thou only in danger to lose thy Life by a Stab a Bullet or the swift Effects of Poison it would be a Happiness in Comparison of the Method that is now taken to destroy thee And the Invisible Death which thou wert formerly to receive from a Prayer-Book would have been soft as the Stroke of Cupid's Arrow in Respect of the Tragical and Vnheard-of Fate which is now preparing for thee Think not I go about to amuse or affright thee with Chimaera's and Tales such as Nurses use to awe their Children into Compliance and good Manners What I tell thee is Matter of Fact and confirm'd by many Letters from Italy to several eminent Merchants in Paris I have seen some of them and hear that the rest agree in the same Relation They give an Account That at Naples on the Second of the last Moon Three Witches were seized and accused of practising Diabolical Arts of enchanting several Persons of doing great Mischief and in fine of having private Commerce with the Devil They stoutly denied all at first and made very subtle and plausible Apologies Insomuch as the Inquisitors were almost persuaded of their Innocence till it was suggested That their Houses should be search'd Officers were sent accordingly who after a narrow Scrutiny found some Magical Books several Vials of strange Liquors Pots of Ointment with an Image of Wax resembling a Man but partly melted There were imprinted on the Breast of the Image several unknown Characters Figures and Magical Symbols And on the Forehead was to be read ZELIM EBEN SAGRAN All these were brought and exposed before the Inquisitors of whose Office thou art not ignorant Great Deliberation was had about this unusual Emergency The Imaums and Cheiks were sent for and consulted The Witches were examined apart and put to the Torture as is the Custom in Capital Crimes Admirable was their Constancy for a considerable Time but at length overcome by the Continuance and Sharpness of their Pains they confess'd They had for some Years practis'd Magick Arts convers'd with Familiar Spirits rais'd Tempests Earthquakes and done other wicked Feats Being examin'd about the Image of Wax they declar'd That it was the Image of a Turkish Captain of a Gally whose Name was written on the Forehead And that they were hired by certain Italians who had been Slaves in the Gally of the said Captain to bewitch him to Death in the most lingring Method they could invent That in Order to this they had made this Image That every Night they met together with a Fourth of their Gang who was not to be found and made a Fire of the Bones of Dead Men which they stole from the Graves and Charnel-Houses That they laid this Image down at a convenient Distance before this Fire repeating certain Magical Words and Charms and as this Image gradually melted so the Body of the said Turkish Captain did insensibly waste and decay And to add to his lingring Death an intolerable Torment they basted the melting Image with the Oyls and other Liquors which were contain'd in the Vials and Pots That by this Means he was perpetually rack'd with most pungent and acute Pains in his Bowels Head and all Parts of his Body raging under most violent Fevers insatiable Thirst and Want of Sleep Finally That this lingring Kind of Death would continue as long as they pleas'd to protract the Dissolution of the Waxen Image This Confession though extorted from the Witches in the Midst of insufferable Torments yet was delivered without any Inconsistencies and with all the Demonstrations of a real Penitence And being seconded with the Testimonies of many Credible Witnesses who had overseen them in some of their Nocturnal Ceremonies the Inquisitors moved with a just Horror of so nefandous Abominations sentenc'd them To be burnt and their Ashes to be scatter'd into the Sea Which was accordingly executed on the Sixth of the last Moon in the Presence of infinite Spectators The News of this Extraordinary Event is fresh in the Mouths of almost all the Inhabitants of this City Yet no Man I dare say hears it with that Concern for the Turkish Captain as I do Even those among the Christians who abhorr Witchcraft would nevertheless rejoice if not only thou but all the Mussulmans were destroyed with Enchantments since they can never hope it will come to pass by the Success of their Arms. I am not credulous of every Story that is related of Witches being satisfy'd That Superstition and Ignorance has listed many in that Infernal Number who were Innocent and never deserv'd it Some having been forc'd by Racks and Tortures to confess themselves Guilty of practising Enchantments when after their Execution there have appear'd evident Proofs to the contrary Yet I cannot be sure but that there have been some in all Ages and Nations who have entred into Leagues and Associations with Devils and have been enabled thereby to perform