acquired in this mean Occupation His great Wealth made him find the Means of obtaining the Favour of the Ministers and Favourites of the Prince and his Highness himself honoured him with his Friendship gave him Offices and heap'd up Riches on him Thou shouldest know all I say but I am astonished thou shouldest write to me That this Wretch having been put out from the Government of Walachia by reason of his insupportable Pride and extream Covetousness should pretend to re-enter on this Office by means of Money trying in some sort to corrupt the Justice of Amurath Observe how many ways he draws on him the Prince's Indignation The Emperor must have been more covetous than Stridya had he favoured his Design but 't was the Decree of Heaven that Stridyâ— should be punished and that our Master should give a terrible Example of his Justice to terrifie those who use their Riches to commit all Sorts of Crimes and to purchase all manner of infamous Pleasures The News of the Fall of this Slave had in some sort mitigated the great Melancholy I felt when I received the Letter But the Death of Zagaribasci our common Friend does not a little afflict me as well as the Marriage of his Son Caragurli made the same Day does astonish me For I cannot comprehend how there could well be celebrated in the same Day and at the same House two such different Ceremonies as is a Funeral and a Wedding I find this Adventure very strange and though our Friend indeed was very old yet I bewail him as if he had dyed before his Time He was an honest Man of great Piety and moderately Rich and this is what makes Mortals Happy in this World and the other too But thou dost not inform me whether the excessive Joy he had to see his Son married to a Greek rich with the Goods of Fortune endued with great Vertue and a Mute has not caused his Death I rather think thou wilt say our Friend Zagarabasci is dead by some Excess than yield to what we contested about formerly I always found in this Friend great Marks of Honesty and Sobriety and he also appeared to me to have great Tenderness for his Son I cannot without offending thee accuse this old Gentleman of want of Moderation yet he is dead with a Transport of Joy Thou seest I affirm'd no impossible thing when I maintained in my Youth That an extraordinary and unfore seen Joy is more likely to kill than sudden Grief though never so violent Didst thou think it a Matter of small Satisfaction to a Father that is a wise and sober Man to obtain for his Son a Woman that is a Mure For what greater Pleasure can a Husband have than to have a Wife that is not talkative The Christians understand not the Wisdom of the Turks when they laugh at our Sultans who find the greatest parts of their Pleasures in the Conversation of Mutes Is there any thing more delightful than to hear a Man that does not speak and to see one reason on all Things that has no Tongue Thou knowest how many Things these Mutes of the Seraglio do give one to understand and what Eloquence there is in their Signs and Gestures Thou remembrest That when Amurath would give Thanks to the Sovereign Moderator of all the World in that he had escaped Death when the Lightning fell on his Bed and burnt to his very Shirt he seemed to offer him a great Sacrifice in putting a Mute out of the Seraglio which he dearly loved by reason of her Tricks and Gestures The Muses were one day ready to fall together a fighting because they would not receive amongst them a Tenth Companion sent them by a Mandamus from a King of Italy But when this Tenth Muse signified to them That she was Dumb all the Voices were for her Dear Melec 't is not without Reason I write thee this Thou art still young and designest for Matrimony Believe Mahmut There are few Women that are Wise and they say little that is good Think then what those say who know nothing and whose Number is infinite When they have talked a whole Day believe me they have said nothing If thou marriest follow my Counsel Take not a Mute for then thou wilt marry a Beast Neither chuse one that talketh for thou wilt be linked with a Monster As to our Friend he died by a particular Grace from Heaven Yet I cannot but think still of his Death How many more extraordinary Accidents wilt thou see if thou livest to old Age and especially if thou livest at Constantinople where are continually beheld strange Adventures and extraordinary Effects both of Life and Death Cruelty and Clemency as well as of good and bad Fortune Being in breath I could continue still to write to thee but I think it's time to end lest I prove tiresome And I end in praying Heaven to keep thee in Health where-ever thou art Paris 25th of the last Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER IX To the same PARIS where I live is a very healthful City and so are all the Places thereabouts free from Pestilential Airs and yet there oft happens sudden Deaths as well as at Constantinople and they die here likewise of Joy I will relate to thee what I have partly seen and not what I have heard to happen in London the most ancient and chiefest City of the Kingdom of England A rich old Man falling sick and lying on his Death-Bed sent to his only Son living at Paris where he spent his time in Pleasures to come over that he might with his Estate give him his Blessing Think what News this was to a Young Man to whom the Life of a Father was troublesome as being an Obstacle to his Liberty and who waited his Death to take his Swing of all the Pleasures which his corrupt Nature makes him respect as his Sovereign Good This Young Man intending to get upon Horseback to run where he was called found himself embarked for a Voyage which he did not design to make he fell dead on the Place and I saw him in the same Instant wherein he was living and healthful to expire Were I of the Sect of our Philosopher Muslaadin Saadi I would tell thee It matters not whether one dies suddenly or languish a long Time whether a Man dies in his Bed or at the Gallows But I being none of Zeno's Disciples and knowing no Peripatetick or Philosopher amongst so many Sects than were in Greece who disputed Whether Life or Death was to be preferred So expect not from me any Arguings on the Morals of those Greeks nor yet of the Persians But if Death be such a terrible Thing endeavour to live in such a Manner that it may never affright thee when it shall approach thee or when thou shalt see it invade others expecting it at all times and in all places Dost thou know by what Herb or by what secret Magick Charm I do not fear
