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 XIII.

To the Kaimacham.

THE King of France, has been solemnly Crown'd at Rhemes: Where were pre∣sent, his Mother and Brother, Cardinal Ma∣zarini, with divers Princes and Nobles, and Foreign Ministers. But Nothing could per∣swade the King's Uncle the Duke of Orleans, to grace this Ceremony with his Presence. He has declar'd, He will never come to the Court, so long as Cardinal Mazarini is there.

Marshal Turenne has receiv'd private Or∣ders, to repair speedily to his Army in Flan∣ders. What the Design is, we are not cer∣tain. Some say, he is gone to surprize Grave∣lines, a City in Flanders, which was lately so ruin'd by the Blowing up of the Magazine, that it is not in a Condition to resist the French, should they assault it.

Others say, the King has commanded his General to lay Siege to Stenay, a City belong∣ing to the Prince of Conde, a Place of Great Strength, and exquisitely Fortify'd.

'Tis reported, That Cardinal Mazarini holds a Correspondence with the Governour of this Strong Hold: And that on this Ground it was, he promis'd the King, on the Honour of his Purple, That if he would suffer his Ar∣my to lie down before it, it should by such a Day be deliver'd into his Hands.

The Duke of Lorrain, of whose Imprison∣ment at Antwerp, I inform'd Mustapha Ber∣ber Aga, is now remov'd from thence, and sent to Spain, from whence 'tis believ'd he will never come back.

From the North the Post brings News, of the Resignation which Christina, Queen of Sweden, has made of her Crown to her Cou∣sin, Prince Charles. They add, That she caus'd a Crown to be made, with this Inscrip∣tion, FROM GOD, AND CHRI∣STINA: And, that she plac'd this Crown on the Prince's Head with her own Hands, ha∣ving before Absolv'd all her Subjects from their Oaths of Fidelity to her.

The same Post also tells us, of a Mighty Ar∣my of Moscovites, which are enter'd into Po∣land, destroying and laying desolate where∣ever they come. The pretended Cause of this Invasion, is said to be, a Disgust the Czar has taken at a certain Historian and Poet of Poland; Who in reciting the Wars between those Nations, had made a Mistake in the Ge∣nealogy of the Moscovite Emperours, naming the Father for the Son. The Czar being in∣form'd of this, demanded the Head of the Writer, as an Atonement: Which being

deny'd, he rush'd into the Territories of Po∣land, to revenge himself by Fire and Sword.

These are the Actions of such, as pretend to follow the Example of Jesus, the Messias; Who commanded Men, To forgive Injuries, even as did our Holy Prophet: Yet they scruple not to accuse us, of what they themselves are onely Guilty. Thus, whilst they are Christians in Name, we shew by our Practice, that we are True Disciples of the Venerable Jesus.

Doubtless, all Men are Just or Wicked, by Nature. Every Mans Fate is Engraven in his Forehead. And neither the Precepts or Ex∣amples of Jesus or Mahomet, can alter the Inclinations of those, whose Stars have Sign'd 'em in their Nativity, with the Indelible Cha∣racters of Vice.

Paris, 30th. of the 6th. Moon, of the Year 1654.