Things above the Power of Nature However I have a Particular Desire to hear from thee and to be inform'd Whether thou hast experienc'd the Effect of their Enchantments If thou hast not bless thy Stars that thou wert born and bred a Mussulman against whom the Magick of the Infidels cannot prevail and that thou hast swallow'd the Impression of Mahomet's Seal which is of Force to dissolve and make invalid all the Charms of Men and Devils But if thou hast felt the Force of their Enchantments and pinest away with unaccountable Pains and Languors then think with thy self That thou art defective in keeping some Point of our Holy Law That Mahomet is angry with thee withdraws his Protection and exposes thee to the Malice of Evil Spirits Neither persuade thy self That because the Three Witches are put to Death thou shalt presently recover thy former Health and Ease again For so long as there is a Fourth living and out of the Reach of Justice thou art not safe Nay if she were taken and executed too so long as thy Enemies are yet alive who first employ'd these Hags thou art still at their Mercy They will search every Corner of Italy and of all Europe but they will find Instruments of their Revenge They will rummage Hell it self to gratifie their Fury The best Counsel I can give thee in this Case is To pacifie thine Enemies by extraordinary Acts of Civility to the Christians where-ever thou meetest them by using thy Slaves mildly and giving them their Freedom after a limited Time of Service without exacting a Ransom which neither they nor their Relations and Friends can ever be able to pay This will abate the Rancour of the Infidels and turn their Revenge into Kindness and Love Thou wilt every where be free from Dangers and those very Persons who now study all Means to take away thy Life will then hazard their own to preserve thee from Death Think not that I go about to persuade thee to change Temper with thy Slaves and from the Resolution and Bravery of a True
Matters to the Grand Signior as would infallibly produce a Peace It had been easie for Cardinal Mazarini whose Counsel the Queen follows in all Things to have hindred this Mans Voyage But those who are acquainted with the Picque that is between them conclude That the Cardinal consented to his Commission on purpose to lay a Train for his future Disgrace as knowing the Boldness of his Temper was far from being seconded with equal Wisdom and Conduct and that though he was prone to undertake Great and Hazardous Actions yet he never had the good Fortune to accomplish any Thing of Moment They that know this Gentleman's Character say That any Example will encourage him to rush into Labyrinths and Perils And where Examples are wanting he is Ambitious to be made one himself He fears not to tread in the Footsteps of such as have miscarried in the most Desperate Enterprizes but promises himself Success where a Thousand have fail'd In fine he is esteemed the rashest Man living I send thee this Description of the French Ambassador that thou maist communicate it to the Sovereign Divan It will be no small Advantage to know the Temper and Qualifications of Foreign Ministers residing at the August Port Especially at this Juncture whereon the Fate of Christendom depends Besides there cannot be too great Caution us'd to obviate the subtile Trains of Cardinal Mazarini who I fear is contriving no kind Offices to the Ottoman Empire I kiss the Hem of thy Vest Illustrious Bassa and bid thee Adieu Paris 2d of the 7th Moon of the Year 1646. LETTER VII To the same THE Captain Bassa has the Reputation of a Good Seaman among the French They highly applaud his expeditious Relief of Canea and no less commend the Secrecy with which he landed his Army and took the Town of Retimo The French are generally great Criticks in Military Affairs and are not so partial to the Honour of the Christians as to deny the Praises that are due to an expert Leader among the Mussulmans Yet they are inconstant and seldom retain the same Sentiments long Every Circulation of their Blood begets new Friendships new Opinions new Censures In this they seem to inherit the Vices of the Ancient Gauls as well as their Country A Roman Emperour who made War in this Nation has left excellent Memoirs behind him wherein among other Things he describes the Nature of the Gauls their Dispositions and Genial Inclinations He that shall read his Writings which were penn'd above Sixteen Hundred Years ago and shall converse with the present French will easily conclude That the Latter are a Living Transcript of the Former and that their Humours and Actions are exactly copied from his Words Yet in Nothing does the Character of the Primitive Gauls suit more truly to the present Inhabitants than in their furious Onsets in a Battel and their equal Readiness to Flight Their First