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
Ceremonies and proud Titles of the Eastern People What is represented here is in a familiar Style such as the Ancient Latins used in their Writings to their Consuls Dictators and Emperors themselves And if the Translation be not Elegant as the Arabick do not accuse the Author seeing it is not possible to reach the Force and Beauty of the Original Have moreover some Respect for the Memory of this Mahometan for living unknown he was safe from the Insults of the Great Ones so that he might write Truth without Danger which ordinarily is disguised by Fear or Avarice having still reported the Transactions of Christians with no less Truth than Eloquence If what I have said cannot satisfie the Curious expect the rest of these Letters which will be found full of great Actions profitable Instructions and good Morals Thank God however who raises Men that employ themselves in vanquishing Ignorance and Idleness and in rendring Justice to Mahmut a passionate Slave for the Interest of his Master and the Truth Have some Goodness for the Translator who being born free acknowledges no Master but God his King and his Reason A TABLE OF THE LETTERS and Matters contained in this Volume BOOK I. LETTER I. MAhmut an Arabian and the Grand Seignior's Vilest Slave to Hasnadarbassy Chief Treasurer to his Highness at Constantinople p 1. Of the Arrival of Mahmut at Paris Description of the Place His Disguisement and Manner of living amongst the Christians II. To the same Hasnadarbassy 4 Of the Isles of St. Margaret and Honorat taken by the Spaniards and of the Archbishop of Bordeaux III. To Darnish Mehemet Bassa 6 Touching the Te Deum and the Rejoycings of the French for the Victory of Leucate 8 IV. To Isuf his Kinsman He exhorts him to love God his Religion and the Grand Seignior V. To the Aga of the Janizaries 9 Of the taking of Breda of Marquiss Spinola He exhorts him to read History VI. To Mehemet an Eunuch Page of the Sultan Mother 11 He recommends to him his Interests at the Port. Of a Prodigy which happened in Germany and of an English Ship VII To the Invincible Vizir Azem 12 Of the Queen of France's Barrenness Of the Court the Genius of the French and Affairs of Africk VIII To Muslu Reis Effendi the Chief Secretary of the Ottoman Empire 17 Of his Manner of living and of the Town of Paris IX To the Mufti Prince of the Religion of the Turks 20 Touching Religion X. To the Kaimakam 23 Of the Pictures of the King of France Cardinal Richlieu and Prince of Conde's Son XI To Bedredin Superior of the Convent of the Dervises of Cogny in Natolia 26 Of the Conversation he had with a Jesuit touching the Mahometan Religion XII To Chiurgi Muhammet Bassa 33 Of the Queen of France's being with Child XIII To Carcoa at Vienna 36 He sends him Three Pictures and asks of him Necessaries XIV To William Vospel a Christian of Austria 37 Touching the Death of his Wife and on the Design he had of retiring into a Convent of Carmelites XV. To Ibrahim that renounced the Christian Religion 41 That one should not write Falsities touching Religion XVI To Dicheu Hussein Bassa 42 Of the everlasting Wars amongst Christians Of Gustavus King of Swedeland and Weymar's Victories XVII To Ahmet Beig 45 Of Italy of the House of Savoy and of the War which the Spaniards and French made in Piemont XVIII To Berber Mustapha Aga. 48 Of the Death of Marshal de Crequy of Magick and of the Fort of Breme XIX To Murat Bassa 53 Of Madam de Savoy the Cardinal de Valette Of Vercelle and of the Duke of Rohan XX. To Dgnet Oglou 57 Of his Captivity at Palermo and his Employment XXI To the Kaimakan 63 Of Piemont and of a Conspiracy discovered at Genoa XXII To the same 67 Of the Siege of Fontarabia Of the Prince of Conde and of the Loss of several Spanish Vessels XXIII To Afiâ— Bassa 70 Of a Diet held at Stockholm where 't was determined to continue the War with Germany and the French Design on St. Omers XXIV To the Kaimakam 71 Of the French Armies their Progress and of Cardinal Richlieu XXV To the same 73 Of the Queens drawing near her time of Casimir taken Prisoner XXVI To the same 75 Of the King of Poland's Travels into Hungary and Germany XXVII To Kerker Hassan Bassa 76 Of Amurath's Exploits on the Frontiers of Persia and of the Death of Two great Personages XXVIII To the Kaimakan 79 Of the Birth of the Dauphin XXIX To the Capitan or Captain Bassa 82 Of a Sea-Fight between the French and Spaniards XXX To the Captain Bassa 85 Of the Galleys of Malta BOOK II. LETTER I. TO the Captain Bassa 87 Mahmut reproaches him with the Intelligence he held with the Emperor of Germany's Secretary II. To the same 90 Of the Galleys the Barbarians lost III. To the same 94 He discovers the Means of surprizing