THE First Volume OF LETTERS Writ by a Turkish Spy Who lived Five and Forty Years Undiscovered 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 from the Year 1637 to the Year 1682. Written Originally in Arabick first Translated into Italian afterwards into French and now into English The Second Edition LONDON Printed for Henry Rhodes near Bride-Lane in Fleet-street 1691. Mahmut The. Turkish spy Aetatis suae 72. F. H. Van. Hove sculp TO THE READER I Here offer you a Book written by a Turk whose Matter is as instructive and delightful as the Manner of finding it was strange and surprizing I do not doubt but you would know where 't was written and perhaps whether the Author be living and whether you must expect a Romance or a real History Hear then in short what will fully satisfie you The Curiosity of seeing Paris made a Man of Letters leave Italy in the Year 1682 where being arrived he found such Diversions as caused his stay longer than he intended Scarce had he been Two Months in Paris when by changing his Lodging he discovered by meer Chance in a Corner of his Chamber a great heap of Papers which seem'd more spoil'd by Dust than Time He was at first surprized to see nothing but barbarous Characters and was upon the Point of leaving them without any further search if a Latin Sentence which he perceived on the top of a Leaf had not retained him Vbi amatur non laboratur si Laboratur labor amatur The Surprize of the Italian was yet greater when after having considered these Characters with more Attention he found them to be Arabick which Language was not altogether unknown to him which made him look narrowlier into them where he found That they treated of Affairs of State that they contained Relations of War and Peace and discoursed not only of the Affairs of France but of those of all Christendom till the Year 1682. The curious Italian was in no small Impatience to know how and where these Memorials had been writ and by what Adventure they came to lie so neglected in a Corner of his Chamber But before he further informed himself he thought it expedient to transport these Manuscripts into another House as a Place of greater Security He afterwards questioned his Landlord with great Precaution concerning the Papers and he inform'd him even to the least Circumstances He told him That a Stranger who said he was a Native of Moldavia Habited like an Ecclesiastick greatly Studious of small Stature of a very course Countenance but of surprizing Goodness of Life had lived long at his House That he came to lodge there in the Year 1664 and had staid Eighteen Years with him that being gone abroad one day he returned no more and they had had no certain News of him since He was about Seventy Years old had left Manuscripts that no Body understood and some Moneys which was an Argument that his Departure was not premeditated He added That he had always a Lamp Day and Night burning in his Chamber had but few Moveables only some Books a small Tome of St. Austin Tacitus and the Alcoran with the Picture of Massaniello whom he praised very much calling him the Moses of Naples He said further That this Strangers greatest Friend and whom he saw often was a Man which most People took for a Saint some for a Jew and others suspected to be a Turk According to the Landlord's Report he came to Paris in the Year 1637 being then but Twenty Eight Years of Age. At first he had lodged with a Flemming he went oft to Court Moneys never failed him he had Friends and passed for very Learned As for his End this Man thinks he died miserably it being suspected that he had been thrown into the River The Italian being sufficiently instructed by what he had heard applyed himself to the Study of the Arabian Language and as he had already some Knowledge in it he quickly learnt enough to Translate these Manuscripts which he undertook a while after and he examined with care the Truth of what the Moldavian had writ confronting the Events he met with the Histories of those Times and to succeed the better searched the most approved Memorials having had Access into the Cabinets of Princes and their Ministers These Letters contain the most considerable Intrigues of the Court of France and the most remarkable Transactions of Christendom which have been sent to several Officers of the Ottoman Court. By these may be known the Perspicacity of this Agent of the Turks and by him the Prudence of those that command in that Nation who chose the better to penetrate into the Affairs of Christians a Man who could not be suspected by his Exterior who was deform'd but prudent and advised and for the better concealing him destined his ordinary Abode in one of the greatest and most peopled Cities of Europe During his being at Paris which was Forty Five Years he has been Eye-witness of many great Changes has seen the Death of two great Ministers of State has seen that Kingdom involved in War without and within He was scarce setled in Paris but he was witness to the Birth of a King who