Effendi c. 193 Of Assam Bassa of Algiers his Death and barbarous Sentiments in respect of his Slaves II. To the Invincible Vizir Azem at the Camp under Babylon 195 Of the Memoirs which Mahmut gave to the Cardinal Richlieu on the Lives of Illustrious Men. III. To Lubano Abufei Saad an Egyptian Knight 210 What Cardinal Richlieu did at a Ball. IV. To Mehmet an Eunuch Page 211 Of the beginning of Mahmut's Sickness and of the Cruelty of Amurath V. To Zelim of Rhodes Captain of a Galley 215 That a Man is parted expresly from Legorn to Assassinate him at Constantinople VI. To the Invincible Vizir Azem c. 217 Of the Seige of Babylon VII To the same 220 Of Brizac Piemont Italy and Brandenburg VIII To Breredin Superior of the Dervises in Natolia 224 IX To Ocoumiche his Mother at Scio. 225 Of his Sickness X. To Pestely Haly his Brother 227 Of his Sickness XI To Dgnet Oglou 228 Of his Sickness in a particular Style XII To the Kaimakan 231 He discourses of the Dexterity of the Dwarf Osmin and of the Embassador of Venice's Solicitations at Court to induce the King to make War with the Turks XIII To Isouf his Kinsman 235 He speaks of his Sickness entreats him to give Alms for his Recovery and to pray to God for him XIV To the Invincible Vizir Azem c. 236 A Relation of his Sickness and of the Death of the Duke of Wimar XV. To the Kaimakan 239 Of his Sickness and Cure Of Germany and Italy and of a Sea Fight between the Dutch and French XVI To Dgnet Oglou 242 Of his perfect Cure and of Friendship XVII To Adonai a Jew at Genoa 244 He blames him for sending false News about the Genoeses to the Port. XVIII To the Kaimakan 246 Of Turin of the new invented Bullets of the Affairs of Italy and Spanish Fleet that was lost XIX To Dgnet Oglou 250 Of Mahmut's Amours with a beautiful Greek XX. To the Invincible Vizir Azem 257 Of a Chiaus from the Port who came to Paris and touching the Affairs of Persia XXI To Cara Hali the Physician c. 260 He gives him an Account of his Recovery of the violent Frosts at Paris and Austerity of the Capuchins XXII To the Kaimakam 264 Of the Troubles in Spain Catalonia and Portugal and a Description of the Revolt in Barcellona XXIII To Dgnet Oglou 268 Letter of Consolation on the Fire at Constantinople XXIV To the Captain Bassa of the Sea 273 Of the Vessels of Africk taken by the Christians and of the Knights of Maltha XXV To the Invincible Vizir Azem 275 A Description of the Revolution of Portugal XXVI To Enguril Emir Cheik c. 287 Of the Death of Amurath IV. of the new Sultan Ibrahim and of the Affairs of the Seraglio BOOK IV. LETTER I. TO the Venerable Mufti c. 293 Of Cardinal Richlieu his Craft and Policy II. To the Reis Effendi c. 295 Of a Conspiracy discovered at Paris against Cardinal Richlieu III. To the Kaimakan 297 Of Julius Mazarin and his Negotiation in Savoy IV. To Dgnet Oglou 300 A particular Description of the Greatness of the Spanish Monarchy V. To the Invincible Vizir Azem 303 Of the Battle of Sedan of Count Soisson's Death and Conspiracy against the Cardinal VI. To Solyman his Cousin 309 Mahmut complains of his Perfidiousness VII To Dgnet Oglou 312 Against the Infidelity and Inconstancy of the beautiful Greek VIII To Carcoa at Vienna 316 He informs him of the Receipt of his Letters with the Money and Balm of Mecha IX To Berber Mustapha Aga c. 317 Of the Duke of Lorrain the Loss of his Country and of the King of France's Indignation X. To Bedredin Superior of the Dervises c. 332 On his own Age and of a Man that lived an 129 Years XI To the Redoubtable Vizir Azem 325 On the Life and Death of General Bannier and Imprisonment of Dom Duartus Brother to the new King of Portugal XII To the Kaimakan 328 Of the Parliament of Paris and Affairs of Catalonia XIII To the Venerable Mufti c. 331 Of Cardinal Richlieu and the Calumnies published against him touching his Design of making himself Patriarch of France XIV To Oucoumiche his Mother c. 333 Letter of Consolation on the Death of her second Husband that the Countess of Soissons has greater cause of Trouble for the Death of her Son XV. To the Grand Seignior's Chief Treasurer 338 Of the disgrace of the Archbishop of Bourdeaux XVI To the Kaimakan 339 On the Imprisonment of Count Allie apprehended at Turin by Richlieu's Order XVII To the Reis Effendi 342 Of a Spaniard found dead in Paris who had in his Pocket a Catalogue of all the great Lords whom Cardinal Richlieu caused to be destroyed XVIII To William Vospel 343 Of his Retirement from the World on Thieves and the Invention of Keys XIX To the Venerable Mufti 347 Of Cardinal Richlieu and what he did in respect of a General of Dervises and of the great Newâ— brought him XX. To the Kaimakan 350 Of the Books of Geber and of Chymistry XXI To Mehemet an Eunuch Page 358 What Cardinal Richlieu did against the Queen of France and of his Ambition XXII To the Kaimakam 360 Of Dom Sebastian King of Portugal who died in Africk and of him that took on him that Name XXIII To the