Loretto IV. To the Kaimakam 97 He discourses of the Ministers of Foreign Princes and of the Affairs of Vallone and Loretto V. To the same 101 Touching the setting at liberty the old Renegado Durlu VI. To the same 104 Of the War of Piemont Misfortunes of the House of Savoy of the Duke of Saxony of the taking of Brisac by the Duke of Wimar VII To the same 109 Of the Duke of Lorrain Affairs of Germany Swedeland and Alsatia VIII To Melec Amet. 114 Of the Disgrace of Stridya Bey and of another Adventure IX To the same 118 Of a particular Accident that happened to a Son that rejoyced at the News of his Father's Sickness X. To Enguruli Emin Cheik a Man of the Law 121 Of the King's Goodness to an ancient Father of a Family that would needs turn Souldier in his old Age c. XI To Cara Hali a Physician 125 Of the Mountains of Sicily and Naples which cast forth perpetual Flames Of the Nature of these Flames and of their Effects XII To the Venerable Mufti c. 128 On Religion on some of his scruples and touching the Alcoran XIII To the Kaimakan 131 Of a Man that was sent as a Spy to the Court of Rome by Cardinal Richlieu and of other Matters XIV To Egry Boynou the white Eunuch 135 Touching the Life of Henry IV. XV. To the Invincible Vizir Azem 149 Mahmut's Conference with Cardinal Richlieu touching the Affairs of Jerusalem XVI To the same 155 Of the Dauphin of France and the Sultan's Voyage to Babylon XVII To Bechir Bassa Chief Treasurer to the Grand Signior 156 Of a pleasant and dangerous Adventure which happened to Mahmut and of the Jew Eliachim XVIII To Carcoa of Vienna 160 Mahmut sends word that he has lost the Money he sent him and how XIX To Dgnet Oglou 161 A Relation of the Life of Birkabeb and of a Persian Prince XX. To Egry Boynou an Eunuch 164 Remains of the Life of Henry the Great BOOK III. LETTER I. TO Muslu Reis
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
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
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
Children and hinder them from devouring one another That he would cause sharp Nails and Rasors to be fastened to the Seats where the Judges sate that those who suffered themselves to be corrupted might sit thereon and indeed in this particular I cannot but wonder at the Christians Blindness We see oftentimes decided in one only Campaign the Differences of Two great States but a Suit in Law for Twenty Sequins shall often last a Mans whole Life and perhaps be entailed on his Heirs But hear a remarkable Example of the Sincerity of this Sovereign There were who would have perswaded him to have apprehended the Duke of Savoy who came to Paris to terminate some Differences he had with him He answered those that advised him with this That Francis I. one of his Predecessors had learnt him A Prince was more obliged to do what he had promised than to obtain what he desired that 't was in his Power to have apprehended a Prince far more considerable but would not do it suffering the Emperor Charles V. to pass out of his Kingdom who had come therein on his Word after this added he shall Henry give such an Example to Princes If the Duke of Savoy has often broke his Word with me it does not therefore follow I must imitate him Crimes can never be authorised by Examples The same Duke of Savoy having asked him What Revenue he drew from his Kingdom He answered him in these Terms I draw as much as I will because I make my self beloved whence it is that my Subjects count all our Estates are common He answered very pleasantly to a Prince's Envoy who came with a Complement of Condoleance for the Death of his Son who had been dead near a Year That he was no longer grieved at that Loss seeing God had given him Two more since A Captain of great Reputation having said That the Kings Liberalities tho several Times reiterated could not oblige him to love him Henry sent him Word He would heap so many Favours on him that he would force him at last He oft used this Proverb That more Flyes are taken with a Drop of Hony than a Tun of Vinegar A Monk entertaining him one Day about Military Affairs Open your Breviary Father said he and shew me where you learnt these fine Lessons One Day a Taylor presenting him with a Book of Politicks he said to the Chancellor who was there present Monsieur Chancellor cut me out a Suit of Cloths here 's a Taylor who understands your Trade and tells me how I shall govern my Kingdom One Day when the Pope's Nuncio was at a great Feast where there were between Twenty and Thirty Ladies of great Beauty he told this Prelate He had been in several Battels but never found himself in so great Danger before Nothing seems more agreeable than the Answer he made to the Provost of the Merchants of Paris who was