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 XXVII.

To Dicheu Hussein Bassa.

THOU hast already in the Divan, heard of the present Convulsions of the English State. I communicated to the Vizir Azem, what Intelligences I had received of the Trou∣bles of that Kingdom. Besides, the Imperial City is full of Strangers of all Nations, who maintain Correspondences with their several respective Countries: Whence it comes to pass, That whatsoever is done in the most re∣mote Corners of the Earth, is soon known to the Ministers of the Sublime Port, which is the Sanctuary of the Whole World. But, I shall gratifie thee, in unveiling the Interiour of those Events, which have made such a Noise. Thou art naturally curious in thy Researches; and, I shall present thee with some additional Re∣marks, which I have made on the English Affairs, since I wrote to the Supreme Minister on that Subject.

I acquainted him, that the late Cardinal Richlieu, had a hand in Embroiling that Island, as he had in exciting the Tumults of Catalonia, and promoting the Revolution of Portugal. The part which he acted, was by Proxy. He had his Agents there, to blow up into a Flame, the Sparks which lay smothering in the Breasts of that Discontented People. Those of the Latin Church, reflect it as a Judgment on the

English Nation, that they have never been free from Conspiracies, Seditions and Rebellions, since the Time they shook off their Obedience to the Roman Mufti; which was, in the Days of King Henry VIII. As if, that Revolt in Point of Religion, had been the Source of all the following Tumults and Disorders in the State. 'Tis certain, Religion has great Influ∣ence on Mens Morals, and where a Liberty of innovating is once allow'd, it makes conti∣nued Progressions. Some French Antiqua∣ries say, that the English embrac'd the Roman Communion for the Space of Seven Hundred Years; and, that during so long a Time, they never had any Civil Wars, but such as were made on the Account of Succession to the Crown. But, that after they had chang'd their Faith, they were always restless, still hatching some Alteration in the Government. I know not how far these Observations are justifiable, Men being generally partial to their own Cause. But, the present Stirs in that Island, seem to owe their Increase, if not their Birth, to the Latitude which the Subjects take in Matters of Conscience. Whilst every Man, carves out to himself such a Religion, as best pleases him; without being accountable to the State, or paying any Tribute, as is the Practice of the Ottoman Empire. Hence, it is few Mens Ambition, to conform to the Re∣ligion of the Prince; but, every Sect endea∣vours to perswade both Prince and People, to subscribe to their Sentiments; and, the most potent Party, threatens all the Rest with

the ill Consequences of War, in Case their Tenets be not establish'd. Among all the Religions which divide the Inhabitants of that Island, there is none for which they have so general an Aversion, as that which they call the Roman Catholick, though it were once the Establish'd Religion of the Country. This is now become the publick Eye-sore; and, the rest of the Sects, though they are at immor∣tal Difference with each other, yet all join Heart and Hand to oppose this Common Bug∣bear. The French say, That the Protestants are like the English Mastiffs, Two of which, I remember, were presented to Sultan Amu∣rath, by the French Ambassador, with this Character of them, That though when they quarrell'd they would fight with each other to Death, yet should a Bear be let loose upon them, in the Midst and Heat of their Fury, they would soon become Friends, and turn the Battel upon their Savage Enemy. Such, they say, is the Humour of the English Sectaries; and, the Factious have improved it so far, as to fasten the Odium of the Vulgar on the King himself, by suggesting, That he designs to introduce the Roman Religion into that Country; whereas, according to the Relation of Travellers and knowing Men, he is a zealous Protestant. This is the Pretence of taking up Arms against him: An Artifice, by which Rebellion is generally usher'd in; whilst the Defence of Religion, is made a Cloak for Sacrilege and Treason.

The Infidels have found out a Way to divide a Man from himself, by Metaphysical

Niceties, a Science wherein the True Believers are happily ignorant. They are actually in Arms against their Sovereign, yet they declare they fight for him: Maintaining their Rebellion by this Sophistry, That they fight against his Na∣tural Person, to defend his Political; as if they could separate one from the other. Some thinking Men say, 'tis well if they do not di∣vorce his Soul from his Body by the Help of these Juggling Distinctions.

His Viceroy in Ireland, has already lost his Head, for no other Crime, but his Loyalty to his Master, who is blam'd for giving Consent to the Execution of so faithful a Minister. Yet, the Curious pretend to trace the Footsteps of Justice in this Man's Destiny, since he fell a Sacrifice to the fame Democratick Principles, whereof he had formerly been a zealous Pa∣tron, having been observed to be once a great Opposer of the Royal Prerogative. If this be true, it seems as if Nemesis her self had brought him to his Punishment.

