The second volume of letters writ by a Turkish spy who lived five and forty years undiscover'd at Paris : giving an impartial account to the Divan at Constantinople of the most remarkable transactions of Europe, and discovering several intrigues and secrets of the Christian courts (especially of that of France) continued from the year 1642 to the year 1682 / written originally in Arabick, translated into Italian, and from thence into English, by the translator of the first volume.

LETTER V.

To the Kaimacham.

I Shall now acquaint thee with the Death of the Queen-Mother and Dowager of France, who fell a Sacrifice to the Ambition of the Cardinal of Richlieu, as those of her Party do commonly suggest. For, being highly disgu∣sted at his Counsels, and Intreagues, especial∣ly his playing the Incendiary, and inflaming those of the Blood Royal one against another, she departed from France, and by a kind of Voluntary Banishment, exposed her self to so many Inconveniences, Hardships, and Ri∣gors of Fortune, as seemed to hasten her End; Her Great Spirit chusing rather to break, than bow to the turbulent Cardinal.

She Sojourned in Flanders, Holland, England, and the Empire. Her Travels being chec∣quer'd all along with a Mixture of Good and Evil. Here meeting with Respect, there with Indifference and Coldness, if not Contempt. In some Places, her Misfortunes were pitied, and the Cardinal blamed for Persecuting so Great and Good a Queen: In others, the Car∣dinal was Justified, and her Conduct censu∣red and condemned. And she accused her self, for raising him to the power of doing her these Injuries. At length, tired out with the Fatigues of State, and grown sick of the World, she betook her self to a Monastery in

Colen, where, after she had spent some time in Religious Preparations for another World, she expired the 3d. of this Instant Moon.

It was placed among the Remarkables by some, that the same day she died, the Car∣dinal of Richlieu fell sick, which Sickness yet continues upon him. But, whether to appease the Ghost of his deceased Mistriss, whom he had so unjustly persecuted; or, to mollify the Resentments of the People, is uncertain. Yet, notwithstanding his dangerous Illness, he every Day ventures to the Temple, and per∣forms the Mysteries of their Law for her Soul. The whole Court and City, is in Mourning for this Great Queen; and general Murmur∣ings and Complaints, are raised against the Cardinal on this Occasion; especially among the Common People, who are so far from en∣tertaining a better Opinion of him, for his daily Appearance at the Altar on Behalf of the Queen's Soul, that they esteem it but an Offi∣cious Hypocrisie, a Medly of Priest-Craft and State Artifice.

Here is a Report about the City, that the Queen's Ghost appear'd to the Cardinal, as soon as she was dead, severely reproaching him with his Ambition and Ingratitude, and tel∣ling him, That tho' he was laying the Founda∣tion of an Immortal Project, yet he should ne∣ver live to see it thrive but warned him to pre∣pare for Judgment, for that he should not see another Year in Mortal State; upon which, they say, he immediately sickned. And here are Prophecies privately scattered about, fore∣telling

his Death in a short time. This is cer∣tain, he labours under an unaccountable Dis∣temper, his Body strangely wasting, as if it would evaporate it self into Air; for, he seems to be in a manner dried up.

My Duty and Devoir to thee, Sage Minister, would not let me be at Rest till I had preven∣ted the Posts, by giving thee a more timely Account of these Occurrences, by a Merchant for whom his Vessel waits at Marseilles. To morrow he takes his Leave of Paris, and once aboard he makes directly for Constantinople, whither he will bring the first News of the Death of one of the greatest Queens upon Earth, in whose Royal Veins ran the Blood of the Emperors, Ferdinand and Charles V. She was married to Henry the Great; and, be∣sides her Son now Reigning in France, she matched her Daughters to the Two Potent Monarchs of England and Spain.

The most High and Omnipotent, sole Mo∣narch of Heaven and Earth, reward thy Ser∣vices and Fidelity to our Invincible Sultan, with the Supream Joys of Paradise.

Paris, 20th. of the 7th. Moon, of the Year 1642.