urgent with him to consent to an Impost which was to be laid on the Fountains of the Town to furnish the Expence of Forty Deputies of the Switzers who came into France to renew their ancient Alliance with this Kingdom and his Answer was That this Magistrate should find some other Expedient than to change Water into Wine which was a Miracle that never any Body wrought but Jesus Christ who is as thou knowest the Christian's Saviour and for thy further Instruction 't is necessary for thee to know The Switzers love Wine above all Things in the World and that not without Reason This Prince went to the Wars at the Age of Fifteen and at Seventeen killed an Enemy and in the Year following he saved the Life of one of his Captains and had his Horse killed under him He was in Five Battles and in more than an hundred Combats and at the Siege of above Two hundred Places He sustained Seven different Wars in which his Enemies aknowledged that he had Fifty five Armies upon him at several Times and in different Places and always obtained some considerable Advantage Those that have given him the Term of Great have given him his true Name He was highly esteemed by all Nations and thou knowest very well that our Sultans tho the mightiest Monarchs in the Universe have admired this great Prince's Fortune and Valour Above Fifty Historians have written his Life above Five hundred Poets have published his Praises I will leave thee at present the Liberty of comparing this King with those whom thou wilt choose from amongst the Hero's If Mahomet XI has not done more than him he may be compared to him in Warlike Actions with this Difference That King Henry conquered the Gauls who were of his Patrimony and Mahomet conquered Twelve Kingdoms and an Empire because he was perswaded that all the Earth belonged to him Henry subdued the City of Paris and Mahomet made himself Master of Constantinople The King of France left an infinite Number of Marks behind him of his Grandure on Marble and in the Writings of famous Authors and Mahomet left only on his Tomb those which shewed what he had designed to execute but never could do it which was to take Rhodes and subdue proud Italy We must also acknowledg there was never found in any Mahometan Prince the admirable Clemency of Henry shewing himself herein greater than in vanquishing his Enemies Contrary to Mahomet who shewed only great Kindness to an Ox whom he caused to be carefully fed because he would never forsake the Tomb of his Master whom this Prince had killed abiding always by it and expressing his Sorrow by horrible Bellowings In all other Occasions he was very cruel far from the Humor of this French King who heapt Benefits on those who drew Blood of him Mahomet by a barbarous Cruelty caused the Bellies of Twenty of his innocent Pages to be ript open to discover him that had eaten a Melon in his Garden Henry was a great Lover of Ladies and an extream Admirer of that Sex and Mahomet jealous of the too great Beauty of his Mistriss cut off her Head himself in a full Divan And farther if Mahomet gave in the East a great Example of Justice in putting his own Son to Death for deflowring the Daughter of the Bassa Achmet in a Bath Henry gave a greater in his own Person in repairing at the Head of his Army the Outrage offered to a young Girl from whom he could not fear any vexatious Consequences Be sure however be silent in these Judgments I make and shew thy self discreet if thou intendest to hold any Correspondence with me Imitate the Bees gather from so many Flowers presented thee what appears to thee sweetest and most proper to form Mustapha's Mind and supple his Spirit like Wax I could relate to thee more Things touching this Henry but there 's no Necessity of writing all that thou maist have space to imagine what such a Prince might have done who had re-established his Fortune by his Valour alone Let me know of
served thee to acquire the Affection of these Two Husbands which thou knewest how to keep by thy Complacencies and blind Obedience to their Wills and by such a prudent Carriage as one may say thou wouldst force them to love thee hadst thou not done it by the Charms of thy Beauty But what shall we do in this thy Extream Affliction and in the troublesome Condition I am for the Grief thou endurest which mingles my Ink with my Tears Yet we must endeavour to be comforted with a firm Resolution not to afflict our selves but at the Loss of such things which will never be in our power to recover Thou at the loss of the Reputation which thou hast acquired of a Vertuous Woman and I at that of an Honest Man When my Father dyed 't was not all the Philosophy nor Eloquence of the Greeks which could comfort thee thy Affliction was stronger than all