to some Confident at Madrid in these Terms Cardinal Richlieu told me he did not know the Hand nor Signature of Count Olivarez's Secretary and that when he should fill up his signed Blank which I presented him and let fall the pretended Letter of this Secretary into the King of Spain's Hands he saw not what Advantage could result hence to the King of France his Master I am very willing added he that the King of Spain should suspect the Count or Secretary of Infidelity and of having some Commerce with me but it would not be advantageous to us he should be plainly convinced of it seeing the greatest happiness France could have is that Count Olivarez his Ministry should be perpetual For being the most unhappy of all the Favourites that have ever been in the place he possesses all good Frenchmen are obliged to pray to God to give him a long Life and to continue him ever in the King his Master's Favour to perpetuate by his Counsels the Disgraces of Spain He pursued his point of Raillery in this manner Of a Duke of Braganza Olivarez has made a King of Portugal Of a King of France a Count of Barcellona Of a Sovereign Duke of Lorain a Vassal Of a Prince Cardinal a Knight Errant Of a Lord of Monacho a Duke and Peer of France and in fine of Philip IV. King of Spain he has made a Count Duke d' Olivarez This is all I could get from so great and illustrious a Genius The just God who has sent us his Prophet ever direct thy Actions that thou mayst enjoy an happy Eternity and give thee Opportunities of doing Good Paris 24th of the 4th Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER XVIII To William Vospel a Christian of Austria GOD be praised thy Patriarch Elias and his Companion forasmuch as I see thou art a Saint and content in the Religion of the Bare-footed Fryars which thou hast embraced Thou stirrest me up to do Good and encouragest me to suffer and become serious enough to renounce the Pleasures of the World seeing thou tracest me a Way so necessary to walk in in order to arrive at Heaven I did not believe indeed I confess it thou wert endued with that Constancy and was afraid thou wouldst change but seeing thou hast the courage of keeping thy Resolution and enduring all the Incommodiousness which is to be met with in that kind of Life which thou hast embraced I am sorry for my Suspicions and profess I have all due Esteem for thee I love thee as much as one honest Man ought to love another who having found out the True Good has ran impetuously after it and who has past immediately from a soft and voluptuous Life to the Severities of an austere Religion in search of an assured Port which is more usually found in Sufferings and Macerations than in Delights and Pleasures There is one thing amongst others which extreamly pleases me in the Order thou hast entred All things are in Common amongst you one Key opens an hundred Doors you have no Meum Tuum all clad in the same Fashion and all go bare-footed you eat at the same Table and no body has better or worse Fare than another In fine your Prayers are the same and so are your Vows of Poverty But prithee tell me What would a Thief have found in thy Cell whom I saw yesterday hanged with a Key about his Neck He had the Dexterity of opening with this Key all sorts of Locks and has done a Thousand Roguish Exploits which have at length brought him to the Gallows He told the People he died a most happy Man as having practised with great Success an Art inferiour to none That the only Crime he thought he had been guilty of for this 30 Years was his committing but small Thefts That had he found the Doors always open he had never entred into any House and he exhorted Magistrates to chastise only those who suffered themselves to be robbed Spanish Authors have written There 's no Law which allots Penalties to those that rob with Prudence and Ingenuity thus call they those who steal wherewithal to appease the Envious who would accuse them the Witnesses which might serve to convict them and the Magistrates by whom they are to be judged So that the Thief that shall have stoln for himself and for all others I now mention'd shall be ever sent away absolved Which makes me think that Theft is of the Nature of Women for both one and the other seem at this day to be necessary Evils just as Keys seem only good now adays to preserve what may be stoln and not to hinder it from being so How many things has the Injustice of some People authorized for the Safeguard of a Town 'T is not enough to have a strong Garrison of Soldiers Three Elements are not sufficient to defend it against a greater Power that would oppress it The Earth is raised to make thereof Trenches the deepest Ditches are dried up whatever quantity of Water may be in them and Fire is enclosed in Cannons the Effects of which are terrible If thou surveyest Italy thou wilt find in several Towns Palaces which have more Gates than Thebes had heretofore And if thou countest the Keys which serve to open them thou wilt find the Iron they are made of to cost more than the Doors themselves Men are not contented to use these Keys according to the common Use they seem to be designed for their Ambition makes them serve for Marks of Honour in several Princes Courts where they be Recompences for Services for Vertue and Valour The Golden Key in Spain which the great Lords wear denotes That they know how to open the Gate of Favour And 't is the same in Germany and especially in the Emperor's Court. Happy was Ancient Rome whose Citizens were so wise that being advised to turn the Front of their Houses on that side where they could not be observed by their Neighbours they answered the Architect We rather desire our Houses may be over-look'd into because we do nothing wherein we fear a Surprize Whereas Modern Rome on the contrary may be termed unhappy wherein there are not enough Gates and Porters of them to conceal what is done in the most retired places of their Palaces It is in this City where Luxury grew to that height under the first Emperors that all Mens Studies were to find out new Pleasures But I must end this Discourse of Keys of Doors and Door-keepers I must not expect to reform the World nor would I weary thy Patience Pardon me my passing from the Cell to the Story of the Thief whom I saw executed and from the Thief to a Discourse of Keys and other things with which I have entertained thee I was so full of it that I could not forbear the Discourse no more than I can now to speak of the Subtilty of the Spaniards who have vaunted of the Worth of their Escurial by the
thy Feet and be acknowledged to be of the number of those for whom he has written his Holy Alcoran Paris 25th of the 6th Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER XXIV To Berber Mustapha Aga at Constantinople I Cannot tell whether thou hast Knowledge of the Use of Defiances which are made amongst the Christians when they be dissatisfied or offended with one another which they term Acts of Honour or the Marks of a gallant Spirit This Custom of Duels is become so common in Italy and especially in the Kingdom of Naples that the greatest Affairs as well as the smallest are therein decided by the Sword and the Gentry affirm this to be the best way of terminating their Disputes and Quarrels which belonging onely to them cannot be referred nor so well determined by the grave and cool proceedings of Courts of Justice This Invention of deciding these Differences by Arms either with the Sword or Pistol alone in a close or open Field naked in their Shirts so that one has no Treachery to fear is a Way of drawing Satisfaction for the Injuries received found out by Men of great Courage who more esteem their Honour than their Lives The offended Person sends a Challenge to him from whom he has received the Injury this note of Defiance is express'd in choice and elegant Words which invite and press the Offender to fight in such a Place on Horseback or on Foot cloathed or in their Shirts single or attended by an equal Number of Friends which they call Seconds with Sword and Dagger or Sword alone or pistol If the Challenge be received he is civilly treated who brings it and it may be has rich Presents given him But before they sight the Enemies embrace as if they were reconciled and then in an Instant following the Inclinations of their Hatred and Revenge they would one another they spill each others Blood and oftentimes their Souls go out furious through the Wounds they have made Those that have the Honour of dying in these Combats do oft refuse their Lives which a generous Enemy would give them believing they cannot live without Shame should they receive them from an Enemy But the Roman Church as a note of the Horror she conceives at these Combats shuts Heaven's Doors against the Souls of those who leave this Life without doing Pennance denying Burial to those who dye in the Field of Battle or yield them onely that which is granted in some Parts of the East-Indies to certain Women who prostitue themselves whose Corpse are thrown a Prey to the Birds of the Field and other Animals who live on Carrion It is not only in Italy People kill one another in single Combats 't is the same in France amongst the Nobility who manage these Combats in a different Sort. The best Friends tear one another on the smallest occasion and they prepare for a Duel in such a manner as will appear to thee without doubt ridiculous These Enemies sup together the Night before the Combat and often lie together in the same Bed The Friends which serve as Seconds do the same and when they are come to the Place where they be to fight a Friend is forced by the Maxims of Honour to cut his own Throat with the Man's he perhaps most loves Nothing happens more frequently in Paris than these Kind of Combats and they produce several Adventures of which I would give thee an Account had I not a particular Story to tell thee on this Subject It is of a Challenge of a Spanish Prince sent to a King whose Crown could not exempt him from a Letter of Defiance Thou hast without doubt heard of what has hapned in Lisbon where D. John de Braganza has been elected and proclaimed King of Portugal as the true Heir of the Royal Race Thou knowest also he drove the Spaniards out of his Kingdom The Duke of Medina Sedonia a Grandee of Spain and this new King's Brother-in-law could not hinder himself from being suspected of having underhand assisted this Prince to ascend the Throne whether it be true or an Artifice of his Enemies God onely knows But however it 's certain that the Count Duke d' Olivarez the King of Spain's chief Minister sent an order to him to appear at Court to justifie himself from this Suspicion he thought to clear himself perfectly from the Jealousies of the Catholick King by sending a Challenge to D. John of Braganza to oblige him to fight with him which Letter of Defiance was conceived in these Terms D. Gaspar Alonzo Peres Gusman the Good Duke of the Town of Medina Sedonia Marquis Count and Lord of the Town of St. Lucar of Barameda Captain General of the Ocean and Gentleman of his Catholick Majesty's Chamber I say that John of Braganza who was never but a Duke calls himself King of Portugal that his Treason known to all the World is detestable and in Abomination for having thrown a Stain on the Faithful House of Gusman which has never failed in any Duty to her Soveraign and for this reason defie and challenge to a single Combate Body to Body with Seconds or without Seconds this Don John heretofore Duke of Braganza leaving all this to his Choice as also the Arms or Weapons and Place of Combat Written near Valentia d' Alcantara where I shall expect fourscore days News of him and the last twenty Days I shall transport my self into the Place he shall appoint accompanied or alone with such Arms as he shall prescribe Not only the Tyrant of Portugal shall be advertised of my Challenge but all Europe and the whole World I pretend to make known in this Combat the infamous Action of D. John and in Case he does not accept of this Defiance and fails in the Duty of one who is born a Gentleman I desire this King who is only a Phantasm may perish in some sort or other I promise to give my Town of St. Lucar the principle Seat of the Dukes of Medina to him that shall kill him In the mean time I entreat my Lord the King of Spain to give me no Command in his Armies but to grant I may onely serve him as a Volunteer with a Thousand Horse which I will maintain at my own Charge till that serving him in this manner I may help to recover the Kingdom of Portugal and may bring along with me and cast at his Majesty's Fleet the Duke of Braganza if he will not fight with me in the Manner I proposed If thou shewest this Letter of Defiance to the Janizaries that Militia which is terrible to all Nations whom nothing can resist when they execute the Grand Seignor's Orders they will tell thee what such a Challenge requires from Men of Courage and explain to thee the Laws which People of Valour prescribe to themselves For my part who am ignorant of the Art of War and the Maxims of such as make Profession of Arms I shall not make any Judgement hereupon only take the
Kaimakam HAving given thee an Accompt of the Imprisonment of Casimir I will relate to thee the Voyage of King Ulidislaus his Brother who is gone a Progress into Hungary and Germany The News here is That the King of Poland was gone to make a Visit to the King of Hungary who to do him Honour sent the chief of his Nobles to receive him upon the Confines of Moravia They write also That Arch-duke Leopold went from Vienna to meet him They embraced like Brethren and returned together with the Queen of Poland and her Sister back to Court 'T is added that the People received this Company with great Acclamations with the Noise of the Cannon and all the small Shot of the City The Day following having dined in the Imperial Palace they went together to Luxemburg to visit the Empress Eleanor Widow to the late Emperor of Germany If Carcoa hath not informed thee of these Particulars thou wilt receive them from Mahmut who watches incessantly to give true Intelligence and penetrate as much as may be into all that occurs and is done in this great Court which gives motion to all the Courts of Europe Reprove me if I do not well and punish me ' if the Emperor be not well served and thou satisfied Paris 15th of the Eighth Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER XXVII To Kerker Hassan Bassa DO not accuse me of being ill advised or negligent if I write to thee things that thou knowest already I am only careful in telling thee what happens here and my Business is not to enquire whether thou art better informed another way When I am ordered to write all that comes to my Knowledge I do my Duty in doing it and I ought not to be reprehended for it I am told that the Sultan is gone with an Army more numerous than all the Leaves on the Trees to destroy the * Persians Red-Heads and conquer Babylon I know that the Mufti the Grand Vizir and all the Grandees of the Divan followed him but am ignorant of what he did in his first Expedition when he took Revan An old English Merchant who comes from Ispahan and has served in the Army of the faithful Mussulmans passed this Way in his Return to England He hath been an Eye-witness of the great Actions of Amurath He says that this mighty Emperor after his taking of Revan left Twelve thousand Souldiers in Garrison there with Two hundred thousand Crowns in Silver besides Copper Moneys to pay them He saith also that our mighty Monarch being wearied to see so much Blood of the faithful yea of the Heretick Mussulmans spilt he had sent the King of Persia a Challenge offering to fight singly in Duel with him but he would not accept of his Defie He tells how Amurath being fallen in the Water in passing the River Haret