The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume IV: Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &C. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts.Pöllnitz, Karl Ludwig, Freiherr von
History
The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume IV: Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &C. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts.
Pöllnitz, Karl Ludwig, Freiherr von
Europe -- Description and travel; Saxony (Germany) -- Court and courtiers
Occasion I receiv’d fresh Proofs of the Affection of my Friends, who all
interested themselves for me effectually: _Madamoseille de K----_, Maid of
Honour to the Empress Dowager, procur’d me a Gratuity from her Imperial
Majesty; and the Countess of _W----_, at whose House I was every Day,
advanc’d me a Thousand Ducats, saying, That I should pay her when I was
able, or rather, when I was preferr’d to be a Lieutenant-General. She
accompany’d her Generosity too with some Advice, that was truly wise and
christian, and seem’d to come rather from the Lips of a Mother than a
Friend. This Lady was heartily glad that I had chang’d my Religion, and
was the more willing to assist me in making an End of my Affairs, for Fear
that I should be overcome by the Temptation of turning Protestant again,
for the Sake of getting Employment in my own Country.
You see, _Madame_, by what I have just had the Honour to mention to you,
that I was now in a Condition to quit _Vienna_ with Credit, and indeed my
Stay there was no longer than to be a Spectator of Two great Solemnities,
of which I am next to give you a Description: The first was the Entry of a
_Turkish_ Ambassador, and the second the Marriage of the Archduchess
_Maria-Josepha_ with the Electoral Prince of _Saxony_; upon both which
Occasions the Imperial Court made the fullest Display of its Magnificence.
As to the Entry of the Ambassador, I may venture to say, it was only
magnificent on the Part of the Imperial Court, for in Truth the
Mahometan’s whole Train and Equipage were very inconsiderable. This
Ambassador’s Name was _Ibrahim Basha_; he had 600 Men in his Retinue, but
they were all very shabbily rigg’d. Till the Day of his Entry he stay’d in
a Camp, which he had caus’d to be form’d Two Leagues from _Vienna_; I went
thither with some Friends to see him: He receiv’d us with very great
Civility, and made us a Present of Coffee and Sweetmeats. During this
Collation I took a minute View of the Inside of his Tent, which was really
stately, and the largest that I ever saw: On the Ground there was a noble
Carpet spread, and over that a Sort of Foot-cloth of Crimson Sattin,
embroider’d with Gold, on which sate the Ambassador, with rich Cushions
about him of the same: On this same Foot-cloth, at the Ambassador’s Right
Hand sate the Secretary of the Embassy: Round the Ambassador there was
about a Score of Turks tolerably well dress’d, and among them Three or
Four clever likely young Fellows; in particular I observ’d a Moor there,
that was the handsomest Man I ever saw: His Dress was richer than the Garb
of the other Turks, and, as I was told, he was the Ambassador’s special
Favourite. After we had talk’d awhile with him, and were taking our Leave
of him, he was so civil as to offer to shew us his Camp, which we with
Pleasure accepted, and set out accordingly with a Person that the
Ambassador gave us for our Guide.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account