fighting under the Commission with the Seal I have sent a Letter to the Bassa of the Sea acquainting him with the News of this Expedition of the Cossacks Since which I am informed that these People are Headed by a famous Pirate in those Parts a Man of a daring Spirit and capable of the boldest Undertakings The French Merchants who have traded in the Black Sea give him a High Character and portend great Injuries to the Ottoman Empire from the Success of his Arms For they say he is a Good Captain both by Sea and Land I have heard several different Stories of his Birth and Education But this I am going to relate comes from the best Hands and seems most probable His Name is Pachicour a Circassian by Birth but bred up in a Sea-Town of the Vkrain near the Mouth of the Niester He left his Native Country at the Age of Twelve Years out of a Desire to see Foreign Parts Embarking himself unknown to his Parents in a Vessel of Podolia which then was ready to set sail from Bala-Clag He carry'd with him a small Sum of Money which he had purloyn'd from his Father and serv'd as a Fund of his future Fortune For arriving at a certain Town in Podolia he frequented the Keys and offer'd his Service to several Merchants one of which observing in his Face the Marks of a Promising Genius entertain'd him in his House He liv'd with him Seven Years and perform'd his Office so well that he made him his Factor to Constantinople Pachicour discharg'd his Trust there with much Profit to his Master and Honour to himself So that at his Return several Merchants entrusted him with their Goods and sent him to trade at Caffa and other Towns on the Black Sea His Judgment and Reputation encreasing with his Years he became in Time famous in all the Trading Towns And such was his Credit in the Vkrain that all the Merchants put their Vessels and Goods into his Hands So that he sail'd many Times with a Fleet of Twenty Ships having the Disposal of all the Goods committed to his Management He grew so Rich in Time by his Dealings that he was able to drive a Considerable Trade for himself And then it was he began to lay the Foundation of a Design which he has since executed His Genius was too Active always to be confin'd to this slow Way of growing Great Therefore he was resolv'd at one Blow to raise his Fortune to the Pitch he aim'd at He was the only Broker Banquier and Merchant where-ever he came It was no difficult Thing for a Man of so vast a Credit to raise an extraordinary Stock and Pachicour could easily silence the Alarms of Conscience There happen'd also a Juncture very proper for his Design For while he was at Isgaou a Port of Circassia Day and Night projecting how to exalt himself a War broke out between his Countrymen and the Mingrelians The Latter appear'd with a Navy at Sea which alarm'd all the Maritime time Parts of Circassia Pachicour whose Invention was always busy took a Hint from this to accomplish his Plot. Expedition was his chiefest Game Therefore he speedily made the utmost Use of his Credit among the Podolian Merchants and other Foreigners residing at Isgaou And when he had amass'd together prodigious Sums of Gold for which he only gave them Bills of Exchange he privately sends away this huge Treasure with all his Jewels Tissues and other Rich Merchandise to his Fathers House who liv'd not many Leagues from this Town Within Two Days after this the Mingrelian Fleet made a Descent at Isgaou sack'd it carry'd away Two Thousand Captives and went to their Vessels again Pachicour who knew how to make an Advantage of this Opportunity privately fled after his Wealth as soon as the Mingrelian Fleet appear'd before the Place And it happ'ned that most of his Creditors were made Slaves and transported to Mingrelia He had no Need to take any farther Care but how to secure his Riches from his Pilfering Neighbours For the Circassians are all Profess'd Thieves He therefore makes haste to his Father and having gratified him for his Trouble he in a short Time purchas'd Four Men of War with which he sets up for a Pirate infesting those Seas and Robbing all the Merchants except those who had formerly entrusted him His Bounty and Valour charm'd all that serv'd him And his Fame spreading with his wonderful Success many Circassians put out to Sea and join'd with him So that in a little Time he made no small Figure in the Kingdom of Neptune Seeing himself Commander of a Powerful Navy he found out quickly the Mingrelian Fleet and engaging with them got a Glorious Victory Soon after a Peace was concluded and Pachicour was declar'd Admiral of all the Circassian Sea-Forces To whom the Mingrelians were oblig'd by Treaty to join theirs and to obey Pachicour's Orders In a little Time this fortunate General became so famous that the Cossacks sent to him an Agent and enter'd into a League furnish'd out Three Hundred Vessels and join'd the Circassian and Mingrelian Fleets This is the Bottom of the New Expedition which makes so loud a Noise in these Parts Thou who art Master of the Arsenal wilt know what Measures are fittest to be taken against this bold Infidel if he persists to break the Peace of the most Serene Empire Yet though he is an Enemy let us not envy him the Praises that are due to his Wit and Courage He seems to surpass the Sneaking Thieves of his own Nation and undertakes Nothing but Sovereign Cheats and Noble Thefts such as would pass for Vertuous Actions in a Man of a Higher Birth I do not plead for Robbery nor take the Part of an Infidel but if I had Time to tell thee some Heroick Passages of this Pirate thou wouldst say he is worthy of a Generous and Favourable Usage should he become a Captive In another Letter I will oblige thee with a Relation which will not be unwelcome to a Man who gives not Sentence with the Vulgar I had more to say on another Subject but I am interrupted Pardon the Effect of my Duty to the Grand Signior Paris 19th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1649. LETTER XV. To Melec Amet Bassa THere is News arrived here lately of the Murder of the English Embassador at the Hague His Name was Dorislaus He was sent by the New Governors in England to make an Alliance with the States of Holland and to satisfie them in Reference to their late Proceedings against their Sovereign 'T is said his Negotiation would have had but little Success in Regard the Prince of Orange who is President or Chief over the States and who married the Daughter of the English King takes to Heart the untimely Death of his Father-in-Law and cannot be reconciled to his Murderers Yet 't is to be thought that Princes are no farther touch'd with one anothers Misfortunes than concerns their