Mufti 365 Of a Mule laden with Gold which Cardinal Richlieu sent to an unknown Person in a Wood. XIV To Berber Mustapha Aga. 366 Description of Duels of a Bill of Defiance which the Duke de Medina Celi sent to Dom John of Braganza the new King of Portugal XXV To the Invincible Vizir Azem 37â— Of a new Conspiracy discovered at Lisbon againsâ— the new King of Portugal LETTERS Writ by A Spy at PARIS VOL. I. BOOK I. LETTER I. Mahmut the Arabian and Vilest of the Grand Signior's Slaves to Hasnadarbassy Chief Treasurer to his Highness at Constantinople I Have at length finished my Journey after one hundred and forty days March arriving at Paris the 4th of this present Moon according to the Christians Style I made no stay in Hunâ—ary yet sojourned One and forty Days at Vienna where I observ'd all the Motions of that Court â—ccording as I was ordered of which I shall not â—ow speak having given a full Account to the ever â—nvincible Vizir Azem Being but newly arrived scarce know any Body and am as little known my self I have suffered my Hair to grow a little below my Ears and as to my Lodging 't is in the House of an old Flemming where my Room is so small that Jealousie it self can scarce enter And because I will have no Enemy near me I will therefore admit of no Servant Being of low Stature of an ill-favoured Countenance ill shap'd and by Nature not given to Talkativeness I shall the better conceal my self Instead of my Name Mahmut the Arabian I have taken on me that
it 'T is by the leading of an Innocent Life Here is published and that with great Reason the last Words of a Man of great Birth who died when he was very Old by a Wound he receeived He had served divers Kings in Places of the highest Trust and being mortally wounded in a Battel mark what he said to those that exhorted him to die like a good Christian and with the same Courage he had shewed in Life His Reply was That a Man who had lived well Fourscore Years cannot be to seek how to die well for a Quarter of an Hour This great Man who was a famous Soldier was also a true Philosopher and I might say he was a Saint had he been of our Religion I believe he was a most edifying Spectacle and the more considerable in as much as the Example he gave of dying well is more valuable than that which he gave in so many Battels of courageous Fighting He was called Anne de Montmorancy Constable of France whose Life I had the Curiosity of reading being to be found in the History of the Civil Wars of that Kingdom But before I end this Letter let me denote to thee the Difference there is between the Effects of Grief and Joy The Messenger from England of whom I already spake finding at his Return the Old Man whom he had left dying still alive he gave him such a strange Stroke by telling to him the Death of his Son that Grief having vanquished the Assaults of Death restored to this unhappy Old Man that Strength he had lost in his Health so that coming himself some Days after to Paris I saw him bewail the Loss of his only Son He that said heretofore A man should learn all his Life to die well uttered no strange Doctrine Our days will last long enough if we be ready to say at all times We have lived enough And if we love as we ought our great Emperor who is Invincible Holy and the most Just amongst Men And if we observe what a French Peasant said to all those that passed before his Door Never deny your Assistance and never do any Body any Hurt Let thou and I number our Days as was preached heretofore in the Seraglio to the white Eunuchs by the Persian whose Eyes were put out because he saw too clearly He always insisted on the Shortness Vneertainty and Vanity of Humane Life He said T was short considering what he had to do in it uncertain as to what we shall do in it and always mix'd with what we have done and what remains for us to do Teach not thy Son Mehemet yet for whom thou hast so much Affection these Precepts Children have not that Ripeness of Judgment as is necessary to hear Discourses of Death They are too hard Bits for their Stomachs and which indeed Old Men can hardly digest and which they swallow not without feeling all the Bitterness of them I pray God keep the Imperial City with those that dwell in it and shelter it from the Storms which fall on infamous Cities and I beseech him thou mayst live without Offence that thou mayst never fear Death Paris 2â—th of the lest Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER X. To Enguruli Emin Mehemet Chuk a Man of the Law WHEN I parted from Constantinople I gave thee a Stone of excellent Virtue against the Gravel and thou presented'st me with a Paper which was to secure me against all bodily Evils Time only can decide which of us two made the best Present to his Friend Thou hast pretended to learn me in few Words how to live amongst the Infidels and I thought in giving thee a Stone to give thee a Remedy against the Distemper thou art troubled with I never turn my self towards the Place where Mecha lies but I remember where thy Amity began and how far since it has been extended towards me Absence has not lessened thy Kindness nor hindred thee from sending me thy grave Counsels but I am as yet too young to set about the preparing my self for the other World and too vigorous and healthful to hearken to thy serious and melancholy Discourses I wish thou wert but at Paris where thou wouldest see a great Number of People who sell a most precious Thing to purchase a vain and fantastick Title How many with great Earnestness sue for Placeat's from the King that they may seek their Deaths Perhaps thou never thoughtest there were any such kind of People What dost thou think then of the Souldiery in General are they any others than Martyrs of Ambition to whom one would