and customs must believe her to be in all her negotiations clean contrary to what she appears to be outwardly And although amongst the vertues that have been named she hath many enormous vices yet she hath the good fortune to have all things in her held vertues and admired for such wherefore many wise Princes think it an honour to them to imitate her even in her vices She is of a strong constitution which makes many men think her to be long-liv'd She suffers only in having her members so far distant a thing which doth infinitely weaken so great a body And though by the assistance of the Genoweses and her alliance with the Duke of Savoy she endeavours to unite them yet does she but little good therein by reason of the diversity of Interest of these two Potentates But so great a Princess is prejudiced by nothing more then by her own Spanish State-Ministers which she makes use of in all great imployments wherein they carry themselves so proudly and with such hateful haughtiness as they will not be only honoured as men but even adored as Gods An impertinency which hath made the Spanish Government tedious and nauseous not only to the Italians and Flemmish but even to the very Spaniards themselves All that behold so powerful a Queen wonder to see that she should all her life-time be troubled with Leeches and those for the most part of Genua And some of them are so great as good big Eels And it is not known whether her not shaking them off proceeds from impotency from negligence or from the destiny of great Princes to whom it is alwaies fatal to have these ugly animals suck out their very life-bloud This potent Princess being come into the Royal Hall before Apollo made her left arm be untied by some of her servants and shewing it naked to Apollo and the whole College of Literati spake thus Lord and Father of Learning this which you see is that stinking issue of Flanders which the French Germans and some Italian Princes who seem to be my friends and that unbowel'd beyond-sea Renegado made in me so many years ago for the jealousies they had of me I confess that the before named Princes had reason to be jealous of me when after the death of Henry the second they saw France falne into the calamity of infant Kings and that I in their minority sought to sow discord in that Kingdom Now that there is no more cause for these suspitions and that I do not blush to say it I have been sentenced to pay charges in the great contention which I had with the French and particularly with that mad Prince of Bearne I desire your Majesty that so troublesom an issue may be closed up since every one sees that it is become so inraged a canker by reason of the abundance of humors that have confluence thither as I wish to God it may not prove my ruine I did not pass into Italy meerly out of mine own ambition nor had I so immoderate a thirst as my enemies affirm to command it all Every one knows that I was called in and haled by meer force by the Italian Princes own selves to free them from the fear of being Lorded over by the French And there is none in Europe that does not know that I lose so much of my principal every year in the States which I hold in Italy as they serve but to weaken and oppress me Happy had it been for my Spanish Palace which I would have tiled over with Silver and Massie Gold if I had never medled with the Italians a double-dealing people full of fallacies and interests and who are only good to Imbarque people in dangerous businesses without bisket and then to abandon them in their greatest necessities professing nothing more openly then to take Crafish out of their holes with other mens hands And I strangely wonder why Italy which as every one knows hath suffered her self to be overrun by all Forreign Nations should now make such profession of chastity to me as she cannot see me move never so little but she is afraid I should bereave her of the honour of her Liberty And though the greatness which the Kingdom of France is at present in does secure Italy and all the aforesaid Princes from the fear they have of my power yet if your Majesty shall be so pleased I am ready to give security to every one de non offendendo provided this my so troublesome issue may be closed up The Issue was forthwith by order from his Majesty very diligently considered by the Politick Physitians and having held a careful Council thereupon they said That it being clearly seen that the Spanish Monarchy was affected with a continual ardent thirst of Rule she had need of that issue by which those gross humors might be purged away which fell upon her stomack from Peru and occasioned that unquenchable thirst And these able Physitians considered that if the aforesaid Monarchy had not had that issue it was apparently dangerous that the pernitious humors of Peru might mount to the head of Italy to the manifest ruine of her so principal Members which remain as yet unviolated And that the Monarchy of Spain might fall into a Dropsie of Universal Monarchy For which inconveniences they said excellent provision was had by this issue of Flanders which ought to be kept open whilst Peru did subminister such pernitious humors to the Kingdom of Spain She was much displeased with this resolution wherefore greatly incenst she said Sir If by the malignity of others I must so shamefully consume away by administring oyntment to this Canker which my enemies term a diversive issue others who least believe it may pechance bring clouts to it The meaning of this was soon understood by the French English and Italians who reply'd That they feared nothing less For they sent but the scum of their States to Flanders whereas the Spaniards spent their gold and very life-bloud therein For to secure themselves from the formidable power of Spain and from the Spaniards ambition which they found had no Orison the English French Germans and Italians were forced answerable to Tacitus his Aphorism Consiliis Astu res externas moliri armaprocul habere A Secretary of Monsieur de Guise is punisht for having spoken amiss MOnsieur de Guise his Secretary speaking yesterday with some French Barons of the late Tumults in France as he mentioned his Masters party called it the holy League which when Apollo heard he caused him to have the Strappado given him thrice in publick and made him be told he might learn to put a difference between a Holy League and a devillish Rebellion The Spaniards endeavour the getting of Savioveda but in vain SInce the ill advised Princes of Italy made use of the Spanish Pickax to take the French nail out which was fixt in the Table of Millan which Ax entred so far into the Table it self as it
