The fourth 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 Dgebe Nafir, Bassa.

THOU succeedest a Righteous Minister, Chiurgi Muhammet. I wish thee a Surplusage of Happiness: Which thou wilt not fail to possess, if thou inheritest the Ver∣tues of that Bassa, as well as his Office. May his Soul now taste the Reward of his Just Life. And I doubt not, but he has made an happy Experience of my Wishes. He sits down in Quiet, under the Trees of Eden. His Head encompass'd with a Garland of Flowers, which never fade. Vested with the Immar∣cescible Crimson and Purple of Paradise. He reposes on his Bed of Delights, whilst Beauti∣ful Pages serve him in Vessels of Gold, set round with Sapphires and Emeralds: He drinks the delectable Wine which never Inebriates; and eats of the Fruits, every Morsel of which, pro∣longs his Life for a Thousand Ages. He hears Nothing but the Voices of such, as are full of Benediction and Joy. The Virgins of Paradise, salute him with a Grace which can∣not be express'd. They chaunt to the New∣come Guest, Songs of Immortal Love. To the Stranger from Earth, they tell their Passion in Strains, which ravish his Heart. He is dissolv'd in a Thousand Ecstasies. This is the Reward of a Pious Mussulman, a Wise Mini∣ster, a Just Judge of the Faithful. Follow his

Example, and thou shalt be translated into his Company: For he is in a Goodly Place, near the Spring-Head of Perfect Bliss.

Thou wilt expect some News from me, as a Testimony of my Respect. And I cannot pretend there is none stirring, at a Juncture when all this Part of the World is so full of Action, or at least of Counsels.

Here has been great Rejoicings lately for the taking of St. Menehoud, a Strong Town in the Hands of the Prince of Conde. All the Officers of the French King's Army, endea∣vour'd to dissuade him from the Siege of this Place; but Cardinal Mazarini over-rul'd their Arguments, and having reprov'd their groundless Fears, caus'd it to be invested and attacqu'd the 22d. of the 10th. Moon. Some say, he had a Party there. Yet it held out till the 27th. of the last Moon, at which Time it was surrender'd upon Articles to the King, who was there in Person with his Brother, the young Duke of Anjou, the Queen, the Car∣dinal and the whole Court. They return'd to this City, the Ninth of this present Moon.

They were receiv'd with great Acclama∣tions and seeming Joy, by those who wou'd have triumph'd more heartily, had they been defeated, or forc'd to raise the Siege. For the Citizens of Paris, wish well to the Prince of Conde's Arms: Not so much out of Love to him, as in Hatred of his Enemy, the Cardi∣nal-Minister. And they are sensible, that this Successful Siege, will redound wholly to

the Cardinal's Honour, by whose sole Orders the Place was invested.

It is discours'd, as if this Minister has some new Design on Foot, to conquer the Kingdom of Naples. This is certain, a Migh∣ty Fleet is fitting out to Sea: Whither bound, no Man knows, but those of the Cabinet, among whom the Cardinal is Chief.

In the mean while, the Common People listen after certain Prodigies, that have been seen in the Air. They say, a Flaming Sword appear'd lately to rise in the North, and take its Course South-Eastward: From whence People make various Prognosticks, as their Passions or Interests inspire 'em. Some are of Opinion, it presages the Conquest of Naples by this King's Arms. Others apply it to the New Common-Wealth of England, and to the Victorious Sword of Oliver; who from Gene∣ral of the English Army, is now in this very Moon exalted to the Height of Sovereign Pow∣er, Governing the Nations of England, Scot∣land and Ireland, under the Title of their Pro∣tector.

Here are divers of his Subjects in this Ci∣ty; and other English, Scots, and Irish, who embrace the Interest of Charles, the Son of their late Murder'd King, who has been since Crown'd King of the Scots. They give a dif∣ferent Character of Oliver; yet all agree, that he is a Wise Statesman, and a Great Ge∣neral.

The Scotch King's Party, speak contempti∣bly of Oliver's Birth and Education: Yet

thou know'st, this hinders not, but he may be a Man of Courage and Vertue. They re∣late many odd Passages of his Youth, which seem to me so many Evidences of an extraor∣dinary Genius, and that he is a Person of a deep Reach.

He tamper'd with several Religious Factions in England, counterfeiting an Exquisite Pi∣ety; whereby he first rais'd himself a Name among the Zealots of that Nation, who look'd upon him there, as a very Holy Person, and one mark'd out by Destiny for Great Under∣takings.

He soon got a Considerable Command, in the Army of the Revolters: Where he signa∣liz'd himself by many brave Actions, which spoke him a Man of an Invincible Courage, and Admirable Conduct. So that at Length, none was thought more fit than he to be Ge∣neral. In fine, he acquitted himself so gal∣lantly in that High Office, and has so wrought himself into the Affections of the People, that they now look upon him as a Prophet, or Sa∣viour; and the Divan or Parliament of that Nation, have conferr'd on him the Sovereign Authority.

Those of the English which are Affected to his Interest, speak Great Things in his Praise; They call him another Moses or Joshua: They prefer him to Hannibal, Scipio, and even to the Great Alexander. It is difficult for them, to speak of him without Hyperbole's. 'Tis said, the King of France will court his Friendship. Indeed, all the Neighbouring Countries,

stand in Awe of this successful Hero. And the Hollanders, who are the only People that durst engage in a War with the English Com∣mon-Wealth, now seek for Peace, since he is invested with the Supreme Authority.

In the mean Time, the Poor Exil'd King of the Scots, takes Sanctuary in this Court, with his Mother the Late Queen of England, and his Brother, whom they call the Duke of York. The French King allows them all very Considerable Pensions. And the Latter has some Command in the Army in Flanders. There is another Brother also; but, little talk'd of as yet, being the Youngest of the Three.

They are Generously entertain'd here, it be∣ing the peculiar Honour of this Court, to be a Hospitable Refuge to Princes in Distress. Yet Observing Men say, The King will in Time grow Weary of his Royal Guests: It being ve∣ry Chargeable to maintain them, and their Burdensome Retinue. Besides, he will have some Reason of State to discard them, if he enters into a League with Oliver, the New English Sovereign, who is courted on all Hands.

Eliachim the Jew (of whom thou wilt hear in the Divan) is just come into my Chamber, and brings me Word, that there is an Express newly arriv'd, who informs the Queen of a Defeat given to the Spaniards near a City call'd Rozes, which they had be∣sieg'd in Catalonia. The French were going to the Relief of this Place, and the Spaniards set upon them in their March, but were

beaten into their Trenches; from whence they fled by Night, leaving Three Hundred Spa∣niards on the Spot, almost Two Thousand Prisoners, and all their Cannon and Baggage.

This has put the Court into a Jolly Hu∣mour. Nothing but revelling and dancing, employs their Time: The Young, King ta∣king great Delight in Balls, Masques and such Recreations; having left off Hunting, ever since his Horse ran away with him in the Tenth Moon of this Year, after he had shot a Partridge. Whereof I have spoken already in one of my Letters.

The Great God preserve thee from Preci∣pices, Poison, the Glances of a Witch, and from being Canoniz'd a Martyr in a String: And, for other Deaths, thou hast Vertues e∣nough to encounter 'em bravely.

Paris, 30th. of the 12th. Moon, of the Year 1653.