Interest However on the 3d. Day of the 5th Moon some Scots enter'd into the Lodgings of the Embassador and having dispatch'd him with several Wounds made their Escape It is not certainly known who set these Assassins at Work People descant variously as their Affections byass them Some reflect on it as a Judgment Justly inflicted by God though by an Vnjust Act of Men on one who had been a Notorious Promoter of his Sovereign's Death Others censure it as a most Impious Sacrilege in Regard the Persons of Embassadors are by the Law of Nations esteem'd Sacred and Inviolable and the Injuries which they suffer are interpreted not only as done to their Masters who send them but to all Mankind As if Human Nature it self were wrong'd in the Persons of Publick Ministers Indeed there is no Method of establishing or conserving Friendships and Alliances between different Nations if their Agents be not secured with an Immunity from Affronts and Violences The French relate a pretty Passage of one of their Kings who before he came to the Crown being Duke of Orleans had receiv'd very ill Usage in his Travels from a certain Italian Lord call'd the Baron of Benevento After this Prince was possess'd of the Kingdom the same Italian Lord was sent Embassador from the Viceroy of Naples to congratulate his Accession to the Throne of his Ancestors Some French Courtiers who had been Witnesses of the Injuries this Lord had formerly done to their Master now perswaded the King to Revenge himself by causing some gross Indignities to be done him whilst he had him in his Power To whom the Wise Monarch reply'd It becomes not the King of France to revenge on the Embassador of Naples the Injuries which the Duke of Orleans receiv'd from the Baron of Benevento 'T is said the English Nation have demanded Satisfaction of the Hollanders for the Murder of their Embassador but were answer'd That they themselves ought first to Expiate the Murther of their King The Scots have Revolted from the New Government in England and are yet in Suspence Whether they shall set up the Son of the Late King or Form themselves into an Independent Republick The Irish are stedfast to the Interests of the Crown And many Islands in America subject to the Kings of England have now deny'd all Obedience to the New English Government which seems to tend towards a Democracy There is much Talk of one Cromwel the General of the English Forces in Ireland This Man from a Private and Obscure Estate is ascended to the Dignity of a General having purchas'd this Command by his Conduct and Valour The French extol him for the Greatest Souldier of this Age And if Fame be true he is no less Statesman As a Mark of the Respect I owe thee thou wilt receive with this Letter a Pistol of Curious Workmanship which being once charg'd will deliver Six Bullets one after another If thou acceptest this small Present it will be an Argument of thy Friendship Paris 19th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1649. LETTER XVI To the Venerable Mufti I Have often wondred at the Lethargy wherein the Nazarenes seem to be drown'd They forget what they read in their own Bibles They there encounter with Expressions which savour of the East Every Page of the Written Law relishes of the Dialect which is Pure and Lively though the Translators have cropt the Flower of the Sence I have read their Bible in Greek Latin and French but none of these Languages express to the Life the Original Hebrew Nor can it be expected It is impossible to screw up the Dull Phrases of Europe to the Significant Idioms of Asia We may as well expect Dates to spring from a Reed And for that Reason it is forbidden the True faithful to Translate the Volume of Light from the Original Arabick Which is no other than Hebrew in its Ancient Purity This is the Language of those who dwell above the Seventh Orb. 'T is the Dialect wherein God converses with the Pages of his Divine Seraglio Wherein all the Records of the Celestial Empire are writ And when he issues out Orders to the Ministers and Bassa's of Heaven Hasmariel the Secretary of the Immortal Divan uses no other Character or Speech but that which is peculiar on Earth to the Sons of Ismael the Inhabitants of the Region on the East of the Red Sea In fine this is the Language wherein the Omnipotent thought fit to discover his Pleasure to Mortals Believe Mahmut when he tells thee with profound Submission that he has taken some Pains to pry into those Languages which have been the Channels of Divine Knowledge I have been peculiarly ambitious to study the Anatomy of Oriental Words And it would be no Hyperbole to say I have learn'd to dissect even the very Syllables Wherein the various placing of Points and Letters alters the Sence or at least makes it Ambiguous So Significant and Mysterious are Our Sacred Characters I speak not this in Peevishness or to vindicate my self from the Contempt which Ichingi Cap ' Oglani has put upon me I have no Emulation in that Point Nor can any little Spur of Pedantick Ambition make me forward to