was in great hazzard of being laid up in Expectation of the last Judgment Day in the other World had it not been for a Young lusty Solack who took him by the Arm and dragged him out of the River This Accident was the Prelude of a great good Fortune which happened to this mighty Prince upon the Bank of another River called Mako where he had the News of the Birth of a Son born to him in the Seraglio at Constantinople whom they call Alaaddin whose Nativity hath been celebrated with infinite Demonstrations of Joy This English-man tells us further that Amurath has taken Tauris and appeared publickly there with all the Marks of a formidable Power that he had destroyed the King of Persia's Seraglio burnt the publick Markets and caused a Million of fine Trees which renders the Loss irreparable to be cut down Let me know when thou art at leisure whether this News be true and do me the Favour to tell me our great Emperors Success in the Expedition of Babylon The Politicians here attend the News of it with much Impatience 'T is allow'd that Amurath is the most Potent of all Princes the strongest Man alive and that only he can vanquish and ruine the Kings of the Earth Two Strangers of differing Nations and both of Royal Blood are dead in this City The one is Don Christopher Son of Don Antonio King of Portugal who after he had lived Sixty six Years without ever attaining the Crown of his Father died in a Convent of Dervises called Cordeliers where he was buried in the same Place where his Father's Brother had been formerly The other Stranger was called Zaga Christos who was the legitimate Successor of the Kingdom of Aethiopia a Young Man of Twenty five Years Son to the Empress Nazarenne Widow of Jacob Emperor of the Abyssins who died in a Village near Paris He quitted his Kingdom as thou knowest forced by Civil Wars he arrived in France in the Year 1635. of the Aegyra of the Christians After many Adventures he composed the History of his Travels which he performed with Troubles and Incommodities which seemed insupportable What has he not suffered in traversing many Kingdoms Arabia the Desart Egypt Asia Minor and Jerusalem where he ran the Hazard of being arrested by the Bassa that resides there whom he escaped by retiring by Night to Nazareth amongst the Christian Dervises where he concealed himself five Months He said here that an Eunuch of the Bassa of Cairo had much sollicited him to forsake the Christian Religion to which he would never consent and refused to go to Constantinople to humble himself by prostrating his Face in the Dust of the Grand Signior's Feet although the Bassa extreamly pressed him to it with very advantageous Offers This King has done much Honor to the Manes of the dead Prince whilst perhaps he suffers everlasting Torments which neither thou nor I shall suffer if we always live like faithful Mussulmans according to the Precepts of the Law ordained by Mahomet and written in the Alcoran I shall gladly hear that thy Life is safe and my Friendship agreeable to thee Paris 20th of the Eighth Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER XXVIII To the Kaimakam THat which hath been so long expected is at length happened The Queen is brought to Bed of a Dauphin the King is a Father the Kingdom seems to desire nothing more and the People witness their Joy by a Thousand differing Festivities The Men the Women the Children and the Aged run through the Streets as at Bacchanals They rejoyce with their Friends they go to Church and thank God as if a Messiah had been born to them All the Priests praise God in their Temples for such a Present and the Monks not so content deafen the People with the Noise of their Bells and do more than the Drums and Trumpets of the Souldiers and all the Cannon of the Cittadel and Arsenal I did in Company of others what I should not have dared to perform if I had been alone or had not been observed Those who affirmed the Queen would be brought to Bed of a Son pretend now they had
Thou knowest moreover that Princes should obseve in the Chastisement of their Subjects whether the Services they had rendred have not been greater than their present Failings and pardon them if their good Deeds surpassed their bad These Laws although no longer observed in Persia yet cease not to be wise Precepts to which if thou hast no regard yet thou wilt have some to the Zeal and Affection of Mahmut And if thou wilt suffer me to make here a short Digression in comparing the State wherein we are with that of the Ancients thou wilt find how much our Monarchy surpasses all others Dost thou believe Generous Kaimakam that the Ottoman Empire is equal inferior or superior to that of the Romans in Pompey's time Let us content our selves with supposing it equal to speak without Passion and cut the Course of Disputes which might be made hereupon and reflect I pray thee on the Conduct which Pompey held in the War he made against those infinite Number of Pyrates which infested the Seas of Italy Africa and Asia He was made General of an Army of Five hundred Sail with absolute Power to do what he thought sitting without giving any Account Thou knowest his Conduct was so prudent and full of Valour that embarking with Ten thousand and twenty Foot and Six thousand Horse he in Forty days cleared Libia Sicily Spain Sardinia and in a word all the Seas which depended on the Roman Power from an infinite Number of Pyrates who had as it were besieged the Capital of the Empire by their Incursions Rapines and Violences Now although the Number of our Enemies be not so great nor their Strength so considerable yet 't is to be feared lest the Infidels be one Day bold enough having joyned their Forces which now lie dispersed to fall upon us and shake the vast Monarchy of the Ottomans which they now often disturb by frequent Enterprizes in several Parts We have an infinite Number of Places to preserve We have several Kingdoms populous Isles we command war-like Nations and the Number of the Empire 's Subjects are innumerable which ought to encourage us to undertake no less than Pompey did heretofore who was called the Agamenon of Italy because he commanded a numerous Fleet as this Hero of the Greeks formerly did But it being already Midnight I am forced to finish this Letter lest it should be too late for the Post I shall inform thee by the first Opportunity of what has happened in Italy and Germany and of several other things which I thought I ought to give thee Notice of by this Express but accuse me not of neglect in not having wrtiten all to thee in this Letter and receive my Excuse which is just and sincere and grant me thy Favor The Great God encrease thy Prosperity and continue thy Health and Credit in the Dominions of the Invincible Sultan under whose glorious Reign we live Paris 7th of the 11th Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER VI. To the same I Pass immediately into Montferrat without leaving France to tell thee That the Spaniards have there made themselves Masters of a little Town which the French could not keep for want of Men and have also demolished the Fortress which guarded the Place that their Enemies might not have any desire after a Reprisal The eldest Son of Amadaeus Duke of Savoy is now dead he was called Lewis Amadaeus he was but Seven Years old when declared Sovereign and was so but few Moons He died Four days after the Ceremony of his Baptism The King of France and the Queen of Spain were God-father and God-mother to this Prince Thou wilt ask me perhaps how this could be seeing they could not be there present But thou must know that these Nazarenes assist often at these Ceremonies by Procuration The Dutchess of Savoy seems to me worthy of Compassion having lost in one Year both her Husband and her Son and a good part of her Estate and sees what remains to her exposed to the Hazards of War but she has ever shewed her self a Woman of Courage and Resolution Her second Son has been declared his Brother's Heir and the States have chosen her Regent during his Minority The reason of the sudden Visit which the Elector of Saxony gave the King of Hungary is not yet known We have had Advice of his Departure from Dresden the Capital Town of his Country with a great Train of Courtiers and the Three Princes his Sons and that he went to Leutmaritz where this King expected him and 't is farther said That in the small Time they were together they have had several Conferences the Subject of which is not yet discovered The King has presented the Duke with a rich Coach with six stately Horses sumptuously harnessed and given Diamonds and Gold Chains to his Courtiers But thou being nearer the Place of this Conference and the Port having every where subtle Agents thou mayest sooner get this Secret than I For 't is not to be doubted but there 's something hatching against the Ottoman Empire whilst Amurath is at that Distance and the chief Forces of his Empire employed elsewhere As to what concerns the Progress of the Duke of Wimar who carryes on the War in Alsatia there are infinitely different News come from thence since I wrote to thee but this is what is most certain After the taking of Fribourgh this General made himself Master of the Campaign about Brizac and his Army seizing on all the Posts thereabouts the Imperialists put themselves in a Posture of hindring them but for three Months Time they could do nothing but spoil the Corn and forrage in the Country whereby they wasted their own Subsistance They have also fruitlesly endeavoured to break down the Bridge which Wimer had built at Newremberg where they met with such Resistance that they were forced to retire with their Army which was in great Danger But the Duke also met with no Success in his Enterprize on Offemburgh through the Fault of Fifteen hundred Musketeers French and Germans who came not soon enough to plant their Ladders against the Walls and surprize this Place and he has since made different Tryals which have proved all in vain An Officer had already entered as far as the Ramparts with a small Party which he commanded by means of a false Pass-port but being discovered by a Sentinel he was forced to retreat in Confusion with the Loss of some of his Men Wimar since defeated two Regiments of Dragoons and Two other Regiments of Horse and siezed on the Castle of Mauberg the Garrison of which Place surrendred at Discretion to a Swedish Officer But I am inform'd that the Two Armies câ—me near one another on the Banks of the Rhine of which I shall say no more than what is necessary The Emperor's Troops being discovered by Wimar's Vant-guard commanded by Turenne gained an high Ground on which fortifying themselves they sheltred behind a Church and some Houses before which
earnest thy Cymiter and cast its Sheath away The King here is very well he said publickly when he heard the Victory of the Malteses That if he were not a King he should choose to be one of the Knights of that Place Thou wilt gain greater Honour and more Trophies will be raised to thee than was to Ariademus and Cigala if thou undertakest effectually the Destruction of this People Thou hast my Prayers That our Holy Prophet would strengthen thy Arm and that God would give thee still Favour in the Sight of our most puissant Emperor chosen to be the chief Commander of the World Paris 15th of the 3d. Moon of the Year 1641. LETTER XXV To the Invincible Vizir Azem AN Illustrious Woman of the House of Savoy governed not long since in Portugal in the Name of Philip IV. King of Spain Her Name is Margarita and commonly resides at Lisbon but this Princess with the Title of Vice-Queen had not the Credit or Authority necessary to sustain the Dignity though she had otherwise all the Prudence and Courage requisite thereunto Michael Vasconcelli her chief Secretary having usurped all the Authority carried all things with a high Hand to which he added a most griping Covetousness which was no less disadvantageous to his Mistress's Reputatior And the Marquis de la Puebla a Castilian Minister an Accomplice of Vasconcelii had established himself in this Court as a rigid Censurer of all the Vice-Queen's Actions The Christians call these Two Men Two Pedants set over the Princess as if she had been still in her Minority to correct and regulate her Actions The too great Authority of these Two Ministers became at length a kind of Tyranny The Nobility complained for the loss of their Privileges and the People at their being oppress'd with Taxes which made the Ministry of Vasconcelli seem insupportable in which ' was seen the Vice-Queen had no part This Princess not having the Power to stop the course of the Mischiefs which began to spring up gave Advice of it to the Court of Spain and expected thence the Remedy But whether the King was not in a Condition to give any or his Ministers concealed from him the state of things the Mischiefs encreased and Vasconcelli's Friends by excusing him made it almost impossible to avoid them When Margarita represented the Danger wherein Portugal lay she was heard as a weak and credulous Woman and was often accused of being over timerous which caused a general Revolt in this Kingdom which was few days in contriving and as few hours in executing If thou wilt hear thy humble Slave I 'll relate to thee all the Circumstances of so great an Event which will seem a Fable should we refer our selves to only Reason but which however is a real History as is now well known throughout all Europe Never was there a greater Hatred between Two Nations than that which was between the Spaniards and the Portugueses And though they had one and the same Religion and almost the same Humour yet 't is not to be imagined how far their mutual Aversions carryed them The Portugueses have a common Proverb which says That a Man is obliged to treat and love another Man as his Brother whether he be a Turk a Jew a Pagan or a Moor without excepting the most Barbarous of Mankind yea though he were a Spaniard They have lived with great Patience under the Domination of Philip II. and his Successors since the Death of their King D. Sebastian who was kill'd in Africa in a Battel against the Moors whilst they were suffered to enjoy the Privileges which were granted them Moreover they still expected the Return of their Sovereign who was said not to have dyed in the Field but having long wandred about in strange Countries was in fine about to return But the Example of the Catalonians made them at length resolve upon what they now executed The Nobility were the first that began the Revolt and past over those Bounds which Respect does ordinarily place between the Sovereign and his Subjects They alledged several Pretences for their Rebellion but the most specious was their unwillingness to be sacrificed in unjust Wars vvherein the most dangerous Posts vvere committed to them as they several times reproached the Duke Favourite and Minister of King Philip IV. They immediately carryed on their Intelligences vvith great Secrecy and vvhen they came to declare themselves the greatest Persons consented to the Conspiracy and the boldest amongst them have executed it vvith great Valour Dom Juan Duke of Braganza is the greatest Noble-Man in this Kingdom and perhaps in all Spain and already of the Age vvherein men are vvont to have Wisdom together vvith Strength of Body He vvants not for Ingenuity and Svveetness of Temper He received the Crovvn after long pressings and refusals and indeed is the more vvorthy of it as being the lawful Heir to it The Favourite Duke was well enough informed of the Reputation and Authority of the Duke of Braganza and considering him as a Prince who might lawfully pretend to the Crown he made use of several Artifices to drive him out of Portugal or seize him Prisoner But having always tryed this in vain whether by reason of the extraordinary watchfulness of Dom Juan or that the Heavens on which depend the things here below had otherwise ordered it 't was impossible for this Minister to get so good a Prey into his Hands This crafty Minister has tryed all Ways and sometimes made use of the Fox's Skin and otherwhiles of the Lyon's Voice to bring about his Ends. Sometimes he tryed to draw him to Court offering him the most honourable Employs there perswading him to accompany the Catholick King in his Voyage into Catalonia But the Duke knew how to defend himself against the Snare and timely withdrew to Villa Viciosa the ordinary place of his Abode and whence he excused himself from going to Madrid sometimes for that he had not sufficient to bear his Charges according to his Quality in such a Journey and otherwhiles on other Pretences with which the Favourite Duke was obliged to seem contented Though he was not yet he feigned himself to be satisfied to put in practice the most exquisite piece of Policy he ever made use of He sent him Forty Thousand Pistols to buy Necessaries and at the same time sent him also the General Command of the Troops in Portugal with Order to come to Lisbon and as High-Constable of the Kingdom to observe the Motions of the Vnited Provinces which threatned Spain and Portugal with a powerfull Fleet. But he had sent the following Order to D. Lopes d' Ossio Thou hast the Command of the Naval Army get immediately before Lisbon Dom Juan de Braganza has Orders to visit the Vessels as soon as he shall enter the first Gally clap him in Irons and immediately depart with this Prisoner to Cadis where I have appointed People to convey him to Madrid Dom
