Tarpaulin, and therefore entertain me with∣out Reserve, as one of their Crew.
This very Evening, I was with some of these Retainers to Neptune. Among the Rest of the Discourse I had with them, we touched upon the Dardanells which guard the Hellespont. They taxed the Christian Princes with Cowardise, or, unpardonable Negligence, that they have never attempted to force their Passage through that Channel into the Pro∣pontis, and block up the Imperial City by Sea, and set it on Fire; especially the Royal Serag∣lio, from whence are issued out the Decrees of Life and Death to the whole Earth.
I told them, they were mistaken in the Strength of those Castles, which command that Important Avenue. And, that no Ships ever durst venture within their Reach, with∣out Leave. When one of them started up, and made me this Answer: Sir, we have Ves∣sels impenetrable as Rocks, which dare come to an Anchor, under the very Walls of those superannuated Forts, and defie all the Turkish Artillery, to remove us thence. We onely want a Commission from our King, to try the Experiment.
I tell thee, Supreme Minister, I found too much Reason in his Answer, to make room for a Reply. Wherefore, dissembling for a while, the Agony I was in for the Welfare of the Sublime Port, I took my Leave of the Company, and immediately set Pen to Pa∣per, to let thee know what is in the Hearts of these Infidels.