their Reasons and when those officious Comforters had forsaken thee thou soughtest Ease to thy Trouble in a new Spouse Him now thou hast lost but now thou art still in a Condition of hindring this Loss from being irreparable Thy Vertue has never been questioned and thou art not as yet so old but thou mayst think of another Husband Seek a Third which may make thee forget thy Sorrow for the second And if thou findest him not immediately or if thou hadst some trouble in seeking a like Comfort to thy Affliction receive in this Letter the Tears of another Mother which will shew thee there is a Woman of a far higher Condition that is more afflicted than thou art Paris is still full of the Cries and Sighs which come from a Princess of the First Rank She has now lost a great Prince her Son who is slain in a Battel which he had won by a strong Army of which he was General Read in my Letter the lively and tender Expressions of the Grief of this illustrious Mother which draw Compassion from his Enemies who are forced by the Rules of Civility to make her Visits Thus does she speak every day and hour to Persons who come to visit her and when there 's no body she thus speaks to her self This unfortunate Woman is not a Moment without sighing and one would think by her Language she intended to recall the Soul which has quitted the Body of her Son the unhappy Count of Soissons Poor Count a Son so tenderly loved and so greatly deserved it where is thy Body now to be found dyed in bloud and in that of the Enemies What Victory Where are those Glorious Marks that should give me so great Joy and which give me such Cause of Despair Why did I bring thee forth into the World unfortunate Son if I must so soon lose thee Miserable Mother Vnhappy Son How art thou a Conqueror when I see no other Trophy of thy Victory than thy Death I hear from all Parts that the Count is Victorious and yet I hear every where that his Enemies rejoyce I see dear Son all thy Domesticks that followed thee return without Wounds and yet I do not see their Master None of them can tell me where he is and in what place their General lies who fought with so great Valour and Success to his Party But they are all agreed the Battel was won that my Son is a Conqueror and that he has lost his Life Vnfortunate Fight which has made equally bewayled the Death of the Victorious General by his Mother and the Defeat by the vanquished Would to God thou hadst been vanquished thou mightest have lived I should not have bin in this condition of following thee 'T would have been no Shame to have been defeated it would have been only a Misfortune which would have been common to thee with Pompey and Hannibal to whom Antiquity had nothing to impute but their ill Fortune A sincere Reconciliation a Pardon or a Peace might make all that is past forgotten A voluntary Exile might have appeased the King's Anger and perhaps disarm'd the Cardinal my Son might have liv'd France would not have been troubled a Mother would not have been at this day comfortless and the Count 's Enemies would not have rejoyced at his Loss But to my Grief nothing of this has hapned Alas the Stay of aâ— Illustrious Family is dead unhappy Mother how are all thy Hopes vanished but good God how was this my dear Son taken out of the World I know but too well that his Enemies laid continually Snares for him Methinks I see my Son's Murtherers give him the deadly stroak in the Heat of the Fight and in the instant he was going to enjoy his Victory Ah! my dear Son Ah! unfortunate Mother why did not I breath out my last on the dead body of this Son so worthy the Esteem of all the World and whom I so dearly loved Why didst not thou too powerful Minister give me the Mortal Blow rather than let me see so sad a Tragedy Do you kill me that hear me or thou my Son give me thy Hand to descend into the Grave where thou art to be buried But my Reason fails me I must for my Son's Honour stifle these Motions of Weakness 't is true he lives no longer but he dyed in the Bed of Honour with his Sword in his Hand he dyed full of Glory he dyed Victorious and even in dying vanquished his Enemies Let us cease from shedding Tears but what do I say he dyed assassinated a Victim sacrificed to the Vengeance of his Enemies by the blackest Treason 't is clear and yet I would live No I must dye let us imitate the Greatness and Courage of those illustrious Women who threw themselves on the Pile whereon their Husâ—ands were burnt My Son is more dear to me let â—s then dye and weep no more These Tears are fruitâ—ess but let us live seeing Heaven ordains it and â—et us live to dye every day I shall have ever present â—efore mine Eyes the Death of my Son I shall see every day his bloudy Body I shall continually