contend with a Man whose whole Talent consists in knowing and remembring other Mens Works as if he had studied at Athens only for this End to learn the facetious Art of turning his Brains into a Catalogue of Books But I reflect on the Learned among the Nazarenes who are chiefly to blame having the Custody of the Book delivered to 'em from the Jews And among them the Translators of that Volume are past Excuse for they have deflowr'd the Original and robb'd the Virgin Language of its Beauty and Honour While the Rest are Witnesses and silent Abettors of the Rape in concealing the Indignity has been done to the Letters Form'd by the Finger of God and full of Divine Mysteries In thus accusing the Christian Interpreters of the Bible I do not patronize the Critical Whimsies of the Jewish Caballists They are exploded by all Men of Sence Yet there is a Medium between the Excess of that affected Niceness which has rendred the One Ridiculous and of that study'd Carelessness to which the Obscurity of the Other is owing As the Hebrews by pressing the Letters too close have squeez'd out Divine Chimaera's so the Christians in using too slack a Hand have scarce gain'd a gross Draught of Common Human Sence leaving the Genuine Elixir of the Writer's Meaning behind I will not lay much to the Charge of the Translators employ'd by Ptolomy Philadelphus King of Aegypt These were no Christians nor yet in the Number of those who Adored the Celestial Bodies and Elements Nor did any of them pay their Devotions at the same Altar with that Aegyptian Monarch who was a Worshipper of the God Serapis But they were Jews Seventy or Two more in Number as the Tradition goes And being every one Commanded severally to Translate those
Holy Prophet when the whole Army of the Primitive Mussulmans was like to have perish'd of Thirst And then how will the Western Philosophers dispose of all the Vapours which they say are Exhal'd from this Globe and afterwards Condens'd into Clouds I tell thee that 's but a Loose Notion of such Retentive Bodies as the Clouds seem to be And 't wou'd tempt one to ask What the Vessels are made of which hold those Condens'd Exhalations so that they do not fall at once upon our Heads and overwhelm us but only destil in small successive Showers Drop by Drop to refresh the Barren Parts of the Earth and serve the Necessities of Men And why the Rains fall in the Indies and other Regions of the East whole Moons together without Intermission the Rest of the Year being dry Whereas in other Countries the Periods of the Weather's Alteration are uncertain and in some Parts it seldom or never rains at all Doubtless the Works of the Omnipotent are Inscrutable And tho' it may be an Argument of a great Wit to give Ingenious Reasons for many Wonderful Appearances in Nature yet 't is an Evidence of small Piety or Judgment to be positive in any Thing but the Acknowledgment of our own Ignorance Now I have made as Wide an Excursion from my first Discourse as the Moulia did who began an Oration in Praise of Noah's Ark and ended with telling a Tale of an Armenian Wheel-Barrow But I will not forget that I was speaking of the Promise which the Rotterdam Enginier has made of his Machine That it shou'd Effectually break all the Force of Spouts which wou'd render him very Serviceable to Merchants as a Convoy to defend them from those Terrible Bug bears to Sailers For the Corsair tells me that these Spouts very often occasion Ship-wrecks either by entangling the Masts of a Ship and so overturning it or by breaking in the Encounter overwhelm it with water and so sink it He says likewise that the Christian Pyrates are accustom'd to use a certain Charm against these Spouts They have a Knife whose Haft is made of the Bone of a Man's Right Arm And every Vessel is bound to provide One or Two of these Knives when they loose from the Shore They buy 'em of certain Persons who have the Character of Magicians And when they see a Spout at some Distance from 'em at Sea the Master of the Vessel or any Body else takes this Enchanted Knife in his Right Hand and holding the Book of their Gospel in his Left reads some Part of it And when he comes to a certain Versicle which mentions the Incarnation of their Messiah he makes a Motion with his Knife towards the Spout as if he wou'd cut it in Two Whereupon immediately the Spout breaks in the Middle and all the inclos'd Water falls into the Sea But I tell thee he who gives Credit to the Stories of Charms or the Projects of Men pretending to excell all the Rest of their Race has more Faith than is requisite to him who reads Aesop's Fables since in perusing that Ingenious Figment we are only desired to believe the MORAL 'T is thought by some That this Enginier will by the Natural Clockwork of his Heels be much more nimble than his Vessel in flying the Disgrace which will attend him if his Phantastick Project prove unsuccessful In my next thou shalt hear of Pachicour Paris 12th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1653. LETTER XVIII To Murat Bassa THE English at present make the greatest Figure and Noise of all the Nations in the West Spain Portugal and even France it self court the Friendship of that Island since the Inhabitants have form'd themselves into a Commonwealth It appears as if the English were but newly awaken'd to a Sence of their own Strength and by thus rouzing themselves had alarm'd all their Neighbours However it be This King has sent an Embassador to the English Court to break the Negotiation of the Spaniards there and to establish a Peace between England and France if possible One cannot tell what to make of the Maxims of these Infidels For at the same Time the Banish'd Heir of the English Crown takes his Sanctuary in this Court Where he is caress'd and made to believe Great Things they will do toward his Restauration But Interest