conspire against me they hunt me up and down like a Partridge in the Wood they closely pursue my Life The Kindnesses that I have sown spring up in Blades of bitter Ingratitude and Perfidy My Seminaries bring forth Aconite and stinking Weeds instead of pleasant Flowers and wholesome Fruits Tagot has set his Foot in all my Works That sly interloping Spirit hates to see any good Thing prosper or come to Perfection He steals behind us in all our Ways and as fast as we weave any Web of Vertue he secretly unravels it or deforms the Work with intermixing some Threads of Vice I am weary of striving against the Current of my Fate Oh! that I were as though I had never been That my Soul were drench'd in Lethe's Forgetful Waters where all Past Things are buried in Eternal Oblivion Then wou'd my Anguish be at an End Whereas I am now rowl'd about upon a Wheel of Miseries Holy Santone when thou shalt read this pity me and amidst thy Divine Ejaculations dart up Mahmut's Soul to Paradise on the Point of a strong Thought that so at least I may have a Moments Respite from my Constant Sadness Paris 27th of the 2d Moon of the Year 1667. LETTER II. To the Kaimacham THere is now some Probability of a Peace between the English and the Dutch Which will also reconcile this Crown to that of Great Britain Since the King of France engag'd in this War only on the Account of the Dutch his Allies The Advances toward this Accommodation took their Rise from the Alliance lately concluded between the States of the Vnited Provinces the King of Denmark the Duke of Brandenburgh and the Princes of Brunswick The King of England protests against the Dutch as the First Aggressors in that they had taken above Two Hundred of his Merchant-ships before he offer'd the least Act of Hostility Which the States seeming to acknowledge desire the King to appoint some Neutral Place of Treaty with them and their Allies in Order to a Peace the Security of Navigation and the Establishment of Commerce for the future Here is great Joy for the Birth of a young Princess of whom the Queen was deliver'd on the 2d of the Moon of Jannary She is call'd God's New-Years Gift to France In regard the First Day of that Moon begins the Year with the Christians And 't is common among them to send mutual Gifts and Presents to one another at that Time which they call New-Years Gifts And so it seems God Almighty has appear'd very Modisn and Complaisant in thus timing the Nativity of the Royal Babe For which they express their Thanks in Revelling Dancing Ballads and a Thousand other Vanities And these Divertisements continue to this Time it being the Nazarenes Carnaval a Season consecrated to Sport and Mirth to Liberty Buffoonry and all Manner of Comical and Ridiculous Apishness During this Time you shall see an Infinite Variety of odd Humours and mimical Actions in the open Streets according to every Man 's particular Phancy Here you shall meet with one dress'd half i' th' French and half i' th' Spanish Fashion On the left side of his Head hangs dangling down a long thick curled Peruke which reaches to his Breast whilst on the Right you see nothing but his own Hair crop'd close to his Ears A long Mustach as black as Jet graces the Right Side of his upper Lip whilst on the Left he is Beardless as a Boy of Seven Years Old And so from head to Foot he wears two contrary Garbs One walks about with Gloves upon his Feet and Shooes upon his Hands Another wears his Breeches like a Mantle on his Shoulders Here comes a Stately Coach jogging along with grave slow Pace and drawn by Six fair Horses as if some Prince or Cardinal were in it when behold there 's nothing but a silly Ass puts forth his giddy Head with flapping Ears half drunk with the jolting unaccustom'd Motion Sometimes he brays aloud and then the Rabble fall alaughing A Thousand other Fopperies there are not worth thy Knowledge For both the Noble and the Vulgar are all upon the Frolick at this Time and indulge their wanton Phancies to the Height But 't is a fatal Season for the poor Cats few of which escape the Multitude whose peculiar Pastime 't is to toss these Creatures in a Blanket till they are dead or else to tie them Two and Two together by the Tails and then they 'll bite and scratch one another to Death The Cocks also are generally great Martyrs during the Carnaval the Rabble have a Hundred Cruel Ways to murder them in Sport All their Devices are Inhumane and Bloody They did not learn these prophane Courses from Jesus or any of the Prophets or Apostles of God But they are the Reliques of Gentile Vanity in the Beginning conniv'd at by the Priests the easier to retain their Proselytes in Obedience who wou'd rather have parted with their New Religion than with their Old Barbarous Customs And thus the Pagan Fooleries were handed down to the Posterity of the Primitive Christians and were adopted into the Family of Church Traditions And Men are not more zealous for the Gospel it self than for these Ridiculous Prophanations of it So dangerous