to atone for their own wicked Lives But none of them has presumed to take the Name of Peter out of Respect to the First Vicar of Jesus This Pamphilio is above Threescore and Twelve Years of Age by whose Exaltation the Family of the Barbarini's to whom he was a profess'd Enemy begin to fall into Disgrace Cardinal Antonio one of that Family is taxed with embezelling the Treasures of the Church committed to his Trust He flies to France for Succour and though he had no great Reason to expect Cardinal Mazarini's Friendship having formerly opposed his Interest at the Roman Court in the Time of the late Pope Vrban yet this Cardinal by an Excess of Generosity has espoused his Cause and engaged his Master the King of France in his Quarrel What will be the Issue of this Contention Time will evince But Men begin to talk already That the King of France will carry a War into Italy which will shake the Walls of Rome it self Thus there is no Stability in Humane Affairs but Time and Providence perpetually start new Events God grant that thou mayst live to see the Ottoman Crescent on the Top of St. Peter's Church in Rome Paris 6th of the 10th Moon of the Year 1644. LETTER XX. To the Vizir Azem at the Port. THE great Preparations which Sultan Ibrahim is making by Land and Sea affords a Subject of Discourse to all Christendom but administers a special Occasion of Jealousie to the Republick of Venice They look on his declared Intentions to Invade Malta only as a Cover or Cloak to his real Designs upon themselves being confirmed in their suspicion by the Complaints which the Sultan made to Soranzo their Resident at the Port when he delivered himself with an Air that expressed far deeper Resentments than his Words Nor can the Artificial Strains of Courtesie which are used toward the Resident blind or cancel the apparent Affront and Contempt which he received from the Caimacham who refused to give him Audience after some hours Attendance though at the same time Prince Ragotski 's Envoy was admitted at the first Word These Considerations with others of like Nature have sufficiently alarm'd the Venetians so that they are making all the seasonable Preparations that are requisite to oppose the Torrent of the Ottoman Fury and Rage which they apprehend is to be poured on them This they perform with all imaginable Diligence and Secresie being neither willing to give a just Ground of Jealousie to the Sultan nor yet to be surprized unprovided There have lately been extraordinary Consultations in the Senate about these Affairs some disapproving these Warlike Preparations others promoting them One Party judging that a Peace ought rather to be purchased with a Tender of Gold A contrary Side pleading that such a Purchase would be both dishonourable and disadvantageous since upon every new Disgust the Ottomans would commence or at least threaten a War on purpose to erect a continual Mart for Peace the Sale thereof being like to prove so profitable to them Among the rest of the Senators Signior Grimaldi made an Oration of which I have obtained an Authentick Copy And it speaks thus THIS Glorious Republick which has flourish'd for so many Ages ought not in my Opinion to become the Merchandise of up-start Shepherds 'T is needless to recount our Original or wipe off the Ancient Dust of our Primitive Records that we may be able to tell the World we are the Reliques of Troy 'T is bootless to put you in Mind how this most serene and flourishing State laid her first Foundations in the Sea and built her Nest in the Floods That the Nereids fled to her Shadow and the Rest of the Sea-Gods even Neptune himself courted her Alliance and Protection Suffice it to say that this Victorious State thus founded and built has spread her Conquests through Istria Dalmatia and Epirus has annexed unto her Government Corfu Cephalenia Zant and Crete with many other Islands of the Adriatick and Mediterranean Seas and that this Virgin Commonwealth has preserved her self undeflowred these Twelve Hundred Years In all which Time she never submitted to the lustful Tyranny of any Foreign Conquerour And must she now become a Common Prostitute to Infidels be bought and sold at any Rate and pay the Price of her own Slavery Has this most August Senate by a long Series of successful Wars been exalted to the Height of Sovereign Power and is she now to be brav'd into a base and mercenary Peace the gilded Mask of abject Slavery We that have stemmed the Torrent of Ottoman Invasions and resisted the Puissance of all Asia must we now pull down our own Banks and tamely let the proud Insulting Enemy in paveing his Way with Gold Rouze up my Lords the Ancient Genius of this Mighty State awaken the old Venetian Valour and unless you resolve always to bear the Ottoman Yoke now shake it off and make a War your Choice rather than your last Remedy The Eyes of all the Western Nations are fixed on this August Assembly The Fate of Christendom is now in the Scales it is in your Power alone to turn the doubtful Balance it is from your unshaken Valour the Christian World expects a