remember his â—espects his Tenderness for me and I shall never forget â—he tender and violate Passion which I had for this Son for whom alone I lived but at least cruel Cardinal restore me his dead Body thou hast thy Revenge he is no longer alive give this sad Consolation to a desolate Mother perhaps this Sight will work the Effect thou desirest cruel Wretch as thou â—rt it will unite my Soul to that of my Son Dear Mother if thou canst not comfort thy self by so great an Example of Misfortune to this Princess it will be hard for thy Son to say any thing which can diminish thy Grief Imitate this illustrious Woman who having suffered whatever Sorrow and Despair can do to a Mother who loves vehemently and with Reason suffers her self to be perswaded not to give en entire Victory to her Enemies who triumph still over her Son by the Grief which they see his
Liberty to ask of thee If the King of Portugal accepted the Combat and killed the Duke of Medina which of the two would have been declared Infamous Whether there be any Certainty in the Decisions made by Arms I am willing to think Justice is on the Side of the Conqueror But if on the contrary the Event of the Duel be uncertain I take it to be a foolish thing for the Duke to expose himself and thus Affront the King his Brother-in law In short the Duke's Prudence is not to be admired in this Occasion and Braganza has had the Advantage on his Side seeing he has shewed by his Conduct that he is effectually King of Portugal I cannot but call these Christians Fools who suffer such Customs among them and yet adore a Messias who is a God of Peace and who calls us Barbarians when they are the only People that teach us and all other Nations the Arts of single Combats which is the most pernicious Custom that can be introduced amongst Men who cut one anothers Throats oftentimes on slight Occasions and become Prodigals of that Treasure with which the Immortal has intrusted them Neither can I any more approve of Kings and Princes of the same Beliefs making War with one another as we see every Day amongst those who profess the Christian Religion which yet as far as I can find scarcely permits any Wars but such as are Defensive Pardon this tedious Letter excuse my Conjectures in it and honour me with thy Commands which will be respected by me as so many Obligations Paris 25th of the 6th Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER XXV To the Invincible Vizir Azem at Constantinople WE hear of nothing now-a-days but Wars and Conspiracies Seditions Treasons Infidelities and Revolutions of State and it is in the Kingdoms of Vice wherein these Plagues of Heaven make these Disorders I mean in the Christians Countries Infidelity reigns amongst the People of Catalonia England and Portugal the Revolutions which have hapned in Barcellona have no Example the Defiance or the Challenge of a Subject to a King as is that of the Duke of Sidonia to the King of Portugal as his Brother-in-law and his Enemy does equally surprize all the World We have reason to think that God is angry with the Christians when we consider Flanders Germany Italy and the Frontiers of Spain pestered with Wars which they make one against another The Animosity of most of the great People of France against the Cardinal Favourite enduces them to lay Plots against his Life whence we may see that great Places are good for nothing but to expose men to great Dangers The last Conspiracy discovered against the Life of D. John IV. of Portugal raised to the Throne by the Nobility and betrayed by the same Nobility not by the whole Body of them but by a small Number of those who had taken an Oath of Fidelity to him as well as the rest does plainly shew us That there is nothing in this World whereon a Man may rely with any Certainty and that here are many People who undertake just Actions by the Motions of an unjust and turbulent Spirit which cannot suffer Things to remain long in a quiet State and aspire continually after Change and to whom every Thing is good that is new I shall relate to thee in few Words this last Event Thou hast been informed of the others by the Letters I have written to thee Invincible General of the Ottamon Armies and Steward of the Emperour's Laws who is the Soveraign of Soveraigns and by those which the Kaimacam and the Bassas have received from me who are obliged to give thee an Account of whatever comes to their Knowledge Several of the great ones in Portugal and amongst them some of the new King's Kindred hatched a Conspiracy against him and resolved to put the Kingdom again into the Spaniard's Hands and entirely ruin the Family of Braganza The principal Author of the Conspiracy was D. Sebastian de Mattos Archbishop of Brague the Count Duke