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 XX.

To the Vizir Azem at the Port.

THE great Preparations which Sultan Ibra∣him is making by Land and Sea, affords a Subject of Discourse to all Christendom; but administers a special Occasion of Jealousie, to the Republick of Venice.

They look on his declared Intentions to Invade Malta, only as a Cover or Cloak to his real Designs upon themselves; being confirm∣ed in their suspicion, by the Complaints which the Sultan made to Soranzo, their Resident at the Port, when he delivered himself with an Air, that expressed far deeper Resentments than his Words.

Nor can the Artificial Strains of Courtesie which are used toward the Resident, blind or

cancel the apparent Affront and Contempt which he received from the Caimacham; who refused to give him Audience after some hours Attendance, though at the same time Prince Ragotski's Envoy, was admitted at the first Word.

These Considerations, with others of like Nature, have sufficiently alarm'd the Vene∣tians; so that they are making all the season∣able Preparations that are requisite, to oppose the Torrent of the Ottoman Fury and Rage, which they apprehend is to be poured on them. This, they perform with all imagi∣nable Diligence and Secresie, being neither willing to give a just Ground of Jealousie to the Sultan, nor yet to be surprized unpro∣vided.

There have lately been extraordinary Con∣sultations in the Senate about these Affairs, some disapproving these Warlike Preparati∣ons, others promoting them: One Party judging, that a Peace ought rather to be purchased with a Tender of Gold: A con∣trary Side pleading, that such a Purchase would be both dishonourable and disadvan∣tageous; since upon every new Disgust, the Ottomans would commence, or, at least, threaten a War, on purpose, to erect a continual Mart for Peace, the Sale thereof being like to prove so profitable to them. Among the rest of the Senators, Signior Grimaldi made an Oration, of which I have obtained an Authentick Copy; And, it speaks thus:

THIS Glorious Republick, which has flourish'd for so many Ages, ought not, in my Opinion, to become the Merchandise of up-start Shepherds. 'Tis needless, to recount our Original, or wipe off the Ancient Dust of our Primitive Records, that we may be able to tell the World, we are the Reliques of Troy. 'Tis bootless, to put you in Mind, how this most serene and flourishing State, laid her first Foundations in the Sea, and built her Nest in the Floods: That the Nereids fled to her Shadow; and, the Rest of the Sea-Gods, even Neptune himself, courted her Alliance and Protection. Suffice it to say, that this Victorious State thus founded and built, has spread her Conquests through Istria, Dalma∣tia, and Epirus; has annexed unto her Go∣vernment, Corfu, Cephalenia, Zant, and Crete, with many other Islands of the Adri∣atick, and Mediterranean Seas; and, that this Virgin Commonwealth, has preserved her self undeflowred these Twelve Hundred Years. In all which Time, she never submitted to the lustful Tyranny of any Foreign Con∣querour: And, must she now become a Com∣mon Prostitute to Infidels? be bought and sold at any Rate? and pay the Price of her own Sla∣very? Has this most August Senate, by a long Series of successful Wars, been exalted to the

Height of Sovereign Power, and is she now to be brav'd into a base and mercenary Peace, the gilded Mask of abject Slavery? We that have stemmed the Torrent of Ottoman Inva∣sions, and resisted the Puissance of all Asia, must we now pull down our own Banks, and tamely let the proud Insulting Enemy in, pave∣ing his Way with Gold? Rouze up, my Lords, the Ancient Genius of this Mighty State, a∣waken the old Venetian Valour; and, unless you resolve always to bear the Ottoman Yoke, now shake it off, and make a War your Choice, rather than your last Remedy.

The Eyes of all the Western Nations, are fixed on this August Assembly. The Fate of Christendom is now in the Scales; it is in your Power alone to turn the doubtful Balance; it is from your unshaken Valour, the Christian World expects a Benefit, which shall be record∣ed on the Pillars of Eternity. Suffer not your selves, Most Excellent Lords, to be cajoled by the specious Pretences of the Ottoman Fox, but confide in your own Illustrious Arms, and the Justice of your Cause, which will not fail to attract the Favours of Divine Providence. Let not those Laurels, which have been all a∣long sprinkled with the Noble Bloud of your Renowned Ancestors, be tamely taken from your Heads, and trampled under the Feet of Infidels. Whom do you fear? A man supine∣ly

lull'd in wanton Pleasures; drown'd in the soft Delights of his Seraglio; a fitter Champion for the Fields of Venus, than for the bloudy Toils of Mars, the harsh Fatigues of War? But what do you dread? The Bug∣bear-Title of Grand Signior? It is in our Power, to check his boasted Grandeur, and make him sensible, The State of Venice, has a Sword can match the Turkish Scymitar.

Do but resolve, the Work's half done. I feel already in my Mind, blissful Presages of a lasting Peace, the effect of a Just and Sea∣sonable War, which is much to be preferred to the precarious Truce (for it deserves no better Title) which they design to cheat us with, in Contemplation of our Gold; a Truce, which they will break at Pleasure, to Start new Grounds of Composition. Thus, could we drain the Indies dry, we must refund our Trea∣sure into the Ottoman Coffers, and all too little to satiate their Greedy Avarice, and Tyran∣nous Demands. Thus would the most Se∣rene Republick of Venice, be post-pon'd to the Divan of Algiers; who have already shaken off the Turkish Yoke, retaining indeed the servile Name of Subjects, but refusing the Tribute they were wont to pay. Let us not suffer that Barbarous Little State, thus No∣bly to assert their Liberty, whilst we resign our Necks to the Yoke. Our Fleets are

numerous, our Soldiers disciplin'd, our Sea∣men bold and expert, our Treasury full of the Nerves of War. Let us be in a Readiness, and, if Sultan Ibrahim dares be the first Ag∣gressor; then, beat Drum, sound Trumpet, and every Man to his Post.

This huffing Harangue of Signior Grimaldi, though it met with some Abettors in the Se∣nate, yet the Counsel of the Graver and Wi∣ser Heads prevailed; which was, to send Or∣ders to the Venetian Resident at Constantinople, to sound the Inclinations of the Sultan, and, if possible, to make a Pecuniary Accommo∣dation.

This Intelligence I receive from a Jew, li∣ving at Venice; one whom I confide in, and who gives me a constant and faithful Account of all the Important Occurrences of that State. He is familiar with Girolamo Pusserla, and Bernardino Lupulo, Two of the Senators who voted for Peace; by which Means, he can easily feel the Pulse of the Venetian State, no∣thing of Moment being concealed from him by these Clarissimo's.

The late Action of Giacomo da Riva; Sopra∣veditor of Tino, against the Ships of Tripoli and Tunis, is interpreted to be done altoge∣ther in his own Defence. I doubt not, but it will be otherwise represented at the Port; but, I wish some Mens groundless Discontents, and the private Interest of others, be not impro∣ved to the Notion of Publick Injuries; by the

Artifice of such as wish not well to the Otto∣man Empire.

I discharge my Duty, in sending thee the best Intelligence I can in this Juncture.

God, the Supreme Monarch of the Ʋniverse, dispose these Overtures, and all other Humane Events, to the Exaltation of the Ottoman Empire, and the Propagation of the true Faith.

Paris, 13th of the 10th Moon, of the Year 1644.