Benefit which shall be recorded on the Pillars of Eternity Suffer not your selves Most Excellent Lords to be cajoled by the specious Pretences of the Ottoman Fox but confide in your own Illustrious Arms and the Justice of your Cause which will not fail to attract the Favours of Divine Providence Let not those Laurels which have been all along sprinkled with the Noble Bloud of your Renowned Ancestors be tamely taken from your Heads and trampled under the Feet of Infidels Whom do you fear A man supinely lull'd in wanton Pleasures drown'd in the soft Delights of his Seraglio a fitter Champion for the Fields of Venus than for the bloudy Toils of Mars the harsh Fatigues of War But what do you dread The Bugbear-Title of Grand Signior It is in our Power to check his boasted Grandeur and make him sensible The State of Venice has a Sword can match the Turkish Scymitar Do but resolve the Work 's half done I feel already in my Mind blissful Presages of a lasting Peace the effect of a Just and Seasonable War which is much to be preferred to the precarious Truce for it deserves no better Title which they design to cheat us with in Contemplation of our Gold a Truce which they will break at Pleasure to Start new Grounds of Composition Thus could we drain the Indies dry we must refund our Treasure into the Ottoman Coffers and all too little to satiate their Greedy Avarice and Tyrannous Demands Thus would the most Serene Republick of Venice be post-pon'd to the Divan of Algiers who have already shaken off the Turkish Yoke retaining indeed the servile Name of Subjects but refusing the Tribute they were wont to pay Let us not suffer that Barbarous Little State thus Nobly to
of his Potent Neighbour began to look about him and consult the Publick Safety But when he examined his Treasury he found it empty or at least at a very low Ebb. Behold here Supreme Bassa a stroke of Destiny a Concurrence of Causes seeming remote and small in their first Appearance but in their Process uniting and involving that Kingdom in Ruine Charles could not carry on a War with France without asking Aid of the Sovereign Divan which they call the Parliament of that Nation It is a Senate composed of above Seven hundred of the Nobility and Gentry of the Land These have the Power to make Laws raise Taxes and redress the Grievances of the Kingdom It was an ill Season to ask the Assistance of his Subjects who had already conceived an Aversion for the Royal Dignity However a Mighty Fleet was order'd to be Rigg'd and Mann'd out Cardinal Richlieu from afar beheld the approaching Storm and knew not how to divert it from falling on France but by Corrupting the English Favourite De Lopez from whom I received this Intelligence was employed in the Affair he was sent to London which is the Metropolis of England and the Place where the King usually keeps his Court. It was an Expensive Negotiation and cost the Cardinal Forty Thousand Dollars which is equivalent to Three Millions and Two Hundred Thousand of our Aspers With this vast Bribe he Proselyted the Favourite Duke to the Interest of France The English Navy consisted of and Hundred and Fifty Sail having also Twelve Thousand Land-Men on Board It was agreed between them that the English Minister should procure himself to be made Admiral of these Marine Forces His Indulgent Master could deny nothing to the Man whom he had entrusted with the Sway of the Government Now the King of France might sleep at quiet since the English Ships sailed with a French Wind. They landed upon the Island of Ree but their Actions were altogether Theatrical a mere shew of War without any real Execution The English General manifestly omitting the proper Methods and favourable Opportunities of winning that Island His Conduct speaking as if he came there rather to Complement than to Fight These Things made a harsh sound in England and the Nobles resented ill the double-dealing of the Duke of Buckingham so was the English General call'd In fine the bad Success of their Forces the Expences they had been at and the Disgrace they suffered in this War Four and Forty of their Colours being carried to Paris and hung up in the Chief Temple of this City as Trophies of the French Victory incensed the Generality of the English Nation against the King and the Government they began to accuse him in their Cabals of Male-Administration and the Favourite Duke was a while after stabbed by a Ruffian whom the Malecontents had hired to execute their Revenge The Affections of the English appeared every day more and more alienated from the King And Cardinal Richlieu had there his Agents who were not wanting to foment the Publick Discontents and by divers Artifices to draw the Credulous People into Factions The French Pensioners were instructed to deport themselves in a Manner every way offensive to the Nation Black and threatning Clouds seemed to hang over the Court of England exhaled from the ill Blood of the Subjects The Royal Dignity went Retrograde and all Things tended to obscure the Lustre of the Crown Yet there passed some Years before