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
to negotiate an Accommodation between all the Princes of the House of Savoy And he has laboured so fortunately that every body is astonish'd that his first Undertakings should meet with such happy Success especially considering the Hatreds and Pretensions between the Duchess of Savoy and her Brothers-in-law Thou maist remember that I wrote to thee that the Differences of this Family were like to last and unlikely to be determined without great Bloud-shed both of the French and Spaniards But Mazarin who is a most expert Courtier and dexterous Agitant has ended this Affair much to his Master's Honour to the Satisfaction of the Parties interessed and the Cardinal who procured him this Commission He established the Peace in Piedmont and an Union betwixt the Parties by bringing over to the French Interest Two Men who were Enemies to it who were Prince Thomas a Captain of great Reputation and the Cardinal of Savoy his Brother a Person of a consummate Policy and an excellent Soldier though a Church-man It is mentioned in the Treaty That these Two Princes shall be receiv'd into the King of France's Protection That if the young Duke dies without Children and the Cardinal marries his Children shall be the Heirs of the Estates of Savoy and in defect of those Prince Thomas's 'T is moreover declared in the same Treaty That the King of Spain shall be sought to touching the Liberty of the Wise and Children of Prince Thomas who are detained Prisoners at Madrid And he shall be also sollicited to surrender the places he holds belonging to the Duke of Savoy And in case the Catholick King shall not restore them and set at Liberty the Wife and Children of this Prince he shall be obliged to serve against the said King in the Army of France 'T is moreover inserted amongst these Articles That the most Christian King shall procure a Marriage to be made between one of the Children of the said Prince with the Duke of Longuevil's Daughter who is a rich Heiress and that France shall never make any Treaty with Spain without comprehending the Liberty of the Princess and the foresaid Princes Prince Thomas is now expected here and it is said he will command the Army of France in Italy against the Spaniards it being certain they will never restore what they have once taken neither will they set their Prisoners at liberty The King entertaining himself some days past with the Ambassador of a Foreign Prince said to him these Words When the Spaniards shall restore to the Duke of Savoy the Places they keep from him I shall willingly discharge my self of the Burthen of the Government of those I keep And the Cardinal has publickly express'd himself to this purpose That his Master's Design was only to humble the Pride of the House of Austria and reduce it to such a Condition as that its Neighbours might have no such great cause of fear from them seeing the least Motion of theirs raised Alarms among them That his Endeavours were not laid out in aggrandizing the Dominion of France seeing the Bounds of it were large enough already his Intentions being only to give his Sovereign the last Proof of his Zeal and Affection by leaving the Kingdom in a profound Peace which might make his Majesty beloved of his Neighbours and feared by those who are jealous of his Greatness and Power he being hereby the Arbiter of Europe and reigning more absolutely by this means than if all the Estates belonged unto him What I have written to thee happened some time since but what I am now to inform thee of is quite new We have an Account That the Princes of Savoy have not kept their Word with the King Cardinal Richlieu and Mazarin and Designs are now taking in hand to punish so great an Affront and these are busied in thoughts of revenging a Widow-Princess who has been so long forced to behold bloudy Tragedies in her House by the Wars which the Princes of the Blood make continually wherein Strangers do interest themselves who ruine the Estates and keep them up in perpetual Discord This Business will cause new Troubles in Italy and thou shalt therefore not fail of Intelligence of the Particulars However the Princes of Savoy are blamed by all the World and charged with want of Sincerity But this being almost a Rule amongst the Christians To observe their Word no longer than they find their Advantage in it thou needest not therefore much wonder at what these Princes have done Whereby thou wilt know That a mean Interest being the Motive that sets them at work and which is all their Reason of State he that will one day equally judge all the World and can overturn all the Universe in less time than he created it will destroy the little Powers of these weak Politicians who acknowledge the Law of the Nazarite to the immortal Glory of the Venerable and Holy Name of the faithful Mussulmans Paris 15th of the 5th Moon of the Year 1641. LETTER IV. To Dgnet Oglou I Must forget my self if I forget thee but thinking often on my self I cannot forget thee because thou art my second self Be persuaded I speak my Heart and that I have no other design but that of loving thee that thou maist answer me with the same Affection for I desire thy Happiness as I do my own I am endeavouring to procure thee the Confidence of the Invincible Vizir Azem without his perceiving my Design and this is the best manner I could devise of doing it Thou shalt pretend to receive from some Friend which thou shalt leave at Palermo the Memoirs which I send thee with this Letter and it will not be difficult to make it be believed thou holdest a Correspondence in this Town of Sicily considering the time we have lived there together during our Slavery The August Vizir who rules and governs the Empire under the Orders of the most Mighty and Dreadful Potentates of the Earth will receive by this Ordinary an ample Information of extraordinary Events which have happened in Portugal And I have also inform'd him of the strange Revolutions of Catalonia which do much weaken the Strength of Spain and notably mortifie the Pride of this haughty Nation I have made known to him that Portugal has already made choice of a King and that Catalonia is departing from her Allegiance But I have given him no Account of the choice Memoirs which I send thee with which thou maist make Advantage if thereby thou canst find the way of introducing thy self to the Grand Vizir Thou maist then say to this great Minister That thou hast received the Memoirs thou presentest him with and assure him thou hast translated them out of Italian into Arabick and thou must transcribe them with thine own Hand that they may not appear to come from me The King of Spain Philip II. died of a shameful Disease which happens only to base People which appeared a Chastisement from Heaven for
extream Passion at any one's daring to offer him a Match so greatly beneath him when Madam de Combalet was the Widow of a Gentleman of a mean condition and Neece to a Cardinal whom he hated and himself a Prince of the Bloud The Cardinal's Messenger desirous his Negotiation should succeed was not repelled by this Affront He insisted on the Vertue of the Cardinal's Neece saying she would be courted by the greatest of France and added farther in Commendation of this Lady That she was a Virgin altho' married because her Husband out of respect dared not approach her and that Heaven had so ordered it that this Adventure should be found written in the Anagram of her Name This Minister could not dissemble his Vexation at the Refusal his Choler became excessive and he resolved to practise his usual Maxim of violently persecuting those whose Friendship he had sought with most Eagerness He therefore wholly set himself against this Prince spake all the Ill he could of him publickly threatned his Enemy but he valued him not looking on the Cardinal as beneath his Notice In the mean time the Cardinal plotted to put his Threats into Execution and brought the King in to countenance him by his Authority which obliged the Count to absent himself and make a Voyage into Italy to avoid the Storm he was threatned with Yet his Voyage lasted not long and at his Return the Cardinal did all he could noâ— to win him he procured him suitable Employs in the Armies and made him at length be declared General of that which the King sent on the Frontiers of Picardy Yet this haughty Prince received all with Indifferency saying openly That a Captain was given to the Army and not an Army to a Captain The Grandees of the Court who observed afar off what past in this Intrigue instead of mollifying the Count's Humour did all they could to sharpeâ— it The Duke of Orleans the King's Brother whâ— was always this Minister's Enemy linkt himself with Soissans exhorting him not to yield to the Cardinal's Pursuits and it is said he drew a Promise from him under his Hand that he would never accept of the Marriage proposed and they afterwards swore Fidelity to one another and thaâ— they would joyn together for the Destruction of the common Enemy and for this effect they took measures with Prince Thomas of the House of Savoy who is at present General of the Spanish Army in Flanders They also brought the Duke de Valette and several Lords of the Kingdom into their Party Almost all the Conspirators were for killing the Cardinal and the time of the Stroak should be when he visited the Quarters of the Army which besieged Corbie but the Count alone would not consent to dip his Hands in the Bloud of a Priest But the Duke de Vallette who saw the Danger wherein he was when the Conspiracy came to be discovered resolved to shelter himself by the blackest Treachery that could be imagined he discovered to the Cardinal all the Accomplices of which the Count de Soissans having Notice he speedily withdrew to Sedan I shall not make thee Inincible Leader a Description of this Place which regards on one side Luxemburg and on the other France it not lying in my way to make Draughts of Fortifications like an Engineer but to give thee a full Account of what the Infidels do and discover their Designs whereby thou mayst gather what may make for the Advantage of our great Monarch whose Power cannot be shaken but by the entire overthrow of the Universe Sedan is a Dominion which formerly belonged to the Dukes of Cleves who were Sovereigns of it and at the same time Dukes de Bouillon When the Count was in this place he thought himself safe the Mareschal de Bouillon who was the Master of it by the Testament of the last of this Family declared himself of his Party either to make War together against the Cardinal by open Force or drive him out of this Kingdom or to get rid of him by Death Here it was they made their secret Treaties with those who commanded for the Spaniards in the Low Countries and a Prince of the House of Lorrain entered into their Cabal He bearâ— the Cardinal as much as ill will and appears as resolute as the rest for his Destruction he is called the Duke of Guise There wanted only to this Party the Duke of Orleans the King 's only Brother and therefore the Duke of Guise dispatched a Messenger to him who sold in one day both his Master and all the reâ—â— that were of the Conspiracy He discovered aâ— the Secrets of the Cabal and the better to carry on his Deceit he caused himself to be apprehended and thrown into Prison having given his Dispatches to the King's Brother which he had before shewed the Cardinal This Traytor was noâ— contented with revealing these Gentlemens Secrets who had sent him but also made it appear That the Prince the King's Brother was guilty as an Accomplice of the others Rebellion Thuâ— these great men grown desperate at the Discovery of their Projects which were indeed contrary to their Sovereign's Interests and the Kingdoms were forced to throw themselves into the Arms of the Spaniards and to joyn with them They have raised Troops amongst their Vassals and Friends and openly declared themselves and fought with great Valour as I have already mentioned in the beginning or my Letter The King's Army has been very ill handled and it appearâ— that the Advantage was wholly on the Confederateâ— side but it has cost the Count of Soissons his Life who was General and Chief of the Party and it is at present disputed to whom is due the Honour of the Victory I prostrate my self continually at thy Feet to kiss with all Humility the Dust of them assuring thee thou hast in me a most faithful Slave that will never change Paris 15th of the 8th Moon of the Year 1641. LETTER VI. To Solyman his Cousin at Constantinople POntius Pilate was an honester man than thou He although a Pagan excused himself of the false Sentences he should pronounce on the Christion's Messias by washing his Hands before the Jews who sought his Death And thou that art a Mahoâ—etan as I am and washest thy whole Body in the Baths at Constantinople in the Presence of our Friends accusest and condemnest me rashly without any scruple Thou usest me like a Rogue so maliciously art thou set against me who am of the same Religion which thou professest How canst thou justifie the Hatred thou bearest me in endeavouring to make the Kaimacam believe I have been corrupted by the Cardinal who is the King of France's Chief Minister Adding that he ought no more to heed my Letters and Relations sent to the sublime Port where lie prostrate all the Powers of the World as not written by an Arabian but by a Sacrilegious Heretick That I deceive the Mufti so venerable for the Authority which