act of adulterous Fellonies For wounds which cause dishonor are warded and put by by good Fencers before they hurt they are fools that cure them when they are received the very self same hour that you see any subject of yours but cast an eye upon a Forrain Prince do as Mauro did hold not your thumbs underneath your girdles but imploy Gallowses and Ropes and if upon your greatest occasions and particularly when you wiil appear with honor before an Enemy Prince with your subjects Arms in hand be not seen with a pair of horns on your head The XXXVI ADVERTISEMENT Thais that famous Curtizan of the Comick Poets is at last though after much debate admitted into Parnassus who much to Apollo's satisfaction tells what good she hopes to bring to his Court. IN the great Councel which was yesterday held in Parnassus by all the Litterati and the most famous personages of this State many learned in all the Liberal Arts who were lately come to this Court were propounded to have honourable places allowed them in Parnassus amongst which Thais that common whore of the Comick Poets was named for one and found favourable suffrages being extraordinarily assisted by Publius Terrentius who was so partial on her behalf as he held secret practice with all the Poets And it hapned that whilst the gates of Parnassus were opened to her to the end that she might present her self before Apollo and the Senate of the Vertuosi to thank them for the favor she had received the illustrious Cardinal Alexander Fernese accompanyed by a train of Prelates withstood Thais as she was about to enter crying out aloud that if so unworthy a person from whom nothing but publick scandal could be expected should be admitted into Parnassus he for his part would rather be gone from thence then see vertuous places profaned with such polutions which were onely aboads for those Litterati as by their words writings and exemplary lives could prescribe wholsom Precepts unto others and that he knew there were many Vertuosi who would put on the same resolution Whilst the Cardinall spoke thus and that he endeavoured by force to keep her out of the gate she was so strongly assisted by a numerous squadron of Poets who backt Terrentius as there began a very dangerous dispute at the gate But wary Thais who knew that she had always come by the worst in all the quarrels that she at any time before had ever been the occasion of said aloud that she did no ways intend to enter into Parnassus by force but with the goodwill of every one and more particularly by the approbation of those most illustrious and Holy Prelates and that if they were thought worthy of an aboad in Parnassus who could give excellent Councel unto others and wise Precepts she should be unjustly dealt withal if she should be denyed to inhabit in those venerable places and that though she knew she might of right claim an aboad in Parnassus yet she would acknowledge it as a singular favor and especially from those that did most withstand her and that those that did not love to see her in Parnassus were much deceived in the ill opinion they had of her for that there was not any one in those blest habitations to whom she was not able to give such advertisements as wiser nor more necessary could not be given by any whatsoever Moral Philosopher and that it was not so much for the purchasing of Eternity to her name that she desired to live amongst the Vertuosi in Parnassus as to be assisting unto many by her perpetual walking in the streets and admonishing every one to live modestly ever amongst their neighbours and to shun the foul vice of calling their companion whore as they would shun death if their own Consciences were not cleer for that there being many wrangling Courtiers they had oft times faln at such odds as by blows and calumnious speeches they had wounded their reputations and that Officers who went to have the Government of Provinces could not learn the important and difficult Philosophy of getting monies in their governments with reputation from any more learned instructress then from her for that onely Thais knew the accurate Art of fleecing the flock with such diligence and dexterity as they would rather seem to be tickled and rejoyce then exclaim or make any noise in which practice she boasted her self to be so singular as she had seen her sweethearts a thousand times to be then most in love with her when being flead to the quick and galled to the very bones she had sent them raw and naked to the Hospital from whence they have notwithstanding sent her amorous Epistles That they who were greedy of riches who did everywhere and by all means sweat and labour after the accumulating of Gold might learn by her onely unfortunate example that wealth ill got through Gods just Anger vanisht into smoak for of all the innumerable monies which she had suckt from out the veins of her lovers and the great riches which she robd many families of she had now nothing remaining but those four lashes which every one might see upon her back when if God had given a blessing to the monies which had past through her hand instead