supersedes all Arguments of Affection and Consanguinity They are more sollicitous here for the Success of their Embassy than for the Right of the poor Exil'd Prince He is call'd the King of Scotland having been solemnly Crown'd in that Kingdom since the Death of his Father And entring into England with an Army of Scots was routed and having narrowly escaped the Trains that were laid for his Liberty and Life at length landed in this Kingdom where he has been entertain'd with much seeming Affection But the Dread they are under of the Victorious New English Commonwealth makes 'em begin to talk of his Departure from hence The Prince of Conde has taken Rocroy Which was the first Place where he signaliz'd his Arms and the Infant-Reign of this King about Ten Years ago Which the Superstitious interpret as an Omen of Ill Luck to the King This Sort of People are led by Maxims void of Reason And so there is no Regard to be given to their Observations Yet some of the Wiser Sort think this will prove a long War That which amuses People most is the small Concern the Prince of Conti and the Dutchess of Longueville shew for their Brother's Cause For while the King was on his March against the Prince of Conde they came and submitted themselves to him and were received to Favour Those who are apt to suspect an Intrigue in every Thing say That this Reconciliation is only feigned on their Part it being a Means to serve their persecuted Brother with greater Security and Success Others are of Opinion that it is Real especially on the Prince of Conti's Part Since he and his Brother had never any good Understanding There has been a Battle lately fought between the French and Spanish Forces in Italy Wherein the Spaâ—iards lost Twelve Hundred Men and the French above Half that Number of their best Soldiers So that the King of France may say with a Famous General Victories attended with so little Advantage will ruine rather than enlarge an Empire Bassa in the midst of thy Grandeur I wish thee Health which sweetens the Worst Events As for me I 'm like one hovering between Two Worlds Paris 15th of the 9th Moon of the Year 1653. LETTER XIX To Afis Bassa THE Gods of the Nazarenes one wou'd think were studying how to perplex their Adorers These Western Parts abound with Prodigies and Surprizing Events More especially the Low Countries feel the Strokes of a Hand which by making ' ern smart seems to put 'em in Mind They 're too high in their own Conceit For several Weeks we have been alarm'd from thence with the Tragical Stories of Ship-wrecks
Surplusage of Happiness Which thou wilt not fail to possess if thou inheritest the Vertues of that Bassa as well as his Office May his Soul now taste the Reward of his Just Life And I doubt not but he has made an happy Experience of my Wishes He sits down in Quiet under the Trees of Eden His Head encompass'd with a Garland of Flowers which never fade Vested with the Immarcescible Crimson and Purple of Paradise He reposes on his Bed of Delights whilst Beautiful Pages serve him in Vessels of Gold set round with Sapphires and Emeralds He drinks the delectable Wine which never Inebriates and eats of the Fruits every Morsel of which prolongs his Life for a Thousand Ages He hears Nothing but the Voices of such as are full of Benediction and Joy The Virgins of Paradise salute him with a Grace which cannot be express'd They chaunt to the New-come Guest Songs of Immortal Love To the Stranger from Earth they tell their Passion in Strains which ravish his Heart He is dissolv'd in a Thousand Ecstasies This is the Reward of a Pious Mussulman a Wise Minister a Just Judge of the Faithful Follow his Example and thou shalt be translated into his Company For he is in a Goodly Place near the Spring-Head of Perfect Bliss Thou wilt expect some News from me as a Testimony of my Respect And I cannot pretend there is none stirring at a Juncture when all this Part of the World is so full of Action or at least of Counsels Here has been great Rejoicings lately for the taking of St. Menehoud a Strong Town in the Hands of the Prince of Conde All the Officers of the French King's Army endeavour'd to dissuade him from the Siege of this Place but Cardinal Mazarini over-rul'd their Arguments and having reprov'd their groundless Fears caus'd it to be invested and attacqu'd the 22d of the 10th Moon Some say he had a Party there Yet it held out till the 27th of the last Moon at which Time it was surrender'd upon Articles to the King who was there in Person with his Brother the young Duke of Anjou the Queen the Cardinal and the whole Court They return'd to this City the Ninth of this present Moon They were receiv'd with great Acclamations and seeming Joy by those who wou'd have triumph'd more heartily had they been defeated or forc'd to raise the Siege For the Citizens of Paris wish well to the Prince of Conde's Arms Not so much out of Love to him as in Hatred of his Enemy the Cardinal-Minister And they are sensible that this Successful Siege will redound wholly to the Cardinal's Honour by whose sole Orders the Place was invested It is discours'd as if this Minister has some new Design on Foot to conquer the Kingdom of Naples This is certain a Mighty Fleet is fitting out to Sea Whither bound no Man knows but those of the Cabinet among whom the Cardinal is Chief In the mean while the Common People listen after certain Prodigies that have been seen in the Air. They say a Flaming Sword appear'd lately to rise in the North and take its Course South-Eastward From whence People make various Prognosticks as their Passions or Interests inspire ' em Some are of Opinion it presages the Conquest of Naples by this King 's Arms. Others apply it to the New Common-Wealth of England and to the Victorious Sword of Oliver who from General of the English Army is now in this very Moon exalted to the