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 XXI.

To Chiurgi Muhammet Bassa.

I Have been in this City very near Six Years, and it will be expected, that in all this Time I have made some profitable Remarks, on the Nature of the French, the Intrigues of the Court, the Policy of the State, the Di∣scipline of their Armies, and the Strength of the Kingdom.

Some Observations I have already commu∣nicated to the Ministers of the Divan, and to others of my Friends at the Sublime Port. All my Letters are made common to the Hap∣py Slaves of him who rules the World. Thou hast heard of the Death of a Potent King, a Great Queen, and a Mighty Favourite: Now let us change the Scene, and pass from the Melancholy Themes of Death, the Unavoid∣able Fate of Mortals, to the sprightly Joys of Life, the blooming Years of an Infant King, who takes an early Leap from his Cradle to a Throne. Thou wilt not expect I should speak much of him, who as yet can say but little of

himself. However, in passing by this Little Great one, it would be ill Manners not to pay him a Salute or Congé who, though Young, seems no Novice in Punctilio's of Courtship, as appears by his Address to the Bishop who Baptized him; (if thou knowest not what that means, it is the first Ceremony whereby they are made Christians, and, it answers to our Circumcision.) As soon as the Mystery was performed, this Young Prince, with an assu∣red Countenance, and becoming Gravity, spoke thus to the Prelate: My Father, I hum∣bly thank you, and shall be eternally obliged to you: My Parents gave me onely an Earthly Crown, but you have made me Heir of the King∣dom of Heaven.

There were present, the Queen, the Prin∣cess of Conde, Cardinal Mazarini, with Di∣vers other Persons of Quality. The whole Assembly were astonished at the Child's Ex∣pression (being but about Four Years of Age); taking it for an Omen of his Future Piety and extraordinary Actions. He discovers a prompt Wit in all his Discourse, using but few Words, and those very apposite. His whole Deport∣ment is graceful, and surprizingly regular; at∣tended with a Discretion, which is not look'd for, but from those of Riper Years. In fine, Nature seems to have fitted him for the Em∣pire to which he is born.

In the mean Time, as if Infant Governours were now become Fashionable, there are se∣veral made Bishops and Abbots, while they are yet in the Cradle. This the Inferior Cler∣gy

stomach, and the Laity grumble, saying, That there are like to be good Times in France, when those who are styled the Fathers of the Church, are Babies. This is Cardinal Maza∣rini's Policy, to fasten the Nobility to the In∣terests of the Crown, by thus honouring their Children with the Principal Dignities of the Church. And, thou wilt say, he is a Wise Man in so doing, when thou considerest, how great a share the Bishops and other Ecclesia∣sticks have, in the Wealth of the Land. And that he could not do the King a better Service, than by disposing of these Preferments, to such as would not onely thereby be obliged to Loy∣alty themselves, but would also link the Fa∣milies to which they belong, to the Royal Cause.

Thou wilt better comprehend the Policy of this Minister, in thus endeavouring to secure the Dignified Clergy, when thou weighest then Strength, and considerest their Numbers.

There are in France 12 Archbishopricks, 104 Bishopricks, Convents of the Greater Order 540, Convents of the Lesser Order 12320, Ab∣bies 1450, Nunneries 67; 700 Frieries, 259 Seminaries of the Order of the Knights of Mal∣ta, 27400 Parish-Churches, Hospitals 540, Private Chappels or Oratories 9000. To fill all these, they reckon 226000 Religious, or Dervises, besides 130000 Parish-Priests.

It has been usual, to take an Estimate of the Glory and Riches of a Prince, from the Number of his People; but, I would not have thee think the French King the Wealthier,

for this Prodigious Number of Devotees; The greatest part of which, he has more reason to look upon, as an Army of Enemies, than Sub∣jects. Indeed, the Interest of the Arch-Bi∣shops, Bishops and Parish-Priests, is twisted with that of the Crown; but, the Monks and Friars are the Creatures of the Pope, and all of them together are not maintained with less Cost, than the Fourth Part of the Revenues of France, out of which in former Times, there went Yearly a Million of Crowns to the Court of Rome.

I cannot perceive, wherein consists the Po∣licy of cherishing so many Nests of Spiritual Leeches, who suck the very Blood and Vitals of the Nation: One would think, it were sufficiently dreined by the Royal Customs, Tax∣es, and Imposts.

These Kings have Monopoliz'd all the Salt of the Kingdom into their own Hands, which they compel their Subjects to buy of them at their own Rates. To this End, they have Officers in all Parts, who vend it for them. It looks, as if they took care to pre∣serve their Subjects from Corruption, and were afraid, lest they should putrefy alive; there being not a Man in all their Dominions, who is not obliged to take the Quantity which the Officers Impose on him, except in some par∣ticular Provinces, which for reasons of State, or by Treaty, are exempted. The Revenue which arises to the King from this Commo∣dity, amounts to near Three Millions of Crowns yearly. He hath Eight Millions more

coming in by Subsidies, from the Peasants; besides many particular Imposts on Flesh, Wine and other Commodities. Yet, he loses a considerable Part of his Revenues, by Farm∣ing them out to his Subjects, or Mortgaging them in Time of War for ready Money. He has no less than Thirty Thousand Officers, that are wholly employed in collecting his Revenues, whose Pensions and Salaries lessen the King's Income by above half; so that, out of Fourscore Millions of Crowns, which are Yearly squeez'd from the People, scarce Thir∣ty Millions come entire into the King's Cof∣fers.

Thou wilt wonder at the Improvidence of these Infidel Kings, and at the same time con∣demn their Tyranny and Injustice, who op∣press, plunder and ruine those that furnish them with all Necessaries for Humane Suste∣nance, to enrich (not themselves, but) a Com∣pany of greedy Caterpillars; for, such, and no better, are those who gather their Revenues. It is not so in the Sacred Empire of the Oz∣mans, where Justice has erected her Throne, and Oppression dares not shew her Face.

But, the French seem born for Slavery, they bear it so patiently, without ever aspiring after a Redemption. The Christians exclaim against our Janizaries, accusing them of In∣solence, Oppression, Rapine, and all the Vi∣ces to which a Licentious Soldiery are usually addicted; but, these are Trifles, to what the French Dragoons commit, when quarter'd up∣on the poor Country-people: they Rob them

of all they have, practising a Thousand Vil∣lainies, to which the Janizaries are wholly Strangers; Adulteries pass for Gallantry with them, and Rapes are counted but the Exces∣ses of an Immoderate Passion; the Husband must stand quietly, whilst his▪ Wife is in the Arms of a Domineering Hector; the Father must behold his Daughter deflowr'd, with∣out discovering the least Regret. These are the Methods by which this People are morti∣fied, and they seem to be stupid under their Calamities, not having Courage enough left to meditate a Redress, unless it be by becoming Soldiers themselves; for, of such as these, is the Infantry of France composed. Hence, it is not to be admired, that they are esteemed the feeblest, basest and most despicable Soldi∣ers of any in Europe; since, not the pursuit of Honour, nor Love to their Country, indu∣ces them to take up Arms, but despair of li∣ving otherwise, being reduced to the most rigorous Extremities on this side Famine.

Live thou in the Honour with which God and our Emperour have invested thee, and con∣serve thy Vertue, which will raise thee yet Higher. Forget not to have Mahmut some∣times in thy Thoughts, who loves thee with a true Heart, and serves thee with Alacrity.

Paris, 15th. of the 10th. Moon, of the Year 1643.