a Thing it is for Governours by a Criminal Indulgence to permit their Subjects any Liberty which interferes with the Fundamental Principles of the Law For such a Dispensation once granted passes into a Precedent which in Process of Time becomes of equal Force with the Law it self And by such preposterous Methods of winning and retaining Converts Christianity arriv'd to the height of corruption it 's now infected with Sage Minister t was for this Reason God rais'd up our Holy Prophet and gave him a new Law with Power to reform and chastise the Infidels He planted the Vndefiled Faith with Scymeter in Hand not palliating or encouraging the smallest Vicious Practice but subduing all Things by the Dint of Reason or the keen Edge of the Sword God hasten his Return for the Prevarications of this Age require it Paris 27th of the 2d Moon of the Year 1667. LETTER III. To Dgnet Oglou I Believe thou hast not forgot the Observations we us'd to make on the Religion of the Christians when we were Slaves together in Sicily How Ridiculous some of their Practices appear'd to us and yet what a Sanctity was manifest in others How much we approved the Majesty of their Publick Worship the Solemnity of their High-Mass the Gravity of their Processions And yet how great was our Disgust when we consider'd that all these Honours were perform'd to Figures and Statues of Stone Wood Silver Gold or other Materials the Creatures of the Painter or Carver We scann'd their Doctrines also which we learn'd from their Priests and Books and descanted variously on them as they were more or less conform to the Truth and to the Volume brought down from Heaven In a Word we prais'd the Good and censur'd
Salary In sending of which I desire thee to remember the Old Roman Proverb which says That he gives Twice who gives in Season Paris 9th of the 6th Moon of the Year 1667. LETTER VI. To Nathan Ben Saddi a Jew at Vienna I Know not whether I shall live to hear from thee again or to send thee another Letter Age Sickness Misfortune together with the Malice of Men have laid a Thousand Snares for my Life I am as it were hunted by Nature Providence Destiny and Chance into the very Toils of Death From whence it will be very difficult for me to escape Not to amuse thee I am in danger of being discover'd seiz'd imprison'd and then thou know'st I can expect no less than to be put to the Torture and rack'd with a Thousand Inventions of Cruelty That so they may force me to confess what I am and what my Business is in this Kingdom and City where I have resided so many Years I was suspected by Cardinal Richlieu for a Moselman as I have Reason to believe from several convincing Circumstances of that Minister's Carriage to me ever since his first Acquaintance with me at Paris And the same jealousie caus'd his Successor Cardinal Mazarini to put me into the Bastile where I was closely confin'd for the Space of Six Moons And I might have lain there till this Time for ought I know had it not been for the good Conduct and honest Fidelity of Eliachim In fine though I have hitherto escap'd Discovery yet I cannot flatter my self that I shall always do so If they once lay Hold on me again they will certainly search me for the Scar of Circumcision and then all the Arguments the Wit of Man can find will not be of Force to blind them any longer or save me from the Vengeance of the State They will certainly put me to a Cruel Death However I 'll baffle 'em if I can and if I once escape I 'll bid Adieu to Paris if not to the whole Kingdom Being resolv'd not to trust any more to the deceitful Security of new Lodgings in this City and a vain Removal from one Precinct and House to another For the very Air of Paris is fatal to me I am never free from Terror whilst within these Melancholy Walls The Genius of the Place is at Enmity with Mine Every Thing I cast my Eyes on seems to low'r and frown upon me I start at the Voices of Men going along the Streets and discoursing about their own Affairs And if any one knocks at the Door I 'm presently upon my Guard my anxious Soul still labouring with sad Presages of some Calamity at Hand ready to rush upon me unawares Perhaps I may go to Lyons where a Stranger may live an Age conceal'd and void of Peril as in this City Or I may take a farther Journey to Marseilles Toulon or any other Sea-Port Town Where I will expect new Orders from my Superiors In the mean Time thou mayst continue to address thy Letters as before For that Course can never fail let me be where it pleases Heaven Eliachim will take Care of all Things I writ to the Hasnadar-Bassi on the same Account desiring fresh Supplies of Money Which I suppose will come by the Way of Vienna If so I trust to thy Prudence in ordering my Bills with Speed and the usual Cautiousness Nathan Adieu And whate'er becomes of me live thou long and happily to serve the Grand Signior Paris the 9th of the 16th Moon of the Year 1667. LETTER VII To the Venerable Mufti AS the poor injur'd Labourer or Slave oppress'd by Cruel and