whereof she had had a thousand curses she might have vyed for wealth with any Princess Next that every one might learn by her face which was so pleasing to her friends by her flatteries and falacies with which she used to delude and allure and intice those ill advised young men which she got into her hands by her continual smiles by which she covered her ravenous minde and that sharp Rasor wherewith without any manner of discretion or piety she did shave nay even flea her lovers never to trust appearances grateful acceptance fair words and offered courtesies and never to give themselves over into any ones power unless they had first perfectly anatomised them For many such as she had pleasing aspects good looks and sweet breaths whose disguises being taken off by discreet persons and their inside of their souls discovered they were found to be stinking carren full of festered wounds and to have false souls and fraudulent hearts and infinitely interessed Then turning towards Cardinal Fernese Thais said And who when I shall have opened my house in Parnassus ought more to frequent my schoole then your Excellency my most illustrious Sir wherein you may learn that important vertue of newtrality which the Popes Nephews such as your self have so much need of a Science wherein I am so well known as I may read it in the schooles for never being whilst I lived in the world without twenty Pamphilioes all inamored of me who all of them hated one another by reason of the jealousie which useth to be among young rivals yet by my sagacity I have always known how to behave my self so dexterously with them as I have rather taken their weapons from them then put them
punishment precede even the accusation it self And that it hath often-times fallen out that by a hasty punishment he hath prevented the consummation of very foul treasons Which resolution though he must confess it to be very severe yet he knew it was one cause that in his State there were seen no Counts of St. Paul no Princes of Orange noâ—… Colligni's no Dukes of Guise d'Aumale du Main de Mercurie and other odious monsters of disloyalty as have been seen elsewhere to the shame of those Princes that with halters daggers and axes have not known how to prevent so dangerous offences It being in matters of State a rule as common as 't is certain that that Officer which gives his Prince never so little cause to suspect his fidelity forfeits his life since those Commanders that have in their power the charge of Armies are no less then the Wives of honorable Persons obliged to live with such purity of mind that they must be without not only any fault but any the least suspicion of an unchast desire That for his taking away of his Bâ—…ssa's goods after their deaths he could very truely tell them that the Pensions the Donatives and Wealth wherewith other Princes reward their servants were in comparison of those inexhausted riches which he bestows upon his well-deserving Officers poor pittiful things as the Royal Treasures which Rusten Mehemet Ibrahin and many others left behind them have fully and amply testified And that the greatest fore-cast which a Prince ought to have in rewarding his servants consisted in taking a course that it might never be possible for others to employ those immense riches wherewith he had purchased their infinite fidelity to the detriment of him that had been so liberal That he had learned by the most lamentable disorders which hapned in the States of other Potentates how it was a most pernicious thing for Princes that the extraordinary wealth left by a deserving Officer should pass to his children whether by that vertue by that valour and by that same Loyalty which was in their Father they had first deserved it from the Prince or not And that he confiscâ—…ted the great Inheritances of his Bassa's not out of avarice as many wrongfully judged but that he might not make those subjects who for being descended from fathers of noted worth put the Prince in certain hope that they would imitate their Progenitors in vertue by the convenience of living idle consequently to grow vicious too and that he kept the gates of his Treasury alwaies open to his Officers heirs thâ—…t he might restore to them their paternal inheritances doubled whensoever by Loyalty and Valour they should deserve them And that how apt great riches possessed by a vicious man and an ambitious subject were to distâ—…rb the peace of any Kingdom how great soever was a thing known to every man by the fresh examples which the world hath seen in France and Flanders While the Ottoman Empire spake these things he observed that the French Monarchy by shaking her head did shew as it seem'd that she by no means approved of these discourses Whereupon something passionately he said Most renowned Queen my custom of seizing upon my Bassa s inheritances makes well for my greatness and the tranquillity of my State and for the friendshâ—…p that is betwixt us I could wish that the like were observed in your France For you know well to what use Henry Duke of Guise did put that vast deal of wealth wherewith the liberal King Francis the fiâ—…st and King Henry his son rewarded the deserts of Duke Francis his father For wo to that Prince who because he knows not how to be severe to others is so cruel to himself as absurdly to breed up Serpents in his bosom You I and all the rest of us that bear rule know that the sweetest honey that men can tast is Soveraignty and there being no man that for never so little of it would not gladly adventure to lose his life Princes ought to be still most vigilant in keeping all the avenues to Government block'd up and by all possible severity to hold every one out of the reach of ambition Nay they ought to order their matters so that every privat mâ—…n whatsoever may despair of ever being able to tast of so pleasant a liquor And I tell you