Things came to Extremities and Matters though ripened yet were not brought to an open Rupture till Scotland lanced the Sore This Nation is subject to the Crown of England and makes one Half of the Island of Great Brittain They are a Warlike People patient of Labour accustomed to the Rigour of an Extreme Cold Climate great Travellours Subtle Proud and Inconstant After that which some call Heresie others a Reformation had begun to alienate many Kingdoms and Provinces from the Roman Church the Scots greedy of Novelties and spurred on by the Ambitious Pretexts of one of their Grandees who under the Mask of Religion sought the Crown introduced Innovations into their Church They shook off at once all their Obedience to the Pope and set up such a Form of Religious Discipline as was altogether Antimonarchical and their Preachers ceased not to instill into the Hearts of the People Democratick Principles Thus continued Affairs till King Charles not insensible of these Things and willing to new-Model that Church they took up Arms against him knowing that he would not be able to raise Forces to chastise them without calling a Parliament The Parliament of England was at that time full of Scotish Proselytes Men of Seditious and Turbulent Principles so that the King was like to find but little Favour among them However by the Assistance of some Loyal Nobles and Gentlemen he marches into Scotland at the Head of an Army Not a Blow was struck on either Side but all Differences were composed and hush'd up by a Treaty Yet soon after the Scots entred into England with an Army being underhand invited in by their Partizans in England The King is a Second Time forced to throw himself upon his Parliament for Money but they instead of granting him any fell to examining his past Conduct complaining and desiring a Redress of several Irregularities in his Administration There were those who failed not to put in Execution the Designs and Instructions of Cardinal Richlieu he had his Agents up and down the Kingdom who insinuated Jealousies and Heart-burnings into the Gentry and People of the Land The King was represented every where as a Tyrant and all his Actions were misconstrued Signior Rossetti the Pope's Nuntio at the English Court beside his Instructions from the Roman Pontiff held a strict Intelligence with the Cardinal His Business at this Court was publickly to the Queen who professed an Obedience to the See of Rome but privately he was order'd to Negotiate an Accommodation between the Roman and English Churches Cardinal Richlieu thought to strike two Marks with one Blow that is to embroil the State of England and procure himself the greater Esteem with the Roman Court He appears very Zealous for the Conversion of England and in order to it allows a Considerable Pension to Signior Rossetti Instructing him withal to shew his utmost Dexterity in gaining the Courtiers and Grandees of that Nation to his Side He knew the Genius of the English and that there was nothing so offensive to that Nation as the Papal Power and Religion Wherefore De Lopez was order'd to pay Signior Rossetti vast Sums of Money that so there might be nothing wanting to Proselyte the Courtiers knowing that they would act insolently and disgust the Protestants and so encrease the Publick Aversion for the Regal Authority There was also another Agent at the English Court who was Secretary to Cardinal Barbarini a Man no less Industrious than the other in advancing the Roman Interest He held a
Moors with Cruelty and the Mussulmans of the Indies with Atheism Nor does he spare to reproach the Christian Churches He taxes the Roman and Grecian with the Pompous Idolatry of the Heathens He accuses the Aethiopian of Judaism the Armenian of Heresie and says that the Protestants if they would live according to their Profession would be the best Christians He told me he was in Rome when Nero set Fire to the City and stood triumphing on the Top of a Hill to behold its Flames That he saw Saladine's Return from his Conquests in the East when he caus'd his Shirt to be carried on the Top of a Spear with this Proclamation Saladine Lord of many rich Countries Conquerour of the East ever Victorious and happy when he dies shall have no other Memorial left of all his Glories but only this poor Shirt He relates many remarkable Passages of Solyman the Magnificent whereof our Histories are silent and says he was in Constantinople when Solyman built that Royal Mosque which goes by his Name He knew Tamerlain the Scythian and told me that he was so call'd because he halted with one Leg He pretends also to have been acquainted with Scanderbeg the Valiant and Fortunate Prince of Epirus He seem'd to pity the insupportable Calamity of Bajazet whom he had seen carried about in a Cage by Tamerlain's Order He accuses the Scythian of too Barbarous an Insult on the Unfortunate Sultan He remembers the Antient Caliphs of Babylon and Aegypt the Empire of the Sarazens and the Wars in the Holy Land He highly extols the Valour and Conduct of the Renowned Godfrey of Bulloigne He gives