foreign Countries, or into any Part of that
" Dominion.

Lafly, " She will not have the Offices ofTruJ?,
*' or any other Gifts that fhe fiiall have difpos'd
** of to her Faivurifes, revoked by her SucceJ/hr.

To thefe Jr tides Prince Charles anfwei *d,

FirJ}, •' That he will not be a mere titular
*• King, without Dominions, nor without fuch a
*' Revenue as isneceffary to defray the Royal Ex-
** pcncesy both in Peace and fFar.

N 5 Secmdly^

274 Letters /iTr// ^ Vol. IV.

Secondly, " That he will fufFer no Competitor ^
*• Equal, or Sovereign in his Kingdom.

Thirdly, " That he will not run the Hazard of
•* her Intrigues in Foreign Courts.

Lajily, " That, if he heKing, he will difpofe of
** Treferments as he thinks fit. And in fine. That
** he will not be the Shad(r<jj of a King, without
•' the fubjiantial Prerogati'ves ofScvereignty.

'Tis added. That when the ^eenheard his Re-
ply, fhe faid aloud, *' I propos'd thofe Articles
*' only to try his Spirit. Now I efteem him wor-
** thy to reign, who fo well underftands the in-
*• communicable Rights of 2 Monarch.

This Intelligence comes by a Secretary to the
Spanijh Ambaflador, who is newly come out of
Siceden to negotiate at this Court a Ten Years^
Truce between France and Spain.

Here is likewife an Ambafl'ador from Portugal
who acquaints the Court, that the Portugmze
have expeli'd the Hollanders out of the Places
they held in the Eafi- Indies. But,if our Merchants,
bring true Intelligence, the Tartars will exter-
minate all the Franks that are in China,

In the mean Time, the young King of France
pafies away his Hours in Dancing, feeing of
Plays, and other Recreations, provided with vail
Expence by Cardinal Mazcrini, to divert him
from meddling with publick Affairs, and from
thinking too ferioufly on the Sentence he has pro-
nounced in Parliament againft the Prince ofConde^
One knows not well how to b'nmc the Prince
of Conde'f, Proceedings, nor yet to accufe the
King of Injultice. Neither is it proper for a Muf-
fuhnan Slave to decide the Controverfy : Our
t Principles and Lanus are different from theirs :
And he, that is elteem'd a Patriot here in :he IVeJl,
would be condenm'd for a Rebel without Hefi-
tation in any Part of the Eajly where but one

Goa

Vol. IV. ^ Spy <7/ Paris. 275

God in Heaven, and one Sovereign on Earth, is
acknowledg'd by the Subjeds of every Kingdom
and Empire.

But in France the Vrince.s of the Ro^al Blood
are invefted with furh a Power, as renders it diffi-
cult for thofe under their Command to diilinguifh
'em ixom fupreme Monarchs. Yet not one of 'em
polTefles a Government equal to that of the Bajfet
of Egypt ; or fuperior to his of Aleppo.

I have fpoken of thefe Princes formerly in fome
of my Letter i to the happy Minijlen oi him who,
when he pleafes, can make the greateft Sovereigns
the Squires of his Stirrup.

And therefore 'twill be needlefs to fay any
more on that Subjeft, but only acquaint thee,
that the French Court, tho' they cannot relent of
the Rigour they have ufed towards the Prince of
Conde, yet feem willing to compound the Bulinefs
with his Son, the young Duke of Enguien, and by
a fubtle Artifice, to ftrike two Strokes for the
State at one. A great Duke of this Realm has
been lately difpatch'd to the Duke of Orleans, to
propofe a "Match between his Daughter and Con-
//?'s Heir. Whereby the Ejiate of the Prince of
Conde will fall to the Duke of Orleans's PofTeffion,
during the Minority of the young Couple. This is
a Wheedle to reconcile the Kings Uncle to the
Court y who has been a long Time eftrang'd. But
'tis thought his Difpleafure is of too deep a Dye
to be wafh'd off with Court Holy- Water.