Assault seems to speak 'em More than Men their Second Less than Women and they seldom venture on a Third Wilt thou know then how they obtain so many Signal Victories It is by Stratagems and Money Where they cannot circumvent their Enemies they corrupt a Party of 'em with Bribes and Pensions Thus they purchase their Conquests with a more powerful Metal than Steel The Force of Gold to which all Things yield lays Cities and Provinces at the Feet of this Invincible Monarch But I pray Heaven so to prosper the Armies of the Empire founded on Vertue that this Infidel Prince and all the Nazarenes may experience their Gold to be as Ineffectual as their Swords against the Valour and Just Revenge of the True Believers Paris 2d of the 7th Moon of the Year 1646. LETTER VIII To the Venerable Mufti Sovereign Guide of the True Believers THou who art all Goodness the Arch-Type of Clemency and Vertue wilt not number me among the Importunate for so often troubling thee with Disputes of our Holy Law I ask thee no Common Questions neither am I captious seeking Occasions to darken what is Apparent or invalidate the Testimony of Him who touch'd the Hand of God I revere the Holy Oracles and the Book not dictated on Earth Every Chapter I read in the Alcoran makes me bless the Angel who took so many Flights to bring down the Sacred Pages from Heaven And my Reverence is encreas'd towards that Volume of Glory when I consider it was not hastily compos'd every Versicle being the Product of Divine Premeditation Doubtless it excells all the Writings in the World No Scripture before or since has approach'd to the Mysterious Elegance of those Celestial Lines Yet methinks I find a great Profundity of Wisdom in the Treatises of the Ancients Thou wilt say My Station requires me to read Men more than Books being not sent hither to Contemplate but to act for the Interest of my Master and the Ottoman Empire 'T is true my Business is now to unravel the Designs of the Infidels but bear with me if I tell thee That in Order to this I took no wrong Course when in my Younger Years I apply'd my self to Books which are but Men turn'd Inside out or Metamorphos'd into Letters against who thus surviving themselves the Stroke of Death cannot prevail Those who have erected Statues of Gold Silver Brass or Marble to the Memory of departed Heroes can but transmit the Effigies of their Bodies to Posterity which thou knowest is the Ignobler Part of Man And herein they come short of the Aegyptians who have the Art of preserving the Bodies themselves Incorruptible for a Thousand Generations But they who left their Writings to Posterity have oblig'd the World with an Immortal and Lively Image of their Mind This is properly the Man and lives for ever when the Body is consum'd in the Grave and the Statue perhaps is eat up by Time or demolish'd by Envy Pardon this Digression Oraculous and Vnerring Mouth of God I have a great Deal to say and cannot comprehend it in a few Words It has been enjoyn'd by our Holy Doctors That a Mussulman should not read the Books of Prophane Infidels But tell me thou who art the Resolver of Doubts Whether this Precept is extended to all without Exception or Whether a Dispensation may not be allow'd to such as read those Books with One Eye whilst the Other is fix'd on the Law which balances the Mind with Truth The Alcoran tells us That the Devil has inserted some Falsities in the Best Writings But is it not possible for a Man to separate the Good from the Bad I read in the Book of Glory many remarkable Things concerning Alexander the Great But is it unlawful also to peruse what has been writ by others of the Life of that Famous Warriour and Holy Prophet Both Grecian and Roman Historians have related his Adventures in Asia his Battels with Darius the Persian Monarch and Porus the Indian They praise his Continence and modest Regard to Sysigambis and her Daughters when they
Court Of Monsieur Croissy's Negotiation with Prince Ragotski The Speech of Prince Ragotski's Son III. To the Instructed in all Knowledge the Venerable Mufti 13 He makes a Comparison between the Christians and Mahometans prefers the Devotion and Charity of the Latter And relates a pleasant Passage of a Christian that Whipt himself IV. To Mustapha Berber Aga. 16 Of the Battle of Mergentheim between the Germans and French The Vnfortunate Adventure of a French Officer V. To Shashim Istham a Black Eunuch 19 He pardons the Scandals cast upon him by the Eunuch commends his Apology advises him to set a Watch on his Tongue and relates the Adventure of a Busy-Body VI. To Zelim of Rhodes Captain of a Galley 23 He acquaints him with the Execution of Three Witches at Naples who were hired to destroy him by Enchantments VII To the Invincible Vizir Azem 29 He compares France to the Four Great Monarchies Relates the Battle of