an accurate Account of the Rise Progress Establishment and Subversion of the Mamalukes in Aegypt He says he has washed himself in the Two Head-springs of the River Nile which arise in the most Southern Part of Aethiopia That its Encrease is occasion'd by the great Rains in Aethiopia which swell all the Rivers that fall into the Nile and cause that vast Inundation which has so much puzzled Philosophy to find out the Origin He says that the River Ganges in India is broader and deeper than the Nile that the River Niger in Africa is longer by some Hundreds of Miles And that he can remember a time when the River Nile overflowed not till Three Months after the usual Season Having professed himself an Universal Traveller and that there was no Corner of the Earth where he had not been present I began to comfort my self with the hopes of some News from the Ten Tribes of Israel that were carried into Captivity by Salmanassar King of Assyria and could never be heard of since I asked him several Questions concerning them but found no satisfactory Answer Only he told me that both in Asia Africk and Europe he had taken Notice of a Sort of People who though not Jews in Profession yet retained some Characteristicks whereby one might discover them to be descended of that Nation In Livonia Russia and Finland he had met with People of distinct Languages from that of the Country having a great mixture of Hebrew Words that these abstained from Swines Flesh Blood and Things strangled That in their Lamentations for the Dead they always us'd these Words Jeru-Jeru Masco Salem By which he thought they called to Remembrance Jerusalem and Damascus those two Famous Cities of Palestine and Syria In the Circassians also he had traced some Footsteps of Judaism their Customs Manner of Life Feasts Marriages and Sacrifices being not far removed from the Institutions of the Mosaick Law But what is most remarkable he said that he had conversed with professed Jews in the North Parts of Asia who never so much as heard of Jesus the Son of Mary or of the Revolutions in Judea after his Death the Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem or any other Matters wherewith all Histories abound concerning that Nation He said moreover that these Jews had only the Pentateuch not having heard of the rest of those Books which compose the greatest Part of the Old Testament and that this Pentateuch was written in a sort of Hebrew far different from that which is now commonly spoken by the rest of the dispersed Jews throughout the World That the number of these Jews was Infinite And finally he thought that these if any were the true Posterity of those Ten Captive Tribes Having mentioned the Destruction of Jerusalem I ask'd him where he was at that time He told me in the Court of Vespasian at Rome and that he had heard the Emperor say when he understood the Temple of Solomon was burnt to Ashes He had rather all Rome had been set on Fire Here the Old Man fell a weeping himself lamenting the Ruines of that Noble Structure which he described to me as familiarly as if he had seen it but Yesterday He says that Josephus wrote partially of the Seditious in the City being related to one of the Chief Ring-leaders whom therefore he spar'd being loath to stain the Reputation of his own Family to all Posterity I tell thee Sage Cheik if this Man's Pretences be true he is so full of Choice Memoirs and has been Witness to so many Grand Transactions for the space of Sixteen Centuries of Years that he may not unfitly be called A Living Chronology the Proto-Notary of the Christians Hegira or Principal Recorder of that which they esteem the Last Epocha of the World's Duration By his Looks one would take him for a Relick of the Old World or one of the Long-liv'd Fathers before the Flood To speak modestly he may pass for the Younger Brother of Time It would be endless to tell thee how many other Discourses we had of his Travels and Memoirs till tired with his Company and judging all to be a Cheat I took my Leave I tell thee he seems to be a Man well vers'd in all Histories a Great Traveller and one that affects to be counted an Extraordinary Person The Common People are ready to adore him and the very Fear of the Multitude restrains the Magistrates from offering any Violence to this Impostor Live thou in the Exercise of thy Reason which will not permit thee to be seduced into Error by the subtle Insinuations of Men. Continue to Love Mahmut who Honours thee without a Fiction Paris 4th of the 1st Moon of the Year 1644. LETTER II. To the Selictar Aga or Sword-Bearer JEalousie the Bane of Publick Alliances as well as of Private Friendships has carried the Arms of Suedeland into Denmark at a Time when least expected All Europe was alarmed at the News of this Surprizing Invasion it being thought that the Suedes had Work enough cut out for them in Germany However few could penetrate into the Reasons which induced them to respite the Imperialists and at the same Time carry the War into the Dominions of King Christian who by his Mediation and other good Offices between the German Emperour and that Crown merited another kind of Return than an