I have no more News to tell thee, fave the
Death of a certain Prince, whom they call the
Duke of Elbeuf. And it is of no Import to the
Divan, whether a hundred of thefe Infidel Prin-
tes die every Day or no, fo long as tlie Grand
Seignicr lives, and is ever fupply'd with faithiul
Minifiers,

-^ § For

lyS Letters ^r/7 ^jy Vol IV^

For his Health I pray, before the Sun peeps
o'er the Tops of the Eajlern Mountains, and after
he hides himfelf in the Vallies of the Weji. Nei-
ther do I rife from my Knees at the/i/f appointed
Hours, without an Oral/on for Cornefan^ and the
otiier Bnjfa's of the Port.

Paris, \Oth of the 6th Moon,
of the Tear 1654.

LETTER XI.

To Sale Tercheni Emin, Superinten-
dant of the Royal Arfenal at Con-
llantinople.

'Tp H O U, that haft the Charge of the Ammii>-
-*• nithn defignM for the Conqtiejl of the World,
iirt fictefl to receive the News of a terrible Blow
lately given to a City of the Infdcls in Flanders.
This Place is callM Grave lins, whereof I have
made mention in fome of my former Letters.
On the 29th of the laft Moon, the Powder of the
Magazine there took Fire, whether by Accident,
or Defign, is not certainly known ; but the Da-
mage it has done is very great. It is reported,
that a third Part of the City is blown up, and the
thief Fcrtif cations about it, with the Outnvorks
cf the Citadel. Three thoufand Mortals had
their Breath exhaufted by the violent Convalfion
of the Air, and were fent into another World,
well feafon'd with Salt Petre : Befides a vaft Mul-
titude cf all Sorts, that werebury'dinthe Ruins
»f the Houfes.

Some

Vol. IV. ^z Spy rt/ Paris. i*]'j

Some fay, A certain Perfon cominp; to buy
fome Powder of the Steward of the AlagaziTief
as they were knocking out the Head of a Powder
Barrel, the Hammer llruck Fire. Others report,
that this Perfon, who pretended to buy Powder,
was a Spy, or private Jgetrt of Cardinal Mazarini
in thofe Parts : And that, by his Mailer's Order,
he had prepar'd a certain artificial Fire, enclos'd
in a Shell or Box ; and that, at a certain determin'd
Period of Time, it would caufe the Box to fly in
Pieces, and fcatter Flames almoft as fubtil and pe-
netrating as thofe of Lightning.

Having therefore, this little Inftrument of Mif-
chief ready, and being inltruded in all Things,
he with the SteiLord emer'd the Vaults where the
Powder lay, under Pretence of buying fome for
XherGovernor of Bruffels. And, when they had
open'd one of the Barrels, he thruft his Hand
among the Powder, as though he would take up
fome to look upon ; at the fame Time dextroufly
conveying his little Shell or Box into the Barrel,
knowing that in an Hour's Time it would work
its EfFe^. In the mean While feeming todiflike
that Barrel, they open'd another; which he
bought, and fo departed. Within an Hour after-
wards, all ihe Countries round about were afto-
nifli'd at the dreadful Blow, which made the
Earth to tremble. They fay, it was heard be*
yond the Seas into England.

Thus the Contrivance of this Trage^ns faften'd
on Mazarini ; and fuch is the Hatred the Peo-
ple bear to this Miniller, that, if an Earthquake
(hould happen in thefe Parts, I believe they
would accufe him as the Author of it.

But it feems as- if all the Elements were at fP^ar
againft the Naherland Provinces. I have already
acquainted the Minifters of the Ever-happy Port,
w]iat Diftreffes befel thefe People by Storms at

Sea,

278 Letters /^r/V ^ Vol. IV.

Sea, and Inundations on Land. After which the
Element of /Vr^ took its Turn to chaftife them.
For, in the iirft Moon of this Year, a certain Wind-
mil, in the Lo<vij Countries, whirHng round with
extraordinary Violence, by Reafon of a furious
Storm ; the Stone at length by its rapid Motion
became fo intenfely hot, as to fire the Mill ;
from whence the Flame?, being difperfed by the
High Winds to the Neighbouring Houfes, fet a
whole Town on Fire.

And now the Wrath of Heaven has been kin-
dled again to dellroy thefe Infidels : Yet thofe that
furvive will not be converted. Perhaps they will
be ruin'd Piece-Meal, even to a. final Extermina-
tion, like the People of Jad p. ad Thamod, of
whom at this Day there remain no Foot-fteps.