Obdurate Masters as the Despairing Client who can find no Justice from the Cheicks Cadi's or Cadilesquers fly immediately to the Seraill ' to make their last Appeal and seek Redress from the Great Arbiter of Humane Feuds So falls poor Mahmut prostrate at thy Feet O Sacred Oracle of Mussulmans begging from thy Authority whom no Believer dares to disobey what I cou'd never yet obtain from any Minister of State or Bassa of the Bench That is how I must act in Case I am discovered or barely suspected examin'd and put to my Oath concerning my Business at Paris Lay thy speedy Commands on those whose Care it ought to be that no Intelligence Advice or Counsel be wanting to me the Faithful Agent of the Port residing here Incognito a Spy upon the Infidels Or at least vouchsafe to send me thy Instructions Rules infallible Orders of perfect Wisdom and Divine Sagacity I cannot for the future stand the Brunt of long suspected Casualties Events which glimmer from afar like distant Ignes Fatui or other Vagrant Meteors of the Night For so Contingencies appear which are to come uncertain and remote tho' sometimes near at Hand yet with deceitful shew they still mislead bewilder'd Mortals in the Dark So the tyr'd Traveller in Libyan Wastes is tantaliz'd by mocking Rays of Sands in drifted Heaps or flying Bodies loosely wafted by the Winds on which the Moon and Stars casting their Beams create Refractions like Domestick Lamps or Tapers and encourage the disconsolate Man to hope for neighbouring Villages or Towns where he may rest his weary Limbs and find an Hospitable Entertainment secure from Dragons Lyons Tygers or the more Fierce and Cruel Race of Men who lurk in secret Places of the affrighting Desart to rob unwary Strangers as they pass 'T is sad most Holy Patriarch of the Faithful That Men are thus degenerate and transcend the Horrid Nature of the Wildest Beasts But sadder still That Cities first design'd for Sanctuaries of the Distress'd shou'd become worse than Desarts and more Inhospitable than the Purlieu of Dragons or the dreadful Haunts of Lynxes Crocodiles and other Animals of Prey That Men pretending to be Civiliz'd to live in Community and Reciprocal Participation of all Good Offices Incorporated by the same Laws for no other End but to help assist and defend one another against all foreign Enemies shou'd instead of this prove more Barbarous than Salvages and more Voracious than Cannibals whilst every Citizen preys on his Neighbour and devours him whom he has sworn to protect They all live by Robbery and Spoil The Rich and Potent fleece those whose Wealth is not sufficient to defend them from Oppression Thus are Towns and Cities from celebrated Refuges of Men become the Dens of Thieves and Cruel Murderers The whole Earth is stain'd with the Blood of the Poor The Cries of Widows and Orphans pierce the Heavens The Generations of Men are corrupted with Fraud Avarice Persidy Ambition Envy and a Thousand other Vices Brother cannot trust the Son of his own Mother Fathers are Unnatural to their Genuine Off-spring Children think the Days tedious which prolong their Parents Lives Self-Love teaches a Man to betray his beloved Friend for whom he rather ought to lose his Life An Universal Defection from Justice and sound Morality reigns every where But what is most surprizing is That even among
she had got in her Lap she answer'd I am going to drown a few Young Whelps The Earl being a great Hunter and consequently a Lover of Dogs had a Mind to see whether any of these Whelps were of a promising Aspect When to his Astonishment he found Eleven of Humane Shape all Living and Perfect but very small He press'd the Maid so far that she confess'd the whole Truth Whereupon enjoining her Silence and Assurance of a good Reward he caus'd her to carry them to one of his Tenants where being all cherish'd and laid warm he dispos'd of them afterwards in convenient Places to be nurs'd and brought up till they came of Age. Then he sent for them privately to his House having first apparelled them in the same Fashion as their Brother was in who dwelt at Home As soon as the Countess cast her Eye on them and observ'd their Number and Faces so exactly resembling him who had been always with her she wept in a Passion betwixt Shame and Joy confessing her former Cruel Intention and falling at the Feet of her Lord he pardon'd her From these Eleven descend the Family of the Welphs or Guelphs so Renowned in Germany and bearing this Name from the Maid's Answer to the Earl when she had them in her Lap. Such strange Productions as these occasion various Enquiries among the Philosophers here in the West Whether Human Souls be Generated like the Bodies to which they are united or whether they are Created by the Immediate Power of God Assuredly these Infidels are much in the Dark and shut their Eyes against the Light of the Oriental Sages If the Prophets should rise from the Dead they would not be able to convince these Vncircumcis'd That all Things Visible and Invisible