Height of Sovereign Power Governing the Nations of England Scotland and Ireland under the Title of their Protector Here are divers of his Subjects in this City and other English Scots and Irish who embrace the Interest of Charles the Son of their late Murder'd King who has been since Crown'd King of the Scots They give a different Character of Oliver yet all agree that he is a Wise Statesman and a Great General The Scotch King's Party speak contemptibly of Oliver's Birth and Education Yet thou know'st this hinders not but he may be a Man of Courage and Vertue They relate many odd Passages of his Youth which seem to me so many Evidences of an extraordinary Genius and that he is a Person of a deep Reach He tamper'd with several Religious Factions in England counterfeiting an Exquisite Piety whereby he first rais'd himself a Name among the Zealots of that Nation who look'd upon him there as a very Holy Person and one mark'd out by Destiny for Great Undertakings He soon got a Considerable Command in the Army of the Revolters Where he signaliz'd himself by many brave Actions which spoke him a Man of an Invincible Courage and Admirable Conduct So that at Length none was thought more fit than he to be General In fine he acquitted himself so gallantly in that High Office and has so wrought himself into the Affections of the People that they now look upon him as a Prophet or Saviour and the Divan or Parliament of that Nation have conferr'd on him the Sovereign Authority Those of the English which are Affected to his Interest speak Great Things in his Praise They call him another Moses or Joshua They prefer him to Hannibal Scipio and even to the Great Alexander It is difficult for them to speak of him without Hyperbole's 'T is said the King of France will court his Friendship Indeed all the Neighbouring Countries stand in Awe of this successful Hero And the Hollanders who are the only People that durst engage in a War with the English Common-Wealth now seek for Peace since he is invested with the Supreme Authority In the mean Time the Poor Exil'd King of the Scots takes Sanctuary in this Court with his Mother the Late Queen of England and his Brother whom they call the Duke of York The French King allows them all very Considerable Pensions And the Latter has some Command in the Army in Flanders There is another Brother also but little talk'd of as yet being the Youngest of the Three They are Generously entertain'd here it being the peculiar Honour of this Court to be a Hospitable Refuge to Princes in Distress Yet Observing Men say The King will in Time grow Weary of his Royal Guests It being very Chargeable to maintain them and their Burdensome Retinue Besides he will have some Reason of State to discard them if he enters into a League with Oliver the New English Sovereign who is courted on all Hands Eliachim the Jew of whom thou wilt hear in the Divan is just come into my Chamber and brings me Word that there is an Express newly arriv'd who informs the Queen of a Defeat given to the Spaniards near a City call'd Rozes which they had besieg'd in Catalonia The French were going to the Relief of this Place and the Spaniards set upon them in their March but were beaten into their Trenches from whence they fled by Night leaving Three Hundred Spaniards on the Spot almost Two Thousand Prisoners and all their
THE Fourth Volume OF LETTERS Writ by a Turkish Spy Who lived Five and Forty Years Undiscover'd at PARIS Giving an Impartial Account to the Divan at Constantinople of the most Remarkable Transactions of Europe And discovering several Intrigues and Secrets of the Christian Courts especially of that of France continued from the Year 1649 to the Year 1682. Written Originally in Arabick Translated into Italian and from thence into English by the Translator of the First Volume LONDON Printed by J. Leake for Henry Rhodes near Bride-lane in Fleet-street 1692. Mahmut The. Turkish Spy Aetatis suoe 72. F. H. van Hove Sculp TO THE READER EXPECT no more Commendations of our Arabian Author or Apologies for any Thing that may seem liable to Censure in his Letters There is no End of answering the Cavils of those who to gain the Character of Criticks will create Faults where they find none and impute the very Oversights of the Press to the Ignorance of the Author rather than a Book shall escape free from Censure What is wanting in the Style where it may be suppos'd to come short of the Original must be laid to the Italian's Charge who undertook the First Version of so Remote a Language For the English Translator has endeavour'd to follow him as close as the difference of Idioms will admit And all the World knows That the English Tongue is none of the most Copious and Significant But if this shall seem an Invidious Reflection substituted in the Room of a Passable Excuse the English Translator in Honour both of the Foreign Copies and his own Native Language for he is a true English-Man both by Blood and Affection is willing to take the Blame of all Defects on himself Assuring you That whatsoever Roughness or Want of Elegance Whatsoever Carelessness of Expression is to be found in the English Translation though it may be a Fault indeed yet 't is purely owing to the Candor of him who has committed it Since the Chief Reason of such Neglect is because he was loath the Reader should lose the Original Sence for the sake of a Sweet-Period or a Delicate Cadence If in other Places he seems affected as in retaining the Turkish or Arabick Words where they might as well have been rendred English this also was out of Respect to his Copy where those Words are left as we may suppose they were found in the Original Arabick This is address'd to such Gentlemen as have procur'd the Italian Copies of these Letters For we are inform'd That they are in the Hands of some English Travellers who had a