am troubled at the being so far from my Friends and Country and at my being banish'd into an Enemy's Country where I must live like a Man that is in continual Fear amongst People who seem to matter nothing Thou art now above 50 Years of Age and I not above 32 and yet I know thou reflectest not much hereupon thinking thou hast still a long time to live Thou art of a strong Constitution art a lover of Pleasures searching them every where without any thoughts of Death who will spare thee no more than others whose Health is decayed for he comes taking great strides towards us all Thou art very fortunate I must needs say â—n conserving in a Body so near Old Age a young Man's Spirit which is far from my Disposition For when thou art in pursuit of Divertisements I am continually thinking of Death because I believe I have lived too long Should the King or Cardinal near whom I live know this Night that Mahmut who writes to thee is one of the Grand Seignior's Spies I should lose my Life perhaps before the next Light yet the fear of such an Adventure gives me no Disquiet having entirely sacrificed my self to the Master I serve who commands all Men on the Earth Should these Barbarians put me to Death I shall only finish a little sooner that course which I must certainly one day put an end to and if I live I shall have neither Recompence to expect nor Pain to apprehend Here is much talk about the Duke of Lorrain yet there has been more done against him than said The French affirm that in stripping this Prince of his Countries he has been very mercifully dealt with for Justice required more There are on the contrary other People who do not believe it is possible to do a greater plece of Injustice In fine every man speaks after his manner 'T is said moreover that this Sovereign being come again into the King's Favour who had given him a Thousand Testimonies of good Will after what had passed in 1634 when this Court had great reasons to complain of his Conduct he drew down again afresh the Indignation of France upon him by a Fault which cannot be excused I think this Duke had concluded two Treaties that Year promising a Submission and eternal Obedience He had the Honour to dine with the King and having rendred him Homage for the Dutchy of Bar he again threw himself into the Arms of the Austrians although he had sworn on the Gospels a Book as much respected amongst the Christians as the Alcoran is among the True Faithful That he would never forsake the Interests of France what Wars soever she might find that he would be perpetually fix'd to the Interests of that Crown and never hold any Correspondence with the House of Austria In consideration of which Lewis should re-establish this Prince in his Estates which he was to surrender entirely bating some Places and the Capital called Nanci which he would retain during the War as a Pledge for the performance of what he had sworn to and which yet was to be given up after the Conclusion of the Peace 'T is added That this Sovereign having occasion to complain of the Spanish Ministers and the Grandees of this Nation who carry on the War in Flanders he had written to the Cardinal Infant Governor of the Low-Countries a Letter to this purpose and very near in these Words The King of Frante having required me to joyn my self with my Troops to his Army near Sedan I would not obey this puissant King much less your Higness seeing the Towns subject to the Spaniards treat me as if I were an Enemy The Ladies have had a great part in this Accommodation of the Duke of Lorrain which has had like all the Works of Women a direful Event This Prince being become amorous of a French Lady was for repudiating his lawful Princess to whom he owes all his Estate beginning to separate from her that he might give himself entirely to the Countess of Cantecroix whom he used as his real Wife Good People are sorry for this Prince's Disgrace as believing his Condition to be past Remedy The devout part say That having been unjustly deprived of his Estates God will work Miracles in his Favour considering no less than Three Hundred Saints as they say have been of his Family which must needs reconcile him to the Favour of Heaven amongst which is the famons Godfrey of Bullen who won Jerusalem and all Palestine from the Saracens whom we must own to have been a great Man whether we consider his Courage or Zeal for his Religion which ought to make his Memory famous to all Ages I can tell thee nothing more certain on this Subject having endeavoured to be informed of what I write to thee to satisfie thy Curiosity and whatever I now recite has past in France with little Noise or rather with great Silence as to me for indeed I must with shame confess that I have scarce heard in Paris this Event so famous throughout all Europe Man has nothing but what comes from Heaven and commonly the strongest when he has Right on his side subdues the weak and enriches himself with his Spoils By the Law of Nature every one has Right of judging his own Necessities and the Greatness of the Danger wherein he finds himself and if it be contrary to Reason I should be Judge of my own Danger 't is reasonable another should be so But the same Reason which establishes another Judge of what concerns me has made me his Judge and consequently gives me Authority to judge of the Sentence which he shall give against me and to decide whether it be just when 't is favourable to me or unjust if it be contrary to my Interests Nature has given all to Men and thou and I and all men have an equal Right to all things and hence we have Power to do whatever we will to possess and enjoy what we think is fitting and yet such an extensive Right is just as if we had Right to nothing For at the same time I have Right to a thing which pleases me another stronger than my self by virtue of the same Right takes it from me and enjoys it in spight of me Hence it is that one man invades another with the same Right with which he defends himself whence do and will spring up always the occasions of Jealousies and Discords which are amongst men which make them at continual Defiance with one another and keeps them in a continual Watchfulness over their Neighbours 'T is this Liberty founded in Nature which makes it lawful in time of War to resist and invade not only by open Force but with all the secret Arts and Stratagems as can be devised and when a man would avoid the Danger he is in in fighting and has his Enemy in his hands he has right to use all means to avoid him and secure himself from him
Ceremonies and proud Titles of the Eastern People What is represented here is in a familiar Style such as the Ancient Latins used in their Writings to their Consuls Dictators and Emperors themselves And if the Translation be not Elegant as the Arabick do not accuse the Author seeing it is not possible to reach the Force and Beauty of the Original Have moreover some Respect for the Memory of this Mahometan for living unknown he was safe from the Insults of the Great Ones so that he might write Truth without Danger which ordinarily is disguised by Fear or Avarice having still reported the Transactions of Christians with no less Truth than Eloquence If what I have said cannot satisfie the Curious expect the rest of these Letters which will be found full of great Actions profitable Instructions and good Morals Thank God however who raises Men that employ themselves in vanquishing Ignorance and Idleness and in rendring Justice to Mahmut a passionate Slave for the Interest of his Master and the Truth Have some Goodness for the Translator who being born free acknowledges no Master but God his King and his Reason A TABLE OF THE LETTERS and Matters contained in this Volume BOOK I. LETTER I. MAhmut an Arabian and the Grand Seignior's Vilest Slave to Hasnadarbassy Chief Treasurer to his Highness at Constantinople p 1. Of the Arrival of Mahmut at Paris Description of the Place His Disguisement and Manner of living amongst the Christians II. To the same Hasnadarbassy 4 Of the Isles of St. Margaret and Honorat taken by the Spaniards and of the Archbishop of Bordeaux III. To Darnish Mehemet Bassa 6 Touching the Te Deum and the Rejoycings of the French for the Victory of Leucate 8 IV. To Isuf his Kinsman He exhorts him to love God his Religion and the Grand Seignior V. To the Aga of the Janizaries 9 Of the taking of Breda of Marquiss Spinola He exhorts him to read History VI. To Mehemet an Eunuch Page of the Sultan Mother 11 He recommends to him his Interests at the Port. Of a Prodigy which happened in Germany and of an English Ship VII To the Invincible Vizir Azem 12 Of the Queen of France's Barrenness Of the Court the Genius of the French and Affairs of Africk VIII To Muslu Reis Effendi the Chief Secretary of the Ottoman Empire 17 Of his Manner of living and of the Town of Paris IX To the Mufti Prince of the Religion of the Turks 20 Touching Religion X. To the Kaimakam 23 Of the Pictures of the King of France Cardinal Richlieu and Prince of Conde's Son XI To Bedredin Superior of the Convent of the Dervises of Cogny in Natolia 26 Of the Conversation he had with a Jesuit touching the Mahometan Religion XII To Chiurgi Muhammet Bassa 33 Of the Queen of France's being with Child XIII To Carcoa at Vienna 36 He sends him Three Pictures and asks of him Necessaries XIV To William Vospel a Christian of Austria 37 Touching the Death of his Wife and on the Design he had of retiring into a Convent of Carmelites XV. To Ibrahim that renounced the Christian Religion 41 That one should not write Falsities touching Religion XVI To Dicheu Hussein Bassa 42 Of the everlasting Wars amongst Christians Of Gustavus King of Swedeland and Weymar's Victories XVII To Ahmet Beig 45 Of Italy of the House of Savoy and of the War which the Spaniards and French made in Piemont XVIII To Berber Mustapha Aga. 48 Of the Death of Marshal de Crequy of Magick and of the Fort of Breme XIX To Murat Bassa 53 Of Madam de Savoy the Cardinal de Valette Of Vercelle and of the Duke of Rohan XX. To Dgnet Oglou 57 Of his Captivity at Palermo and his Employment XXI To the Kaimakan 63 Of Piemont and of a Conspiracy discovered at Genoa XXII To the same 67 Of the Siege of Fontarabia Of the Prince of Conde and of the Loss of several Spanish Vessels XXIII To Afiâ— Bassa 70 Of a Diet held at Stockholm where 't was determined to continue the War with Germany and the French Design on St. Omers XXIV To the Kaimakam 71 Of the French Armies their Progress and of Cardinal Richlieu XXV To the same 73 Of the Queens drawing near her time of Casimir taken Prisoner XXVI To the same 75 Of the King of Poland's Travels into Hungary and Germany XXVII To Kerker Hassan Bassa 76 Of Amurath's Exploits on the Frontiers of Persia and of the Death of Two great Personages XXVIII To the Kaimakan 79 Of the Birth of the Dauphin XXIX To the Capitan or Captain Bassa 82 Of a Sea-Fight between the French and Spaniards XXX To the Captain Bassa 85 Of the Galleys of Malta BOOK II. LETTER I. TO the Captain Bassa 87 Mahmut reproaches him with the Intelligence he held with the Emperor of Germany's Secretary II. To the same 90 Of the Galleys the Barbarians lost III. To the same 94 He discovers the Means of surprizing Loretto IV. To the Kaimakam 97 He discourses of the Ministers of Foreign Princes and of the Affairs of Vallone and Loretto V. To the same 101 Touching the setting at liberty the old Renegado Durlu VI. To the same 104 Of the War of Piemont Misfortunes of the House of Savoy of the Duke of Saxony of the taking of Brisac by the Duke of Wimar VII To the same 109 Of the Duke of Lorrain Affairs of Germany Swedeland and Alsatia VIII To Melec Amet. 114 Of the Disgrace of Stridya Bey and of another Adventure IX To the same 118 Of a particular Accident that happened to a Son that rejoyced at the News of his Father's Sickness X. To Enguruli Emin Cheik a Man of the Law 121 Of the King's Goodness to an ancient Father of a Family that would needs turn Souldier in his old Age c. XI To Cara Hali a Physician 125 Of the Mountains of Sicily and Naples which cast forth perpetual Flames Of the Nature of these Flames and of their Effects XII To the Venerable Mufti c. 128 On Religion on some of his scruples and touching the Alcoran XIII To the Kaimakan 131 Of a Man that was sent as a Spy to the Court of Rome by Cardinal Richlieu and of other Matters XIV To Egry Boynou the white Eunuch 135 Touching the Life of Henry IV. XV. To the Invincible Vizir Azem 149 Mahmut's Conference with Cardinal Richlieu touching the Affairs of Jerusalem XVI To the same 155 Of the Dauphin of France and the Sultan's Voyage to Babylon XVII To Bechir Bassa Chief Treasurer to the Grand Signior 156 Of a pleasant and dangerous Adventure which happened to Mahmut and of the Jew Eliachim XVIII To Carcoa of Vienna 160 Mahmut sends word that he has lost the Money he sent him and how XIX To Dgnet Oglou 161 A Relation of the Life of Birkabeb and of a Persian Prince XX. To Egry Boynou an Eunuch 164 Remains of the Life of Henry the Great BOOK III. LETTER I. TO Muslu Reis
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
say to thee in this Matter but I shall not end this Discourse without some violent Scruples of Conscience Pray the Great God with me That he will illuminate my Understanding with Inward Lights until the Man promised by our Holy Prophet the Man I say who ought to be born of his Race be descended upon the Earth who is to see all Kings humbled in his Presence and to unite with Jesus the Two Religions that they may make but One. In the mean Time let us live as honest Men who have Sin in horror like the Plague which poisons the Soul and apply our selves as much as in us lies to what is truly Good and above all things let us carefully observe this Precept writ in the Book of their Law but is not always imprinted in their Hearts Never do to Others no not thy Enemies that which thou wouldst not have done to thy self A Duke of Guise gave an Example of this to all France and 't is what thou oughtest to Preach in the vast Empire of the Mussulmans This Prince surprized a Villain that would have Assassinated him who confessed that the Interest of his Religion which was that of Calvin had obliged him to form a Design to take him away to deliver himself and those of his Party from so great an Enemy The Duke instead of causing him to suffer the Pains due to so black an Enterprise Pardoned him contenting himself to tell him Friend If thy Religion Obliged thee to Kill me without hearing me my Religion Obliges me to give thee thy Life and Liberty now I have heard thee Go thy ways and amend thy self This Prince was then General of Charles the IX 's Army Sage Bedredin our Mahomet never shewed such generous Sentiments when he prescribed in his Law this Precept against Christians that had never Offended him When you Encounter the Infidels kill them and cut off their Heads imprison them and keep them in Chains until they have paid their Ransoms or till you find it requisite to set them at Liberty Persecute them until they have all submitted or are entirely overthrown Observe in this Letter what may be of use to thee Pardon my Friendship the frank Manner of Writing and remember Mahmut in thy Prayers who personates a Christian and is in his Heart a most faithful Mussulman If it be in thy Power to succour me never do me any Injury God protect and govern thy great Age to the last Moment Paris 28th of the 2d Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER XII To Chiurgi Muhammet Bassa THE Queen is with Child when least expected which occasions much Joy at Court especially to the King who after so many Years of Marriage will become a Father Thou who hast applied thy self so long to the Studies of Astrology in the Schools of Egypt yet makest Profession of this Divine Art which discovers thee Things the most hidden to thee who readest so learnedly in the Book of Heaven whatever the Stars have traced there who hast found the Moment of their Rising and Disappearing with the Intervals betwixt these two Times and the Causes which render their Motion quicker or slower thou who penetratest into the most hidden Secrets of Men and knowest the Seasons of Famine of Shipwracks of Victories and of loss of Battels Divine in God's Name Great Interpreter of the Secrets of Nature Wiser than Albumazar and Ptolemy what will become of this Impregnation and whether it be true That this Child that 's to be Born has been more than two hundred and seventy Moons in forming If