I pray God guard the Imperial City and ^r/e-
ual from all Cafeialties of Fire, from Inundations
of Water, and from Earthquakes : And thy own
watchful Care and Prudence will defend the Ma-
gazines in thy Cuftody, from the fly Attempts
of Traitors and Villains.

Paris, loth of the 6th Mock,
of the Tear 1654,

LETTER XII.

^0 Mehemet, an Eunuch, in the
Seraglio.

I Acquainted thee formerly with the firft Ne-
ceffity I had to drink Wine, that I might the
better conceal my being a MuJJulman, when I
was mad« % Prifoner by Cardinal Mazarines Or-
der.

Vol. IV. /7 Spy ^/ Paris. 279

der, I tell thee now, this Liquor is grown habi-
tual to me, it being the natural Bea;erage of the
Country where I am. But the French temper it
with Water, the better to allay their Thirft,
and prevent Fevers : Which Cuftom agrees not
with the Stomach of a Mahometan, who, when he
drinks either Water or Wine, loves to have them
pure without Mixture, I ufe it moderately for
my Health, and to create an Appetite. But this
Evening 1 drank a Glafs of Wine, which is like
to make me abhor it for ever. In all Probabi-
lity I ihall turn as ftrift and precife as a
Hodgta. For, in the midfl of my Draught, I had
almoft fwallowed a great Spider, which lay
drowned in the Wine. The little Beaji had
pafs'd my Lips ; but I Toon clear'd my Mouth
of fo ungrateful a Morfel. I wifh I could as
eafily difcharge my Imagination of the hated
Ideas it has imbibed with this fatal Potion. Not
that I think I am poifoned, or have received any
real Damage from the Spider : The worft Venom
lies in my own Fancy It will be impoflible for
all the Water in France to wa(h away the Preju-
dices I have conceived againft this little In-
feSl. I have a perfeft Antipathy againft it. The
Sight of a Spider would always make me fweat
and tremble. Now, if ever I Ihould tafte of
Wine again, I Ihould imagine every Mouthful
I fwallow'd had a Spider in it. My Reafon tells
me, there was no Danger if I had one in my
Stomach ; having feen a Phfician, without the
Ufe of any Antidote, fwallow two or three large
Spiders in a Glafs of Wine : And this was his
Grdiuary Praftict every Morning. And moft of
that Profeffion maintain, that Spiders, fo drank,
can do no Harm j yet my Antipathy overcomes
my Reafon in this Point. And if Galen or Hippo-
crates were alive, they would not be able with all

theij:

iSo Letters IVrii hy Vol. IV.

their learned Demonfirations, to reconcile me to a
Creature, for which I have an invincible Averfion
and Abhorrence. I had rather encounter with a
Lion or Tiger in the Defarts of Arabia, provided
I had but a Sword in my Hand, than to have a
Spider crawling about me in the Dark. And
therefore I have often envied the Happinefs of
the Irijh Men ; for in that IJIavd, they fay, No
'venomous Creature will live. The fame is report-
ed of the IJle of Malta : which wonderful Privi-
lege both thefe IJlands afcribe to the Prayers of
certain Saints.

There is no Reiafon to be given for thefe fecret
Antipathies, which are difcover'd in many Men.
Some will fvveat. and faint away, if there be a
Cat in the Room where they are, though they
know nothing of it, any otherwife than by the
fecret Intimations of this unaccountable Senfe,
which "Nature has added to the other/"-!;? . I have
feen a Gentleman drop down in a Swoon, as foon
as he enter'd a Chamber where there was a Squir-
rel kept in a Cage. And thofe that knew him.
faid, It was his conftant Infirmity.

If there be any Truth in the Do£lrine of the
Soul's Tran/migration^ I (hould think the beft Rea-
fons for thefe private Antipathies might be drawn
from fome former State of the Soul. And accord-
ing to that Suppofition I fhould conclude,- that
I had been a Fly before I came into this Body ;
and, having been frequently perfecuted by Spiders
in that State, do flill retain the Dread of my
old Enemy, which all the Circumftances of my
prefent Met amor phofis are not able to efface. But
if this be fo, I wonder I fhould have no di0in6l
Remembrance of my former little volatile Life;
fmce Pythagoras the great Patron of the Metem-
pfychojis declares, that he could remember feve-
ral Changes he had undergone. And particular-

Vol. IV. ^ Spy ^/ Paris. 281

]y recounts, how he led a merrier Life when he
was a Frog, than fince he became a Philofopher.