think Life is a Burthen 'T is a sad Spectacle to see how many Dead lie in the Streets or carried on the Shoulders of their Friends or Kinsmen to their Graves Yet this is so common a thing in Paris that the People make no Wonder of it This way of Living obliges me to do as the rest I begin to consider That what happens to another may happen to me there 's no avoiding ones Destiny This Preface is only to bring in a Story of this King's Goodness which ought to be an Example to all Princes The French have need of fresh Souldiers to fill up so many Troops as they continually entertain Not long since then there came a Man full of Years and overwhelm'd with Despair who desired to be Listed in this Princes Service To obtain what he desired he told the King That he was the Father of Twelve Children Seven of which were Daughters who were Marriagable that he could no longer live being not able to maintain such a great Family and that being ignorant as yet how to die he would learn it in the King's Service The Prince having appointed him to wait upon him one Day privately in his Closet thus spake to him Thy Despair makes thee desirous to be listed amongst my Souldiers and Charity obliges me to retain thee amongst the Citizens Those that are Fools when they enter into Troops commonly come out wiser because they learn several things of which they were before ignorant but as to thy part what Time hast thou to learn who art ready to fall dead at the same moment thou enterest into the School Yet I receive thee take this Sword go and combat thy Folly and take this Purse to succour thy Family and be cured but if thou art wise say not from whom thou hast received thy Cure I know not what Sum was in the Purse no more than I do of what Mettle the Sword was But I have this Story from an Officer of the King's Closet with whom I have that strict Converse that he told me this Passage as soon as ever it happened I 'll tell thee if thou wilt some of the principal Passages of my Life for I conceal nothing from the Ministers and the most venerable Mufti who knows all that I do I adore the Sovereign Master of the Universe and have a great Veneration for his holy Prophet I never
strangâ—ed yet triumphed at his Death over his Murtherer For being softned by the Caresses of this Infant whom he was about destroying he dropt down in a Swoon and Bajazet's Son had by this Occasion escaped Death had not the other Executioner more cruel than the former done the Work Altho thou dost not certainly know who is Mustapha's Father yet thou maist well presume he is the Emperor's Son Thy Age and Prudence so long experienced and the-Office of Chief of all the Eunuchs of the Empire which thou hast so long enjoyed leaves no place of doubting but that thy Pupil is of Royal Blood Arm thy self then with Courage and study to perform well thy Duty in this solitary Place Nothing is so troublesom as the instructing of Children when they will be taught as Masters by their Slaves and will not submit to Rules like private Persons Thou maist be sure I shall render thee all the Service I am able seeing I consider thee as a Friend that is extream dear to me But why dost thou seek amongst the Christians an illustrious Subject which may serve for a Model to form a Child born in the Religion of the Mussulmen Did I not know thy Wisdom I should think thou art very simple in searching after Examples amongst the Enemies of our holy Law to propose them to be followed by the Ottoman Children Thou hast chosen for this Purpose Henry of France termed the Great and art thou ignorant that this so famous a King was the most implacable Enemy of the Empire Be it known to thee That this Prince undertook the boldest and dangerousest Design as was ever imagined to destroy the Monarchy of the Mussulmen and might probably have succeeded had not Heaven by an unforeseen Stroke snatched him from the Earth to appear before the Tribunal of the True God who judges Kings as well as other Men. But lest thou should'st imgin I make this a Pretence to excuse my self from satisfying thee in what thou desirest receive at least one Part of what thou expectest Thou wouldst have me send thee the History of this Prince content thy self with a short Extract of it otherwise I must be forced to send thee a large Volume However make not use of his Example in all Things the Way of Living the Laws and Customs of the French do not suit with the Turkish Way of Regiment If thou wilt make thy Pupil accomplished form him on the Model of some one of those Hero's which the East has given us Mustapha will read with greater Profit the History of Alexander and Pyrrhus than that of Charlemain and Henry and should one wonder at the Defaults of the King of Macedonia's Son and at the small Fortune of the other Pray shew me what Men there ever were who had at the same time the Frailties of human Nature and the Perfections of the Divinity And if thou wilt search into Persia and Egypt thou wilt find a Cyrus and an Artaxerxes Ptolemy Psammeticus Campson and Tomombeis all great Princes whose Actions honour Antiquity And how many Heroes wilt thou find in our Greece if thou wilt take no Notice of those whom Rome has sent into the World But not to go out of the Ortoman Family thou knowest very well that we Turks have for Proverbial Speeches The Modesty of Solyman The good Mien of Alis The Justice of Nonquirevan The Majesty of Osman The Gravity of Humer and the Justice of Abubekir not to mention the Courage and Magnanimity of Amurath who is at this Day more valorous than any of his common Soldiers whether he be in his Seraglio of Constantinople or in his Tents before Babylon Ten Days ago I received thy Letter and I have employed a great deal of that Time in collecting what