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 XVI.

To the Kaimacham.

SInce the Death of King Lewis, all mens Eyes and Hearts are fix'd upon the Dau∣phin; who, though he is very Young, yet is he a Prince of a forward Genius, and promising Aspect, giving signal Proofs of a Martial Spirit.

One Day, seeing the Guards, as they were exercising their Arms, he discovered an extra∣ordinary Complacency, and said to those that stood by; I had rather be a Soldier, than a King: Imagining, from the Softnesses he is accustomed to in these Infant Years, that the Life of a Soldier, is incompatible with that of a King.

Since that Time, he harasses his Tutor and

Attendants, with perpetual Tattle about Guns and Swords. And, Cardinal Maza∣rini, not to baffle or check such Generous Inclinations, has cull'd out a Companion for him, agreeable in Temper, onely a Year or Two elder.

These Young Sons of Mars, bestow their Time partly in shooting with little harmless Engines, made on purpose for the Dauphin's Recreation, in Imitation of Guns; some∣times with Bows and Arrows; at other Times, they fence with Files adapted to their tender Arms, and childish Skill. In these Kind of Exercises, the Dauphin grows a great Profici∣ent; and, it is look'd upon, as an Omen of his future Warlike Deeds.

A Spanish Astrologer, has calculated his Nativity. He Prophesies strange Things of this Young Prince; As, that he shall excel all his Royal Ancestors in Feats of Arms; That he shall make the Crown of France Imperial, having subdued Spain, Italy and Germany; That he shall shake the Ottoman Empire, but, in the End, shall be deposed by his own Subjects.

I know not what Credit may be given to the Professors of this Science, in regard the Ancient Rules of Astrology, on which the Chaldeans, and other Eastern Sages ground∣ed their Predictions, are now either wholly lost, or so corrupted and obscured by the Com∣ments and Glosses of later Authors, that there are hardly any Footsteps of the Origi∣nal Maxims to be trac'd. Yet, without trou∣bling

Astrologers, Prophets, or Wizards, one may presage from the Natural Genius of the Dauphin, that when he comes to feel his Strength, he will not be idle, but follow his Fathers Steps, who, before he was Thirteen Years of Age, appear'd at the Head of Ar∣mies.

The Omnipotent guard our Glorious Sultan, and the Empire Established by his own Hands, and, may his Blessing descend on the Royal Off-spring; that the Young Sultan Mahomet, may perform greater Things, than are pro∣phesied of the French Dauphin.

Paris, 6th. of the 7th. Moon, of the Year 1643.