surpasses those that preceded him in a time when the Queen's Barrenness caused the King her Husband to despair of ever having a Son that should succeed him During the Course of so many Years he hath seen Cities revolt and return again to the Obedience of their Sovereign Princes of the Blood make War against their King and Queen Mary de Medicis Wife Mother and Mother-in-Law to some of the greatest Kings in Europe die in Exile in Cologne He speaks frankly of the Princes of Christendom and explains his Sentiments with Liberty He saith The Emperor commands Princes the King of Spain Men and the King of France sees Men and even Kings obey his Orders He adds That the First commands and prays the Second sees oft times more effected than he commanded and that the Third commands many brave Souldiers and is well nigh obeyed by Crowned Heads There appears no Hate or Animosity in him in what he writes against the Pope In Discoursing of the Emperor and King of Spain he says That both of them having Provinces of such vast Extent they are not much concerned at the Losses they sustain He believed that England was more powerful than the Empire and Spain he might have added France at Sea He apprehended more the Counsels of the Republick of Venice than their Arms. He magnifies what passed in the Wars of Candy which the Venetians supported with so much Bravery against the Forces of the Ottoman Empire The Genoeses with him are perfect Chymists He speaks of the last Plague and last War that this Commonwealth hath been afflicted with he touches something of
I have not are incessantly in Action They watch without ceasing as I do on what passes and thou mayst assure thy self that the Divan shall be fully and certainly advertized of all things The Pope keeps here as his Ambassador a Prelate called a Nuncio The Emperor of Germany the King of Spain those of England Swedeland Denmark and Poland the Electors and several other Princes of the Empire entertain also Embassadors to observe the Motions of this Prince who often breaks all their Measures The States of Italy do also the same there are in this Part of Europe Princes and Republicks These little Sovereigns are more jealous than others of their Interests and do more concern themselves in all Affairs which pass The Republicks likewise use greater Precautions in their Conduct than the Monarchs do The Republick of Venice has acquired a great Reputation France keeps a good Correspondence with her the Embassador of that State living here with all the marks of Grandeur and the same Prerogatives granted to those of Crowned Heads Neither Persia nor Moscovia keep any Publick Minister here yet perhaps they may have some that give Private Intelligence to their Masters As to what concerns the Princes of the Indies they seem not to me to have any Interest here so that they have I believe no Agent in these Parts either publick or private If the name of Spy be mean or dishonourable I know no body that is called one for I being unknown my Reputation therefore runs no hazard I serve without being observed But to speak plainly What are the Embassadors and Agents of Princes but secret Spyes as I am who under pretence of keeping a Correspondence between their Masters inform them of what they can discover in the Courts where they are sent Thou shalt be sufficiently inform'd by the Bassa of the Sea of Piccinino's Adventure he will shew thee what I have written However here are Sixty Galleys lost and our greatest Consolation is that we shall not want means to be revenged If the Christians have cut off one of our Fingers we ought to pluck out both their Eyes 'T is said here that this Admiral is made Prisoner by the Venetians if this be true his Confinement must be very uneasie to him But all People are not agreed whether he be a Prisoner or no for some maintain he is at Constantinople where he justifies himself with his usual Arrogance laying all the Fault on the Renegado who commanded the Admiral of Algiers I have recommended to the Bassa of the Sea the Enterprize of Loretto If thou hast leisure to examine the Project thou wilt find though I am no Captain nor Mariner what I have hinted is worth regarding The knowledge which I have of the World of the Manner of living of the Christian Princes and Priests of Rome together with the other Notices I have required by the reading of Histories should make me considered as a Man that is able to offer at great Things though I have not yet gained much Credit in the World The Embassador of Venice residing in this Court says That their Republick will satisfie the Grand Signior affirming that Ali is a Pyrate that the Africans have broken the Peace and that the Action of their General Capello is just and heroical and that Amurath himself will chastise Piccinino He moreover pretends that the Galleys which were taken will not be restored seeing it will be made apparent they have been lost by different Accidents I think he says they have been all sunk before the Isle of Corfou by the