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 VIII.

To Afis, Bassa.

THIS Court is wholly taken up at pre∣sent, with the Preparations that are making to Crown the Young King. The Place design'd for that Ceremony, is a City call'd Rhemes. 'Tis said, the Duke of Orle∣ans will not be there, though the King has Summon'd all the Princes and Nobility to at∣tend at his Inauguration, according to the An∣cient Custom. But that Prince, stomacks the great Sway Cardinal Mazarini bears at Court. Besides, his Daughter, who has no small Power over him, is affected to the Party of Malecontents. 'Tis through her Perswa∣sions, the Duke her Father, absents himself from the King, his Nephew. Yet there are that say, his Mind will change, before the Time appointed for the Coronation: And, that he will rather dissemble his Grudge, that so he may more advantageously ruine the Cardinal: Who keeps the King lull'd in a Circle of Plea∣sures, agreeable to his Youth; that so he may not have Time or Inclination, to pry into his Management of Affairs.

The Court is at present at Fontainbleau, a House of Pleasure belonging to the King. They pass their Time away in Delights, drown'd in Security. Whilst the Wakeful Princes of the Blood, are plotting new Me∣thods

to rowze 'em from their Lethargy, and teach the Young Monarch, That the Sound of the Trumpet and Beat of the Drum, will, in a short time, be a more, Necessary Musick, than the soft Airs of the Lute, and such Chamber-Melody.

In the mean Time, the Prince of Conde, being Condemn'd, the Princess, his Wife has petition'd the Parliament, that her Dowry may be secur'd to her: But they have referr'd the Matter to the King. Her Husband seems to be lost in all Respects, save those of the People's Affections, who favour any that are Enemies to Cardinal Mazarini.

Monsieur Broussel, one of the Councellors of Parliament, whose Imprisonment I former∣ly mention'd to be the Cause of the First Se∣dition at Paris, is newly dead: Yet the Cause whereof he was a Patriot, dies not with him; but rather takes fresh Vigour, from daily Grounds of Discontent.

It was more particularly reviv'd, upon the Death of the late Arch-Bishop of Paris: The Clergy chusing for his Successor, the Cardinal de Retz, a Prisoner of State, and under the severe Displeasure of the King. This Electi∣on was countermanded, by a Declaration from the Council-Royal. Nevertheless, the Eccle∣siasticks persist in their First Choice; Whilst Cardinal Mazarini threatens 'em, with the Punishments due to those who contemn the King's Authority. But they slight his Mena∣ces, trusting to the Arms of the Prince of Conde; which, they hope, will deliver 'em, in

Time, from the Oppressions of that Great Minister.

The Men of Ability Cabal, whilst the Vul∣gar are easily drawn into Parties, as their Af∣fections byass'em. Here is Nothing but Mur∣muring and Whispering against the Govern∣ment. Every Man endeavours to purchase Arms, and lay 'em up privately as against some Publick Invasion. Nay, the Citizens walk not abroad without Daggers hid under their Garments: As if they either intended a Massacre, or were afraid of one. All things seem to portend some sudden Eruption of Popular Fury. And the Wisest know not, what will be the Issue of so many Threatning Occurrences.

Only Mahmut (surrounded with Infidels) is resign'd to Destiny. Knowing, that no Human Counsel can hasten or retard the De∣crees Sign'd Above.

Paris, the 17th. of the 5th. Moon, of the Year 1654.