Allersheim and the Progress of the French Arms. VIII To Cara Hali a Physician at Constantinople 34 Of a Blind Man who distinguish'd Colours by his Touch Of another who Carv'd to the Life Of the Mute Saqueda and of a Deaf Man who apprehended ones Words by the Motion of the Lips IX To Vseph Bassa 39 He congratulates his New Dignity Informs him of the Dissolution of the Diet of Francfort and of the King of Poland's desiring the Queen of Suedeland in Marriage X. To Ichingi Cap ' Oglani Praeceptor to the Royal Pages of the Seraglio 44 He expostulates with him concerning his Calumnies XI To the Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of State 46 Of the taking of Canea and the Policy of Sultan Ibrahim XII To the Magnificent and Redoubtable Vizir Azem 49 Of the Duke of Enguien's Return to Paris Mahmut extols the Hardiness of the Ottoman Generals He relates a Private Amour of Cardinal Mazarini XIII To Egri Boinou a White Eunuch 57 He thanks him for his Intelligence of what is practis'd against him in the Seraglio XIV To Mustapha Berber Aga. 59 Of the Elector of Saxony's falling in Love with a Suedish Lady in Armour And of the odd kind of Articles agreed on between him and General Koningsmark by that Means XV. To Mahummed Hogia Dervise Eremit Inhabitant of the Sacred Cave at the Foot of Mount Vriel in Arabia the Happy 66 He extolls his Abstinence and the Happiness of a Retir'd-Life Rehearses the Blessing which the Angel pronounc'd on that Cave XVI To Vseph Bassa 70 He acquaints him with the Marriage of Uladislaus King of Poland with Louise Marie de Gonzague Princess of Mantua XVII To the Kaimacham 73 He relates the success of the French Arms in Flanders Catalonia and Italy that Year with an Adventure that happen'd to the Duke of Orleans in his Camp before Bourburgh XVIII To Dgnet Oglou 77 He entertains him with a Familiar Discourse of his Sickness and of the Mind's Tranquility Telling him a Story of a Man whose Brains were turn'd to a Nest of Serpents XIX To the Selictar Aga or Sword-Bearer to his Highness 83 He reproaches the Europeans with their Rebellions and other Inhumanities Of the Assemblies at Munster and Osnaburg Of a Private Treaty between Spain and Holland XX. To the Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire 87 Of the Mighty Fleet the French were fitting out to Sea Of the Predictions and Adventure of an Old Prophet who went to Cardinal Mazarini Of Monsieur Chanut the French Embassador in Suedeland XXI To William Vospel a Recluse in Austria 93 He advises him to turn Eremite for the sake of Silence and Contemplation XXII To the Captain Bassa 96 Of the Preparations the Europeans were making to assist the State of Venice He tells him what the Christians say of him XXIV To Adonai a Jew at Venice 98 He desires him to send some Remarks on the People he has seen in his Travels A short Character of Italy with some Reflections on the Goths and Vandals XXV To Mustapha Berber Aga. 100 Of the Present War of Candy A Memorable Saying of the Duke of Orleans at the Surrender of Graveling with a Generous Action of that Prince XXVI To Nassuf Bassa of Natolia 104 He congratulates his New Honour puts him in Mind of his Name-sakes Fate in the Reign of Achmet III. and gives him many good Counsels XXVII To the Kaimacham 107 Touching Morosini's quitting the Port of Canea to the Turks XXVIII To Cara Hali a Physician at Constantinople 110 Some Remarks on the Spring and on the Difference between living at Constantinople and Paris The Quest of the French Philosophers XXIX To the Tefterdar or Lord-Treasurer 113 Of the French Designs by Sea and other Matters XXX To Nathan Ben Saddi a Jew at Vienna 116 He applauds his Resolution not to take Religion on Trust but to enquire into its Grounds And sends him an Abstract of the Mussulman History XXXI To the same 120 He exhorts him not to let Interest byass him in the Choice of his Religion Of the Duke of Brandenburgh's demanding the Queen of Sueden in Marriage XXXII To the Kaimacham 122 Of a Private League between the Venetians and the Bassa of Aleppo discover'd by Adonai the Jew Several Instances of that Bassa's Justice BOOK II. LETTER I. TO the most Magnificent and Illustrious Vizir Azem at the Port. 127 Mahmut's Project to divert Cardinal Mazarini from attempting against the Ottoman Empire II. To Ismael Mouta Faraca a White Eunuch 143 He condoles the Misfortune of Egri Boinou whose Eyes were put out by the Grand Signior's Command III. To Dgnet Oglou 145 He discourses more frankly to him on the same Subject IV. To Dicheu Hussein Bassa 148 Of the Early Campagnes the French made that Year The Hardiness of a French Officer V. To Kerker Hassan Bassa 150 He thanks him for his Present of Coffee compares Part of Arabia with the Fields of Tempe Concerning his Fathers hunting of Lyons Tygers c. VI. To Hussein Bassa 