Curiosity to compare the different Translations together However to Evidence that this is not spoken in Partiality to our selves but with Equal Regard to that Learned Foreigner who first brought these Letters to Light It will not be amiss to exhibit such Probable Reasons as might induce him to leave Some Arabick Words untranslated rather than Others though they had both the same Sence The best Method of clearing up this Point will be by producing Instances such as that Page 53 at the Bottom Where the Word Vizirs is retained by the English Translator because it was not chang'd by the Italian Doubtless it had been as easie to say The Seven Chief Spirits Angels Chancellors or Ministers Above as The Seven Vizirs But since the Italian Copy has not alter'd the Word Vizirs the English Translator thought fit to let it stand And he conceives 't is proper enough in both Versions because it better expresses the Thought of the Turkish Author than any Italian or English Word can do being a Title of Dignity peculiar to the Ottoman Empire Where the Credulous People are made to believe That their Monarchy with all its Officers of State is exactly Modell'd according to the Pattern of the Celestial Court and Kingdom Therefore it appears very Natural in a Turk to call the Ministers of Heaven by the Title of Vizirs Beglerbegs Bassa's or whatsoever other Appellatives are us'd by them to express the Dignity of their Grandees on Earth And who would go to spoil his Sence for the sake of a Word Besides not to let this Passage fall without due Remarks Is it not Common in our Bible to call God Lord of Lords And how can this be otherwise expressed in Arabick but by the Title which is appropriated to the Principal Governours of Provinces whom in their Language they call Beglerbegs It is equally usual in Scripture to style God King of kings a Title frequently assum'd by the Eastern Monarchs Nay in our Common Discourse here in England it is Customary to give to God the Title of The King of Heaven And why may we not as well give to the Arch-Angels and Angels c. the Titles which are ordinarily apply'd to the Princes and Nobles on Earth But however if this will not appear allowable in a Christian yet no Man can wonder at a Turk when he hears him use his Native Dialect speaking of the Potentates Above And if this be granted I hope neither the Italian will be blam'd for preserving the Peculiar Phrase of an Eastern Author nor the English Translator be accus'd for following so Polite a Pattern This Instance had not been press'd so far but in Hopes that what is already said may serve as a Plea for several other Examples of like Nature in this Volume Where it is impossible for any European to express the Full Meaning of an Oriental Author without reserving some Words of his very Language And in this the Italian Translator is chiefly vindicated from whose Copy the English in such Cases had no reason to swerve And thus much may suffice to answer all Objections about the Style As to the Matter it self it appears full of Instruction in Historical Moral and Political Affairs Nor need any Man wonder if he encounters some Passages which may be found in other Writers both Gentile and Christian since the Author of these Letters professes That he has taken much Pains to peruse the Treatises of the Ancients both whilst he study'd in the Academies and during his Residence at Paris he often frequented the Libraries in that City whereof there is no Scarcity He spent a great Deal of Time in reading Modern as well as Ancient Authors By which Means he not only improv'd his Knowledge in the Universal History of Former Time but grew Familiar with the most Remarkable Occurrences in Europe during these Later Centuries So that in some of his Letters one would swear he had read Sabellius Petrus Justinianus Philip de Comines and other European Writers For he seems to come very near them in relating some Particular Stories And it may be suppos'd that he took this Advantage to oblige the Turkish Grandees to whom he writ by inserting in his Letters such Passages as they were wholly Strangers to There need no more be said but that you may expect another Volume of these Letters very speedily Farewell A TABLE OF THE LETTERS and
not yet fully establish'd and confirm'd There has been a Cessation of Arms since that Time And now the Duke Amalfe on the Emperor's Side the Duke of Vandort for the King of France and he of Ersken for the Crown of Suedeland are met at Norimbergh to conclude a Final Ratification of the Articles During this Consult the Suedish Army are permitted by the Emperour's Agreement to Quarter up and down in Seven Circles of the Empire and not to be discharg'd till all their Arrears are paid at the Cost of the Germans 'T is said it will amount to Three Millions of Sequins This War has lasted near Thirty Years in which above Three Hundred Thousand Men have lost their Lives As to the English Affairs the Prevailing Party there have declar'd that Ancient Kingdom to be a Free State and the Monarchy is Abolish'd by a Publick Act. Nevertheless after Charles was beheaded his Eldest Son was Proclaimed King both in England and Ireland by some of the Nobles and Gentry that were Friends to that Royal Family And in Ireland a certain great Duke appear'd at the Head of a Numerous Army in Behalf of the Young King's Interest having laid Siege to the Metropolis of that Kingdom which with one other Town were the only strong Holds that resisted the King's Party But in the 8th Moon the Army which the English States had newly sent over to that Island engag'd with the Forces of this Duke entirely routed them killing Two Thousand Men on the Spot and taking many Thousand Prisoners with all their Ammunition and Baggage This being seconded with other Victories in a short Time reduc'd that Kingdom under the Obedience of the English