Senate's Order to prevent the Expectation of a Surrender the Admiral of Algiers only excepted which those Infidels have brought in Triumph into their Arsenal to preserve the Remembrance of an Event which they pretend to be very glorious to them but these Misfortunes are not extream nor past Remedy if God continues the Life of our Great Emperor and thy Health Paris 7th of the 2d Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER V. To the same THey have at length given over talking of our Losses but I give not over devising the means to be revenged of the Christians Remember that the Grand Vizir keeps in Prison a Man fit for great Things at this Time who can do the Nazarenes considerable Mischiefs and procure notable Advantage to the Mussulmen If the old Renegado of Dalmatia be yet alive he is capable of destroying all Places in the Mediterranean-Sea Advise with him about the Destruction of Lorerio There is no Corsary that has done more bold Exploits He has spent Sixty Years in coursing on the Archipelago and Adriatick-Sea where he has made horrid Devastations with infinite Prizes He has likewise most considerably damnified the Cossacks on the Black-Sea He began the Trade at Nine Years old in a little Vessel has been wounded in Twenty or Twenty two Oceasions taken Prisoner Four times by our Pyrates and thrice escaped out of their Hands And not being able to fly the Fourth time nor redeem himself by Money he redeem'd himself by his Religion which he quitted to embrace Ours and since he has been Circumcized he has brought to Constantinople above Thirteen Thousand Slaves in about Thirty Years Space He has pass'd full Five Years in the Cleft of a Rock along the Banks of the Adriatick-Sea which by his Industry he made a sure Place of Retreat Here 't was that he did himself with his Men and Vessel like a wild Beast in his Den and 't is hard to imagine how many Snares he laid during that Time for those of his own Religion He has been often pursued but could never be taken and his Name became so terrible amongst the Christians that there was no Place but dreaded him But in fine having as 't is said attempted to betray his Master in delivering into the Christians Hands the five Galleys he commanded he was sent by Order from the Grand Vizir into the Castle of Seven Towers although his Crime was not certainly proved 'T is above Two and fifty Moons since he has been there kept Prisoner and he is not onely very old but decrepid The long Penance which a Man has undergone that has done such great Things and who is accused of having done one ill one of which he is not convicted does plead for some Indulgence I shall never go about to solicit for the Liberty of a Traytor yet I must say That Men who have dared to execute great Crimes are often capable of Heroick Actions This Man was and is still at the end of his Life perhaps if thou wilt endeavour to procure him some Advantage and make him hope still greater he may repair his Fault by performing something for the good of the Empire or at least give some good Advice Thou knowest the Ancient Persians had a Law whereby their Kings were obliged Not to put a Malefactor to death for one Crime and private Persons not to chastise their Domesticks or Slaves for one Fault
other Predecessors had been before him He began to govern his Kingdom ruined by so many Wars Pillages and Concussions made by all sorts of People and so repaired it by his good Government that he was soon in a Condition to embellish it He built several magnisicent Bridges raised stately Edifices and forgot nothing which might re-establish those good Orders which the Licentiousness of the Times had overthrown But what this King designed against us as soon as he was setled on the Throne will appear at the same time to thee both dreadful and admirable As soon as ever he had made a general Peace with his Enemies he laid the Foundations of the most Heroick Design that ever Man invented wherein he shewed himself not inferior to the first of the Caesars nor the Conqueror of Asia He undertook to overthrow all the Monarchies of the World to give a new Face to all the Affairs of it and to destroy in a short time the Empire of the Ottomans But before he began such a great Enterprize he was for paying all the Debts of the Crown and his own in particular which amounted all together to near an Hundred Millions and 't was a prodigious thing to find so much Money without selling the Kingdom or engaging the People yet it is true that he got this Money and paid those Debts with it He was for dividing Christendom into Fifteen equal Dominations Five of which should obey Kings that were so by Succession and Six to be subject to Kings that were Elective and the Four remaining should be Republicks By this Division he left the Pope the Countries belonging to the Church and added thereunto the Kingdom of Naples with the Homage of Sicily and the greatest part of Italy modelled into a Republick with Obligation to give the Pope every Year a golden