thou hast desired of me and to speak truly thy Commands have suppli'd me with matter wherewithal to divert me Thou wilt be without doubt surprized that Two Men who long served this King in mean Employs have discovered several Particulars of his Life with which the French themselves perhaps are not acquainted My Sentiment has ever been That 't is more necessary to know the Manners and Customs of Men than to know the Number of Places they have besieged or taken and to be informed of their good Qualities and bad ones than to learn the Manner of their Encampments and the Number of the Battles which they have won or lost All Histories contain the Actions of Men and the Principal is to know these Men to instruct others for Histories do generally rather divert than instruct Men. These will teach thee better what thou art to learn than the Historians themselves Christian Authors are at present like the Elements always in War and ever contrary to one another and never agreeing These Two above-mentioned Friends who are now very old Men have served King Henry above Thirty Years and ever held a strict Correspondency with one another One was his Barber and the other's Business was to divert him with reading to him when he was going to Rest That which is related of Henry's coming into the World without weeping is certainly a Fable but it is certain the Queen of Navarr his Mother sung a French Song in the Time of his Birth whereby this Princess seemed to shew other Women that 't is possible to be brought to Bed without Crying out The first Milk which this Royal Babe drank was an Ambrosia which the Gods of our Friend the Poet Oglou never tasted His Father made him drink in a Golden Cup of the strongest Wine that could be gotten wherein he put and squeezed a Clove of Garlick which he thought proper to strengthen his Temperament and render him more vigorous He was afterwards bred up like Cyrus spending his first Days in Woods and oftentimes in the Company of Sheepherds He went always with his Head bare whether exposed to the scorching Heats of the Summers Sun or during Winter to the Rain and most rigorous Frosts Snow and Hail It seems as if he had began his Life in Prison being confined to the Fields distant from all Converse clad in coarse Hair-cloth to accustom his Body to Fatigues and souple his Spirit to the Accidents of Fortune He was but Nine Years old when he lost his Father Anthony King of Navarr The Death of this Prince may serve for a Lesson to Mustapha for having received his Death's Wound at the Siege of a considerable Place he made the Wall of the Chamber where he lay to be broken down that he might be carried into his own Bed dying as it were in Triumph into the Town miserable Ambition of Great Men who strip not themselves of it till Death strips them of their Lives Seven Years after the Death of Anthony the Young Henry was declared Head and Defender of the Hugonot Party and when Eighteen Years old he was in a considerable Fight but 't is not well known whether he himself was engaged Fortune was so contrary to him
in the Beginning that having lost a Battle he was obliged to fly for Six Months together with the rest of his Army and to traverse almost throughout all the Provinces of the Kingdom without taking any Rest for Fear of being surprized Thou hast never read I believe of any Captain that made a Flight of that durance before him The Queen his Mother being a Woman of a masculine Courage and Firmness of Mind dyed poysoned by a pair of Gloves At Nineteen Years of Age he married the King's Sister who then Reigned named Charles IX and never any Wedding was solemnized with such bloody Tragedies 'T is hard to believe what an infinite Number of Hugonots was then massacred the Design was secretly laid during the Celebration of the Wedding and executed Six Days after at full Noon 'T is said that in one Day all France was died with the Blood of these poor People there being at least an Hundred thousand of them slain amongst which were Twenty Lords of great Consideration with the Great Admiral of the Kingdom and at the fewest Four thousand Soldiers massacred in Paris Henry did not perish on that unhappy Day but he was very near Death and the King having called him thus spake to him with an angry Tone and fierce Countenance Henry thou art alive because I would spare thee but I will not spare thee if thou persistest in thy Heresy Choose one of these two things either the Mass or Death If thou knowest not what the Mass is I will shew thee in another Letter This Prince chose to go to Mass rather than to lose his Life and therefore publickly abjured the Religion he professed These two old Men affirm That Nero or Caligula's Court were never corrupted as that of France was then No People were more in Fashion than Buffoons and never did the worst sort of Debaucheries so abound Sorceries Empoysonings Assassinations and all other Sorts of Crimes were permitted in such a Manner that all the Laws and good Order seem'd to be overthrown 'T is not known whether the King of Navarr took up his former Religion through Policy or some Corruption he saw amongst the Catholicks however he return'd some Time after to Calvinism whereunto he was so obstinately addicted that having lived several Years in this Sect he was forced to offer great Violence to himself to enjoy peaceably the Kingdom of France and accommodate himself with the Pope of Rome and to make again publick Profession of the Roman Religion Never any Prince more loved Women than he did This Passion prevailed over him all the Days of his Life and there were Two different Natures observable in his Person An Invincible Courage in the Field and such a Passion for Women as made him be often seen to Weep amongst them He has had