States In the mean Time I hear no pleasing News from the Levant Vessels daily arrive in the Havens of France who confirm each other's Relations of a Dreadful Naval Combat between Our Fleet and that of the Venetians wherein they say we have lost Seventy Two Gallies Threescore Merchant-Vessels and Eighteen Ships of War That in this Fight Six Thousand Five Hundred Mussulmans have lost their Lives and near Ten Thousand were taken Prisoners I tell thee these are great Breaches in the Navy which belonging to the Lord of the Sea and Land has assum'd to it self the Epithet of INVINCIBLE These are Blemishes in the Ensigns of high Renown Reproaches to the Empire which we believe is to subdue All Nations I reflect not on the Courage or Conduct of the Captain Bassa Neither am I willing to help forward the Ruine of a Man who cannot expect to be honour'd with a Vest a Sword or any other Marks of the Sultan's Favour for his Service in this Sea Campagne I am Naturally compassionate 'T is not in my Praise I speak it for I believe this Tenderness to be rather a Vice of my Constitution than to have any Rank in the Morals much less to be of Kin to the Family of Vertues I pity a Man falling into Disgrace on whom the Weather of the Seraglio changes from which he must expect Nothing but Clouds and Storms Those Tempests will prove more Fatal to him than any that ever toss'd his Fleet on the Ruffled Ocean In all Probability he will suffer a Shipwreck of his Fortune if not of his Life Therefore 't is with extreme Regret I must say that which may hasten his Fall But I am commanded not to conceal any Intelligence that relates to the Interest of the Sublime Port nor to spare the Son of my Mother if I know him Guilty of Criminal Practices All that I have to lay to the Charge of the Bassa of the Sea is a Private Correspondence which he holds with Cardinal Mazarini This I discover'd by the Assistance of a Dwarf whom I have often mention'd in my Letters to the Grandees of the Port. I need not repeat to thee what I have said already to them of the Birth Education and Genius of Osmin for so is the little Spark call'd nor of the Method I have put him upon to wind himself into the Secrets of the Publick Ministers Onely thou mayst report to the Divan That this diminutive Man continues to pursue his Advantages of Access to the Closets of the French Ministers whereof I gave an Account last Year in a Letter to Chiurgi Muhammâ—t Bassa Thou mayst assure them also that when he was Yesterday in the Chamber of Cardinal Mazarini he cast his Eye on a Letter which lay open on the Table whilst the Cardinal was in earnest Discourse with an Extraordinary Courier from Rome He had not Opportunity to read more than the Superscription and a Line or two of the Matter which contain'd these Words The Mild Commander The humble Shadow of the Bright Star of the Sea Bilal Captain Bassa To the most Illustrious Prince of the Kingdom of the Messiah Eminent among the High Lords of Holy Honour the Sublime Directors of the People of Jesus Assistant to the Chair of Sovereign Dignity the Seat of the Roman Caliph Julio Mazarini Cardinal and our Friend May whose later Days encrease in Happiness THY affectionate Letter and Presents were deliver'd safe to me as I lay at Anchor with the Fleet under my Command not far from the Island of Chios And as a Mark of my Acknowledgment and good Will to thee and all the Nazarenes I embrac'd in my Arms the Noble Captain Signior Antonio Maratelli who had the Honour to be trusted with this Negotiation I immediately disrob'd my self and caus'd that brave Italian thy Messenger to be vested with my own Garment as a Pledge of Before Osmin cou'd read farther the Cardinal approach'd the Table and took up the Letter letting fall some Words to the Courier by which the Dwarf was confirmed in his Suspicion of the Bassa's Perfidiousness and that this Letter newly came from him He posted immediately to give me an Account of this Passage believing it to be as it is of great Import For he has a singular Regard for the Family which first exterminated the Greeks from Constantinople Thou know'st what Use to make of this Intelligence I am not Cruelly inclin'd but I must do my Duty The Rest I refer to thy Prudence I will only advertise thee of One farther Remark of Osmin who by comparing what he has seen now with a Discourse he once before over-heard between Mazarini and a French Nobleman whilst he lay under the Cardinal's Table which I have inserted in one of my Letters concludes That the Bassa there mention'd by the Cardinal was this same Bilal Bassa who was at the Instance of the Janizaries made Bassa of the Sea I could not without making my self an Accomplice conceal so foul an Ingratitude to the Grand Signior and so Villainous a Treason against the Empire which holds the First Rank among all the Dominions on Earth Paris 24th of the 9th Moon of the Year 1649. LETTER XVIII To Cara Hali Physician to the Grand Signior VVE have had a violent hot Summer in these Parts with much