are from Eternity and that there is Nothing New in the System of the Universe except the Various Outward Forms which change indeed according to the Laws of Endless Transmigration and sometimes according to the Frolicks of Nature who loves to mix her Interludes and Antiques with the establish'd Senses of every Age. What I have writ is to divert thee But when shall I have an Answer as from an Old Friend Let not the Honours of the Serail ' make thee forget those with whom thou hast once been familiar My Dear Hali be not too much a Courtier Thy long Silence and Reservedness forces this Language from me Shall Constantinople blot out thy Remembrance of Arabia Or the Blast of a Monarch's Favour be more Valuable than the Durable Integrity of a Country-man a Friend If the Saltan trusts his Life in thy Hands dost thou not know that a Fit of Gripes the Stone Gout or any Violent Distemper will turn all his Confidence into Jealousy I tell thee he will suspect Poyson in thy very Looks Therefore continue to be the same Man as thou wert formerly and let not thy Improvements in Physick make thee go backward in Morality Paris 23d of the 6th Moon of the Year 1667. LETTER IX To Nathan Ben Saddi a Jew at Vienna NOW I see thou art a Man of Business Thy Mind is cur'd of its Religious Itch and restor'd to a sound Complexion Persevere and be Happy Let no vain Scruples of Conscience molest thy Soul concerning the Peace that was lately made between the Grand Signior and the Germans Cares of this Nature belong to those who sit at the Helm and direct the Steerage of the State As for thee and me our Part is onely to Obey without enquiring whether it be Right or Wrong that we are commanded Every Thing is Lawful to us that is enjoin'd by our Superiours And the Publick Reason ought to supersede our Private narrow Sentiments Whatever Praemunire's we incurr by our Obedience the Conscience of the State will be our Bail our Advocate and our Ransom Therefore once more Go on and prosper Thou cou'dst not have done the Grand Signior a greater Piece of Service than by thus happily insinuating thy self with the Hungarian Faction at Vienna For by that Means thou becomest Master of the Secrets on both Sides the Janus that over-looks Two opposite Cabals at once And so mayst not only form thy own Intrigues the better but also give a clearer Light to the Ministers of the Sublime Port. I am displeas'd to hear of the frequent Conspiracies that have been made against the Emperour's Person Not for any Love that I bear to him or the House of Austria For I wish there was not a Branch of that Incestuous Stem left alive on Earth But I never knew such Kind of Plots if once discovered and prevented to take Effect again Besides they many Times spoil the main Design For what signifies it if this Emperour were seiz'd and put to Death so long as there is any one of that Tyrannical Race surviving They are all of the same Blood and Interest Educated also in the same Principles and Maxims In a Word they have all but one Game to play which is to aggrandize themselves and their Posterity for ever And therefore these Clandestine Methods of Poyson or Assassine will but make them more watchful to prevent all Designs of the like Nature for the Future Remember Nathan that the Mark which thou art to aim at is to cherish the Discontents of Hungary by all the Arts of a cunning Statesman Count Peter de Serini is a fit Subject to work upon The Death of his Brother and his own Disgrace at the Imperial Court with the rising Fortune of Montecuculi have fill'd him with Sentiments of Revenge and Envy He cannot behold Count d' Aversperg in Possession of Carlestadt without much Resentment having with so great Passion begg'd that Government for himself If this Prince can but be induc'd to revolt many Thousands of the Croats Dalmatians and Sclavonians will take up Arms under him which will at once weaken both the German Empire and the State of Venice Besides the Marriage of his Daughter with Prince Ragotski may engage the Transylvanians in his Party Count Nadasti also they say is not well pleased with the Court aiming to be Palatine of Hungary which has been refus'd him This News comes to me but by Report If it be true thou art in the fairer Way to succeed Such great Male-contents as these will puzzle the Ministers of State and exercise the Policy of Prince Lobkovitz Besides if Things shou'd not proceed to an open Rupture yet thou know'st the Hungarians are offended at the late Peace which will not fail to put them upon committing perpetual Acts of Hostility They stomach it extremely That the Town of Newhausel is in the Grand Signior's Hands And they will be always on their Guard in the Neighbouring Parts Patrôling about and skirmishing with our Foragers Which will afford a good Occasion at any Time for our Sovereign to break the Peace whenever it is for his Interest There are Abundance of Consequences in such a Case more than we can think of or foresee yet all to our
