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 VI.

To the Venerable Mufti, Sovereign of the True and Undefiled Faith.

PErmit me to enter into thy Presence, and withdraw thy Ravish'd Eyes awhile from the Contemplation of Sublimest Objects, to cast them on a Spectacle of Mortality. It is the Great and Renowned Mary de Medicis, Queen-Mother of France, who lies now dead at Cologne.

I will not trouble thee with Impertinencies; but, because I know that various Reports will reach thy Ears concerning the Cardinal of Richlieu his being Instrumental to her Death, by driving her to such a height of Indignation as was the Cause of her Voluntary Exile and wandring from France, and from one Coun∣try to another; I will here Insert a Letter from the said Cardinal to her Majesty, wherein he vindicates himself, and discovers (if not his Integrity, yet) the best Counterfeit of that Vertue, that I have seen any where penn'd. It was written to her when she was in Holland, and runs thus,

MADAM,

I Cannot but esteem it the greatest Infelicity that ever befell me, that my Enemies have prevailed so far, as to draw upon me Your

Majesty's displeasure. That they have by all the Arts of Malice, fastned the Publick Odi∣um on me, is a great Ʋnhappiness; but, this is the Master-piece of their Enmity, to render me suspected by you. I could pardon their fre∣quent Attempts upon my Life, by private Con∣spiracies and Assassinations, though Humane Nature recoils at those who are our Murderers: But, to deprive me of that, without which Life it self is a burden to me, I mean, your Royal Favour, transports me beyond my self; And, I beg, that it may pass for an Excuse of this Presumption. I could easily have pass'd over in Silence all their barbarous Plots against me! I could easily have parted with my Life, and all those Honours and Dignities with which it has been bless'd. But, to rob me of your E∣steem, which first rais'd me to this Envied Greatness, and which I value more than all the Grandeurs of the Earth, breaks the Barrs which aw'd my Tongue and Pen, and makes me bold to throw my self at your Royal Feet, with All that I have; for, I received All from your Princely Hands. Deal as you please, Ma∣dam, with your own Creature; I cannot mur∣mur at your proceedings. But, Madam, let your Native Piety prompt you to favour the Purple of the Church, with which your Bounty has Invested me. Let it not lose its proper Lustre and Esteem, because the Enemies of the Church and State, have cast such Dirt upon it. Is it possible, that a Man the most obliged of all his Race, should become the onely Pattern of the basest Ingratitude? Besides the Ties of

Conscience and the Natural Force of Inclina∣tion, my Interest chains me to your Service; How can I then withdraw my self from it, and not proclaim my self at once a Traitor to the Rest of Queens, and the most unaccountable of Fools to my self?

This Consideration, Madam, being well weigh'd, is enough to acquit me of all Guiltiness before Your Majesty.

But, if it be my Destiny to be condemned unheard, I shall not appeal from your Royal Sentence, since I owe a perfect Resignation to your Will. I may complain to Heaven of my Misfortune, but I will not expostulate with my Sovereign Patroness, nor make the least Oppo∣sition against the Course of your Anger, not even by carrying my Fortune to Rome. For, wheresoever I go, all my study shall be to recover your Majesty's Favour, if it be not a Crime. And if ever I obtain that Happiness, I shall not care whither I go, tho' it be out of the World it self, because I die hourly, while your Majesty suspects that I am not what I ever was, and still continue to be,

MADAM,

Your Majesty's Most humble, Most faithful, And most obedient Servant, Armand. Card. of Rich.

I send thee this Transcript of the Cardinal's Apology, that thou comparing it with what befell afterwards, mayst give a Judgment, whe∣ther this Great Minister deserv'd the Censures that were pass'd upon him. For, he falling sick the same Day the Queen-Mother died, People said it was a Judgment on him, and that her Ghost appeared to him, as thou wilt more at large Inform thy self by the Letters I sent to the Kaimacham. But, others are of Opinion, that his present Illness proceeds from Grief of Mind for the Queen's Death, especially in that she died before he was re∣conciled to her Majesty. And, they plead in Defence of his Innocence, his daily Zeal in saying Mass for her departed Soul, and that at a time when he has more need to keep his Bed, than go to Church. This I have heard discoursed, even by some who bore no good Will to the Cardinal, yet now begin to relent towards him, seeing the very Lineaments of Sorrow in his drooping Looks, and tracing the Footsteps of a profound Grief in his mace∣rated Body. Hence they take Measures, of his real Innocence and Fidelity toward that Great Queen. I will not interpose my parti∣cular Opinion on either Side, but stand Neu∣ter among these contesting Infidels, tho' my Inclination and regard would rather sway me to the Cardinal's side. But, I leave the De∣termination of this Matter to thee, who art the Oracle of Wisdom, from whose Sentence there can be no Appeal.

In the mean while, the Body of the decea∣sed Queen, lies, as I have said, at Colen, where she spent her last Days in a Riligious Convent, a Practice not so common now a-days, as it has been formerly among Crowned Heads. And those who thus descended voluntarily, from the Height of Humane Glory, to the Austerities of a Devout Life, have commonly been Canonized for Saints. Nor do the Crea∣tures of this Queen spare to whisper about, that such an Honour were but a condign Re∣ward to her Extraordinary Merits, being al∣ready canonized in the Esteem of the Bigot∣ted Vulgar, while her Body is yet above Ground.

The Royal Carkass will be brought and in∣terr'd in the Temple of S^t Dennis, about three Leagues from this City. This is esteemed the Richest Church in France, being a Repository of Inestimable Jewels, Gold and Silver belong∣ing to the Relicks of their Saints. Here also generally is lodged, the Dust of all the Royal Blood of France. The Saint to whom this Church is dedicated, is esteemed the Patron of this Kingdom; for, according to their Do∣ctrine, the Saints have the Patronage of cer∣tain Kingdoms, Provinces and Cities commit∣ted to them by God, and therefore they address themselves to them, and to the Guardian-Angels both in Publick, and Private. Every one also has his peculiar Patron-Saint and Guar∣dian-Angel assigned him at his own Choice.

But, if these Christian-Saints, are set over such Places and People as they favour'd parti∣cularly

in their life-time, then one would think, when this Great Queen is Canonized, and Instated in her Saintly Government, the Hugonots here may claim her Patronage, in that she shew'd much Kindness and Friend∣ship to them while she was alive.

Pardon, Great Oracle of Truth, the Length of this Epistle; and excuse my presumption, in descanting on Matters of Religion, which belong to thee to determine. I kiss the Hem of thy Sacred Vest, in profound Humility. Vouchsafe to pray for thy faithful Slave Mah∣mut.

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