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 XXIII.

To the Venerable Musti, Prince of the Religion of the Turks.

I Received the Dispatch of thy Sanctity, wherein thou hast renovated my Soul, and restored me to a sound Consistence of Spirit. My Doubts are vanished, I am no longer racked with torturing Scruples about my Conduct. Thy Absolution has obliterated the Sentence my Fears had pronounced on me.

As to the Penance thou hast enjoined me, it is Rational, and adapted to the Quality of my Crime. I have counterfeited a Christian, that I might the better perform the Duty of a Mussulman. I have seemed devoutly At∣tentive to the Roman Missal, that I might be Instrumental to propagate the Alcoran. And, for this Religious Fault, thou requirest, that I should inform thee, how the Christians be∣have themselves in their Temples, where I have been so often a Spectator of their Cere∣monies. I submit with an absolute Resigna∣tion, and a willing Compliance to thy Vene∣rable Injunction; and, will briefly relate what I have observed.

These Infidels seem to be Ambitious of imi∣tating the Ʋndefiled Religion, and yet they proved but bad Mimicks; for, as we are taught to wash our Bodies before we enter the Sa∣cred

Mosque; so they, at the Entrance of their Churches, dip their Fingers in certain Vessels filled with Water and Salt, and sprinkle their Foreheads therewith; as though their Purity lay in a Swound, and was thus to be recover∣ed to life again: or, that the Uncleanness of their whole Bodies, were contracted into the Face. They esteem the Water Holy, and yet they trifle with it as an Indifferent Thing. One would think, they should be desirous to bath themselves all over, and let every Pore in their Skin imbibe the Sanctified Li∣quor: But, they seem rather to use it as a Charm; for, after they have sprinkled a few Drops on their Faces, and muttered to them∣selves Two or Three Words, they think they have chased all Impurity from them in a Fright, and boldly present themselves be∣fore the Altars. Herein also they deviate from the Practice of Former Christians, who (if their own Church-Histories be true) were accustomed to wash their Arms and Feet in certain Cisterns, before they entred the Temples; whereof the Fountains and La∣vatories remaining yet on the South Side of the Holy and Magnificent Mosque of Sancta So∣phia at Constantinople, are a standing Testi∣mony. For, the Greek Inscriptions shew That some of them, at least, were contrived by the Builders of this Glorious Temple, in the Time of Justinian the Emperor, for the Pu∣rification of such as came thither to Worship. By which 'tis manifest, That these Modern In∣fidels degenerate from those more Ancient ones.

Another Thing offends me also, which is this; They believe the Divinity is present in their Temples, after a peculiar and extraordi∣nary Manner, and yet they suffer Dogs to Prophane them with their vilest Excrements. They spare for no Cost to adorn their Churches, and their Altars are enriched with invaluable Treasures of Silver, Gold, and Precious Stones; and yet, after all, they must become the Receptacles of the Dung of Sordid A∣nimals.

These wicked Wretches also, walk up and down in these Sacred Places, talking of their Common Affairs, as though they were on the Exchange, or in the Market-Place.

But, that which is to be had in greatest A∣bomination, is, that it is common for Men to make Love to the Women in Churches: They present themselves before the Altars, but, the Saint whom they Invocate, is some beautiful Female. She engrosses all their De∣votions; to her they make their Vows. The amorous Youth adores his Mistress that kneels by him, laden perhaps with more Sins than himself. His Eyes may be fixed on the Al∣tar, or, on the Pictures and Images, but his Tongue Addresses to the more Charming Idol near him: Or, if his Eyes are attentive on his Prayer-Book, he teaches it to speak nothing but the soft and effeminate Things of Love. Thus, Assignations of Lust, are made in the House of Prayer; and the Af∣fairs of Cupid, managed under the Masque of Religion. They Fight the Battels of Ve∣nus,

under the Banner of their God.

I tell thee, Venerable Interpreter of the Di∣vine Law, that the Sight of these Things has sometimes enflamed my Zeal to that Height, as had it not been for an earnest Desire to do some extraordinary Service to the Grand Si∣gnior (which obliged me to take Care of my self) I should certainly have transfixt these prophane Mockers of God on the Spot, and Sacrificed them to a Zeal, which thou, who art Piety it self, wouldst not, I believe, re∣prehend.

I fold my Arms, most Venerable Sovereign of Religion, and wrapping my self in pro∣found Humily, I fall prostrate to the Earth; begging thy effectual Blessing and Intercession, that I may be admitted into the Number of the Happy in Paradise.

Paris, 26th. of the 9th. Moon, of the Year 1642.