Crucifix and Four Thousand Sequins Only Venice was left in the Condition 't was in with its Laws and Customs But there were allotted to this Republick Kingdoms and Isles which were to be taken from us in the Archipelago with an Homage to the Roman Prelate of an Embassy to kis his Feet and at the End of every Twenty five Years a small Statue of Gold representing St. Peter whom they term God's Vicar on Earth Flanders should make a Republick with therest of the Low-Countries which would be a Loss for the Spaniards and to this Republick should be added some of the neighbouring States The Franche County Alsatia Tirol and Trante were added to the Democratical State of the Swisses with the Homage every Fifteen Years of an Hunting Dog with a golden Collar about his Neck fastned to a Chain of Gold which this Republick should present to the Emperor of Germany This Emperor should be obliged to renounce the aggrandizing of his Family and only dispose of vacant Fiefs the Investiture of which he should not bestow on any of his Kindred and there should be a Law inviolably observed in the Empire That never Two Princes of the same Race should enjoy successively the Imperial Crown The Dutchy of Milan should be added to the other Provinces belonging to the Duke of Savoy together with the Title of King of Lombardy The Kingdom of Hungary should be enlarged with the Principalities of Transylvania Walachia and Moldavia And the King who was to be Elective should be chosen by the Suffrages of the Pope the Emperor of Germany the King of France England Spain Swedeland Poland and Denmark and Bohemia should be submitted to the same Laws France England Spain Poland Swedeland and Denmark should not change their Form of Government when for the general Affairs these Kingdoms were to be subject to the Universal Republick of which the Pope was to be the Head Things thus established Henry was to be the Umpire of all Christendom to decide all Differences which might happen between the aforesaid Princes and States with Fifteen Persons chosen from amongst the most famous for Learning and Arms which could be found among these Fifteen Dominations and besides these there was to be established a great Council consisting of Sixty other Persons for all the Differences which might happen in all the Kingdoms and Republicks between those who govern'd them and this great Assembly should make their Residence in the Capital City Rome Every State was to be obliged to furnish a certain Number of Troops and Summ of Mony to make War against the Turks and the Business of Poland and Swedeland should be to make War together against the Moscovites and Tartars There were afterwards Three Generals to be chosen by common Consent for the conquering of Asia one for the Sea and Two for the Land and Three hundred Thousand Foot entertained with One hundred and fifty Thousand Horse and Four hundred Pieces of Canon and the Naval Army was to consist of an Hundred and fifty Vessels and one Hundred Gallies and a Fund was to be raised for this of an Hundred Millions of Gold This Treasure was to be put into the Pope's Hands the Isle of Malta was to be the Store-house of all things belonging to the Sea the Port of Messina the Arsenal for the Gallies and the City of Metz one of the principal Magazins for the Land Forces All the Christian Princes were to be obliged to lessen their ordinary Expences and to contribute to this great Design according to their Ability There were to have been several Spies in Constantinople in the Habit of Greeks who were persectly skill'd in the Eastern Languages to observe the Motions of our Empire And besides these Forty resolute Men who were at a certain Time and Signal to set Fire to the Seraglio and Arsenal and several other Quarters of the Town There was found in this Hero's Closet after his Death a Memorial written with his own Hand wherein he had already markt Twelve Embassadors for several Places in Christendom for the negotiating of so great an Affair and the Pope and Republick of Venice and Duke of Savoy had been already acquainted with it In the mean time this King had an Army already of Forty thousand Foot with Eight thousand Horse and he was under Petence of visiting the Frontiers of Flanders thence to begin the Execution of his Project affirming That as to his own part he had no other Pretension but the Glory of delivering Christianity from the Tyranny of these Barbarians 'T is said he applied himself for Ten Years together in searching the Means to make his Project take he gave great Pensions to the Cardinals at Rome and in Germany to several Officers and he had in France besides the Troops I have already mentioned Four thousand Gentlemen who were so devoted to him that they were ready to mount on Horseback on the least Order from him He had already Fifteen Millions in the Bastil and he that had the Superintendancy of his Treasure promised to add thereunto in less than Three Years Forty other Millions without touching the ordinary Revenues I have no