great a Noise to do any considerable Execution on a Man who has the Wit to conceal his Resentments and strike before he is perceiv'd In a word the Duke finds himself in a Prison while the Cardinal is every Day more and more established in the Queen's Favour In the mean while I insinuate my self into all Mens Company from whom I can hope for any Intelligence Among the Rest I have observed a Courtier who often goes between the Grandees and seems to be entrusted with great Secrets he is very sparing of Words and makes his Shoulders do the Office of his Tongue I have sometimes enter'd into a Discourse with him about the Queen the Cardinal and others but all his Answers are comprized in Italian Rhetorick a Shrug and a Grimace This silent Language speaks very efficaciously to me and I esteem him worthy to be courted who knows so well how to bridle his Tongue I ply this Politician every Day with Addresses and tell him a great deal of Feigned News that I may tempt him to utter some that is True He is a great Privado of Madam de Chevereux often waits on the Queen sometimes visits the Cardinal and is every Day conversant with one or other of the Nobles If I can win this Man I hope to penetrate farther into the Mysteries of the Court. The God from whom nothing is hid so dispose of all Humane Events that the Empire of the Mussulmans may be established notwithstanding the Cabals and Plots of the Infidels Paris 16th of the 5th Moon of the Year 1644. LETTER IX To Signior Lorenzo del ' Casa Bianca a Genouse at Marseilles THOU sendest me strange and surprizing News that the Malta Gallies have taken the Eldest Son of the Grand Signior and Heir of the Ottoman Empire Captive at Sea as he was sailing to Aegypt I tell thee if such a Thing were true the Grand Signior would not fail to send such a Force as should dig up the very Foundations of that Island and cast it into the Sea But I can resolve thee that there is nothing more of Truth in this Story saving that about Ten Vessels of the Grand Signior's bound for Alexandria on Board of one of which was Sultan Mahomet's Nurse with her Son much about the Age of Sultan Mahomet were taken by Six Gallies of Malta whereby the Malteses were enriched with a great Treasure of Silver Gold and Jewels besides Slaves This Intelligence I have received from my Correspondents at Constantinople Men that are no Strangers to the Seraglio but such as have the Ear of the Prime Vizir They say indeed the Grand Signior took a particular Phancy to this Nurses Child often play'd with it and seemed to caress it with more Complacency than his own Son Sultan Mahomet which gave so great a disgust to the Sultaness the Mother of Mahomet that she procured the Banishment of the Nurse and her Child who in their Voyage to Alexandria were taken Captives by the Maltese Galleys as has been said and this is the Ground of the Report However Sultan Ibrahim is so exasperated against the Malteses for this Depredation that he has sworn by God and Mahomet never to sheath his Sword till he has revenged the Injury by laying waste the Island putting the Knights to Death and leading the Inhabitants into Captivity He has vented his Rage already on the Captain Bassa causing him to be strangled for not guarding the Seas better and 't is said he threatens a War with Venice on the same Account because the Maltese Galleys after this Pyracy put a Shore in Candia where they recruted their Vessels with all necessary Provisions I expected the Silks last Week which I wrote for and the Oil of Calabria Send them by the first Opportunity Paris 28th of the 5th Moon of the Year 1644. LETTER X. To Dgnet Oglou ALL Europe rings with the Report of the Sultan's Son being taken Captive by the Maltese Galleys No doubt but thou hast heard such a Discourse among the Franks at Constantinople and thou knowest the Intrigues of the Seraglio It is pleasant that the Kuzlir Aga's Slave should have no Father for her Child that he himself should adopt it for his own that the Mother of it should be preferred to be Nurse to Sultan Mahomet that Sultan Ibrahim should single out this Fatherless Son of an Eunuch to sport with him take him in his Arms and treat him with all the Endearments that are Naturally shew'd by Parents to their own Children The French Ladies laugh at this Story and say That the Seraglio begins to grow more Civiliz'd and to exchange the Severity of Constantinople for the Gallantries of Paris But let them laugh that win the Malteses have most reason to caress themselves for their good Fortune in such a Prize They say the Grand Prior treats his Young Captive with a most profound Attach and Veneration imagining he has in Custody the Heir of the Ottoman Empire for they know not the true Secret but are possessed with a real Belief that Young Sultan Mahomet is in their Hands Let what I have said be as the words of thy Nurse when she prated a thousand Impertinencies to thee within a Month of thy Nativity In fine be trusty to thy Friend Paris 10th