153 Remarks on the taking of Retimo in Candy A Character of Monsieur Varennes the French Embassador at the Port. VII To the same 156 Remarks on the Nature of the French and their Method of obtaining Victories VIII To the Venerable Mufti Sovereign Guide of the True Believers 158 Touching the Books of the Ancient Pagans Certain Memorable Passages of Alexander the Great IX To Murat Bassa 167 Of the taking of Courtray by the French Of the Want of Rain and Scarcity of Provisions at Paris X. To the Aga of the Janizaries 169 Of the Benefit of Reading Histories and the Ill Consequences of Printing in Europe XI To the same 173 Of Gustavus Adolphus King of Sueden and of Queen Christina his Daughter Remarks on Queen Elizabeth XII To the Selictar Aga or Sword-Bearer to the Grand Signior 180 Of the Duke of Orleans his Return to Paris after he had taken Mardyke Of the Diet of the French XIII To Abubechir Hali Merchant at Aleppo 182 He exhorts him not to
were his Captives his Inviolable Friendship to Ephestion whilst living and the affectionate Tears he shed for him after his Death Yet they condemn him of cruel Ingratitude for sacrificing Clitus to his Choler and the Fumes of Wine who was a Faithful Friend a Valiant Soldier and once had saved his Life in a Battel They cannot pass over the Burning of Persepolis without some Reflections on the unmanly Softness of this Warriour who to please his Concubine gave Orders that the Fairest and most Magnificent City in Asia shou'd be set on Fire The Persians boast That that City was built all of Cedar That Cyrus had wholly displanted not only Mount Libanus but the choicest Nurseries of that fragrant Wood through all Asia to build this glorious City in Emulation of Solomon King of the Jews who was by other Princes thought to value himself too high for building the Temple at Jerusalem of the same Materials They add That Alexander found in this City Ninety Millions of Caraclâ—… in Gold That after the Debauch was over and the Flames had consum'd to Ashes this Phoenix of Asia the Conquerour wept and commanded the Mony he had found there should be expended in raising Another in its Room more glorious than the Former but That Thais who had perswaded him to ruine it was the onely Obstacle to its Re-edification For such was her Empire over this Monarch That he could deny her Nothing What I have said of Persepolis is recorded by Persian Historians Other Writers make some Mention of it but not so particularly There are some also who mention his demolishing of Tyrus a City so Ancient That 't is said to be first built by one of the Grand-children of Noah of whom thou knowest the Alcoran speaks often They tax him also with Cruelty in causing Two Thousand of the Chief Tyrians to be crucified as a Sacrifice to Hercules Thou art best able to Judge Whether this be agreeable to Truth for what Mussulman will believe That the Victorious Prophet was guilty of so Barbarous an Idolatry The Method he took to subdue this Impregnable City is an Argument of his Invincible Courage and that there is Nothing Impracticable to a Mind arm'd with Resolution and Perserverance Tyrus was situated above Half a Mile in the Sea when the Macedonian demanded a Surrender The Citizens trusting to the Strength and Heighth of the Rock whereon they liv'd for 't was a perfect Island and to their Distance from the Shore of the Continent bid Defiance to him whom God had ordained to subdue all Nations between the Extremities of India and the Pillars of Hercules The Conquerour enflam'd at their Refusal of offer'd Peace prepares for an Assault He attempted without the Miracle of Moses to make a Path for his Army through the Sea He follow'd the Steps of the Babylonian Monarch who not Three Ages before had joyned this Proud Nest of Merchants to the Firm Land Twice his Industrious Soldiers rais'd a Caussey above the Waves to the very Walls of Tyrus and as often was their Labour defeated by the Watchful Tyrians When the Third Time he prov'd successful and in Spight of all their Resistance by Fire and Sword after a Siege of Six Moons he scal'd the Walls of that Queen of Maritime Cities and convinc'd the World That no Humane Force could put a Stop to his Conquests whom Destiny had appointed to chastise the Nations of the Earth That Chapter in the Alcoran which speaks of this Renowned Worthy tells us That he marched so far Eastward till he came to a Country where the Sun rises This Passage the Christians ridicule saying That the Sun rises and sets in all Countries and that there is no Stated Point of East and West in the Fabrick of the World since the same Place which is East of one Country is West of another Thus the Despisers of our Holy Law cavil at the Alcoran and say 'T is compos'd of Old Wives Tales a Rude Indigested Collection of Eastern Romances and Superstitious Fables