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 IV.

To Mustapha, Berber Aga, at the Seraglio.

THOU hast formerly heard me speak of the Duke of Lorrain, and his several Losses: Which most People thought, wou'd have ended with the Excommunication pro∣nounc'd against him by the Roman Mufti; whereof I gave thee Intelligence. But Ex∣perience teaches us, That Misfortunes seldom set upon any Man singly; but assault him in Troops, whom Fate has mark'd out for Ruine.

Yet this Prince owes his Sufferings chiefly to his own Inconstancy, whilst he has all along play'd fast and loose with the Kings of France and Spain; taking up Arms by successive Turns for One, and at the same Time under∣hand practising with the Other; always Un∣faithful to Both; and only driving on an In∣dependant Interest of his Own.

This is his true Character. To which we may add, an Ungovernable Disposition, and an Insatiable Thirst of Money; which has prompted him, by all the Methods of Rapine and Violence, to heap up an Incredible Trea∣sure of Gold and Jewels. So that having pro∣cur'd the Enmity of several Monarchs, the Jealousie of his last Master the King of Spain,

the Ill-Will of his own Brother, (whom they call Duke Francis) and the Curses of all Peo∣ple where-ever his Army has been quarter'd; He is at Length seiz'd and Imprison'd by Arch-Duke Leopold, in the Castle of Antwerp. For which Joyful News, the Inhabitants of the Spanish Netherlands, every where made Bone-fires of Joy. He was Confin'd on the 25th of the last Moon. And soon after, his Second Wife was Taken into Custody, that by her Means, they may discover his Papers and Mo∣ney: This latter being the Chief Thing they aim at; he being reputed prodigiously Rich; and the Spanish Coffers want a Supply. They conniv'd at his Robberies, whilst there was a∣ny Thing left for him to plunder, and that they saw he hoarded up. But now he has done his Work, they punish him for the Crimes, which they themselves encourag'd; that so they may become Masters of his Wealth. 'Tis said, he brook'd his Restraint very well at first: But a while agoe, being deny'd the Liberty of the Castle-Walls, he grew Raving Mad; flung a Candlestick (which was all the Weapons they allow'd him) at the Gover∣nour's Head, and broke the Windows of his Lodgings. So that they have been forc'd to Confine him to a Hole without any Light, save a little that finds Admittance through an Iron Grate at the Top of the Room.

His Brother Francis of Lorrain, is to com∣mand the Army in his Stead; who pretends great Fidelity to the House of Austria, yet may in the Issue prove as wavering as his Bro∣ther.

For, the King of France has Baits wou'd tempt the Vertue of an Angel: Yet nothing shall ever corrupt the Integrity of Mahmut, the Mussulman, on whose Forehead Fate has Engraven this Motto, Prepar'd to Suffer.

I blush, Serene Aga, when I think I am so barren of Vertues, that I have Nothing else to boast of, but my Loyalty. Whilst Thousands of Illustrious Souls, Crown'd with a Circle of Merits, daily ascend to Paradise: And tho' they made but an Obscure Figure on Earth, even as Contemptible as the Exil'd Arabian in his Hutch at Paris; yet now take their Seats, among the Hundred and Twenty Four Thousand Prophets, Favourites of the E∣ternal.

Mayst thou encrease that Happy Number, but not till thou hast had thy Fill of Bliss on Earth; and that all thy Enjoyments here, seem like the Perfume of Oyntments, which tho' they please for a Time, yet at Length cloy the Sence.

Paris, 22d. of the 3d. Moon, of the Year 1654.