d' Olivarez's Creature to whom he owed his Fortune The chief who conspired with this Seditious Priest were the Marquis de Ville Reale and the Count d' Armamar these two Men of great Birth and Credit soon drew several others into their Party some by the Hope of Recompences and others through Weariness of obeying their new Sovereign or weary with the new Form of State which they thought might change to their Advantage They long held a secret Intelligence with the Catholick King 's Council who promised them all possible Assistance for the Execution of their Design and after that infinite Recompences This Conspiracy was to produce a dreadful Tragedy wherein all the Bloud of the Royal House and Family of Braganza was to be spilt The King was to be the first Victim with his Children and the Queen his Wife D. Duart also was to be put to Death who was kept close Prisoner in the Castle of Milain A Domestick affectioned to his Master and who was attentive to what past delivered the King and Family of Braganza out of this Danger He was ordinarily employed in secret Intrigues and made frequent Courses into Spain to discover the Designs of the Court of Madrid He met by chance in an Inn a man who seemed of a mean Condition born in the Kingdom of Bohemia with whom having entered into a strict Friendship as it happens usually amongst Travellers he came to discover he was often dispatched by the Catholick King 's principal Minister on Affairs of great Weight and that he expected in a short Time to raise his Fortune to a considerable Pitch being entrusted with Packets of Letters containing Things of the highest Importance to the State The crafty Portuguese soon discerning he might get out Secrets of great Concernment from this imprudent Man for the good of his Master resolved to kill him in a desart Place where they were to pass which he did having first made him drunk with strong Wine Assoon as he had done his Work he stript him and found Letters and Instructions to the Conspirators which he speedily carried to D. John who thereby discovered the whole Conspiracy Others say that D. Alphonso of Portugal Count de Vermissa having been solicited by the Achbishop of Brague who thought he could easily bring him into the Conspiracy being discontented at the King for taking away from him a great Office went to his Soveraign and freely discovered to him the Conspiracy which had been made to deprive him both of his Crown and Life And 't is added That this Count appeared since one of the hottest of the Accomplices till the very Instant wherein they were to execute their Project at which Time they were apprehended and punished as they deserved Others say the Duke of Medina Sidonia the King's Brother-in-law who appeared to the Accomplices to be of the Plot gave notice of it to the King his Brother In fine the Conspirators were executed
of Attendants who aspire to Employs of such as are in Offices and several other Persons who are desirous to be Witnesses of his Actions Those who threaten him in secret do but increase his Courage and make him more carefully stand on his Guard and those who have most Experience of the World affirm this Cardinal knows too much to be surprised Hear the Recital of one of the least of his Actions whereby thou maist figure the greatest and give them the due Price they deserve For Three Years together was observed in this Cardinal's Anti-chamber a Man who was â—ot far advanced in Years and as assiduous to make his Court as he was modest in his Discourse very reserved and patient and which is very rare at Court was never heard to complain The Cardinal who pretends to read the Souls of Men and who is inferior to none perhaps in this Art caused this Person who had so long attended to be called to him and thus spake to him I know who thou art and how long time thou hast spent in observing me although thou outwardly appearest a French-man thy great Patience assures me thou art of another Climate get thee to Rome and wait but half the time in the Pope 's Anti-chamber as thou hast done in mine and I doubt not but thou wilt penetrate into the most hidden Secrets Part then immediately for Italy and observe the Actions and Motions of the Wisest and most Dissimulative Court in the Universe discover not thy self to any body send me an Account every Week what thou canst discover and in this manner thou wilt be useful to me and avoid Idleness My Secretary will give thee a Cypher and my Treasurer has order to give thee what 's necessary for thy Voyage as well as to keep thee when thou art at Rome The Cardinal studies to extend the Bounds of the Kingdom and for that purpose consults those who can any ways advance his Projects especially the King being now certain of a Successor by