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 XXII.

To Halil Omri Bassa.

THOU that art exalted from a Page, to one of the Highest Dignities in the Em∣pire, and possessest an Eminent Share of the Sultan's Favour, wilt not be displeased if Mahmut, whom thou hast formerly honour'd with thy Friendship, puts thee in Mind of some Qualifications that are requisite in a Fa∣vourite. I know thy Abilities are great, yet he that walks on Pinnacles, will not refuse the Assistance of any kind Hand that offers it, nor tax a Man with Presumption, for endea∣vouring to preserve him from a Fall.

It will not be sufficient, that thou art very

Zealous to serve the Sultan, to aggrandize his Honour, and prop the Imperial Dignity: Nor, that thou art extremely accurate in ma∣naging the Affairs committed to thy Charge: That thou art assiduous and extraordinary careful; not addicted to Recreations and Pleasure: That thou art rigorously Just, deaf to Flattery, and inexorable to Bribes; but in all Things sollicitous for thy Sovereigns Interest and Greatness, without any other Byass, save that of untainted Loyalty. (All these, I must confess, are great Vertues in a Statesman and a Favourite; yet, they may become Vices, by their Excess as well as their Defect; and he that steers not his Course in the Golden Mean, may soon preci∣pitate himself into Ruine.) But it is also ne∣cessary for thee, to have an Eye to the Satisfa∣ction of the Subject, as well as to the Prince's Prerogative. It will not be safe to immo∣late the Peoples Interests and Liberties, to the Humours and Caprices of their Sovereign. Neither will he thank or reward thee, for such a dangerous Piece of Zeal. Nay, should he himself command thee to do any Thing, which would intrench on their Rights and Privileges, thou oughtest rather to shew thy Fidelity, in humbly remonstrating to him the ill Consequences of such a Proceeding, than by a blind Obedience, to betray both him and thy self to the Publick Odium. On thee, to be sure, it will fasten, however thy Master may escape; and, thou must fall a Victim, to appease the incens'd Multitude and save him harmless.

This was the Case of the Duke d' Olivares, the late Minister and Favourite of the King of Spain. He was endued, with all the foremen∣tioned Vertues requisite in a Statesman; but, his immense Zeal to advance the Kings Pre∣rogative, betrayed him to such Measures of Oppression and Tyranny, as were the Occa∣sion of his Ruine.

The Spaniards claim certain Franchises and Immunities, which when granted them, they pay a voluntary Homage to the Castilian Crown. D' Olivares sought to bereave them of these their Native Customs and Liberties, which by degrees gave so general a Disgust to that apprehensive Nation, that they broke out into an open Rebellion. Hence sprung the Revolt of Catalonia and Rossilion; and, the total Defection of Portugal. He thought by Rigour, to drive these People to Extremes, making them fall into Treason, and then taking advantage of their Crimes, to make his Master more absolute. But, these indirect Courses never prosper'd; and, we now see the Duke of Braganza, by this Means esta∣blished in the Throne of Portugal, that King∣dom quite rent from Spain, and the other Pro∣vinces in the Hands of the French.

The Spanish Grandees, sensible of the Male-administration of the Favourite Duke, grew disgusted, with-drew from the Court, and from their Charges, leaving the King almost desti∣tute of Attendants at home, or Officers a∣broad; yet, none durst discover the Grounds of their Discontent, till the Constable of Ca∣stile

broke the Ice, on the following Occasion. This Constable, is one of the Prime Nobility of Spain, deducing his Pedigree from a Race of Kings. Him had Olivares made his Mor∣tal Enemy, by proposing a Match between a Son of his, and the Constable's Daughter. This Son, whether Natural or only Adopted, is not certainly known; but, he had lived an obscure and debauch'd Life, not so much as taken Notice of unless for his dissolute Man∣ners, and enormous Crimes, which had once expos'd him to the Sentence of Death, had he not met with better Fortune than he deserv'd. All the Nobles were highly disgusted, when they saw this Prodigal own'd by Olivares for his Natural Son and Heir, invested with the highest Dignities of the Kingdom, and made Master of prodigious Riches; especially, since he was no Ways worthy of such Preferment, retaining still his former Vices, and giving e∣very where Proofs of an abject and base Ge∣nius. To see such an one made President of the Indies, and at the Height of Honour, in a fair Way to succeed the Duke in his Mini∣stry, irritated the whole Court, and drove the Constable of Castile to Impatience. He utter∣ly refuses the Match, disdaining that his Daughter should be linked to such an Upstart. He remonstrates to the King, the exorbitant Ambition of Olivares. In fine, being second∣ed by other Lords of the Court, and by Let∣ters from the German Emperour, he so far prevailed on the King, that his Eyes began to be opened, and he now clearly saw, that

all the Disorders of the Government, ow'd their Origin to the ill Conduct of Olivares. Wherefore, taking the Advice of his faithful Counsellors, he banish'd him the Court, de∣priv'd him of all Authority, confin'd him first to a Place not far from Madrid, and af∣terwards to Thoro, a City in Old Castile.

Thus fell that great Minister, through his own Ambition to rise. Seeking by unwarranta∣ble Methods to secure his Master's Favour, he incurr'd the Height of his Displeasure, and brought upon his own Head, an irrecoverable Disgrace and Ruine.

I send thee this Example, as a Testimony of my Friendship and Fidelity; and, that thou mayst inform the Divan, of the true Grounds of this Man's Misfortune. The King has now taken the Reins of Government into his own Hands, though, 'tis thought, too late.

I wish thee an Encrease of Vertues and Hap∣piness, and that thy Moderation may keep thee stedfast in the Sultan's Favour.

Paris, 4^th of the 11^th Moon, of the Year 1644.