that Degree as to discover our failings to each other and to suffer them Seeing I am at present far off and by consequence the more exposed to Criticks and ill Offices do not forget the Interests of thy Friend Watch Day and Night for the Advantage of my Life Observe search and endeavour to penetrate what People discourse of me and what is said concerning me at Court Our Great Emperor sent me hither to observe what passes here and render him an Account I know I am where I ought to practise what I am commanded to do but I do not yet know whether I shall return to the place where I would willingly end my Days Most things are done on that side but they are not all equally performed I have therefore more just Reason to apprehend that all Men do know that I shall acquit my self with Fidelity of the Orders I have received Consider how far his Unhappiness doth extend who serves another who is Master of so many Millions of Subjects I will inform thee of two Things whereof thou shalt tell the first to the Bassa of the Sea and the other to the Musti's Vicar We are told that the King of England hath set forth a Vessel upon the British Ocean of such Prodigious Greatness that it exceeds all others as well in Force as Vastness It is Armed with One hundred and twenty Brass Guns It draws Unrigg'd Seventeen Foot of Water and its Bulk is Eleven hundred Tun. 'T is reported that it cost Two Millions of Piasters and as if it were the King of all other Ships it is called The Sovereign The Second News is a Prodigy that happened in Upper Saxony which finds but a little Credit with the Wise but is easily believed by the Women and the Common-People They say That at Dresden one of the Duke of Saxony's Courtiers having cut a piece of boiled Beef there issued so much blood out of it that the Elector's Table was wholly covered with it which extreamly troubled this Prince looking upon the Adventure as a Presage of Famine and War Let me hear often from thee and of our Friends but make no Confidence to any of that which is betwixt us Thou shalt learn from me Secrets of great Importance provided thou be Faithful and Discreet God grant thee in an Instant the Good which I shall wish to acquire in my whole Lise Paris 15th of the 11th Moon of the Year 1637. LETTER VII To the Invincible Vizir Azem SEeing thou hast acquired the Knowledge of Things present by thy Prudence and rare Understanding and hast desired me to inform thee of those Things which shall happen in the Places whither thou hast sent me I will endeavour to penetrate the Affairs the most secret to the end that nothing in this World may be hid from thee At present there are but few Actions in Christendom which deserve to be reported and thou art sufficiently instructed in the Affairs of France and touching the Person of her King I expect to inform thee of Events which at the same time may divert thee and instruct thee This Prince is called Henry the Just He cannot be called the Happy for having as yet no Son to succeed him there will be always Occasions of Trouble in his Kingdom Nor is there any Hopes that the Queen may prove with Child by Reason of her long Barrenness If the King will resolve to be divorced from her and take another it cannot be effected without Rome and Rome the Mufti and all their Priests will according to their usual Manner raise so many Difficulties and be so long before they determine that it will be a hard Matter to extort from them that Consent which the Laws of the Christians render necessary for the dissolving a First Marriage Certainly this Slavery which doth thus subject the Christian Princes is hard but it is a Point of their Law which being of no Importance to thee I will trouble thee no more with it This defect of a Successor in the King of France is of great Advantage to the Spaniards and one would think Heaven had created this Nation to be Enemies to the French It seems moreover there is a secret Violence which entertains an Antipathy betwixt the Two Nations which enforces a belief that there can never be a solid Peace betwixt them Thou hast already understood from those I writ to and who dare hide nothing from thee what has happened here during the small time of my sojourning in these Quarters I will not repeat little Things the Greatness of thy Genius and the Eminency of thy Employment have put thee far above every Thing that is not Extraordinary that we ought to inform the of nothing but transcending Events I will not entertain thee with the taking of the Old Town of Sally nor of the Disorders in the New Thou wilt have learned more swiftly from the Coasts of Africk Advices of the Hostile Acts which the English have committed with their Ships of War against that City which the King of Morocco protects The Attempt was great and is discoursed of here as a hardy Enterprise The Vastness of thy Understanding will easily judge of the Consequence They say here that the King of France has writ to Rome that he will willingly resolve to make a long Cessation of Arms with