who every Moon us'd to Fast for Seven or Eight Days together So a famous German Maid was diligently observ'd and watch'd whilst she pass'd away full Seven Years Time without Meat Drink Sleep or Excrements France also boasts of another Virgin who fasted above Three Years together Such Abstinences as these are not to be put to the Account of Vertue in regard they were not the Effects of Humane Choice but the Decrees of Fate So wou'd our Abstinence be deprav'd if we shou'd only practise it as the old Gentiles did who forbore to kill or eat some certain Beasts because they held them consecrated to their Gods As the Dog to Diana the Tyger to Bacchus the Horse to Neptune the Woolf to Mars the Eagle to Jupiter the Peacock to Juno the Swan to Apollo the Dove to Venus the Owl to Minerva Nor need we abstain on the Account of the Soul's Transmigration for so we ought to forbear the Vegetable Products of the Earth as well as Animals since the Soul is Indifferent to all Bodies in its separate State But our Reason in this Point ought to take its Rise from the Fundamental Law of Nature the Original Justice of the World which teaches us Not to do that to another which we wou'd not have another do to us Now since 't is evident That no Man wou'd willingly become the Food of Beasts therefore by the same Rule he ought not to prey on them Next to this Foundation of our Abstinence we ought to build our Aims at the Perfection of our Nature which cannot be acquir'd but by Degrees We must endeavour to abate the Aliment of our Concupiscences by exhaling the superfluous and grosser Vapours of our Blood in Sacred Fasts and Oraisons Then we shou'd refresh our fainting Bodies with Food affording little Nourishment and Pleasure That so our vain Affections Appetites and Lusts may gradually die Whilst the pure Mind revives and being free from the gross Vapours arising from too much and too fatning Meats and Drinks the Films which darken'd her Sight fall off and she can better now discern the Naked Forms of Things by her own simple Intuition than before she cou'd through all the borrow'd Spectacles and other Opticks of Book-Philosophy Also she will more easily raise her self to the Contemplation and Science of Divine Eternal Things He therefore that in Earnest will apply himself to the Study of accomplish'd Sanctity must first by Fasting exhaust the Marrow from his Bones the Fatness from his Flesh the Wild and Rampant Spirits from his Nerves and then he must purge the Words and Actions of his Life from Vice When this is done the Soul becoming a pure Tabula Rasa is fit for the Impressions of Celestial Vertue Those who labour under acute Diseases run great Hazard of their Lives according to Hippocrates unless their Diet be accommodated with proportionate Regard to the Quality and Time of the Critical Fits or Paroxisms But those who are entangl'd with Vice do labour under far more dangerous Distempers than such as afflict the Body Wherefore the Prophet our Holy Law-giver like a Wise Physician appointed certain Seasons of the Year for Sacred Abstinences Fastings Pilgrimages Vigils and other Holy Exercises especially the Mighty Fast and Vigil of Ramezan wherein tho' it be not forbid to eat of Flesh after the Stars appear at Night yet none but loose and indevout Believers take that Liberty whereas the better Sort content themselves with an Ascetick Diet. The Hebrews fasted with Unleaven'd Bread and a little Salad the Christians also taste no Flesh on their prohibited Days And shall the Mussulmans be greater Libertines than these Infidels O Hebatolla how radiant is the Lustre of a Lamp when shining through a clean and fine defaecate Chrystal So does the Soul display the Rays of her Immortal Vertue round about when she inhabits in a well purifi'd chaste and almost pervious Body VVherefore it is absolutely necessary for him to attenuate his Body with perpetual Temperance and Abstinence who consecrates himself to Vertue and Devotion He will not be ensnar'd or catch'd by any Baits of Luxury or Voluptuousness not yet affrighted from his constant sober Course of Life by any Pain or thwarting Accident No Frowns or Menaces shall divert him from his Noble Purpose But he will so nourish his Body all his Life that it shall never be Surfeited or over-fill'd with Meats And such is the Magick of this Sacred Vertue That it can never be hurt much less subverted by all the Machinations of Evil Daemons or the Malicious Attempts of Men. But it proceeds from Strength to Strength and fights the Combat valiantly till having overcome at last it Triumphs for ever and receives the Palm the Crown and Chaplet of Divine Reward in Paradise Holy President pray that I may practise what I so admire and not be self-condemn'd for living contrary to my Knowledge For God neither loves a double Tongue or Heart neither delights he in Feet or Hands that are swift and nimble to do Mischief Paris 13th of the 4th Moon of the Year 1669. LETTER VIII To Hamet Reis Effendi Principal Secretary of the Ottoman Empire NOw the Christians are in a