thou believest what I writ last to thee to be impossible say nothing of it it would be no Credit to me to pass for the Author of a Novel that has no Grounds of Truth The City of Paris is in an inconceivable Joy and this Joy is spread all over France Thou may'st perceive by that the Passion of this People to see their King a Father 'T is true they have much to hope by it but it is as certain they have yet much to apprehend seeing all their Hopes vanish in an instant Nature uses all her Power when she forms a Man the most perfect of all Creatures But there needs but a slight Fall to destroy this Workmanship before it is finished as well as after I have heard a great many People question much the Sex and Life of that which will be born All the Conversation at the Court at Paris and in all the Kingdom is no more of Wars of Leagues of Peace or Naval Preparations they all rowl upon the bringing to Bed of Women There will be other reasoning in some small time in Christendom and even amongst us if the Queen do not miscarry France being no less considerable amongst other Kingdoms than the Bourbone are amongst Men. Harry IV. who introduced the Crown into this Branch of the Family was a Prince very Brave and if we live long enough to see his Grand-Children we shall see whether they will have as much Courage as the Chief of their Family As for thee thou wilt have wherewith to divert thee and excercise thy Talent if this Queen be brought to Bed happily of a Prince I shall in the mean time be very Exact to mark not only the Days and Hours but the least Minutes to the End thou may'st know by the Situation of the Planets which ordinarily regulate the Inclinations of Men in what manner a Prince so long expected will regulate his Affairs and consequently those of others It is a great while since we have had any Commerce here with the Sun there being forty nine Days since this beauteous Planet appeared to us and the Cold is so violent that it has changed as I may say the Waters of the Seine a large River into Crystal Do not look upon these Effects as extraordinary it happens here frequent enough for when the Days are shortest the Cold is most intense Thou knowest that this Climate is very inconstant I have often seen in a little space of Time Rain Hail Snow and terrible Winds and presently after the Air become Fair and Serene This inconstancy of the Climate has its Advantages for if the fair Weather do not last long the foul is also of less Duration Fail not upon the Receipt of my Letter to communicate the News I send thee to the Grand Vizir without telling him the Reflections which I make They are of no Use to such great Ministers particularly by us who are in Comparison of them but vile Slaves always subject to the Sentences they pronounce of us Love me and consult the Stars to know whether thou wilt be always Faithful to me and if it be by Force or Inclination As for my self I assure thee that following the Inclination of my Heart I will conserve thee that Fidelity which I owe by Obligation Paris 28th of the 2d Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER XIII To Carcoa at Vienna THE Kaimacan commands me forthwith to send the
from a Mahometan These Barbarians are sufficiently Instructed in Morality to Teach others that which they do not always Practise themselves Vertue and Truth are respected every where Turn thee from East to West from the South to the North thou wilt find on all Sides impious Men who Blaspheme against the Deity but true Vertue has that of singular That she is always Respected and even by the most Profligate Consult once again thy Forces and thy Courage and take a better Resolution if thou art not yet well fixed in thy first Titus salutes thee out of this World and prays Heaven to give thee the Pleasures of the Happy in thy Solitude if thou beest no Hypocrite and if thou hast not yet Repented of the Resolution thou hast taken Paris 28th of the 3d. Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER XV. To Ibrahim who Renounced the Christian Religion THou hast Renounced thy Religion either to save thy Life or for some other Consideration I do not say this to make thee Scrupulous but in Quality of Resident in this Kingdom to serve here the Sultan Emperor of both Seas and of the Two Parts of the Earth Distributer of all Crowns the Grandeur of whose Majesty I beg of God may last till the last Day of Universal Judgment I advise thee to take heed not to sollicite those Infidels whose Religion thou hast abandon'd to run the same Course that thou hast done Thou hast written to thy Brother that he is become a Beggar because he Renounces his God a Thousand Times at Play and that thou art at present very Rich for having Renounced him but Once and by that thou exhortest him to turn Mussulman I thought good to write to thee That Souls are not to be gained with a Letter and a scurvy Jest Think of becoming a Good Man after thy Change of Religion and give no Occasion to the Marsilians to say That thou art Infamous because thou hast Renounced thy Faith and that we are all damned because we are Mahometans If thou dost not approve the Advice I give I shall he obliged to acquaint the Port with what shall come to my Knowledge which I shall do with Regret because thou may'st suffer by it The Great God make thee rather Wise than Fortunate Paris 28th of the 3d. Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER XVI To Dicheu Hussein Bassa AS the Knowledge which I shall have of Affairs will augment daily so I shall have the more Matter to write and will omit no Occasion to remark what occurs which I will not fail immediately to communicate Thou who with great Application observest what passest amongst Men and art desirous of knowing the most secret Transactions of Potentates thou may'st observe That there are more violent Enmities betwixt the Christian Princes of Europe than all the other Princes of the World I cannot comprehend whence it is that these Infidels cannot live in Peace and perhaps they do not comprehend it themselves It seems a Decree of Heaven That Man ought to be contrary to Man and that whilst there are Kingdoms there will be Wars and Enmities The Wars which are carried on at present in Alsace look as if they would last long The Death of Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden the second Scourge of the Imperialists who was slain Six Years since did not terminate the Differences of Germany they are greater than ever and there appears in the New Generals of the Armies vaster Designs than those in their Predecessors Perhaps they will revenge the Death of Gustave who was kill'd not as the Christians affirm but by one of the Forty Germans who had bound themselves by Oath never to quit their Swords before they had slain him as the Turkish Historians do write Duke Bernard Weymar of no less Valour than Gustave commands the rest of the Swedish Army with a good Number of French Troops and many Christian Hereticks of Germany Victory attends the Arms of this General and the Princes which are united for Defence of the Empire begin to apprehend a Captain who observes less the Rules of War than the Emotions of his Valour and whom they perceive seconded by Fortune But he doth not consider That in weakening an Emperor he doth augment the Forces of a King who will enjoy the Fruits of his Labours and suppress him in Spite of his Bravery when he pleases In the mean time I am of Opinion That it is our Interest that Weymar be always Victorious It may be said of him That he hath sold to France all but his Glory having reserved nothing for himself but Hope All that this Duke can Conquer from the Germans is for the French King who furnishes him with Troops with Arms and with Moneys besides wise Advice Cardinal Richlieu who is an able States man fails not to perswade his Master That the Places which Weymar shall take in the Empire with the Army which he Commands are the Effects of his Councils and his Majesty's Moneys The French begin to preserve their Conquests and know how to defend the place which are subject to their Power This Prince makes Acquisitions which are in truth of more Importance than they seem considerable for their Greatness He took Rhinfeld almost as soon as he had Besieged it The Place was strong seated near the Black Forest where the Garrison was furnished with Abundance of all Sorts of Ammunitions John de Wert General of the Imperial Army had reliev'd it with Nine Regiments of Horse and Five Thousand Foot He defeated Weymar's Horse took part of his Baggage and Artillery The Duke of Rohan a great Captain and great States-man was hurt and taken Fighting and the City relieved with Men Ammunition and Victuals which rendered the taking of it more Glorious They write that Two Imperial Generals the said John de Wert which had succoured Rhinfeld Enhenfort as also Duke Savelli had been taken in a Combat which preceded the Rendition of the Place besides Thirty Eight Cornets and Nineteen Foot Captains These Spoils were gained by the Blood of the Swedes and sent to the French King who after he had caused them to march through all the Streets of this Great City commanded them to be hung up in the Principal Church where I saw and considered them as Marks of the Triumphs of Policy The Siege of this Place lasted but Eightteen Days The Duke of Weymar after this Victory marched into the Marquisate of Durlach where he took the Castle of Rotelen Defended by the King of Hungary in which he found great store of Provisions and all sorts of Ammunitions which served greatly for the refreshing of his then needy Army In the mean time Duke Savelli escaped out of Prison and retired to Luzerne in Switzerland The Officers that guarded him were accused of Favouring his Escape which cost them their Heads All I write to thee is most true and thou may'st cause my Letters to be inregister'd God grant that Brisac together with all Alsatia may fall into the
XXIV To the Kaimakam THE King of France hath sent forth another Army I have already informed thee that this Prince hath already Three Armies in Three Parts of Europe There is one in Piemont commanded by Cardinal la Valette another whereof Prince Henry of Condè is Generalissimo which they hope will quickly take Fontarabia and a Third commanded by Marshal Chatillion which besieges St. Omer The Duke of Longueville is at the Head of the Fourth which is entred into Burgundy with design to ruine the French County defended by Duke Charles of Lorrain one of the Emperor's Generals So many Armies and so many Captains march against the Spaniards This Nation sufficiently manifests her Force she is attack'd on all Sides and resists and defends her self on all Sides This vast Extent of Countries which the Austrians possess though separated from each other makes that they are always employed in defending themselves but they will be eternally exposed to lose without any Appearance of Gain Thou knowest that the true Secret of preserving Union amongst the Good is to entertain perpetual Differences amongst the Bad and thou wilt see that all the Adventures of this Country will render Us Invincible What I tell thee is a true Saying The French at Present are too powerful with so many Troops so many Armies by Sea and Land which are seen in the Provinces of their Enemies The other Christians are in continual Apprehensions The Embassadors of Princes which reside in this Town and Court observe with great diligence so many extraordinary Things but say nothing they do like me they write and advertise their Masters I am afraid thou wilt take no Pleasure in the Relations I make thee of the Successes of so great a Power but I ought to let thee know the Truth Affairs are carried on here with much Art The Ministers serve with great Fidelity and are very secret Cardinal Richlieu hath an entire Ascendant over the King's Spirit and to say Truth is a Person of great Merit They say he aspires to true Glory and will place the Crown which Charlemain wore as Emperor of the West upon his Master's Head If the good Fortune of France marches always at this Rate the Misfortunes of its Enemies must be excessive The manifold Wars which this Monarch undertakes and Richlieu counsels him do in the mean Time make the People who bear the Burthen by the Taxes which they are forced to pay murmur besides their Grief for the Loss of their Parents and Friends slain in these Wars The Cardinal fears Peace and apprehends his Enemies may destroy him if they have leisure to cabal against him Thus he finds his Interest in the War and the Armies support his Authority I cannot yet make any certain Judgment of him nor have a perfect Knowledge of his Manners no more than of the Extent of his Genius because the Man hides many Things during his Life with a Dress which will be discovered when he dies We can see which are his good Inclinations and it is not easie to penetrate into a Discovery of the Vices which he is inclined to In few Words he has much contributed to the â—eace of France divided by Diversity of Religion â—e hath succoured Italy and manifested there the â—ower of the King his Sovereign has weakened â—e Empire of Germany by the War he hath carâ—â—ed into her Bosom by the joynt Forces of the â—rinces of the North and them of France at once â—nd no less weakned the Power of the King of â—pain Thou that knowest every thing that passes and last Intelligence from all the Parts of the World canst truly judge of Affairs which makes thee know and foresee all that may prejudice the formidable Empire of the Mussulmans Paris 20th of the 7th Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER XXV To the Kaimakam ALL is in Peace here the War being carried on abroad The Court continues to make Vows for the Queen's Health and happy Delivery They seem not so much concerned for the King's Welfare as the Queen's every Body being perswaded That the Happiness of France depends on her safe Delivery I writ to Ghiurdgi Muhamet that he should mention the Queen's being with Child as a doubtful Thing and which might vanish but at Present it is most certain for she will shortly be brought to Bed She lives in great Repose for fear of hurting her self she scarce stirs out of her Bed-Chamber and every body endeavours to please her There is News from Provence of the arresting of a King's Son by that Governor The Prisoner is Brother to Uladislaus King of Poland 'T is said that the King of Spain had made Prince Casimir Vice-Roy of Portugal in Recompence of the Troops of Cossacks he had formerly raised to defend the County of Burgundy They add that being embark'd at Genoa upon one of the Gallies of that Republick for Spain to take Possession of the said Charge with a small Train of Domesticks and Count Konickpolski who called himself Uladislaus's Embassador with the Marquiss of Gonzague his Kinsman being arrived in Provence and visiting with Care all the Ports and Fortresses this gave no small Cause of Suspicion to the French He staid four Days privately in Marseilles but his Galley was arrested at Bouc the last Port of France by Orders of this King 'T is not yet known what obliged France to make a Person of this Quality Prisoner having nothing to do with Poland and King Lewis XIII having no particular Pique against Prince Casimir But the Secrets of State being only known to them that govern Kingdoms I pretend to penetrate no further but content my self to write what they do and what they say Thou who in the Absence of the Vizir Hazem art the Glory of his Highness's Council art best able to discover the reason of so extraordinary a Novelty The most knowing Persons at Court say this Prisoner will suddenly be set at Liberty and that having no War that may authorize his Detention it would be unjust to retain him The Event will teach me who am Ignorant and them that will divine that which perhaps no body knows at present May it please the Great God Master and Soveraign Moderator of all Things that the Intelligences and Guesses which I give may always be profitable and agreeable and that thy Life may be of eternal Duration for the Happiness of our Great Emperor and his Empire Thou shalt suddenly know whether Prince Casimir be retained longer in Prison or set at Liberty I would that King Uladislaus were in the same misfortune in the hands of the Janizaries and that he as well as his Kingdom were Slaves to the Invincible Sultan King of Kings to whose Power may it please the divine Goodness and the wisest of his Prophets to subject all the Countries of the Infidels and then to place him with his Wives and all the Prophets in his Paradise Paris 20th of the Seventh Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER XXVI To the