his Enemies If that happens this Repose will serve but to encrease the Forces of both sides which may hereafter render the War more cruel In the mean time 't is thought they design a General Peace but Time will discover to the Politicians what we cannot at present divine This Court is Great and Magnificent It stays not long in a Place and is very seldom at Paris being in the Camp amongst the Armies or for Pleasure in the Country The Genius of the Courtiers is different but they have an equal Inclination for two Things very opposite War and Love and apply themselves to both with much Constancy The Religion which they call Protestant and which has been the occasion of so much Disturbance to the Kingdom is now low by the Surrender of Rochell which was as thou knowest the principal Bulwark of those of that Party It seems this King will imitate our Mighty and Formidable Emperors and will regulate his Conduct by thine in not suffering within his State two Religions which are opposite The Kingdom is notwithstanding as yet full of Trouble Cardinal Richlieu who holds the Helm of Affairs in France as thou directest that of the Empire of the World seems as may be said in the midst of a Tempest and hath Reason enough to apprehend Danger for there are an infinite number of People who follow the Standards of Luther and Calvin who have no other Thoughts but of his Ruine In the mean time the Power of France seems mighty Great and 't is to be apprehended it may in Time augment infinitely Thou knowest Invincible Bassa what the Ancient Gauls did in Old Time They were
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
without its being known whether 't was by his Fall or the Musket-shot which he received The Confederates with as little trouble seized on the Gallies and other Vessels in the Ports whence they drove the Spaniards they afterwards commanded the Vice-Queen to retire This Princess thought she ought in this occasion to insist on the Greatness of her Birth she threatned the Conspirators and afterwards flattered them assuring them of the Clemency of King Philip. She set before them the Greatness of his Power and forgat not to speak of the Authority of his Favourite who must needs be much offended in this Occasion exaggerating the Offence commitred against her both as a Princess and Depository of the Catholick King 's Power But as well her Promises as her Threats were in vain and she her self was at length glad to accept Conditions from them who a while before by Connivance from the Prince might have executed an absolute Power In Eight days time all the Castilians were subdued or driven out of the Kingdom All the Forts were rendered without any trouble to the new King except the Castle of St. John which having made some slight Resistance was sold for Forty Thousand Crowns by the Governour The Duke of Braganza appeared immediately afterwards in the City of Lisbon where the People soon shewed the Affection they had for him the Prison-Doors were set open and all poor Debtors freed and a great part of the Taxes taken off Such an astonishing Success was attended with what ever might set forth the Joy of the People who solemnized the Festival with the Sound of Trumpets and the Noise of the Cannon and by Shouts and Acclamations which reached up to Heaven whom the Portugueses thanked for the Liberty which they believed they had recovered This Event was accompanied with so many miraculous things that the Wisest as well as the Vulgar were persuaded 't was markt in Heaven from all Eternity by the Finger of God The Clergy the Nobility the Citizens and Peasants were profuse in their Liberalities on this Occasion to give their new Soveraign ample Marks of their Affection and even the Poor hid their Misery that they might not lessen the Publick Joy The Spanish Vessels which returned from the New World which then entered into the Ports of Portugal remained at the Disposal of the new King the Pilots not knowing what had hapned so that the Coffers of the Prince were filled thereby as 't is said with some Millions This King was exalted to the Throne in the last Moon of the last Year and wise People do hope he will reign very happily all the Planets being too well disposed not to make him finish his Reign with the same Fortune as he began it The vigilant Portugueses have ordered out several Vessels fill'd with good Soldiers and necessary Provisions to sieze of Places and Ports which this Nation possesses in the New World and in the East Indies and 't is to be supposed they will meet with good Success if Fortune prove as favourable to them in America and the Indies as she was to them in Europe As soon as the Duke of Braganza was proclaim'd King he sent Manifesto's into all Parts and dispatched Couriers and Ambassadors to give Advice of his Promotion in the Courts of France England Holland Swedeland and Denmark 'T is not to be imagined the Joy which this Adventure gave to the Catalonians The King imparting to them what had happened offered them also