Thou wilt wonder at the Presumption of these People, in divesting the King of the Military Power by Sea and Land, and assu∣ming it themselves. Especially, when thou considerest, that this is the Essential Preroga∣tive of Sovereignty, without which it is but an Empty Title.

Our Invincible Sultans are possessed of such an uncontroulable Authority, as cannot be transferr'd to any Subject, or to all the Sub∣jects of so vast an Empire put together; but is only communicated at the Imperial Plea∣sure,

as Rays from the Sun, whose Emanati∣ons, though they are immense and infinite; yet do they not in the least, diminish or weak∣en that Immortal Fountain of Light. But, the English have not that Veneration for their Prince, as is found in the Mussulmans: They esteem Him but the Trustee of the Common-Wealth, the Creature of the Populace, having imbib'd the Principles of Aristotle, Cato and other Democratick Philosophers; who teach, That the Sovereign Power is Originally in the People, and but transmitted from them to the Prince, by way of Deputation and Credence. My Letter to the Prime Vizir, will inform thee what the English Parliament is. At this Time, as I'm inform'd, it consists for the most Part of Men of this Stamp: Yet they do not openly profess these Antimonarchick Te∣nents; but, under the Mask of Loyalty, amuse the credulous Multitude with specious Pre∣tences, Of making the King the most Glorious Monarch, and his Subjects the Happiest People in the World. But, 'tis thought he will rather confide in his Arms, the Justice of his Cause, and the Protection of God, than suffer himself to be any longer cajol'd by their false Rhetorick.

He has given them Battel once, wherein they say, the Victory was in an even Balance, and neither Side could claim it.

The Rebels have put to Death the English Mufti, whom they call the Arch-bishop. They struck off his Head with an Ax, in the open Street, on the 10th Day of the 1st Moon of the Year 1644.

Before I conclude this Letter, I shall re∣late to Thee a Passage, which happen'd in this King's Infancy, worthy of Remark: In former Ages, there were a Sort of Philosophers or Prophets in England, whom they call'd Druids, and Bards. These instructed the People in the Belief of a God, the Immorta∣lity of the Soul, and other Principles of Natu∣ral Religion. They foretold Things to come, and had acquir'd so great a Reputation, that the Kings of that Country would undertake no Affair of Moment, till they had first consulted these Oracles. 'Tis said, there are yet living some of that Prophetick Race in the Mountains of Scotland. One of which, a Man of great Sanctity and Wisdom, being an Hundred and Twenty Years old, came to visit this King's Father; at which Time he saw this King, be∣ing then an Infant in his Nurses Arms, whilst his Elder Brother and Heir of the Crown stood by. The Old Man, after his Complements to the Father, takes the Infant Prince in his Arms, and bestows his Benediction on it, in these Terms, Hail, Royal Babe, Heir of Two Crowns; thou shalt Reign a long Time happily; but in the End, a Flower-de-luce shall be thy Bane. The Nobles that were present, thinking that the Extremity of Age had bereav'd him of his Reason, were ready to thrust him away; offering to take the Child from Him, and telling Him, That he mistook; for, this was not the Heir of the Crown, but his Brother who stood by. But he, with a composed Look and an assured Carriage, made Answer, That

what he spoke, was Truth; adding withal, That the Elder Brother should die before his Fa∣ther; and, That this should live to inherit the Kingdoms of Scotland and England. The Event has made good some Part of his Pro∣phecy; for, his Elder Brother dyed at Twelve Years of Age, and he at this Day possesses those Two Kingdoms; but, how the Flower∣de-luce shall be his Bane, Time must evince. It is thought, That by it is meant, the French King; because that is the Arms of the Royal Blood of France. It is hard to determine of future Events; yet there are some, who ob∣serving the Influence which this Court has had on the English Commotions, and how far Cardinal Richlieu had engaged King Lewis XIII. in Revenging the Affronts which were given to his Sister the Queen of England, by that Inhospitable Nation, make no Difficulty of interpreting this Prophecy; but conclude, That the Unfortunate King of England, will at length fall a Victim to the French Resent∣ments, though his own Subjects be Instru∣mental to his Ruin.

I will continue my Intelligence of the Eng∣lish Affairs, as I receive them. In the mean while, I pray the Great God, to protect the Mussulman Empire from Sedition and Trea∣son, and keep the Subjects of Sultan Ibrahim in their due Obedience.

Paris, 25th. of the 3d. Moon, of the Year 1645.