calculated for the Meridian of Ignorance first promulg'd in the Savage and Unpolish'd Desarts of Arabia and afterwards propagated by the Sword through those Countries whose Vices had banish'd their Learning and render'd them flexible to a Religion whose highest Pretensions consisted in Gratifying the Senses These Criticks consider not at the same Time That they argue against the Old and New Testament which is esteem'd the Alcoran of the Christians wherein there is often Mention made of the Rising and Going down of the Sun of East and West as proper Points or Marks from which to take the Situation of Countries Assuredly in this they are captious For though there be no stated Point of East or West in the Globe yet India being the nearest Region of this Continent to that Part of the Horizon where the Sun daily first appears it has not without Reason gain'd the Additional Epithet of East And 't was here the Macedonian Hero sweat because he could conquer no farther unless he would have begun a War with the Fish of the Sea There are many other Passages related of Alexander's Temperance Moderation Justice Fortitude and such like Vertues and something of his Vices But I will not tire thee with all that is said of this Invincible Monarch nor trace him in all his Marches through Asia I will not trouble thee with what they say of his Journey into Aegypt and aspiring to be call'd the Son of Jupiter Ammon his being poyson'd at Babylon in the Height of all his Triumphs and the Cantonizing his Empire among his Chief Captains Whatsoever in these Histories is agreeable to the Holy Alcoran I acquiesce to what is repugnant to that Summary of Truth I reject as a Fable Tell me thou Sovereign Resolver of Doubts Whether on these Terms I may not read the Writings of Infidels Books are a Relief to the Mind oppress'd with Melancholy and especially Histories which also bring Profit by rightly informing us of the Transactions of Past Ages So that Things which were done Thousands of Years ago are made present to us Where then is the Crime in reading these Memoirs of the Ancients Is it not consistent with the Faith of a Mussulman to read these Histories because they were penn'd by Heathens Must we reject all that the Pagans did or said Why then are the Works of Plutarch had in such Veneration by the Princes of Our Law I tell thee I not onely read Plutarch Livy Tacitus Xenophon Polybius with many other Historians that were Pagans but I improve by their Writings Such rare Examples of Vertue such Illustrious Patterns of Justice such Solid Precepts of Morality as these Authors abound with cannot in my Opinion hurt any Man who desires to square his Life by the best Rules I read also the Poets whose Fables and Parables seem to me but to veil many excellent and profitable Maxims of Human Life The Story of the Birth of Typhon his Warring with Jupiter and his
Leisure to apply themselves to Study For then it was difficult to purchase Books there being but few and for those they were obliged to the Labour of the Scribe Hence it came to pass That onely such as had Plenty of Mony and a strong Inclination to Knowledge monopoliz'd the choicest Manuscripts into their Hands and bequeath'd them as a Legacy to their Off-spring But since the Invention of Printing Books are infinitely multiply'd grown Cheap and Common And those Histories and Sciences which before were shut up in the Latin Greek or some of the Oriental Languages are now translated into the Vulgar Speech of every Nation whereby the lowest Sort of People who can but read have the Privilege to become as Knowing as their Superiors and the Slave may vye for Learning with his Sovereign This makes the Nazarenes upbraid the True Faithful with Ignorance and Barbarism because Printing is not suffered throughout the Mussulman Empire They consider not the bad Consequences of this Art as well as the good And that the Liberty of the Press has fill'd the World with Errors and Lyes Besides they are Strangers to the Education of the Mussulmans who are generally taught the Arabick and Persian Tongues from their Childhood In which Two Languages how many famous Histories have been writ There is no Point of useful Wisdom which is not compriz'd in the Writings of the Eastern Sages And as for unprofitable Treatises and Pamphlets with which the Europeans abound they are superfluous and burdensome bringing a double Loss both to Writer and Reader while they rob them of their Time and Mony and commit a Rape on their Understandings Add to this the Fatal Effects which this deprav'd Indulgence of Printing has produc'd in Christendom What Sacrileges Massacres Rebellions and Impieties have overflow'd most Parts of the West in this licentious Age What Hatred among Christians What Seditions among Subjects Diversities in Religion Contempts of all Law both Divine