have done why are thy Answers so full of Injury Think better on thy Interest and be always faithful if thou intendest a long Life Paris 4th of the 10th Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER II. To the same THE small Success which we always meet with at Sea obliges me to entertain thee thereon I shall take no Notice of this to the other Grandees of the Port no not to the Kaimakam to whom I have not written these Three Posts If thou hast received my Two last Letters thou oughtest to be satisfied with the Care which the faithful Mahmut takes to give thee sound Advice Consider well all the Circumstances which are related here concerning the Sea-Affairs The Loss of so many Galleys great Ships and other Vessels made this Year by the Friends of the Empire the True Faithful do much lessen the Reputation of the Ottoman Greatness The Discourses made hereon by the Christians are so many Invectives against the Honour of Amurath against thine and that of our Nation If it be by a Decree of Heaven that these Venetian Pyrates have taken this Year all the Galleys of Africk we must then conclude That God is offended with us and does not hear our Prayers For my part I believe it but I should not be a good Mussulman should I pretend to understand the Secrets of Providence They write from Marseilles That the People of Tunis Bizerte and Algiers are greatly dismay'd at the Loss of their Fifteen Gallies which General Capello has taken from them this Year Thou knowest how the Business has happened the Infraction of the Treaty is manifest to all the World as well as the Insultings over the Fortress of the Grand Signior I cannot imagine what Excuses the Senators of this Republick can make for what their Admiral has maliciously done against us when they shall be obliged to give an Account of their Actions at the Fleet of Amurath I speak to thee with all possible Humility and thou needest not doubt but I speak with Zeal I believe 't is time for thee to oppose and put a stop not only to the Pyracies of these People but the Incursions and continual Enterprizes of the Corsaries of Malta and so many Vessels which infest our Seas under the Banner of the Duke of Tuscany and other Infidel Princes Thou oughtest to succour those People which are Friends and Tributaries to the Port whose Assistance thou hast often advantageously used neither dost thou want means for this having at thy disposal the terrible Forces entrusted to thee by Amurath and with these the magnanimous Courage given to thee by Nature The Christians have vow'd to pierce this Year into the Bosphorus and put all to Fire and Sword Above Sixty French Knights are determined for Malta to joyn themselves with their Comrades to cruise our Seas with them And thou knowest the Resolution and Courage of this Militia and the Progress they every Day make Believe what Mahmut tells thee Thou hast Two Seas to keep and if it be true thou hast made Ali Piccinino to come from Africk with so many Galleys designed to the keeping of the Coasts of Barbary 't is not to be doubted but the Divine Providence has ordered it concerning so greatly Amurath's Honour that the Guilty be pursued so that not one of them may escape his Vengeance All People say here that Piccinino has lost his Army for want of good Conduct However here are great Rejoycings at our Losses and if possible more in Italy where they feel the Advantage of so considerable a Prize at the same time together with the Honour of the Victory and where we are hated more than in any Place else besides I beseech God to chastize these People by thy Hand and that the Edge of thy Cymiter in giving Death to our Enemies may put an end to Slander and Slanderers Here 's an impudent Fellow who reports he has seen thee several times at Constantinople He with great Confidence affirms the Christian Corsaries will bring thee one Day laden with Chains into the Arsenal of Venice or that of Malta He grounds his Prediction on that thou art says he furious when thou commandest and that being too forward thou canst not obey the Orders given thee He adds that Tobacco Love of Boys Wine and â—omen drive thee twice a Day into a Condition uncapable of exercising thy Reason He moreover says thou wantest Courage in a Land-Fight neither art well skill'd in Sea-Combats I would not write these Fooleries to thee were I not perswaded that they really are so and that thou wantest neither Courage nor Experience I am moreover perswaded of the Malignity of thy Accusers touching the Debaucheries I mentioned and it appears to me more pertinent to write thee this than to the Grand Vizir though I must confess I am enjoyned to inform the Ministers of the Port of whatever I hear without any Reserve 'T is said that as to what concerns the Republick of Venice and Capello who commands its Navy that this General will be punished for doing too well that this puissant State will be humbled to the kissing the Stirrup of our great Emperor's Horse but it will justifie the Lawfulness of the Prize which this General made as being no breach of the Treaty with the Sublime Port whence come the Orders by which the World is to be governed and that in fine the Pyrates of Africk are not comprehended in the Treaties of Peace made with his Highness And it is moreover alledged That should this Republick be obliged to restore these Galleys which she has taken 't will appear they have been lost through several Accidents All Christendom is perswaded there 's no Republick in the World govern'd with greater Prudence which will make her avoid all Occasions of Difference with the Port and seek all Ways of Reconcilement with Amurath to prevent a War which cannot be for her Interest I happened into a Company of discreet Persons who blame Ali Piccinino's Conduct and attribute his Misfortune to his want of Skill and to his Rashness They affirm That had he had the Courage of a true Soldier he would have behaved himself not only in the Archipelago but in the Adriatick Sea like a Captain and not like a Thief and that God has given him this Mortification as a Punishment for the Cruelty he shewed to the innocent Vestals whom he made Slaves at Calabria together with a great Multitude of Old Men and Children which was an Act no ways suitable to a brave Commander And this is the Discourse caused by the hatred to our Nation and especially to Ali. The Great God Sovereign Moderator of all Things keep thee in perfect Judgment and make thy Valour renowned and thy Glory proclaimed in all Places enlightned by the Beams of the Sun Paris 6th of the 11th Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER III. To the same I Wrote to thee Yesterday what the Sense of the World was of thee and I write to thee
there was a Battery raised of several Pieces of Cannon to keep the Swedes at a Distance and hinder them from encamping too near Some Franch imprudently advancing to discover the Enemy's Posture within less than Musket-shot were almost all kill'd on the Place By this time the Duke of Wimar seeing he could not draw the Imperialists to fight and it being impossible to force them on the Mountain where they were intrenched retired under the Castle of Mauberg with his Rear-guard commanded by the Count de Gurbian a French Gentleman The next Day he joined the rest of his Army and being informed by a Moor that served him and in whom he put great Confidence that the Imperialists began early in the Morning to retire he immediately therefore put himself into a Condition to follow them making his Army to march in Battle-Array His Horse consisted of Twenty four Squadrons and his Foot of Eight Batalions besides the Auxiliary Troops of which he made a Reserved Body The French affirm the Imperialists were the strongest as having Four thousand Men more than the Swedes of which 't is hard to know the certainty but the Particulars of the Battle are worth ones writing 'T was very bloody the Fight being obstinately held by both Parties and the Victory long inclining sometimes to one side and sometimes to another So that the Combatants were ready to retire weary of striking and being struck when Fortune on a sudden declared her self for the Duke of Wimar who behaved himself in the Fight like a wise Captain and valiant Soldier 'T is certain the Imperialists have lost Two thousand Men in this Occasion with several of their principal Officers And also above Fifteen hundred were made Prisoners amongst which there were above Two hundred Persons considerable on the account of their Birth or Employs I make no mention of the Number of the Cannon neither do I reckon the Hundred Colours or Cornets nor Three thousand Waggons laden with all Sorts of Ammunition which fell to the Conquerors but I greatly value the Box of Writings of two great Commanders wherein were found the Instructions and secret Orders of the King of Hungary and some Treaties made with the sublime Port to which all the Potentates of the World should pay Homage It cannot yet be discovered what these Treaties contain yet I shall do all that 's possible in order to it The booty has been great however Wimar seems not to set much by it as aiming at something more considerable He remained two Days in the Field of Battle the better to assure his Enemy of his Conquest he moreover pretends in his Letters to this Court that he had not in this Expedition above Five hundred Foot and few Cavalry which out of a Bravado he says he will reinforce with his Pages This is that which our Emperors who are the Masters of the World would scruple to say in the Presence of their Slaves so far would they be from speaking so before an Army as this Prince did in the Presence of a great King See the Vanity of one of these Infidels's Generals In Obedience to the Orders which I received from thee I here end my Letter so that thou wilt receive a very imperfect Relation of the Events which I began to relate to thee and I shall continue my Dispatch to Morrow that thou maist the better remember what I have already written to thee that I may not lose the Thread of the History Paris 24th of the last Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER VII To the same I Find in the Alcoran the Chapter which speaks of Limbo's to be very long and I believe I never wrote thee any Letter wherein there were so many Words Thou shalt not receive henceforward any from me larger than the Hundred and six Versicles of this Chapter seeing thou enjoynest me to be short I have therefore divided this Dispatch into two lest it should prove tiresome to thee although I believe thou wouldest have found it when entire not so long as the Chapter which treats of Hell Wimar lost no time but went and encamped before Brizac he caused the Trenches to be opened with great Diligence and has so beset the Rhine that nothing can pass without his Leave This River is considerable for its Largeness and Length of its Course carrying Vessels of great Burthen which makes it much frequented This Captain having discovered the Town wanted Provisions of all kinds used all imaginable Artifices to surprize it or carry it away by Assault It is the Capital of a great Province where he is Master of several considerable Places and several strong Castles from whence one may say the Place was already besieged Things were in this Condition and there was no other Discourse in the Swedes Camp but of Victories Losses and Wounds when the News of the Birth of the Dauphin was brought there which caused another Noise to be heard The Horse and Foot joyned their Shouts of Joy to the Sounds of the Drums Trumpets and the Artillery which was several Times discharged The Valour of the Duke of Wimar and that of the Troops which he commands made not the Imperialists to lose their Courage having recruited their Army with new Troops General Lambore a Man of Courage and good Conduct appeared in the sight of the Swedes having added to his Army Five Thousand Men with the rest of the Troops of Prince Savelly and wasted the Country which the Enemy was in possession of If thou wouldest know the Situation of the Swedes Camp and in what manner they made their Trenches and Circumvallations I can certainly inform thee having had some time since a very exact Draught of it This Camp is Three German Miles in Compass fortified on each side by a Trench Sixteen Foot thick with a large deep Ditch a double Palisado and several Redoubts The lower as well as upper Parts of the Town are mightily annoyed by Two Bridges made on the Rhine The Abundance of all sorts of Ammunition does much hearten the Army The Commander although very ill yet is incessantly watchful and seems indefatigable The Soldiers animated by their past Successes think of nothing but new Conquests and new Booty imagining themselves invincible The Artillery which is in the Camp is Fifty Pieces of great Cannon with which such Batteries have been made as drive the Besieged to despair I mention not to thee several small Skirmishes which continually happen yet this is what is most considerable Some Troops of young Soldiers of the Imperial Army having taken several Cattle from the Swedes and made some Prisoners had notice of the March of Colonel Sillard who came from France and brought a good Summ of Money for the Payment of the Troops They went to meet him and took it together with several young Gentlemen Prisoners all Men of Note and who had also a great deal of Money about them At the same time the Duke of Lorrain a Prince of great Valour who