of the 6th Moon of the Year 1644. LETTER XI To the Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire IT is not unknown at the Divan how the Princes of Italy have worried one another these Two Years I dispatch'd long ago some Memoirs of the Feuds between the Barbarini's and the Duke of Parma The Pope upholds the Former making the Quarrel his own in Defence of the Ecclesiastick State The Venetians the Grand Duke of Toscany the Duke of Modena with the French King interest themselves in the Cause of the Latter He is a Prince of an Active Spirit and darts up and down like Lightning through the Pope's Territories If he has lost Castro Montalto and other Places of Strength in this War it is but by Way of Exchange having possessed himself of as considerable Holds belonging to his Enemies Yet the Barbarini's sheltring themselves under the Protection of Pope Vrban seem to triumph and promise themselves an entire Victory using the Artifices of Superstition to weaken the Duke's Credit And because some of his Vessels which carried above a Thousand Souldiers were cast away they would perswade the credulous World that Heaven fights against him They likewise had designed to build a Fort and a Bridge over the River Po to open a Way to themselves into the Confederates Country and to shut it up to all Invaders of their own but were prevented by the Venetians who sent Ten Thousand Men to stop the Building of the Bridge or to demolish it if built In the mean while the Confederates though they seemed to espouse the Duke's Quarrel yet trifled with him protracting their Assistance and disputing about Punctilio's every one restraining the Conditions of their
Friendship within the Limits that would best square with the Interest of their own State They had all Armies on foot but could not agree how to dispose of them The Venetians demanded such a Post as might be most advantageous to that Republick The Duke of Toscany would have the main Body of their Forces so quartered as to cover his Dominions Thus each Party pursued their own Claim while their Enemies gained Time and put themselves in a Posture either to march into the Territories of the Confederates or defend the Ecclesiastick State Certainly it is Fatal to the Christians to be thus divided among themselves even when they have greatest Cause of Union Yet the Duke of Parma the very Soul of this Confederacy breaks through all their Demurrs and Hesitations impatient of fruitless Delays rushes into Ferrara takes Bondeno abandoned by the Garrison after that La Stellata a Place of greater Strength but proceeding forward the Barbarini's encamped not far from Ferrara the better to observe the Progress of the Confederates and so put a stop to the Motions of the Duke He and his Friends had Twenty Thousand Men in the Field to which the Venetians not long after added Six Thousand more They were in different Bodies and as they quarter'd themselves so the Papal Forces remov'd their Camp Several Skirmishes passed between them but no great Execution done In the mean while the Venetians were not idle by Sea having several Barks and Galleys full of arm'd Men Coasting along the Pope's Territories They took Five Forts on the Shore and piercing farther into the Country made themselves Masters of Arriano a great Town and sacked Codegoro putting all to the Sword and laying the Place in Ashes On the other side the Barberini's seized on Spilimberto Vignivola and some other weakly guarded Towns on the Frontiers of Modena and killed Two Hundred of the Confederates who had invested Crevalcuore Cardinal Antonio on the Pope's Side has the Management of the War a Man of an aspiring Genius and very subtle He perceiving the Duke of Toscany incensed at the late Loss had taken the Field with a considerable Army sends Six Thousand Men to oppose him but they were raw and undisciplin'd Souldiers and could not hinder the Duke's Forces from seizing an Important Pass and reducing the City of Pieve Monteleone Castiliano del Lago and Passiniano While the Sons of War were thus busied in the Field the Agents of Peace were not wanting on all Sides to accommodate the Differences that threatned all Italy with fatal Consequences But they did no more than amuse one another with Ambiguities Subterfuges and Evasions while the Barberini's sought to gain Time and draw the King of Spain to countenance their Interest The Venetians sensible of this underhand Dealing protested by their Ambassador at Madrid that they would unite with the French Crown if his Catholick Majesty should by indirect Ways strengthen the Bearbrini's The King apprehensive of such a League forbears to meddle in an Affair which might be so Injurious to Spain and gives Instructions to his Ambassadors at Rome and other Courts of Italy to mediate a Peace which might be advantageous to the Confederates The Treaties however came to nothing and the Mediators finding themselves eluded suspended their Negotiations and gave fresh Opportunity to the Men of Arms to play their Parts Cardinal Antonio assaulted Nonantola with Four Thousand Men but