or at least to render him suspected So that he who wou'd live peaceably here at this Juncture had need to be well skill'd in all the Secrets of Physiognomy and make frequent Use of his Looking-Glass lest any Oblique Cast of his Eye or Satyrical writhing of his Nose shou'd be Interpreted for Symptoms of Hidden Malice For now they 'll spy Treason in every Feature of a Man's Face As for me when I go abroad I conform to all Companies yet alter not my Address I neither play the Ape nor counterfeit a Statue But observing a Medium I pay a Civil Respect to all without being Courtly or Rude For this Carriage best Suits with my Circumstances Hence it is that no Body suspects the plain deform'd blunt Crook-back'd Titus of Moldavia to be what I am really Mahmut the Slave of the Exalted Port. Paris 14th of the 2d Moon of the Year 1652. LETTER III. To the Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire THE Prince of Conde's taking up Arms has more puzzl'd the Counsels of the King of France and more embarass'd his Affairs than any Occurrence that has happen'd since the Death of his Father I have already inform'd the Kaimacham and others of all Passages hitherto relating to these Intestine Broils Since which they seem to be improv'd into a War wherein Foreign Nations take a Part. After the Return of Cardinal Mazarini to this Court the Prince of Conde was driven to great Streights being compell'd by the swift Marches of the King's Army to retire to Bourdeaux Where considering that it would not be so much his Interest to keep this Place as to encrease his Forces he sent Envoys to the King of Spain and Arch-Duke Leopold in Flanders to desire their Assistance The Former immediately dispatched away Orders for a considerable Body of Men to approach the Confides of Gascoigne where the Prince had a great Interest And the Latter lent him Eight Thousand Men to act on the side of Flanders and towards Paris as Occasion offer'd This is the particular Game of the Spaniards to take Advantage of the Civil Wars in this Kingdom that so by assisting the weaker Party they may balance the Contesting Powers of the Nation and keep 'em in a perpetual Quarrel Whilst in the Interim they gain Ground recover the Places which the French took from 'em in Time of Domestick Peace and so pave the Way to New Conquests In the mean Time the Parliament sent Deputies to the King beseeching him to remember his Royal Word by which he had for ever banish'd Cardinal Mazarini and representing to him the Fatal Consequences which were like to proceed from his Return But the King instead of complying with their Requests caus'd an Edict of Council to be Publish'd which justify'd his Conduct in this Matter He also writ a Letter to the Parliament full of Complaints that they had not yet publish'd any Order to hinder the Entrance of a Foreign Army into the Kingdom But all signified Nothing to Men passionately bent to maintain the Prince of Conde's Quarrel against their Sovereign He has but few trusty Men in that Senate and they are over-aw'd by the Rest Besides the Duke of Orleans bears a strange Sway both in the Parliament and Country At the Instigation of the Prince the Citizens of Orleans shut up their Gates when they heard the King was coming that Way in his return to Paris Yet the Country was open for the Prince of Conde a Subject He travell'd up and down the Provinces to make New Interests and confirm the Old leaving the Command of his Army in Gascoigne to his Brother the Prince of Conti. There have been many Skirmishes and Encounters between the King's Forces and those of the Male-contents and one fierce Combat wherein the Prince of Conde defeated the Vanguard of the King's Army as he was marching to this City Whereby getting the Start of his Sovereign he arriv'd here and was receiv'd in the Parliament whilst the Monarch was forc'd to lie encamp'd in the Field The Prince found a different Reception according to the various Humours of People The Greatest Part favour'd him and he receiv'd infinite Caresses from the Citizens of Paris But met with some Opposition from Persons of Higher Rank and more stedfast Loyalty to the Crown The Duke of Orleans is his greatest Friend and one for whom the Parliament have a great Deference Not so much in Contemplation of his Wit and Policy as for the Sake of his near Relation to the Crown he being Vncle to the present King Whereby he has a Right to assume more Authority than others in regulating the Disorders of the Court among which the greatest is esteem'd that of Cardinal Mazarini's Return In a Word both Parties serve themselves of those who have the greatest Interest and are most likely to compose the Quarrel The Exil'd Queen of England and her Son who have taken Sanctuary in this Kingdom from the Persecutions of their Own Subjects make it their Business to mediate between the Court-Party and the Faction of the Princes The Prince of Conde also sent Deputies to the King to represent to him That the only Means to give Quiet to the State was to banish the Cardinal-Minister And as they were delivering their Address Mazarini came in at the Sight of whom they aggravated their Charge and said to his Face That he was the Cause of all the EVILS which the Kingdom suffer'd The Cardinal Interrupting them turn'd to the King and said Sir It will not be Just that so Flourishing a Kingdom and to whose Grandeur I have contributed all that lay in my Power should ruin it self for my Sake Therefore I humbly entreat your Majesty to grant that I may return to my own Country or whithersoever my Fortune shall call me No no reply'd the Queen not without some Passion This cannot be granted The King had never more need of your Counsels than at this Juncture We cannot consent that so Serviceable a Man should be Banish'd only to humour his Enemies Therefore let us hear no more of that The Deputies perceiving nothing of Hopes return'd to Paris Then the Parliament deputed others to go to the King and Remonstrate the Deplorable Crate of the Realm This was done a few Days agoe In the mean Time we have been alarm'd here in this City with daily Insurrections of the Multitude The Occasion was some private Orders which the Duke of Orleans had given to the Provost of the Merchants relating to his Charge and the Welfare of the City This being misunderstood by the People who have not the Sence to distinguish the Good Offices of their Governours from Injuries put 'em all into a Tumult They assaulted the Provost in his Coach as he was passing the Streets And had he not escaped into an Apothecary's Shop they wou'd perhaps in their Fury have torn him in Pieces For so they serv'd his Coach as an after Revenge I am weary of beholding the