his Assistance and these People answered him with the same Offers And this is the end of Sixty Three Years of the Despotick Authority which the Spaniards have exercised on the Portugueses The News of so strange a Revolution having been carried unto Madrid hear and consider well the unhappy Condition of the Catholick King to whom his Favourite declared this News Sir said he I come to rejoyce with your Majesty at the good News I bring Your Majesty is now become Master of a considerable Dutchy Dom Juan de Braganza has had the boldness to make himself be proclaimed King of Portugal has thereby faln into the Crime of Laesae Majestatis All his Estate belongs to you and is devolv'd to the Crown and his Person will soon be in your Power Dom Juan was Son to Theodosius Duke of Braganza Grandchild to Donna Katharina who was the Daughter of Dom Duarte Brother to Henry King of Portugal and Philip II. King of Spain took away the Crown from this Katharine to whom it is said it did rightly belong The Titles he assumes are King of Portugal of Algraves Africk on both sides of the Sea Lord of Guinea of the Navigation and Commerce of Aethiopia Arabia Persia and the Indies This new King is not above 37 Years Old of a middle Stature but well proportioned his Face marked with the Small Pox his Hair enclining to Yellow an Aquiline Nose high Forehead lively Eyes his Mouth indifferent great and a Masculine Voice His Carriage is grave affects great Modesty in his Cloaths is temperate in his Dyet affable to all sorts of People unless Slaves and such as he believes are Hypocrites and his common Word is That mean Cloaths will keep out the Cold and ordinary Meats satisfie Hunger This Prince is not much versed in Books is of an healthfull Constitution loves laborious Exercises especially Hunting wherein he 's never tired He 's also Musically given and so light of Heel that there are few People can out-walk him He is wont to go to Bed late and rise early as knowing that Sleep does take off much from Man's Life and to compleat his Happiness he has Children of both Sexes His Wife is a Spanish Lady of extraordinary Merit to whose marvellous Courage and good Qualities he owes his Crown The Kingdom of Portugal contains 120 Leagues in Length 40 in Breadth and has several Millions of Subjects comprehending those in the Two Indies It has Three Archbishopricks and Eight Bishopricks keeping ordinarily Forty Vessels which find Ports in Eight places of the Country They can maintain Thirty Thousand Foot and several Regiments of Horse The Revenue of this Kingdom may amount to Twenty Millions of Gold reckoning in the Riches which come from the Indies Brasil Angola and several other Islands The French Monarch will hold a good Intelligence with the House of Braganza England will enter into an Alliance with her the Pope will concern himself on neither side the Emperour united by Bloud and Interest to the Spaniards will be an irreconcilable Enemy but unable to doe them any Hurt and the States of Holland will find greater Advantage than all others in this strange Revolution These are the Sentiments of those that pretend to penetrate into the Future and to know more than others And if it be true that this new Soveraign has had as all men in his place would have had a secret desire of being King he has so well concealed his Ambition that 't is to be supposed he
and many of the solidest think it will be the King of the Tartars and that those of the Race of Mula Honkiar will be excluded This Race is really Illustrious but every body knows not the Rise of it The Head of this Family descends from Tamerlane thou knowest the rest and I will not dispute with thee about Genealogies Whatever passes here below is so uncertain that thou maist accuse me of Imprudence in discoursing of things at this distance for in Effect Ibrahim may be a Father by this time Pray to God who disposes of Thrones makes Races endure or decay merit from him by Fastings and Prayers and beg of him that he would give me the Grace to live blameless and die innocent that I may enter with thee into Heaven and there enjoy those unspeakable good things which are reserved for the Faithful Love me though distant from thee and let me have Tokens of thy Friendship by stealing some Moments of Leisure from thy ordinary Business to write to me Paris 25th of the 4th Moon of the Year 1641. The End of the Third Book LETTERS Writ by A Spy at PARIS BOOK IV. LETTER I. To the Venerable Mufti Prince of the Religion of the Mussulmans THere is now found in one man alone what ever several Persons of great Ingenuity could acquire by long Experience and this man is Cardinal de Richlieu to whose Reputation thou art no Stranger He was designed like thee for the Affairs of his Church and dedicated to Religion but he is not so much employed about them but that he applies himself with as great Care to the Affairs of the World and 't is he who under the Authority of the King his Master governs the Affairs of the French I obey thee Venerable