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 XIX.

To Mustapha, Bassa of Silistria.

THOU hast no Reason to repine at the Exchange of thy Government, though thy present Power be circumscribed within narrower Limits than it was in Aegypt. That Granary of the World, never afforded thee such a Harvest of Laurels as thou hast reaped on the Banks of the Black-Sea. The Con∣quest of Asac has loaded thee with Honours, and the Moderation thou hast in the midst of Triumphs, has captivated greater Numbers of the Cossacks, than could the Dint of thy Cymetar. Though the Foundations of King∣doms are laid in Blood, yet the Superstructure is cemented with Clemency; and, the Roman Caesars, by timely sheathing their Swords, fastned to their Empire, the Provinces they had won by drawing them.

I am bound to write often to the Ministers of the Port, and all my Moments are conse∣crated to the Service of the Grand Signior, who has a Right to command all Mankind: Yet the Fame of thy late Victory reaching these Parts, and giving occasion of Discourse, I stole this time from my self, not from my Great Master (it being the Hour of Sleep) to tell thee what the World says of thee.

They do not compare thee to Hannibal, Scipio, or Alexander the Great; thou thy

self wouldst take him for a Flatterer, that should use such an Expression. But they say, the Method thou hast taken, to sweeten the Calamities of the Cossacks, and invite them back to their abandoned Habitations, has some resemblance with the Conduct of Selim, a General of Orchanes's Army; who, after he had taken the City of Prusa, forbid his Soldiers, on pain of Death, to touch the Goods of the Inhabitants, or commit any Insolent Action. The Moderation of this Conqueror, not only rendred the Citizens easie, and willing to submit to their New Lord; but, the Fame of it spreading abroad, he with little Bloodshed reduced all the ad∣joining Countrys under Subjection.

It is reported of the Great and Victorious Saladine, That he took more Pleasure in winning the Hearts of his Enemies, than in conquering their Persons. This Prince had a Saying very common in his Mouth, That he did the Office of a Barber and Gardiner, sha∣ving the Superfluities, and pruning the Ex∣crescencies of Overgrown Kingdoms and States, not destroying them Root and Branch. 'Tis certain, he endeavoured in all his Conquests to mollify the Aversion of his Enemies, by Acts of Generosity.

Thou wilt expect some News from a Man in my Post, and I cannot entertain thee with more agreeable Intelligence, than what is the common Theme of Discourse at this Time.

Edward, Duke of Parma, has entered into the Pope's Territories with Three Thousand

select Horse, where he marches Dragooning up and down the Country, bringing Terror and Confusion where-ever he comes. He Conquers without drawing his Sword, the Pope's Army flying before him.

This Prince is by Nature very Fierce and Active, and has a peculiar Gift of obliging his Souldiers, by treating them with a frank, affable Carriage, free from the stately Reser∣vedness to which Men in Authority are accu∣stomed. By this Deportment, he has insen∣sibly stole their Affections; they are ready to follow him all over the World.

When the Princes of Italy fall out with one another, they generally engage the French and the Spaniards in the Quarrel. But the Duke of Parma, refused the Assistance which the former profer'd him of Two Thousand Men, provided they might be disposed in Garrisons; he was Jealous, lest the French design'd to play their old Game; and, that when they were once Housed in his Cities and strong Holds, it would be difficult to Unkennel them.

He has a new way of winning Towns, car∣rying with him neither Infantry, Cannon, Ammunition, nor any other Provision ne∣cessary to a Campaign. Yet, when he ap∣proached towards Smola in his Road to Bo∣logna, the Governour sent the Keys of the Town to him in his March; which he made no other use of, than to give his Troops a Passage through the Place, resigning them up again. By these Noble Acts, he paved him∣self an easie Way through the Ecclesiastick

State; his Army being furnished with Vi∣ctuals in Abundance, without Plunder or In∣solency.

The first Occasion of this Quarrel, pro∣ceeded from some Contempts put upon the Prince of Parma at the Court of Rome, by the Nephews of Pope Ʋrban. And, the Dis∣gusts have since been improved to that Height, as to Engage the State of Venice, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the Duke of Modena, and other Princes, in the Care of the General In∣terest of Italy.

They proceed with Mediations and Over∣tures of Peace in one Hand, while the Sword is brandish'd with the other; amuzing one another with Treaties to gain Time. The Loss of Castro, a strong Town on the Borders of the Ecclesiastick State, spurs on the Duke of Parma to Revenge himself on the Barbe∣rini's; while the Republick of Venice, strives to mitigate his Fierceness, and accommodate Affairs, espousing his Cause, but fearful of his Rashness, lest his impetuous Humour should carry him to the Walls of Rome, and bring things to Extremities. For, all the Princes in Italy profess an Inviolate Obedience to the Pope, who seems to Inherit the Authority of the Ancient Roman Emperours.

Thou maist comprehend by what I have said, how easie it were at such a Juncture (when all the Principalities in Italy are (as it were) disjointed) to bring them under the Yoke of a Foreign Power. This is what the Spaniards and French have for a long time

been nibling at: and, whereof the Rebublick of Venice are so Jealous, that they never side with one Party to the Ruine of another, but endeavour to keep all the Interests of Italy in an Aequilibrium, till they are Reconciled and United, lest the Party which finds it self most weakned, should seek the Protection of one of those Potent Crowns; who would not fail to strike two strokes for themselves, if they are desired to strike one for the Op∣pressed Italian.

The Christians call Italy, the Garden of Eu∣rope; and, if the Allusion may hold, the King of Spain has possessed himself of two stately Grotto's in it, Naples and Millan; yet, 'tis a Question, whether the Cost in main∣taining these two Cities, will countervail the Honour of being their Sovereign at such a Di∣stance. The same may be said of his Domi∣nions, in Mexico and Peru. This is the Pe∣culiar Happiness of the Ottoman Empire, that all the Members of so vast a Body, lie conti∣guous to each other.

The Monarch of the World above and this below, encrease the Territories of our Invinci∣ble Sultan, and by continually supplying our Armies with such Fortunate Leaders as Mu∣stapha, subdue all Nations to the True Faith.

Paris, 29th. of the 8th. Moon, of the Year 1642.