serves in the Imperialist's Party has undertaken to relieve Brizac which he knew was reduced to the utmost Extremity and having chosen for this Design Forty Companies of Foot for a Convoy of Provisions and being on his March he met with the Duke of Wimar And this is the short of the Story The Prince was still indisposed by reason of his late Sickness yet this could not hinder him from embracing this Occasion which he believed to be of great Importance to his Party he got therefore on horseback and marched up to the Duke The Combat lasted Five Hours and Lorrain did all that could be expected from a brave and experienced Commander But he was constrained to yield to the Duke's Fortune and retire into a wood with what he could save of his Troops and the Swedes Courage was not a little increased by so great an Advantage which will certainly be attended with the Surrender of Brizac The Duke of Wimar remained Master of the Field having entirely defeated the Imperialists Foot and put the Duke of Lorrain's Horse into a horrid Disorder There lay above Twelve Hundred dead on the Place and all the Baggage together with the Ammunition fell into the Hands of the Conqueror A Man would think Illustrious Kaimakam that the God Mars has united himself with this Captain for notwithstanding the Weakness of his Body he performs every Day most Heroick Actions with his valiant Soldiers who are ready to undertake any Thing when he is at their Head Whether this happens from his not valuing of Life or his Thirst after Honour yet so it is That That he cannot live without nourishing himself with Victories and he begins already to equal the famous Gustavus under whom he has learn'd his Trade Yet he has lost notwithstanding his Diligence Two Forts he built on the Rhine which if he retakes 't will not be without the Cost of much Blood on both Sides The Germans have already lost Sixty Thousand Men there amongst which there were Four Hundred drowned The Extremities of Brizac of which we have already private Advices is at present known by all the World The Swedes intercepted the last Moon of October a Letter from the Governor to the King of Hungary wherein he laid open his Condition and told him plainly That Places which wanted Men Victuals and Ammunition could not be defended but by a Miracle adding That the best Officers and Soldiers were already dead and those that were alive were either sick or lay wounded and so greatly tired that they could do no Service and besides their Victuals would last but Twelve Days He seemed afterwards to reproach him for letting the Time slip in which he had promised him Assistance and put him in mind he did not believe he could hold out to the 4th of the Moon of September being reduced to such Extremities that he durst not mention Particulars lest his Letter should fall into other Hands Observe the Imprudence of the Expressions he dares not write all and yet he writes more than needs to discover that the Place will be infallibly taken If thou beest impatient to know the Surrender of Brizar thou shalt be satisfied by this Dispateh The Post is now come which brings News of the taking of this important Place and he has come hither in Three Days The Place was taken according to the Rules of War surrendring the Ninth of the last Moon of this Year according to the Christians Style The Governor procured very honourable Terms and truly he sustained the Siege with all the Vigor and Courage possible to the last Extremity He is called the Baron de Reynech His Name deserves a Place in the Letters thou enregisters and that the Divan should be informed of a Man who knows so well to defend what is intrusted to him that they may give to Vertue her Due There went out of Brizac only Four Hundred Foot and Seventy Horse who were all naked wounded and almost dead with Hunger they were reduced to those Extremities that they had already eaten the Flesh of Horses Cats and Dogs and some were said to have devoured humane Flesh As touching the Booty there are different Discourses but 't is certain the Conqueror found above Two Hundred Pieces of Cannon in the Place But there is a strange Story related of a young Lady of admirable Beauty who falling down at the Duke of Wimar's Feet thus spake to him Sir I have but some few moments to live Hunger having reduced me to the Gates of Death but I shall die desperate if you do not revenge me of a base Fellow who has exacted of me a Diamond of great Value which I have been forced to give him for a roasted Mouse I am not angry with him for his taking of me a Pearl-Necklace during the Siege for Four Ounces of Flower but I confess my Weakness I cannot fee my self bereaved of what I most valued and die without Satisfaction 'T is said this Prince could not forbear shedding Tears at so piteous a Spectacle this Lady dying almost at the same Instant she had done speaking but 't is not known whether he called this hard-hearted Fellow to an Account for what he had detained The Siege of Brizac lasted Four Months almost Fourscore Thousand Men perishing in the Town by Sickness Wounds and Famine Bonfires are made at Paris for so great an Advantage and the Duke of Wimar's Praises are every where celebrated and great Commendations are given him in the Letters from the Court Our Empire may have one Day something to fear from so brave so experienced and ambitious a Captain were he at leisure But Germany is so large a Country so full of stout Men and contains so many great Towns and those so well fortified as will afford him Work enough without troubling Us. 'T is pleasantly said here That the Emperors of Germany will no more sleep quietly for in losing Brizac they have lost their Pillow on which they rested and 't is thought France may one Day unite this Conquest to her Crown The great God multiply the Years of thy Life as the Sand of the Sea and increase every Day thy Fortune and continue thy Health Paris 25th of the last Moon of the Year 1638. LETTER VIII To Melec Amet. I Have heard hâ—reâ—a confused Discourse of the Disgrace of Stridyâ— Bey but thy Letters have satisfied me Thou seest Friend how Things go He had the Prince's Favour and yet could not save himself He had moreover great Riches and yet was obliged to undergo such great Ignominy He will be more deformed than he was having now left his Nose and Ears in the Hands of the Common Executioner Amurath in condemning him to this Punishment has done an Act of Justice worthy of him For the honestest Men in the Empire have ever wished Ill to this proud and insolent Greek This Man who was but a pitiful Fisherman and Seller of Oysters got this intolerable Pride by the prodigious Riches he
Children and hinder them from devouring one another That he would cause sharp Nails and Rasors to be fastened to the Seats where the Judges sate that those who suffered themselves to be corrupted might sit thereon and indeed in this particular I cannot but wonder at the Christians Blindness We see oftentimes decided in one only Campaign the Differences of Two great States but a Suit in Law for Twenty Sequins shall often last a Mans whole Life and perhaps be entailed on his Heirs But hear a remarkable Example of the Sincerity of this Sovereign There were who would have perswaded him to have apprehended the Duke of Savoy who came to Paris to terminate some Differences he had with him He answered those that advised him with this That Francis I. one of his Predecessors had learnt him A Prince was more obliged to do what he had promised than to obtain what he desired that 't was in his Power to have apprehended a Prince far more considerable but would not do it suffering the Emperor Charles V. to pass out of his Kingdom who had come therein on his Word after this added he shall Henry give such an Example to Princes If the Duke of Savoy has often broke his Word with me it does not therefore follow I must imitate him Crimes can never be authorised by Examples The same Duke of Savoy having asked him What Revenue he drew from his Kingdom He answered him in these Terms I draw as much as I will because I make my self beloved whence it is that my Subjects count all our Estates are common He answered very pleasantly to a Prince's Envoy who came with a Complement of Condoleance for the Death of his Son who had been dead near a Year That he was no longer grieved at that Loss seeing God had given him Two more since A Captain of great Reputation having said That the Kings Liberalities tho several Times reiterated could not oblige him to love him Henry sent him Word He would heap so many Favours on him that he would force him at last He oft used this Proverb That more Flyes are taken with a Drop of Hony than a Tun of Vinegar A Monk entertaining him one Day about Military Affairs Open your Breviary Father said he and shew me where you learnt these fine Lessons One Day a Taylor presenting him with a Book of Politicks he said to the Chancellor who was there present Monsieur Chancellor cut me out a Suit of Cloths here 's a Taylor who understands your Trade and tells me how I shall govern my Kingdom One Day when the Pope's Nuncio was at a great Feast where there were between Twenty and Thirty Ladies of great Beauty he told this Prelate He had been in several Battels but never found himself in so great Danger before Nothing seems more agreeable than the Answer he made to the Provost of the Merchants of Paris who was urgent with him to consent to an Impost which was to be laid on the Fountains of the Town to furnish the Expence of Forty Deputies of the Switzers who came into France to renew their ancient Alliance with this Kingdom and his Answer was That this Magistrate should find some other Expedient than to change Water into Wine which was a Miracle that never any Body wrought but Jesus Christ who is as thou knowest the Christian's Saviour and for thy further Instruction 't is necessary for thee to know The Switzers love Wine above all Things in the World and that not without Reason This Prince went to the Wars at the Age of Fifteen and at Seventeen killed an Enemy and in the Year following he saved the Life of one of his Captains and had his Horse killed under him He was in Five Battles and in more than an hundred Combats and at the Siege of above Two hundred Places He sustained Seven different Wars in which his Enemies aknowledged that he had Fifty five Armies upon him at several Times and in different Places and always obtained some considerable Advantage Those that have given him the Term of Great have given him his true Name He was highly esteemed by all Nations and thou knowest very well that our Sultans tho the mightiest Monarchs in the Universe have admired this great Prince's Fortune and Valour Above Fifty Historians have written his Life above Five hundred Poets have published his Praises I will leave thee at present the Liberty of comparing this King with those whom thou wilt choose from amongst the Hero's If Mahomet XI has not done more than him he may be compared to him in Warlike Actions with this Difference That King Henry conquered the Gauls who were of his Patrimony and Mahomet conquered Twelve Kingdoms and an Empire because he was perswaded that all the Earth belonged to him Henry subdued the City of Paris and Mahomet made himself Master of Constantinople The King of France left an infinite Number of Marks behind him of his Grandure on Marble and in the Writings of famous Authors and Mahomet left only on his Tomb those which shewed what he had designed to execute but never could do it which was to take Rhodes and subdue proud Italy We must also acknowledg there was never found in any Mahometan Prince the admirable Clemency of Henry shewing himself herein greater than in vanquishing his Enemies Contrary to Mahomet who shewed only great Kindness to an Ox whom he caused to be carefully fed because he would never forsake the Tomb of his Master whom this Prince had killed abiding always by it and expressing his Sorrow by horrible Bellowings In all other Occasions he was very cruel far from the Humor of this French King who heapt Benefits on those who drew Blood of him Mahomet by a barbarous Cruelty caused the Bellies of Twenty of his innocent Pages to be ript open to discover him that had eaten a Melon in his Garden Henry was a great Lover of Ladies and an extream Admirer of that Sex and Mahomet jealous of the too great Beauty of his Mistriss cut off her Head himself in a full Divan And farther if Mahomet gave in the East a great Example of Justice in putting his own Son to Death for deflowring the Daughter of the Bassa Achmet in a Bath Henry gave a greater in his own Person in repairing at the Head of his Army the Outrage offered to a young Girl from whom he could not fear any vexatious Consequences Be sure however be silent in these Judgments I make and shew thy self discreet if thou intendest to hold any Correspondence with me Imitate the Bees gather from so many Flowers presented thee what appears to thee sweetest and most proper to form Mustapha's Mind and supple his Spirit like Wax I could relate to thee more Things touching this Henry but there 's no Necessity of writing all that thou maist have space to imagine what such a Prince might have done who had re-established his Fortune by his Valour alone Let me know of
Lopes could not execute his Commission his Army was lost on the English Seas and 't was written in Heaven That Dom Juan should live and be a King This Artifice having fail'd the Duke had recourse to another which was to send an Order to the Duke of Braganza to visit all the Forts on the Frontiers where there were strict Injunctions to detain him But he perceiving the Project of this Spanish Minister knew so well to excuse himself from undertaking this Business that he made the Designs of his Enemy to vanish this time also and got leave to retire to Villa Viciosa Those who penetrated not the Artifices of the Court of Spain were astonisht at the Accumulation of so many Favours and Honours on the Person of the Duke affirming the Court had Intentions of raising him to the Throne or bringing him to the Scaffold in which last they were not mistaken Olivarez who let slip no Occasion of laying Snares for Braganza grew the more obstinate by the Difficulties he met with He sent him a new Order to raise Troops and to lead them himself into Catalonia for the Chastisement of the Rebels this being of absolute Necessity said he in his Letters for the upholding of the Spanish Monarchy to which the Revolt of this Province caused great Mischiefs The Duke obeyed in part he raised a considerable number of Troops at his own Charge but he took care of his own Person He wrote to the Court to excuse him from that Voyage and added to his excuses most earnest Prayers representing That being sick of the World he had retired into his own Estate to lead there a quiet Life free from the Vexations of Business which obliged him to entreat his Catholick Majesty to grant him that Rest which was the only thing he desired The Duke de Braganza's Letter drew no Answer from the Spanish Minister but his Designs were discovered and the Nobility foreseeing how likely they were to be brought under a more strict Subjection began to murmur saying 'T was their Duty to rid themselves of those Oppressors who had so long peeled them and set up a New Form of Government The Poor who suffered most by the Taxes were the boldest and encouraged the rest Some were for setting up an Elective King others proposed the raising to this Honour the Family of Braganza who alone seemed worthy of it Some there were who were for putting themselves under the Domination of France and other persons of Credit amongst the People were for a Democratical Government and others again were for turning the Kingdom into a Republick The Nobility were in great Perplexity in the Choice they should make for 't was not known whether the Duke of Braganza would receive the Crown in case t was offered him again for the most qualified Persons of the Kingdom had proposed it to him There was none but D. Gaston Cattique a Gentleman as Eloquent as Stout whom Heaven design'd for the persuading of this Prince that could accomplish it He pretended to fight a Duel with a Nephew he had whom having slightly wounded he left Lisbon as a man that had brought himself into danger and wandring about from thence uncertain as it were of the place of Retreat he would chuse he went at length to Villa-Viciosa where having found Braganza in his Solitude he thus spake to him I bring this day a Crown which the Nobility of Portugal presents thee and if thou hast the Courage to receive it we are ready to put it on thine Head This Kingdom belongs to thee as the undoubted Heir of our Natural and Lawful Princes If thou acceptest of the Crown the Kingdom justly belongs to thee and if thou darest not receive it we will choose another Sovereign of greater Resolution and who is willing to command us The Scepter shakes in King Philip 's Hand by reason of the Wars made against him from all parts Consider if thou receivest not at present what Fortune presents thee thou wilt be obliged against thy Will to obey another Neither the Nobility the Clergy nor the People will any longer suffer the Arrogance of the Castilians It belongs to thee at present to declare whether thou wilt reign and be a happy Prince All the faithfull Portugueses