general Consternation for Candy The Pope has sent Letters to all the Princes that are in his Communion inviting and pressing them to succour that Distress'd Island Levies are making every where and the King of France who seeks all Occasions of Glory appears the most forward of any to assist the Republick in this Fatal Juncture The Duke of Beaufort and the Chevalier de Vendosm are appointed to lead the Forces design'd for that Service They are gone to Toulon in Order to embarque The Pope has sent the Duke of Beaufort a Breve declaring him General of the Troops Ecclesiastick that are to serve in Candy and for his greater Encouragement he has sent him the Pontifical Standard In the mean while there is a Triple League concluded between the Emperour the King of Spain the King of England the King of Swedeland and the States of Holland There is great Joy in Portugal for the Birth of the Infanta who is call'd Elizabetha-Maria-Louisa She was Born the 6th of the 1st Moon and on the 18th the Empress of Germany was also deliver'd of a Daughter These Western Queens are very pregnant Not a Year passes without the Birth or Baptism of some Royal Infant This is all the News at present but to oblige thee I will say something of Italy which is esteem'd the Garden of Europe Nay Constantine Paleologus Emperor of Greece was wont to say Vnless I had been assur'd by very Learned and Holy Men that Paradise was seated in Asia I shou'd have sworn that Italy had been the Place It is most certain Italy is a delectable Country abounding in Riches and Pleasures The Eye is not satisfi'd with seeing the infinite Variety of Beauties which grace this happy Region Such is the lovely Intermixture of Hills and Valleys Groves and
trample on it in Disdain spreading their Armies far and wide and boasting that their Empires have no Bounds each do's but hasten to be shut up himself within a little obscure and putrid Hole not much surpassing the Limits of a Mole-Hill Great Bassa Let not the Honours and Dignities thou possessest make thee forget the Miseries to which thou art liable each Hour But remember thou art a Man Paris the 6th of the 11th Moon of the Year 1669. LETTER XIII To the Kaimacham HEre is arriv'd a Muta-faraca call'd Solyman Ismael with Expresses from the Grand Signior 'T was no small Refreshment to see his publick Entry which appear'd like a little Epitome of the Mussulman Grandeur and Magnificence The Young Rabble were as curious to be Spectators of this Eastern Cavalcade as the Romans were fond of beholding the Secular Plays which were exhibited but once in an Age. Nay People of all Ranks Ages and Qualities fill'd the Streets the Windows and Battlements of their Houses Some because they never saw such a fight before others despairing that they should live long enough to be Witnesses of such another Yet with all their Curiosity none but the Ministers of State are able to dive into the least Secret of his Instructions These willing communicate the Titles which the Great Arbiter of the Earth gives the French King That so not only his Subjects but Neighbouring Nations may conceive the profounder Veneration for him without penetrating the Measures he takes This is an Artifice common to all States to turn the best Side outermost only the Hollanders excepted who in the Days of their Revolt from the King of Spain cou'd not so much as put a good Face on a bad Matter But were forc'd to expose their Poverty and Nakedness as well as suffer under it addressing themselves to Elizabeth then Queen of England in the Character of The Poor Distressed States of Holland and so begging her Assistance However Solyman has faithfully imparted to me his Affairs as I have reason to believe He 's too well born and bred possesses more Reason and Wit than to amuse the Old Man in the Cassock so they call me here in the Streets who know me not by any other Character so Private is Mahmut in Paris at this Hour notwithstanding all his publick Sufferings I esteem Ismael as one fit to represent the Grand Signior's Person among better People than Infidels Yet I tell thee the French are the most refin'd of all the Western Giafers Ismael understands the Force of the Civil Laws which he learn'd from Justinian's Code and other Books For he is perfect in Greek and Latin and has bestow'd some Years in reading their Book both Prints and Manuscripts He makes a very Personable Figure being Tall Full-body'd Well-shap'd and not of an ugly Face which is enough to be said of a Man design'd for Business and not only for Love He 's never in danger of falling under Cato's Censure who seeing Two Embassadors sent from Rome to a Foreign State one of which had his Head so little that it could hardly be distinguish'd from that of an Owl and the other such a Cripple that he cou'd not walk without a Cripple that he cou'd not walk without Stilts cry'd out Here 's an Embassy which has neither Head nor Tail And then our Muta-faraca is rich He supports the Charges of his Commission with extraordinary Munificence