It aiFords mc a Matter of Thought, and is no
fmall Diverfion to behold the Contrariety that
is in Men's Diet. One Man never taftes oi Fijh
all his Days, another abhors Tlejfj ; this faints if
his Bread be cut with a Knife that has touched
Cheefe, that fwoons at the fmell oi Mutton. Men
have as different Appetites, as they have Faces.
Some are fqueamifh, and almoft naufeate every
Thing that others eat freely of: Again, there
are others to whom nothing comes amifs. For
my Part, I have many Averfions in Point of
Diet ; And, above all Things, I can never be re-
conciled to the eating of hife£ls. Serpents, and
other Reptile Creatures ; yet here are Men in this
Kingdom, who live upon Frogs, Vipers^ Grajhop'
ferj, and fuch kind of loathfome Animals. And I
have read of a People in the Southern Parts of
Africa, who had no other Diet but faked Locujls^
which they catch in the Spring ; when certain
Winds bring innumerable Swarms of them over
the Land, ib that all the Country is covered.
Thefe People are very lean, aftive, and black.
They run fwift as Stags, and will climb Trees,
and jump from one Bough and Tree to another
as nimble as Apes and Squirrels. But they are
fhort liv'd, never exceeding forty Years of Age.
For, about that Time, they feel a violent Itch-
ing all over their Bodies ; which tempting them
to fcratch tlierafelves, they never ceafe 'till they
make Holes in their Flefh, where certain winged
InfeclshrteA: Which multiply fo fall, than in a
little Time they devour the poor Wretches.
This is thought to be the Refult of their ill Diet.

Let not what I have faid create any Squea-
milhnefs in thee, but eat thy Pilaw with a good

Stomach :

282 Letters Writ by Vol. IV.

Stomach : For that Food has the BenedlBion of
God and his Prophet.

Paris, z^doftbe 6th Moon,
of the Tear 1654.

LETTER XIII.

To the Kaimacham.

' I ' K E King of France has been folemnly
■*• cro-ivKed at Rhims ; where were prcfent
his Mather and B) other y Cardinal Mazarini, with
divers Princes and Nobles, and Foreign Minijiers.
But nothing could perfuade the King^s Uncle,
the Duie of Orleans, to grace this Ceremony with
his Prefence. He has declared he will never
Com'e to the Court fo long as Cardinal Mazarini
is there.

Marjhal Turenne has recelv'd private Orders to
repair fpeedily to his Army in Flanders. What the
Defign is we are not certain. Some fay. He is
gone to furprize Gra'velines, a City in Flanders^
which was lately fo ruin'd by the Blowing up of
the Magazine, that it is not in a Condition to re-
fill the French, (hould they affault it.

Others fay, the King has commanded his Ge-
neral to lay Siege to Stenay, a. City belonging to
the Prince of Conde, a Place of great Strength,
and exquifitely fortify 'd.

'Tis reported, that Cardinal Mazarini holds a
Correfpondence with the Go'vernor of this Jfrong
Hold r And that on this Ground it was he promis'a
the King, on the Honour of his Purple, that, if he
would fuffer his Army to lie down before it, it
Ihould by fuch a Day be delivered into his Hands.

The

VoJ. IV. tf Spy 5/ Par IS. 283

The'Duie of Lorrain, of whofe Imprifonmet t
at Jntnverp I infcrm'd Mtiftapha Berber Aga^ it
now remov'd from thence and fent to Spain ; from
whence 'tis believ'd he will never come back.

From the "North the Poft brings News of the
Refignation which ChrijUna, ^een of S^ueden,
has made of her Croncn, to her Coufin, Prince
Charles. They add. That {he caus'd a Crtnv» to
be made with this Infcription, From GOD and
Christina ; and that fhe plac'd this Croivnon
the Prince'^s Head with her own Hands, having
before abfolv'd all her Subjeds from their Oaths
oi Fidelity to her.