was defeated by the Venetians who slew several Hundreds of his Souldiers and took Two Hundred Prisoners After this the Confederates plunder'd all the Country of Ferrara and took Vergato defended by Eight Hundred Men. In the Surprizal of Bazano they kill'd above Two Hundred of the Enemy and marching forward took Monteria Serravalle and other Places while Cardinal Barberini's Forces were cut off at Burgho St. Sepolchro where he lost Eight Cannon Four Petards with Abundance of Provisions It would be an endless Task to recount all the Skirmishes and Battels that have passed between them I only inform thee of the most Remarkable that thou maist insert them in the Register of the Ottoman Empire To conclude this Letter it will be worth thy Observation that the Pope falling Sick and his Death feared did much conduce to put an End to these Difference For the Barberini's now being apprehensive of the Advantage his Death would give the Confederate Princes were very forward to embrace any Overtures of Peace So that by the Dexterity of the French Ministers it was at last concluded and all Differences adjusted the Duke of Parma's Territories being restored to him the Censures of the Church taken off and the Ecclesiastick State put in the same Condition it was in at the Beginning of the War I shall continue to send thee such Intelligence as may be serviceable to thee in that Eminent Station thou enjoyest in the Empire of the True Believers And shall think my self a very happy Man if I can by any Means acquire thy Favour Paris 23d of the 6th Moon of the Year 1644. LETTER XII To Lubano Abufei Saad an Aegyptian Knight ONE would think that there were yet some of the Ancient Race of Gyants on Earth Here is a Man come to this Court full Eight Foot high a Finlander by Nation he looks like some Posthumous Birth of the Sons of Tatan He is Master of prodigious Strength and challenges any Two the stoutest Men in France to throw him a Fall I have seen him take Two Boys of Ten Years of Age on the Palm of each Hand and lift them up from the Ground together with his Arms stretched out to the full Length and walk Sixty Paces with them in this Posture at the End of which Stage he set them down again on their Feet without the least Violence or Straining There are none so hardy as to accept of his Challenge for they know he will not suffer them to come nearer than the Extremity of his Arm. And such is the monstrous Strength of his Hand that he will either infallibly throw them down or stifle them with his Grasp He talks of Travelling into Turkey if he does I hope he will have more Discretion than to venture within the Seraglio lest he incurr the Fate of the renowned Muscovite Wrestler in Sultan Amurath's Time Thou remembrest that Tragedy which made all the Brave and the Generous condemn Amurath's Cruelty He was a Stout Prince himself and it look'd like Envy in him to punish the Efforts of Courage in his Slaves with so unrelenting a Rigour But he was himself a Slave to his Passions and Jealousie had the Predominance in his Temper That Vice betrayed him to horrid Violences of which thou art not ignorant having been privy to several of his Amours This puts me in mind of a Spanish Cavalier who had a very Vertuous and Beautiful Wife which thou wilt say are Two rare Companions He kept a Moor in his House whom the Lady had one Time caus'd to be severely beaten The Moor secretly
vow'd Revenge He had an Intrigue with one of the Lady's Women to whom he imparted his Mind They conspired together to accuse the Lady of Lightness and Infidelity to her Husband's Bed The Cavalier their Master was naturally Jealous as generally are all the Spaniards these Two possessed him with a Belief that the Gardiner had frequent Access to his Lady's Chamber and undertook to make him an Eye-Witness of it Whereupon one of them goes privately to the Gardiner and tells him that the Lady would speak with him Whilst the other runs to the Lord and bids him make hast for that the Gardiner was at that Instant with his Lady The Impatient Cavalier hastens up Stairs and meeting the Gardiner coming out of the Door of his Chamber stabs him to the Heart without any farther Expostulation and rushing furiously into the Chamber serves his Wife in the same Manner But coming down again the Maid struck with Remorse at so black an event fell down at his Feet confessing her Crime and declaring that her Lady was Innocent The Spaniard raging Mad at a Conjunction of so many Misfortunes stabs the Maid and the Negro and last of all to complete the Tragedy kills himself I have often wonder'd that some such fatal Consequences did not attend the Jealousie of Sultan Amurath He spared not to rip up the Bellies of his Pages for the Sake of Two or Three Melons and 't is a Miracle that he did not sacrifice half the Slaves of the Seraglio on the Account of his Mistresses Thou art now in a better Station and free from Restraint Act according to Reason and let not Passion byass thee one way nor other Paris 5th of the 7th Moon of the Year 1644. LETTER XIII To the Kaimacham THOU hast often