His House is already become the Sanctuary of all the distress'd Levantines whether Greeks Armenians or Followers of the Prophet and he speaks French as readily as a Native Yet he Dissembles his Expertness in that Language to keep up the State and Reservedness of the Ottoman Empire which disdains to condescend to any other Speech than Turkish or Arabick Besides he has the Advantage by thus artificially shutting his Ears that he can at one time both hear and be deaf understand and be ignorant of whatsoever is said by the Spies of the French King And this is no small Gift in a Man of his Character and Trust For he had need of an Angel or a Devil at 's Elbow that thinks to over-reach this Court. Above all I believe our Solyman will never be guilty of the Error committed by the Embassadors sent from Tenedos to one of the Roman Emperors I 'm sure he is not yet For those Gentlemen had seen the Death of the Emperor's Son Eleven Moons and Fourteen Days as the Story says before they knew 't was their Duty to make an Address of Condolence Or at least before they call'd it to mind for they were drown'd in the Roman Luxury So that when they came to perform that Devoir the Emperor cou'd not forbear to Scoff at them in these Terms I much lament said he the Fate of the Renowned Hector your Country-Man and Champion whom Achilles the Grecian kill'd above a Thousand Years agoe I speak this in a particular Regard to Solyman's Deportment here For when he first came to this Court he found them all in Mourning for the Death of the King's Aunt the late Queen of England and of other High Personages particularly those that were slain in the late Action at Candia whereof I have already given an Account to the Sublime Port in another Letter Without Instructions he very demurely accosted the King and told him There cou'd be no Dunalma in the Ottoman Empire for the late Success at Candia so long as the French Court were Mourners This was a sensible Touch to those that understood it and from that Moment the Grandees and Ministers of State have made a Difference in their Entertainment of this Ingenious Muta-faraca and that which they us'd to give to the Chiauses formerly sent from the Port. I can assure thee he is at the same time very Blunt and very Elegant in his Discourse There 's Fire in every word he utters to warm and refresh if they take it at a due Distance but if they approach too near he scorches their Spirits and puts them into a Choler they dare not shew They consume inwardly in their own Despight yet cannot help themselves Doubtless the King of France is the Greatest Monarch the most Powerful and Victorious Prince in Christendom the only Invincible Emperor of the Western Franks Yet he veils to our Majestick Sovereign Lord of the whole Earth And our Eunuch will not part with a Tittle of his Master's Honour or give any Advantage by an Easiness worthy of Blame in a case that may be turn'd to a Precedent He is very happy in his Repartees as thou wilt perceive by the Answer he gave to a French Lord yesterday when he ask'd him Whether he thought it not a Violation of the Civil Law for Embassadors to be Imprison'd as they often are at the Ottoman Port No says Solyman it is not where the Embassador is guilty of Treason or Crimen laesae Majestatis But if it were you French men have the least Reason to accuse us of it since we
last Support was gone He try'd to borrow some of his Friends and Acquaintance And in Charity they supply'd him at first with small Sums But when he often press'd them they grew weary of him and deny'd to part with any more The disconsolate Gentleman over-whelm'd with Grief and Melancholy returns to his Chamber hoping to find some Ease in that private Recess where he might at least have the Privilege of venting his Sorrow in Sighs and Tears He pass'd away some time in this dejected Condition when at length he cast his Eyes on an old Trunk which stood in a corner of the Chamber and which he had scarce ever regarded before An odd Curiosity prompted him to rise and look into this Trunk perhaps not so much in Hopes of finding any Relief there as to divert himself and pass away the tedious Minutes And yet 't is Natural for People in great Calamities and Misfortunes to flatter themselves with the Imagination of unexpected Reliefs and to catch at every the least Glimpse or Shadow that seems to presage any Good Be it how it will he fell to rifling the Trunk but found nothing save a Parcel of Old Rags and Papers with other Remnants and Fragments of Silk Linnen and Velvet the Reliques and Spoils of his Father's Wardrobe This was no Booty for him However he ceas'd not his Scrutiny till he had quite empty'd the Trunk When to his no small Astonishment he found these Words on the Bottom Ah Prodigal hast thou spent All and sold thy House Now go and hang thy self There is a Rope ready provided for thee in the Beam of the Chamber The Young Gentleman looking up to the Cieling and seeing a Halter hang there being fasten'd to an Iron Ring was struck