greater Weaknesses than Hercules and he gloried in them He challenged the bravest Man in all France the Duke of Guise to a single Fight but the King interposed his Authority to hinder the Combat This King performed an Action during his Youth which our Dervises would have certainly set down in their Registers as greatly remarkable On a certain Day wherein he was to fight a pitched Battle being on Horseback in the midst of his Army he made publick Reparation to a young Woman whom he had deflowred and spake in these Terms I have forced this Woman you see here and used Threats when Entreaties would not bring her to my Lust Let all that hear me detest the bad Example I have given And as for your part whom I have thus wronged choose an Husband and receive from me such a Portion as may seem in some sort an Amends for the Injury I have done you It seems as if this so laudable an Action was approved of by Heaven for having immediately hereupon given Battle he overthrew a mighty Army with a few Troops The Ladies who bore Henry no Ill-will for his Tenderness to their Sex greatly interessed themselves in the Affairs of War wherein this Prince was always Head of the Hugonot Party and they gave Occasion to a Proverb which lasted a great while There being some who were for making a Peace and others for War This War was called The Ladies War This Prince had been in so many Fights that I believe one may truly say in this particular never any Prince came near him For who ever in one Day was in two Battles and came off victorious King Charles IX dying during this Time the Queen-Mother sent for her other Son in great Diligence who had been elected some Months before King of Poland by the Death of Sigismond Augustus 'T is said that Charles's Successor having been advertised of the Death of the King his Brother fled in the Night from Cracovia only with Two Persons who were his Confidents and retired to Venice and 't is said That the Courtisans of this famous City having assured the Crown to our Henry for having been infected with this Distemper which the French call the Neapolitan Disease and other Nations the French-Pox he became incapable of having Children to perpetuate the Crown in the Branch of Valois After his Death which was violent and perpetrated by a Christian Dervise Henry III. dying without an Heir and his Throne being sought by different Pretenders Henry to whom alone his Birth had given Right became Master of it by his Patience his Fatigues in War and his Courage made him vanquish all Obstacles He maintained his Right with an unparallel'd Valour and carried himself with the greatest Prudence yet his greatest Successes are owing to the Greatness of his Heart He met sometimes with Disadvantage but oftner came out Conqueror from all Engagements and 't is observable he was the prouder after the Battles won because he had before appeared extraordinary familiar with the Souldiers who had helped him to win them He was wont to be often in his Stables to see his Horses and often slept amongst these Creatures whom he termed his most faithful Courtiers How difficult soever the way was which was to lead him to the Throne he would not be disheartned these Difficulties serving only to increase his Courage He saw the Spaniards confederated with his Enemies yet he alone without any other Assistance but of some few faithful Troops sate down before Paris which was the most famous Siege since that of Jerusalem by Titus He reduced the Inhabitants of this Capital of the Kingdom to live on the most abject Meats one can imagin after they had consumed the Rats Mice Dogs and Cats which were for some time the richest Delicacies the best People of the Town could meet with But he was for all this after he had given several Assaults forced to raise the Siege and accommodate himself with the Prince who commands all the Priests amongst the Catholicks and he again renounced Calvinism wherewith he was infected and which served as a Pretence to his Enemies He was crown'd in the same manner his
am troubled at the being so far from my Friends and Country and at my being banish'd into an Enemy's Country where I must live like a Man that is in continual Fear amongst People who seem to matter nothing Thou art now above 50 Years of Age and I not above 32 and yet I know thou reflectest not much hereupon thinking thou hast still a long time to live Thou art of a strong Constitution art a lover of Pleasures searching them every where without any thoughts of Death who will spare thee no more than others whose Health is decayed for he comes taking great strides towards us all Thou art very fortunate I must needs say â—n conserving in a Body so near Old Age a young Man's Spirit which is far from my Disposition For when thou art in pursuit of Divertisements I am continually thinking of Death because I believe I have lived too long Should the King or Cardinal near whom I live know this Night that Mahmut who writes to thee is one of the Grand Seignior's Spies I should lose my Life perhaps before the next Light yet the fear of such an Adventure gives me no Disquiet having entirely sacrificed my self to the Master I serve who commands all Men on the Earth Should these Barbarians put me to Death I shall only finish a little sooner that course which I must certainly one day put an end to and if I live I shall have neither Recompence to expect nor Pain to apprehend Here is much talk about the Duke of Lorrain yet there has been more done against him than said The French affirm that in stripping this Prince of his Countries he has been very mercifully dealt with for Justice required more There are on the contrary other People who do not believe it is possible to do a greater plece of Injustice In fine every