Natural and those of Nations The Vices at which former Times would have blush'd nay at the very naming of which our Fathers would have started as at a Prodigy are in these Day committed openly without Shame without Contradiction whilst there are Authors who dare publickly assert the Cause of Impiety and patronize all Manner of Prophanations But thou who hast the Honour to guard the Incorruptible Seat of Justice and Vertue the Bright Throne of the Osman Emperours who are the Shadows of God on Earth hast made such a Choice of Books as commends thy Wisdom and the Sincerity of thy Morals Thou wilt not suffer thy Imagination to be tainted with those enchanting Idea's of Evil which are drawn by the Pens of some Elegant Writers All that thou seekest in Books is to inform thy Understanding rectify thy Judgment and enflame thy Affections with the Love of Vertue To this End serve the Divine Precepts of our Holy Doctors and other Learned Sages the Writings of Philosophers and the Examples of Renowned Heroes From these thou gatherest Strength to practise the Four Maternal Vertues and all the Good Qualities that spring from those Roots Go on and encrease in the Graces and Accomplishments which shall render thee Worthy to be made the Subject of a Particular History while the Old shall recommend and the Young shall covet nothing more passionately than to read the Life of Cassim Hali Janizar-Aga Mahmut salutes thee with a Kiss of Affection Reverence thy self and all Men will Honour thee So taught Pythagoras Paris 17th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1646. LETTER XI To the same I Had forgot to perform in my other Letter what thou commandedst me Yet knowing the Esteem thou hast for Women of Vertue and rare Endowments and with what Pleasure thou readest their Stories I should never send any Dispatch to thee wherein there is not a Relation of some Heroine I will be more diligent hereafter to observe the Disposition of my Superiours and will endeavour to procure a Collection of the Lives and Characters of all the Famous Women that have been Recorded in History In the mean while hear what the French say of Christina Queen of Suedeland of whom thou requirest a Description She is the onely Daughter of Gustavus Adolphus the most Victorious Prince that ever govern'd that Nation and one of the most Successful Warriours in the World As his whole Life was led in the Field so there he received an Honourable Death being slain in the Battel of Lutzen Some say by the Treachery of Duke Albert who had in Appearance deserted the Emperour and offer'd himself a Voluntier to Gustavus Adolphus I formerly mention'd this Duke and that he was kill'd by a Suedish Lady If the Suspicion of the Suedes be well grounded and that Duke Albert was really Guilty of the Murder of Gustavus it may be This was the Motive which brought those Amazons into the Field to revenge the Death of their Prince But it is impossible to be assur'd of the Truth among so many different Opinions When the French speak of Gustavus Adolphus they cannot restrain their Words on this Side a Panegyrick They say he was a Prince above all Praise 'T is certain his very Enemies admir'd his unimitable Courage and matchless Fortune I have sent thee the true Effigies of his Face wherein thou wilt see a most agreeable Mixture of Majesty and Benignity creating Respect and Love at the same Time in the Beholders He was so familiar with every one as if he had forgot himself as well as he was a Stranger to Pride He was a great Student in his Youth and made himself Master of Latin French and Italian being also perfectly skill'd in Ancient and Modern Histories He had a wonderful Faculty in discovering Impostures a dextrous Wit in Time of Danger and Difficulty being Ready at Counsel and swift in Execution and as cunning at a Stratagem as he was bold at an Onset He was Liberal to his Officers and to all Men of Merit but a severe Punisher of Disorders in his Army And that which Crown'd all the rest of his Vertues his Piety to God was singular and worthy of Remark The French relate a Memorable Saying of this King when he was once in his Camp before Werben He had been solitary in the Cabinet of his Pavilion some Hours together and none of his Attendants durst interrupt Him Till at Length a Favourite of his having some important Matter to tell him came softly to the Door and looking in beheld the King very devoutly on his Knees at Prayers Fearing to molest him in that Sacred Exercise he was about to withdraw his Head when the King spied him and bid Him come in saying unto him Thou wonderest to see me in this Posture since I have so many Thousands of Subjects to pray for me But I tell thee That no Man has more Need to pray for Himself than He who being to render an Account of his Actions to None but God is for that Reason more