with such a Damp that concluding it was the Will of Fate that he should fulfill the Words he found on the Bottom of the Trunk he immediately took a Chair or Stool and placing it just under the Rope got up and rais'd himself upon it that so he might the better reach the design'd Instrument of his Death He stood not long musing For Life appear'd now Insupportable to him Wherefore putting the Halter about his Neck in the Height of Despair he kick'd the Stool away When behold instead of hanging there he fell to the Ground the weighty Swing of his Body having pull'd out a Piece of square Timber from the Beam being that Part to which the Ring was fasten'd Immediately he was like to be over-whelm'd and buryed alive in a great Heap of Gold which came showring down upon him out of the Hollow Place which his Father had contriv'd on Purpose in the Beam to put this Kind Sarcasm on his Son now sufficiently mortified by so many Sorrows In a word this made so deep an Impression on him that he grew reform'd buying all his Estate back again with Part of the Money and employing the Rest in Merchandising grew to be a Richer Man than his Father or any of his Progenitors Dear Pesteli thy Son is Generous and Witty It is thy Part to reclaim him by Methods agreeable to his Nature For Ruggedness and Austerity will make him but the worse Paris 5th of the 11th Moon of the Year 1671. LETTER II. To Codorafrad Cheick a Man of the Law HEre has happen'd an Accident of late which testifies the Zeal of the French for their Religion as well as it discovers the Rash and Unwarrantable Fury of a Bigotted Desperado This Person was one of that Sect they call Huguenots of whom there are great Multitudes in France and they are Diametrically Opposite to those of the Roman Faith in their Principles and the Manner of Worshipping God yet are tolerated by the State to prevent the Inconveniencies of a Civil War and the Effusion of Humane Blood The King chusing rather by Clemency to win them to his Party than by a severe Execution of the Laws in Force against them to compell their Consciences in Matters relating to God Yet many Men are of Opinion That this Royal Condescention will not have its desir'd Effect upon a Stubborn and Ungrateful sort of People who instead of being oblig'd to Fidelity and Obedience by such Indulgent Favours are apt to interpret them as Arguments of the King's Impotence and Disability to punish those that resist his Authority and to harden themselves the more in their Factious Insolence As it will appear by what I am going to relate of a certain Religious Furioso a Huguenot by Profession This Fellow coming one Day into the Great Temple in Paris which they call Nostre Dame makes up directly toward the Priest who was celebrating the Mass and waiting a convenient Season to execute his Purpose just as the Priest was elevating that which they esteem the Sacramental Body of Jesus the Messias above his Head according to Custom that it might be Ador'd by all the Congregation this Ruffian steps to him and striking the Wafer out of his Hand trampl'd it under Foot and then assassinated the Priest with his Dagger The whole Assembly were astonish'd at such an unexampl'd Attempt They stood still like Statues for a while and suffer'd the Villain to pass through the Throng till he came to the very Gate of the Temple When beginning to rouze out of their Stupefaction some run after him and so he was siez'd and carried before the next Cadi or Judge of Criminal Causes who condemn'd him to have his Right Hand first cut off before the Gate of the same Temple where he had been guilty of this Assassine and Prophanation and his Body presently afterwards to be burnt alive Which was accordingly executed But not thinking this a sufficient Expiation of the Dishonour done to God the Archbishop of Paris commanded Publick Prayers to be made which they call the Oraisons of Forty Hours He appointed also a Solemn Procession of all the Clergy to the Temple of Nostre Dame to cleanse it from the Defilement which according to their Belief it had contracted by this Impious Action The Soveraign Companies of the City likewise attended these Ceremonies in their Robes of Honour to testifie their Devotion Thou wilt not conclude me an Infidel or say that I undertake the Patronage of the Roman Religion if I condemn this Fellow as a Martyr to his own Presumption and Arrogance The Romans and Huguenots are all alike to me so long as they are equally Enenemies to the Messenger of God But it is not decent or wise neither Good Manners nor Policy to affront the Establish'd Religion of the Country where a Man lives 'T was sufficient that this Ruffian and all his Brethren had the Liberty of serving God after their own Way It was an unpardonable Immorality to disturb the lawful Priests of the Nation especially in so barbarous a Manner in the very Heighth of their Mysteries the midst of their Daily Sacrifice at the Altar of their God where they profess to immolate after a transcendant Manner no less