man speaks after his manner 'T is said moreover that this Sovereign being come again into the King's Favour who had given him a Thousand Testimonies of good Will after what had passed in 1634 when this Court had great reasons to complain of his Conduct he drew down again afresh the Indignation of France upon him by a Fault which cannot be excused I think this Duke had concluded two Treaties that Year promising a Submission and eternal Obedience He had the Honour to dine with the King and having rendred him Homage for the Dutchy of Bar he again threw himself into the Arms of the Austrians although he had sworn on the Gospels a Book as much respected amongst the Christians as the Alcoran is among the True Faithful That he would never forsake the Interests of France what Wars soever she might find that he would be perpetually fix'd to the Interests of that Crown and never hold any Correspondence with the House of Austria In consideration of which Lewis should re-establish this Prince in his Estates which he was to surrender entirely bating some Places and the Capital called Nanci which he would retain during the War as a Pledge for the performance of what he had sworn to and which yet was to be given up after the Conclusion of the Peace 'T is added That this Sovereign having occasion to complain of the Spanish Ministers and the Grandees of this Nation who carry on the War in Flanders he had written to the Cardinal Infant Governor of the Low-Countries a Letter to this purpose and very near in these Words The King of Frante having required me to joyn my self with my Troops to his Army near Sedan I would not obey this puissant King much less your Higness seeing the Towns subject to the Spaniards treat me as if I were an Enemy The Ladies have had a great part in this Accommodation of the Duke of Lorrain which has had like all the Works of Women a direful Event This Prince being become amorous of a French Lady was for repudiating his lawful Princess to whom he owes all his Estate beginning to separate from her that he might give himself entirely to the Countess of Cantecroix whom he used as his real Wife Good People are sorry for this Prince's Disgrace as believing his Condition to be past Remedy The devout part say That having been unjustly deprived of his Estates God will work Miracles in his Favour considering no less than Three Hundred Saints as they say have been of his Family which must needs reconcile him to the Favour of Heaven amongst which is the famons Godfrey of Bullen who won Jerusalem and all Palestine from the Saracens whom we must own to have been a great Man whether we consider his Courage or Zeal for his Religion which ought to make his Memory famous to all Ages I can tell thee nothing more certain on this Subject having endeavoured to be informed of what I write to thee to satisfie thy Curiosity and whatever I now recite has past in France with little Noise or rather with great Silence as to me for indeed I must with shame confess that I have scarce heard in Paris this Event so famous throughout all Europe Man has nothing but what comes from Heaven and commonly the strongest when he has Right on his side subdues the weak and enriches himself with his Spoils By the Law of Nature every one has Right of judging his own Necessities and the Greatness of the Danger wherein he finds himself and if it be contrary to Reason I should be Judge of my own Danger 't is reasonable another should be so But the same Reason which establishes another Judge of what concerns me has made me his Judge and consequently gives me Authority to judge of the Sentence which he shall give against me and to decide whether it be just when 't is favourable to me or unjust if it be contrary to my Interests Nature has given all to Men and thou and I and all men have an equal Right to all things and hence we have Power to do whatever we will to possess and enjoy what we think is fitting and yet such an extensive Right is just as if we had Right to nothing For at the same time I have Right to a thing which pleases me another stronger than my self by virtue of the same Right takes it from me and enjoys it in spight of me Hence it is that one man invades another with the same Right with which he defends himself whence do and will spring up always the occasions of Jealousies and Discords which are amongst men which make them at continual Defiance with one another and keeps them in a continual Watchfulness over their Neighbours 'T is this Liberty founded in Nature which makes it lawful in time of War to resist and invade not only by open Force but with all the secret Arts and Stratagems as can be devised and when a man would avoid the Danger he is in in fighting and has his Enemy in his hands he has right to use all means to avoid him and secure himself from him
thy Departure and when thou shalt arrive at the Place of thy Retreat forget not thy faithful Friend Mahmut who wishes thou maist prove an happpy Tutor to the Son of a Prince and a faithful Minister of a wise Emperor Paris 18th of the Second Moon of the Year 1639. The End of the Second Book LETTERS Writ by A Spy at PARIS BOOK III. LETTER I. To Muslu Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire SCARCE had I finisht my Letter to Egri Boynou when News came from the Coasts of Provence of so extraordinary and scandalous an Event that I cannot but inform thee who art a wise and experienced Person of it and because I would have thee set it down in the Sacred Register-Books of the Empire of which thou hast the Charge Assam Bassa a Corsary of Algiers dyed at the Age of 40 Years the Relation of whose Death was attended with such horrid Circumstances that even the Enemies of the Alcoran do detest them 'T is said That