breath after thee and desire thee for their Soveraign Resolve to accept of what is so advantageous and let us alone for the executing of our parts Dom Juan answered coldly to such a bold Proposition more affrighted at the Peril there was in such an Enterprize than flattered with the Hopes of possessing a Kingdom But in another Conference wherein the Duke was told the Conspirators were resolved to raise on the Throne another King if he came not to a speedy Resolution the Dutchess his Wife who has a Man's Heart and is more courageous than her Husband coming into the Conversation thus spake to him with great Assurance My Lord the Catholick King has sent for thee again to Court at Madrid thou wilt certainly meet with thy Death and in receiving the Crown which is offered thee thou art still in danger of it but if thou must perish which way soever thou turnest thy self is it not more honourable to dye a King in thine own Country than to dye with Chains in a Prison by the hands of thine Enemy So courageous a Discourse brought Dom Juan to a Resolution wherefore he sent Word to the Nobility of his Readiness to comply with them The Conspirators were ready at the hour appointed for the Execution of their Design Being well armed and each of them accompanied with a good Number of Young Men who were to follow them although they knew not the Design As soon as ever the Signal was given they all set forth from the Places where they were assembled and those that were farthest distant joined the nearest and all together soon possessed themselves of the Palace of the Vice-Queen they immediately made themselves Masters of the Guard finding no resistance from them and this without spilling a Drop of Bloud or doing any Violence They afterwards cryed out altogether Long live the new King D. Juan de Braganza and let them dye that govern ill They siezed on the Vice-Queen and entreated her to retire into an Apartment where she should be treated with the Respect due to a Princess but not obeyed as having Authority to command them Vasconcelli who knew himself faulty and to whom his Conscience reproached his Crimes in this moment hid himself in a great Press under an heap of Papers where having been discovered by an old Woman he had immediately his Throat cut and his Body thrown out at a Window where he served for some time a May-game to the People who left not one part of his Body free from some Mark of their Indignation One of this Minister's Domesticks threw himself out at the same Window his Master was thrown not in a design of following his Fate but of saving himself and he dyed
his Majesty's Approbation to continue them in their Offices And as a Mark of his Indignation and Authority he put by the President and some Counsellours from their Places This bold and politick Action was done as I may say in the midst of Dancings and Divertisements the more to denote the Monarch's Authority and in the time of such Magnificent Feastings as became the Pomp of the greatest Emperors in the Palace of the Cardinal for the Marriage of his Niece Mademoisselle de Breze with the Prince of Conde's Eldest Son called the Duke D' Anguien a Prince from whom the World expects great things and whom all France believes will prove one of the Famousest Princes in Christendom The Catalonians are obstinate in their Revolt their Deputies have been already seen in this Court to entreat a good Supply from this King and it is not to be doubted but they will earnestly sue for his Protection And France has already sent Troops near those Parts and its Fleet appears on the Coasts to encourage this Nation and mortifie the Spaniards There are a great many Troops raised here and this Monarch will have in the Spring eight Armies commanded by Generals of great Valour and Experience besides these two Fleets so that Germany Lorrain the Low Countries Catalonia and Italy are like to be Exposed to the Miseries of an impoverishing War Only Germany seems to me able to defend it self The vast Genius of the French-Minister astonishes all the Princes of Europe he breaks all their Measures and makes a secret War against them in their own Courts Nothing can escape his vigilant Care he keeps his own Secrets so strictly that his nearest Friends cannot discover them His Power and Authority are so great that the Princes of the Bloud are nothing in comparison of him and his Fame makes him as much respected Abroad as at Home His Friends affirm He is ignorant of nothing which is projected in Europe England is the Place which he has last attackt its Civil Wars owing their Original to his Designs I pray Heavens favour thy just Pretensions and every day increase thy Heroick Vertues Paris 15th of the 1st Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER XIII To the most Excellent and most Venerable Mufti Sovereign Prelate of the Holy Religion of the Faithful Mussulmen HE of whom I wrote so many particulars some Moons ago to obey as I ought the express Command thou laidst upon me not only is still living but is more absolute than ever in what concerns his Ministry Yet is it false that this Cardinal finding nothing more as thou writest to me 't is talked of in Constantinople to satisfie his Ambition which puts him still upon desiring something farther being become the absolute Master of what depends on the Kingdom of Lewis XIII had designs of making himself absolute Master of what concerns Religion But he was too knowing a Man to design the being the Superiour General of all the French Dervises a thing which neither the King of France nor the Pope would permit I rather think this Minister's Design has been to subject all the Christian Princes to his Master's Interests The Ottoman Empire would have some reason to be afraid were all the Roman Prelates wise enough to chuse this Man for their Pope We should see in a short time all Asia agitated by his Intrigues against the Followers of the great Mahomet and those that follow Ali would not enjoy a much greater Security Thou knowest that the greatest Marks which the Popes can give of their Piety during their Pontificat is to stir up Wars and make Leagues against us to overthrow our Empire Think then what this great Man would do were he the Head of the Christians with those Abilities and great Intelligences which he every where keeps seeing that being only a Subject and Minister of one Prince he so governs himself that there 's no Nation how far so ever distant but holds its Eyes open on his Conduct And a Pope being always chosen from amongst the Cardinals and the Pope now reigning being very old it may happen that this dangerous man shall be chosen Thou then whose pure Life makes us believe thou art a Saint pray the great God to hinder such an Event which will without question disturb the Empire of him whom he has chosen to humble all other Potentates and shew on Earth the Greatness of his power and rather than such a Misfortune should befall us pray Him that has created all things that this man's Eyes be opened to know and embrace the true Faith For it were better if I may say so without displeasing thee that this Cardinal should be a bad Mufti at Constantinople than a good Pope at Rome at the Head of all the Nazarenes 'T is said that a Foreign King consulted this Oracle for he is held in as great Veneration as if he was one what Conduct he should hold to live securely And it is said the Cardinal made this Answer That Kings should live in Fear and then they would live in Safety it being certain they would receive no Poyson from the Hands of those who do not present them their Drink no more than they can receive Wounds from those whom they keep at a great Distance from them Those who will not flatter them will not deceive them and where they shall think themselves in greatest Safety that will always be the place of greatest Danger I am perswaded grave and wise Prelate thou wilt approve of the Answer of this Minister Julius Caesar lived in the midst of Combats but dyed in the midst of the Senate Next after God it is before thee great Minister of Heaven that I humble my self entreating thee to receive graciously the profound Respects of thy Slave Mahmut Paris 25th of the 2d Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER XIV To his Mother Ocoumiche at Constantinople IT may be said I have escaped from a mortal Sickness and remain in Life only to hear the Complaints of my Friends who recite to me their Misfortunes and of my Kindred who entertain me with the Losses they have sustain'd Thou addest my dear Mother a new Torment to the Pains I already suffer by shedding so many fruitless Tears O! how cruel is my Country that gives so many Occasions of Affliction to those to whom she has given their Birth Thou hast lost the greatest part of thine Estate in the Fire of Constantinople and Death has deprived thee of thy second Husband I was but a Child when my Father dyed so that I could not judge then of thy Grief neither was I sensible of my own Loss Now that I am a Man I enter into thy Sentiments I share in thy Grief and shall do all I can to comfort thee Thou hast lost thy first and second Husband and thou hast reason to afflict thy self If the first was an honest man 't is certain the other loved thee extreamly And the Charms of thy Countenance have not a little
well-known Marks in the Person of D. Sebastian He talks of Ambassadors which he sent to the Republick he cites the Answers he had received and all he says is found conformable to the Truth He answers without Hesitation to all that is objected which makes several of the Senate believe him to be really the King and others take him for a Witch But in fine this Prince right or wrong is led away to Prison at the Solicitation of the Spanish Ambassador where having long lain he is set at Liberty under an Obligation to leave the Venetian Countries in Three Days time Some Portugueses moved with Compassion disguised him in a Dervise's Habit and conducted him secretly to Florence to transport him afterwards to Rome but the great Duke of Tuscany caused him to be apprehended and sent him to the Vice-Roy of Naples He presented himself before him with his usual Confidence and surprized all that saw him and heard him speak and seeing the Vice-Roy uncovered he said to him with great Assurance and Gravity Be covered Count de Lemnos which obliged this Minister to ask him By what Authority he took on him this Boldness To which he answered That his Authority was born with him and that he feigned not to know him and yet he ought to remember that King Philip his Vncle had sent him twice to him and that the Sword which he then wore by his Side was that which he then gave him The Sentence which the Vice-Roy gave of him was That he was an Impostor who deserved to be sent to the Galleys and should not long be from them and wherein 't is said he died some time after Yet the Portugueses have been persuaded he was their real King and do still continue of that Opinâ—on there being nothing which is able to make them change it Some Persons in the World will have him to be a Magician others an Impostor and the most ignorant will have him to be a Devil or really the King himself This is not the first Example of the Boldness of an Impostor Rome saw heretofore a Man that had the Audaciousness to publish he was the real Pompey who was killed in Egypt by the Cruelty of the young Ptolemy The Queen Artemisa found one Artemius who had so great a Resemblance with Antiochus her Husband whom she had caused to be murthered that he was not known when he put himself into the Bed of the dead King pretending to be this Prince sick he recommended Artemisa to his Subjects and did several things in favour of this Princess Under the Reign of Tiberius was there not Occasion to be surprized at the bold Answer which a Slave made to this Emperor who questioning him How he made himself A grippa answered without Hesitation in the same manner thou hast made thy self Caesar The D. Sebastian I mentioned has not been the only one in the World there have been two others one of which departing out of the Isle of Terceres who had great Resemblance with this Prince went into Portugal where he said he had miraculously escaped from the Battel he lost in Africk that he saved himself in Woods and returned into his Kingdom to give Peace to his People and deliver them from the Tyranny of Strangers but having been convicted of Imposture he was put to Death 'T is said that another being come disguised in the Habit of a Pilgrim to Madrid it self and having had a long and secret Conference with King Philip II. by whom it is suspected he was known for this unhappy Prince was by this King's Order said to be poysoned in a Banquet given him by Antonio Peres I shall write several Things to the Invincible Vizir of which I deferred to give him Notice because I would be certain of them they being of Importance and it would have been great Lightness in me to have written them on the first Reports spread amongst the People Receive always with the same Goodness the Marks I give thee of my Obedience send me thy Orders and Counsels which I pray him that has created all Things may be good and profitable to the Empire of those Precious Ones which he has enlightned with his Truth to the end they may arrive at the Eternal Glory and Pleasures promised as from his part by his Holy Prophet and I also pray him to preserve thy Life and Authority Paris 24th of the 6th Moon of the Year 1642. LETTER XXIII To the Venerable Mufti Prince of the Religion of the Turks 'T Is not known whether it be the Recompence of a good or bad Action which Cardinal Richlieu has sent with so great Secrecy Those that give an ill Interpretation to the best Things say it is not to be supposed there could be sent in a dark Night a Mule laden with Gold to an unknown Person but this must denote something very extraordinary and those who pretend to know more than others are sometimes more ignorant than those who pretend to know nothing For who can penetrate into what so crafty a Minister does in the most retired Places of his Closet His Actions are so mysterious that when he looks towards the East his Designs lie a direct contrary Way He deceives those who watch him most narrowly I cannot inform thee then of any thing certain The Matter is variously related but thus I think it was The Cardinal caused some Days past to be loaded on a Mule a great Summ of Money he ordered him to whom he entrusted the Conduct of him to go into a Wood at such an Hour telling him he should find a Man of such a Stature such a coloured Hair and in such a Habit who was to say certain Words to him whereupon he was to deliver the Mule with his Lading into his Custody It is said this Person found the Party described who would not receive the Present it being not the full Summ agreed upon That this being related to the Cardinal he sent the same Person with the Supplement of what was wanting to the Summ promised the Night following where the unknown Person received the full Payment If this Story be true as it is affirm'd here to be this is an odd kind of Way of making Presents or paying Debts But thou maist be assured this is not the first time the Cardinal has paid his Creditors in this Sort. I have been told for certain that there being arrived at Paris a Stranger ill clad of small Stature and without any Attendance he made him be paid down immediately upon his Arrival Six Hundred Thousand Crowns without any bodies knowing what became of so happy a Creditor nor from what Merit proceeded so high a Recompence though some People affirm that so great a Summ is fallen into the Coffers of the Swedish General Receive charitably the Marks I give thee of my Obedience and Desire which I have of giving thee Satisfaction and entreat our Great Prophet that I may be worthy in the other World to kiss