the Birth of the Dauphin who seems very likely to live long All Hands are employed at Toulon and Marseilles for the fitting out of Galleys and other Vessels and 't is thought the chief Designs of this Minister are on the Coasts of Italy I am told he was heard to say That the Romans could never have conquered all the World as they did had they not before been Masters of Italy That Hannibal had the same Design and after Hannibal Pope Alexander VI. intended to see whether such a Design would take Effect but his Pride and Cruelty made all his Projects prove abortive and that he could meet with greater Success than Hannibal could he be so happy as to obtain one Thing And here he ended his Discourse He so greatly minds whatever passes in the Royal Family and Kingdom that he can discover as he pretends all the Thoughts yea and the very Dreams of the Grandees Governors of Provinces and those that command in Places He says he has learnt several useful Things in the Relation given us of the Government of the Chineses having from them the Way of discovering the most difficult Matters without its appearing he does any Thing for this Purpose And this is the Method of governing he observes in this Kingdom wherein are so many restless Spirits He maintains near all People who are in any considerable Offices Persons that depend only on him and who are known to no body else who in all Places wear mean Cloaths and incessantly watch over the Actions of the Officers and give him notice of whatever passes He makes use of these kind of People about his Master's Embassadors in foreign Courts He always carries a Book about with him which he calls Richlieu's Soul which Book contains the Designs the Interests the secret Practices and Inclinations of all the Princes who hold a Correspondence and have any Tyes with France and on whom France has any Pretensions The most skilful Astrologers in Europe have also sent him the Horoscopes of all the Kings and great Men with their Judgments touching the Term of their Lives and what they may probably undertake in all Times This Cardinal said on another Time That he kept a great many Couriers yet he could well enough spare them That he knew what passed in remote Places as soon as what was done near him He once affirmed he knew in less than Two Hours That the King of England had signed the Warrant for the Execution of ...... If this Particular be true this Minister must be more than a Man Those who are his most devoted Creatures affirm he has in a private place in his Closet a certain Mathematical Figure in the Circumference of which are written all the Letters of the Alphabet armed with a Dart which marks the Letters which are also marked by their Correspondents And it appears that this Dart ripens by the Sympathy of a Stone which those who give and receive his Advices keep always at hand which hath been separated from another which the Cardinal has always by him and 't is affirm'd that with such an Instrument he gives and receives immediately Advices This great Man who knows all these reports only laughs at them yet he says with a serious Air That God has given him Two Angels one White and another Black to inform him of both good and bad Matters and that with their Assistance he shall overthrow the Cabals of his Enemies He sent some Days past a Man to the Gallies that was accused for cutting in pieces the King's Picture but having been better inform'd and knowing t was his he told those about him That this Man should be pardoned because he had done no Hurt to the Original Here are Theaters and Feasts preparing to entertain the People in Honour of the King and Cardinal and 't is whispered that the Queen is again with Child Heaven preserve thee ever from the Sultan's Anger and all other Misfortunes which may sowre the Comforts of thy Life Paris 25th of the first Moon of the Year 1639. LETTER XIV To Egri Boynou the white Eunuch IF thou goest into Prussia in Bithynin as thou writest above all Things remember to prepare thy self not to live long and never to inform the young Sultan Mustapha of the Misfortune of the Grandson to Solyman the Great and Son to poor Bajazet whom his Grandfather caused to be strangled in his Infancy This unhappy place makes me fearful of thy Life as well as that of the Prince's the Care of whose Education is committed to thee I cannot forbear weeping every time I call to mind what passed between the Victim and the Executioner Thou thy self toldest me That this unhappy Child embraced and kissed several times him that was to give the Fatal Stroke even in the Moment when he was putting about his Neck the Silken String which was to strangle him All Asia is informed of the rest of the History and 't is known That this Child altho