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 V.

To the Captain Bassa.

IN the Name of God, Superlatively Indul∣gent and Benign, Lord of Armies which cannot be Numbred, Conservator of the Empire founded on his Own Ʋnity; Praise be to him, that has neither Beginning, nor End! What is the Reason, that we are always Bassl'd by the Infidels? Every Year our August Emperour sends out mighty Armies by Land, and our Fleets by Sea are term'd INVINCIBLE, yet they are still overcome by the Christians. Where the Fault lies, is best known to thee, and the Generals to whom the Command of all is committed.

My Spirit is disquieted about these Things, and I am uneasy by Day, neither does the Night accord me any Repose. This hot Weather, I go up to the Terrass of my House at the Hour of Sleep, thinking that the Cool∣ness of the Air would incline me to Rest; but I can find none. I turn my self on the Leads to the Right-Hand and to the Left, yet all Postures are alike. Sleep has abandon'd my Eyes. My Zeal for the Empire of the Faith∣ful will consume me.

One Night I made Solemn Preparations to welcome the First Appearance of the Moon, after the Manner of my Countrymen. I

sprinkl'd Water on the Floor of the Terrass, and with a New Besom swept away all Ʋn∣cleanness: I fill'd a Lamp with the most pre∣cious Oyl I could get in Paris, which having lighted at the going down of the Sun, I plac'd directly on that Part which is nearest to Meccha. Then I fell on my Face, and pray'd the Eternal Source of Lights,

That at the Moment, when the Moon first Ascended our Horizen, an Intellectual Splendor might shine in my Breast: That I might there, as in a Mirror, behold the Future Fate of the Mussulmans, and the Events, which as yet, were hid in the Dark Womb of Possi∣bility.

My Petition was granted: The Night was in her Shady Course; the Stars on their Watch; and Time, as from a Limbeck, destill'd the Si∣lent Minutes, till the Moment wherein the Neighbour-Planet, first peep'd on the ••ops of Mountains. At that Instant I saw, and heard Things (or at least I thought so) which I never so much as dreamt of before, neither can I remember the Thousandth Part.

Believe me, Supreme Commander of the Marine, I do not boast, or Joy in this. For, I think there can be no greater Affliction, than to be once made Partaker of such a Bliss, and then to lose it, almost as soon as gain'd. Yet there are some Footsteps of the Vision re∣maining on my Memory.

Methinks I beheld Armies of Mussulmans (for I thought 'em to be such by their Tur∣bants) making several Descents on the

Shores of Italy: Methought I saw them prostrate themselves on the Ground, and after a considerable Space of Silence, the Air eccho'd with the Sound of Allah, Allah, much like the Noise of great Cascades, or Falls of Water.

Then they seem'd to disperse themselves all over the Countrey in divers Bodies. The Inhabitants of Rome, appear'd all in a great Consternation. The Chief Mufti of that Place, went forthwith into the Streets, fol∣low'd by his Cardinals, and Dervises, ac∣companied by an Innumerable Multitude of People. They carried their Gods of Gold and Silver along with them; and being ap∣parell'd with Garments of coarse Hair, they sprinkled Ashes on their Foreheads, in To∣ken of their Humility, and to pacify the Indignation that was kindled against them.

But, Heaven was deaf to their Clamo∣rous Vows, neither could all the Pomp of their Superstitious Solemnity, dazle the Eyes which are a Thousand Times brighter than the Sun, penetrating into the darkest Corners of the Heart. In a word, these Infidels seem'd a while after to be in a great Confusion and Hurry, running this Way and that Way to hide their Goods, and save themselves from the Victorious Strangers. In fine, I saw the Crosses taken down from the Mi∣narets of the Mosques in Rome, and Cre∣scents advanc'd in their place.

I do not relate this, as if I gave Credit to Visions and Trances: Perhaps all this might be but a Waking Dream. Yet such Visionary En∣tertainments, happen of Course to our Coun∣trymen, when they observe the foresaid Cere∣monies. But I tell thee, I am not asleep at this Moment; and yet it appears to me a very Probable Undertaking, for the Mussulmans to fit out a Mighty Fleet, which having a suf∣ficient Army of Land-Men aboard, might de∣liver them with little or no Opposition, on some of the Wealthy Shores of Italy: And if it is not thought worth the Labour to make New Conquests, which would be difficult to maintain; yet at least our Soldiers by plunde∣ring only the Rich Temples and Convents of the Nazarenes, might carry away Inestima∣ble Treasures.

I wrote formerly to one of thy Predecessors about the same Matter, proposing the Sur∣prize of Loretto, as a very easy Attempt, and that the Booty wou'd infinitely surpass the Expence and Trouble: But Mahmut's Ad∣vices are never regarded, till 'tis too late. We squander away Thousands of Men, and Mil∣lions of Money to purchase little insignificant Islands, which are defended indeed with seem∣ing Vigour by the Christians; but 'tis rather to amuse us, than out of any real Value they have for those Places.

It is only a Maxim of Western Policy, thus to give Diversion to the Arms which are de∣stin'd to subdue All Nations. They sport themselves, to see the Flower of the Eastern

Militia consum'd in their Trenches, before the Impregnable Fortress of Candia, which if won will not quit the Cost of so tedious a Siege. Whereas, in half that Time, our Invincible Forces might have over-run all Italy.

Thou wilt not think this an Impractica∣ble Enterprize, when thou shalt consider the Divisions of the Italian Princes, the Univer∣sal Security and Voluptuousness of the Inha∣bitants, and yet the Oppressions and Tyran∣ny they live under, being fleec'd and poll'd of all their Substance, to maintain the Gran∣deur of their Governors, and the Pride of the Clergy; which renders 'em equally disgusted, at their present Slavish Manner of Life, and desirous of a Change. It is not hard to sur∣mise after all this, that a Conquest wou'd be easy to the Victorious Mussulmans; or at least such Depredations, as would mightily enrich them.

The most proper News that I can send thee, is of a Combat lately fought at Sea, between the English and the Dutch. The Generals on both Sides, are said to be brave Men. He of Britain is call'd Blake, the Other's Name is Trump. Which had the best on't, is not certainly known. Men speak as they are by∣ass'd. Yet the Dutch lost Two Ships in this Engagement, tho' their Fleet was far more Numerous than that of the English.

If I were worthy to advise my Superiours, I would propose some Notable Exploit by Land; for God has given the Earth to

the True Believers, but the Sea to the Christians.

Paris, 14th. of the 6th. Moon, of the Year 1652.