Mufti thou hast enjoyned me to inform thee of the particular Actions of this famous Prelate but I shall not say much of him it being impossible to fathom him He is the most dexterous and subtle Politician that lives in all the Countries of the Vnbelievers The famous Greek Lisander was never so cunning neither did Tiberius shew half so much Dissimulation at Rome nor Judgment in Affairs as he no not in the time when he set himself to remove his Rivals and take away all Obstacles which might hinder his obtaining the Empire He interprets all the Doubts which arise in his Religion he 's the Arbiter of Rewards and Punishments and the King who knows his Zeal and Ability leaves to him the Direction of his Kingdom and People which he governs and leads as Jacob led the Flocks of Laban This Cardinal wants only the Art which this great Patriarch had to make Men be born as he pleased as this Holy Israelite made the Sheep There came some days since a Person from Germany who went immediately to the Palace of this Minister and sent him word by his Captain of the Guards that the Letter B was come The Officer was unwilling to deliver this kind of Message to his Master and therefore desired the German to explain this Riddle but he only told him laughing That the Cardinal's Alphabet was like the famous Knife of Delph which served to all purposes so that he needed only to mention the Arrival of the Letter B and he would be understood which was no sooner done but the German was privately introduced into this Minister's Closet where he had a long Conference but I could never hear the Subject of it He that by his Word created all things encrease thy Health and make thy Authority ever adored and feared even in Rome it self Paris 25th of the 4th Moon of the Year 1641. LETTER II. To the Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire I Come but now from learning an Adventure which yet happened some days since but all things are carried on with such Secrecy in France that it is almost impossible to know any thing before 't is made publick There were apprehended here in the last Moon of January certain Ruffians in the Habit of Hermits who were to assassinate Cardinal Richlieu These Wretches confessed before the Judges as soon as they were put on the Wrack their Intention of killing the King's Favourite because he was no Friend to the Duke de Vandome who is Natural Son to the deceased King Henry the Great This Adventure has greatly surpriz'd the Court each man speaking of it according as his Interest or Affection inclines him The Duke of Vandome's Friends have declared themselves against the Cardinal and this Minister's Creatures have much aggravated this Attempt to render this Prince's Family more odious and heighten the Cardinal's Reputation But the Duke de Mercaeur the Duke of Vandome's Son rode immediately to Paris with the Duke de Beaufort his Brother the first incognito to consult his Friends and the other to present himself to the Cardinal to obtain that their Father might justifie himself before the King from the Accusation laid against him The Grand-child of Henry the Great has since desired to he confronted with the Hermits and has obtained it but his Departure at the same time into England has wrought much amazement Some say he has taken an unwise Course and others say no because he could not prudently expose himself of the Testimony of such Wretches who would not matter what they said However these Hermits were publickly executed and their Accomplices are not yet discovered neither is it yet known whether any persons of Quality have had a part in the Conspiracy which is not the first that has been carried on against this Favourite and it is believed will not be the last He has a great many Enemies and the absolute Authority with which he governs by the favour of his Prince will always raise him such Adversaries as will either ruine his Fortune or take away his Life If I write not oftner to thee thou oughtest not to think my Affection ever the less Set down in thy Register what I inform thee Let me have thy Friendship and Protection in things which are just and change not thy Opinion of me till I am changed my self Paris 15th of the 5th Moon of the Year 1641. LETTER III. To the Kaimakan JVlius Mazarin a Man about 45 Years of Age of a solid Judgment and incredible Perspicacity of whose Family I know no more but that he is originally from Sicily and born in Italy in the chief City of it Rome is lately introduced into this Court. He has by his ingenious Carriage gained the Favour and Confidence of Cardinal Richlieu and he begins already to be employed in the most important Business Those who make Reflexions on the Affairs of the World and carefully examine the extraordinary Talents of this Italian are persuaded one may expect great things from him yet however the best way is not to be hasty in judging of the good or bad Qualities of a Man He has already been employed in Quality of Plenipotentiary for the King of France in Piedmont