eight volumes of letters writ by a Turkish spy
Subtitle: who liv'd 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 1637 to the year 1682.  Written originally in Arabick.  Translated into Italian, from thence into English and now published with a large historical preface and index, to illustrate the whole.  By the translator of the first volume.
Contributors: Midgley, Robert, 1653-1723; Bradshaw, William, fl. 1700; Rigg, James (autograph); Rigg (bookplate); Downfield
Publisher: Printed by A. Wilde, for G. Strahan [etc.]
Published: 1748
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Subjects: Europe -- History -- 1517-1648; Europe -- History -- 1648-1789
Notes: Vol. 1, 24th ed.; v. 2-8, 12th ed.

Vol. 1 has both general and special t.p.; v. 2-8 have special t.p. only.

Authorities agree that the first part of the work, published in Paris in 1684, was written by Marana.  The remainder has been ascribed to different Englishmen, among them Dr. Robert Midgley and William Bradshaw. It is probable however that Midgley simply edited the English translation, made by Bradshaw, of the original Italian manuscript.  Cf. L.C.

RBSC copy: Preliminary pages of v. 3 incorrectly bound. With the autograph of Jas. Rigg on front flyleaf, and with the armorial bookplate of Downfield [seat of the Rigg family; Franks 25049].