The fame Poji alfo tells us, of a mighty Army
of Mufc<n>ites which are enter'd into Poland, de-
ftroying and laying defolate wherever they come.
The pretended Caufe of this Invafion is faid to
be a Difguft the Czar has taken at a certain Hi-
Jiorian and Poet of Poland ; who, in reciting the
^ar/ between thoie Nations , had made a Miitake
in the Genealogy cf the Mufco'vite Emperors, na-
ming the Father for the Son. The Czar, being
inform'd of this, demanded the Head of the
Writer as an Attonement ; which being deny'd,
he rufli'd into the Territories of Poland, to re-
venge himfelf by Fire and Sword.

Thefe are the Aftions of fuch as pretend to
follow the Example of y^^y/^/, ih^ Me^as ; who
commanded Men toforgi've Injuries, even as did
our Holy Prophet; yet they fcruple not to accufe
us of what they themfelves are only guilty. Thus,
whilft; they are Chrijiians in Name, we fliew by
our PraBice that we are true Difciples of the ve-
nerable fefus.

Doubtlefi all Men zxtjuji or icicked by Na-
ture. Every Man's Fate is engraven on his Fore-
head. And neither the Precepts nor Examples of
Je/us, or Mahomet, can alter the Inclination of

tho(c

284 Letters /FW/ ^jy Vol. IV.

thofe, whofe Stars have fign'd 'em in their Na'
tivitj with the indilible Characters of Vice.

Paris, "^d of the 6th Moony
of the Tear 1654.

H

L E T T ER XIV.

'To Dgnet Oglou.

Itherto I have been in a Wildernefs, or at
_ _ leaft I'll fuppofe it, wandering up and down,
loll and confounded in the Dark, without Sun,
Star, Land-mark, or any faithful Guide to diredt
me. What fhall I do in this Cafe ? I am tired
with perpetual Rambling ; and rell dare I not ;
neither can I, fuch is my Uneafmefs, even in
the only Circumllance which gives to other Mea
Repofe.

Thus I difcourfe with myfelf when I am alone,
and confider my prefent State as a Mortal.
The Miferies of this Life are the Themes of my
firft Contemplation ; and 'tis but Reafon it
fhould be fo, becaufe we feel 'em every Mo-
ment. They touch our Senfe nearly, and afflift
us with fharp Pains. Vet they are but like the
Sting of a JVafpy violent for a Time, but laft not
long.

This Thought carries me farther, and puts me
upon an endlefs Meditation, what will befal me
after I am dead. When I have contemplated all
that I can, run over a thoufand Paths of Fancy,
and track'd all the Footfteps of the Wife, or of
fuch as were efteem'd fo ; ftill I find myfelf in
a Defarty more entangled than a Traveller lolt in

the

Vol. IV. aSpY ai Varis. 285

the ForeJI of Hyrcania, which extends from the
mod Northerly Part of Mu/covy, to feme Pro-
'vinces in the German Empire ; and 'tis reputed
five hundred Leagues in Length.

In this bewilder'd Condition I met with many-
pretended Guides ; one telling me this is the
Way, another that. But, becaufe they do not
agree in their Advice, I know not which to truft j
and am inclin'd to fufpeft fome for Cheats, and
the reft for Fools ; as much at a Lofs, if not
more than myfelf.

Permit me todifcourfe with Freedom, my dear
Dgneti and let us unmafk like Friends. What
fignifies all that the Imaums and Mollahs can fay
01 Paradife and Hell, fince none of 'em have been
there to make an Experiment ? Why fhould we
fufFer ourfelves to be amus'd with Notions of
Things, which for aught we know have no other
Exiftence, but in the Harangues of the Preachers,
and the Fancies of the Credulous,

Think not that I am going to perfuade thee to
the He'refy of the Muferin, who deny the Being of
a God. I tell thee, I am no Atheijl. From every
Thing I behold, my Thought foon flies up to a
firft Caufe ; and there 'cis dalh'd into a thoufand
^eries. This I lay as a folid Foundation, Alt
Things nxiere not ahvays in the fame State as they
are noiv, (my Experience demonftrates to the
contrary.) But how much longer they have been
otherwife, than my own Remembrance, I can-
not be affurcd, but by the Confidence which I rc-
pofe in People that are older than myfelf, and
the Faith I give to Books. Both which agree in
this. That they are guilty of Contradiftions
without Number.