required an Account of the Parliament of France which is the Supreme Court of the Kingdom Though the Name be known at the Sublime Port yet the Ministers are unacquainted with the Power and Authority of this Senate When it was first instituted it consisted of Twelve Peers an Hundred Bishops and all the Prime Nobility of the Land who had power to give Audience to Foreign Ambassadors to adjust all Differences of the Subjects In fine it might then be called the Sovereign Tribunal from whence there could be no Appeal Three Foreign Kings have sat as Members of this Court. It was in those Days Ambulatory following the King whithersoever he went but now it is always assembled in Paris in the Palace which Philip the Fair built for his own Dwelling-House This Parliament is divided into Seven Chambers whereof that which they call the GREAT CHAMBER is the Chief There belong to this Chamber Seven Presidents Twelve Counsellours the King 's Cadi or Attorney with a great Number of Advocates and Men of the Law The Presidents and Counsellours are cloath'd in Scarlet which strickes an awful Reverence into all that approach their Presence Some call this the Golden Chamber and well they may since that glittering Metal is thought to be the Umpire of most Causes that are tryed in this Court He that brings most Gold is sure to have his Business first dispatched and to come off Conqueror For as their present Power is little else but a mere Formality so is also their Justice The King 's of France have gradually so clipt their Original Authority that now they seem to be but the Shadow of their Antient selves They never pretended to meddle with Ecclesiastical Affairs that was always out of their Jurisdiction The Mufti of Rome claims this Prerogative as his Right From whence thou mayest observe how maim'd and imperfect is the Royalty of Christian Kings who cannot punish their own Subjects if Clergy-men without the Pope's Permission Yet though this Chamber cannot meddle with the Ecclesiasticks they have a Privilege to dispose of the Regency during the King's Minority as is evident in the late Queen-Mother Mary de Medicis and the present Anne of Austria who were both by the Parliament declared Regents They also confirm all the Kings Edicts neither does he proclaim War without their Consent or establish any Alliance There are also besides this Six other Chambers of Parliament Five whereof are called Chambers of Inquests and they consist of Two Presidents Twenty Counsellors and a convenient Number of Lawyers The Sixth Chamber is a Collection out of all the Rest and contains no less than Two Hundred Officers Here all Criminal Causes are tryed which are either immediately or by Appeal brought before them As in the Chambers of Inquests Controversies of the Civil Law are decided It is a pleasant Sight to see the Men of the Law all in their Habits which are very Glorious and Rich. Indeed all the Citizens of Paris are extremely Gallant in their Apparel But I cannot be reconciled to their lavish Custom of changing the Fashion of their Clothes almost with every Moon This Vanity has been forbid in all well-ordered Commonwealths And thou knowest our Eastern People would as soon be stript of their Skins as change the Fashion which has been in use for immemorable Ages Here they have no Distinction of Dress the Noble and Vulgar Rich and Poor go all alike You cannot discern a Slave from a Prince by his Garb. Paris is divided into Four Parts the City the Vniversity the Town and the Suburbs It is about Three Leagues in Circuit seated advantageously enough but wanting Fortifications Henry IV. had added some Strength to it had he not been apprehensive of the Seditious Humour of the Inhabitants who in time might make an ill Use of his Kindness and shut those Gates against him which he should build for their Defence against a Foreign Enemy The Court is generally at St. Germain en Lay one of the King 's Royal Mansions seated on the Top of a Mountain which commands a Prospect of a large and beautiful Valley I have been there often that I might be the better able to penetrate into the Conduct of Cardinal Mazarini who is never from the Queen-Regent I have already transmitted to the Sublime Port such Intelligence as I could gain of this Great Minister's Intrigues I will now entertain thee with a Glimpse of this Palace that thereby thou mayst conjecture at the Magnificence of the King 's of France It is divided into Two Parts the Old and the New The Former was built by Charles I. the Latter by Henry IV. That may boast of its Antiquity but this is so Majestick and Costly a Structure as sufficiently demonstrates that Modern Architects come not far short of the Ancient Romans The Rooms are all lofty and large the Roofs and Ceilings admirably contriv'd and adorn'd the whole consists of so many Courts that it rather looks like a Town than the Seat of one Family But pardon me Illustrious Kaimacham if I tell thee that none of the Kings of the East can match this Monarch in the Gardens belonging to this Palace I saw there such a Charming Variety of