being sensible he was near his End he caused two young Christian Slaves to be strangled who were nobly descended and for whose Ransom great Sums of Money might have been expected without alledging any reason for his Cruelty nay after he had confessed he had no cause of Complaint against them having observ'd from certain Tokens in their Countenances that they were of a sweet Disposition and inclined by Nature to be Faithful When he was laying out there was found a kind of fine Scarf about him with these Words embroidered on it in Letters of Gold Asam Bassa will have the handsomest of his Slaves to be buried alive with him being desirous of good Company in his Voyage into the other World The Report of so terrible an Adventure has increased the hatred of the French against us and that in so excessive a manner that I am forced to keep my self concealed lest I should by my Zeal discover my self being not able to endure the Blasphemies of our Enemies There 's no question but this cruel Monster is kept by the Black Angels in the other World God grant that so horrid a Crime may not corrupt the rest of Africk However may I be so free as to counsel you Let the Body of this Impious Wretch Assam be dug up and burnt and his Ashes thrown into the Sea to drown the Memory of him Mahmut salutes thee from the Town of the Universe the fullest of Noise and wishes thee at Constantinople or wherever else thou art a long sequel of happy Years and after Death the enjoyment of the bliss of our hundred twenty four thousand Prophets Paris 18th of the Moon of the Year 1639. LETTER II. To the Invincible Vizir Azem at the Camp under Babylon BEfore I give thee an Account Great and Magnanimous Vizir of whatever I have done to satisfie the Curiosity of Cardinal Richlieu I am obliged to tell thee how I spend my leisure Hours 'T is impossible I should observe exactly the Motions of this Court without following it and holding a Correspondence with People of all sorts as Tradesmen Soldiers Scholars Sea-men Politicians and even Musicians The Court consists of all these Professions and there are some particular Persons who are Masters of all these Sciences of which number is Cardinal Richlieu He is not content with this his Knowledge but seeks still for further Light in the Commerce of all Persons of Merit who arrive here neglecting nothing which may enrich this Kingdom with new discoveries in Arts and Sciences out of love to his Country and desire to render his Ministry more famous Thou seest by this Invincible Bassa that to keep company with Courtiers who have so many different Qualities a Man must have some for his share that he may say something in his Turn and not be always a bare Hearer of other People's Discourse For this purpose the particular Study to which I applied my self whilst I was a Slave in Sicily does much help me though not sufficiently 'T was Books I read in this Island not Men. Now knowing my Business required much Dissimulation an Awakened Mind an Especial Prudence Eloquence and Learning to speak properly in Occasions great Reading to obtain the Knowledge of Ancient and Modern Things a Refined Policy to discover or conceal ones self and to counterfeit sometimes a mighty honest Man nothing I say appeared to me more conducing to this purpose than the turning over Histories And therefore I have earnestly applyed my self to this Work And because few Books are not sufficient and a great many breeds confusion I have happily got Admission into the Acquaintance of an Ancient Learned Man whose Study consists of none but choice Books and has travelled over most Parts of the World not like Apollonius to learn the Language of Birds and Beasts but to know the Customs Laws Virtues and Defects of Nations I was first for informing my self of all the Prodigies which the God of the Jews has done in favour of that ungrateful People I afterwards enquired into the Life and Doctrin of the Messias whom the Christians Worship I also lookt into what had been done considerable at Athens and Sparta Thebes Rome and Carthage and carefully remarkt what Divinities were adored in those so famous Places and found that the Great Philosophers and Captains who made such a Noise about their Religions had at Bottom none at all Having run over what the Christians call the Old and New Testament the Histories of Josephus Xenophon Polybius Thucydides Livius and Tacitus my greatest Application has been and shall be for the future to read and meditate on the Works of the Great Plutarch especially his Lives of Illustrious Greeks and Romans related by him with so great Exactness And thus far have I arrived in this short space and here I have stopt I have learnt by the reading of Plutarch to amuse the Cardinal Richlieu to whom I offered my self two days ago and have put into his Hands the following Discourse made after the manner of Christians and have stript my self if a man may so speak of the Manner and Style of the Turks as I have done of their Habits the better to disguise Titus the Faithful Slave of the Great Amurath Great Cardinal and most Sage Minister of the greatest Christian Kings Titus of Moldavia is come to wait on you according to your Commands not to entertain you with the Riches of Asia nor in what manner by the Wisdom of your Counsels and Forces of the King your Soveraign you may destroy the mighty Turkish Empire of whom you have no reason to complain but to tell you what seems most agreeable to the Greatness of your Genius Know then Sage Moderator of the French Monarch that I shall not offer any thing which may make you hate me and repent of believing me seeing what I propose is an easie Enterprize and full of Glory Thy King has a Son who will one day inherit the Greatness and Authority of his