Thofe that were born before me, and liv'd in the
Days of Sultan Mahomet III. tell me many Paf-
fages of his Reign, quite different from the Rela-
tions

2 86 Letters Writ by Vol. IV.

tions of others, who alfo liv'd in thofe Times, and
rcmark'd the Tranfadlions of their Age.

I like the Difagreement I find among Authorsy
who have committed to Writing the Hijiorles of
former Times, 'Tis difficult to encounter with two
Men of the fame Opinion, even as to Matters
of Faft. Some take a Pride in difguifing the
Truth, whilft others have not Skill to take
off the Malk. There are a fort of Perfons in the
World, Men of fupine and eafy Judgments,
credulous, and not daring to call in Queltion
what has been tranfmitted to them from the Au'
thority of fuch and fuch a Writer. They fuper-
ftitioufly revere, as an Oracle, the Mamifcripts of
a mortal Man like themfelves, fubjeft to as many
Frailties and Miftakes. And all this, only becaufe
they have been taught to do fo from their Infan-
cy : So forcibly is the Influence oi Education.
Thus the Hel>re*ws believe the Records of their
Nation to be of divine Original, though they
want not 'verbal Contradi<Sions, and abound with
logical and philofopkical Inccnfiflencies. But that
which is of greateft Moment is, that neither they
nor any other Nation, no not even the AJJyrian
or Egyptian Records, come near the immenfe
Chronologies of the Chinefe and Indians. So
that, amidft fuch Variety of Accounts, a Man
knows not where to fix his Belief. But whetlier
the World be only Five or fix thoufand Years
old, or of a more indefinite Antiquity, this k
a fure Maxim, That fomething is eternal, EveH
the Jeius and CkriJUans^ who deny the Eter-
nity of Matter, and affer: the Creation of the
World out of NoTHtNG, in a determin'd Pe-
riod of Time, muft of Neceffity own. There was
an eternal and infinite Eniptinefs or Vacuity,
which is the fame as Mofes calls by the Name of
Nothing: Which will found as harfh to

Pbilofophy

Vol. IV. ^7 Spy ^/ Par IS. 287

Philofophy as the Eternity of Matter does in their
Di'vinity Nay, if I millake not, 'tis of a worfe
Confequence, even in the DoSlrlnes of ReligioVf
to affert an infinite Privation, or Want of Exi-
Jlence, to be Coeternal with the /uifiantia/ Go D,
who is Omnipotent, Li'ving, and Strong ; than to
affirm Matter itfelf to be Coeternal with him,
fince this is an adual Sub fiance, and may with
Reafon be fuppos'd, as a necejfiary Emanation of his
Po^ver and Goodnefs ; whereas the other is a mere
naked Potentiality, a Non- Entity, as the Wefiern
Philo/ophers call it ; and therefore cannot be con-
ceived to flow from the Divine Nature which is
Ejfiential Life and Being. Yet in thefe nice and
remote Speculations I am timorous, and dare
not be pofitive ; left I fhould prophane the Ho-
nour of that So'vereignly Good, who is the Breath
of our Nofirils. To fpeak the Truth, I am wa-
vering in all Things but this : That there is an
eternal Mind, every where prefent, the Root and
Bafis of all Things vifible and invifible, whom we
call Jlla the Support of infinite ^ges, the Rock
and Stay of the Univerfe.

Let thou and I, dear Friend, perfevere in ^diO-
TVCigt\i3X/uperlati've Effence oi E^ences, with in-
ternal and profound Devotion. Let our Thoughts
be pure, our Words few, and thofe full of inno-
cent and grateful Flames. For afTuredly, God
delights not in the Babbling of the Tongue.

^s for the reft, Let us live according to our
Ncture and Reafon, as we are Men. For we may
believe. That the indulgent Father oi all Things
will accept us, if we fquare our Adions accord-
ing to this Rule, without aiming at the Perfedion
of Angels,

lo

288 Letters /Fr/V ^ Vol. IV.

In a Word, Let us love all human Raccy and
fhew Juftice and Mercy to the Brutes. For, in fo
doing, we fhali not be unkind to ourfelves-

Paris, i^th of the -jth Moon, of the Tear 1654,
according to the Chrijftian Stjle.

ne End of the Fourth Volume,

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