plainly had your Duke of Guise but offered to think in my State that which with so much scandal he publickly made bold to put in execution in your Kingdom that very first day would I have shew'd him the same play which your Henry the third though urged to it by most of the Italian â—…rinces knew not how to resolve upon till the last day of his insufferable vexarions and just then when the sore of the French commotions was grown to be an incureable Canker For where ambition reigns amongst the Nobles Princes are enforced to shew themselves totally severe keeping the gibbets alwaies ina readiness for punishing of the seditious and rebellious and their Treasury open to reward the peaceable and loyal that Prince being unworthy of command that hath not a genius to make himself obeyed Neither is there any thing more scandaloâ—…s â—…n a State then that the Prince should live in jealousie of that Officer which ought to live in fear of him But it is proper for you Princes of Europe that making a profession of Learning and of living according to rules of great Policy call me Barbarian and my safe manner of proceeding Tyrannical to suffer your selves by your heroical vertues of clemency and mildness to be brought to the shamefull condition of suffering most unworthy things Impossible it is to say how much the Ottoman Empire did with his discourse offend all the Vertuosi of the sacred College who standing up in very great wrath told him That with Reasons in hand they would make it good to him that all the particulars which he had spoken were most wicked conceits unworthy to be uttered by a person that had a soule and as much to be listened to by men that made profession of honour At which the Ottoman Empire smiling said That in the Politick conceits by which others governed Kingdoms respect was had to the commodiousness of Moral Precepts which by well regulated customs were serviceable to goodness And that yet the tranquillity and peace of States were to be preferred before all other humane interests Then the Censor to cut off so odious a disputation turning to the great Dukedom of Muscovy told him that among the greatnesses of a Prince it was called the second Noblest Prerogative to have command over people that were lovers of Learning and that it was not only little for his credit but a thing for which he incurr'd much reproach that he should so much give his mind to have his Subjects brought up in gross ignorance for he was scoffed at by every one that having banished the Liberal Arts he had given his people
French in this their Modern calamity and for the better security of their flourishing Kingdom needed no armed Cavalry but that since the peace and quiet of the Kingdom did chiefly depend upon the unity of their Natives that this peace and unity could not be better come by by any other means then by the perpetual remembrance of the miserable wasting of their Country cruel sacking of their Cities of the woful loss they had undergon not onely of means but of reputation in their last 40 years civil wars and that nothing was so good to put them still in mind of these so sad afflictions as these Pack-horses which by instinct of nature did detest passing a second time by the same way wherin formerly they had run hazard of breakng their necks The Fourth ADVERTISEMENT Whilst Michel Angelo Buonaroti was coppying forth the ilfavoured fore-front of Anneus Seneca's House he was asked by Pierius Valeriano wherefore he did so And Buonaroti gives him this reason ALthough the habitation of Anneus Seneca for pleasantness of situation beautiful Gardens abundance of fresh and clear waters multitude of Lodgings good both for Summer and Winter and for all other exquisite delights which may be imagined for humane accommodation may compare in all points to Neros famous house of Gold yet the forefront thereof is like the rotten rack of a Carriers Stable Yet did the famous Michel Angelo Buonaroti draw out the designe thereof the other day which when Pierius Valeriano as he was passing by saw he wondred very much that so famous an Architecter should mispend his time in drawing so loathsome a thing which made him ask Buonaroti what singular thing he could see in that Frontispiece which deserved the Pensil of so famous a man as himself To which as the same Pierius told me he answered in these words Sir The skilful do so clearly discern in this Front which appears to you so ugly all the rules of Dorick Tomick Corinthian Architecture and of Composts which are and yet appear not as by the opinion of Vitruvius himself it ought to be added as the eight to the seven Wonders of the world My most vertuous Iohnghirollimo Aquaviva Duke of Atri commanded me to draw this copy which you see and told me he intends to send it to Naples to some of the Barons there who are his good friends and who being besotted with the vanity of seeming to be more then what they are have very much need ocularly to discover in the workmanship of this fore-front how wise men govern their affairs who are and doe not appear The fifth ADVERTISEMENT The Contention which arose between many learned men touching which is the best Political law which the most praise-worthy Order in the flourishing Commonwealth of Venice is decided and fully ended by the very Venetian liberty which with the joint agreement of all the learned men was chosen Umpire THe gallant Dispute which arose some six dayes ago between some Letterati of the State deserves to be written who whilst they were discoursing of the famous Order gallant Laws and other rare Institutions which maintain the Illustrious Republick of Venice in so great luster there arose variety of Opinions between them which deserved the greatest commendation and for that every one of these Vertuosie defended their own Opinion as the best to the end that so great a difference might be quietly decided they joyned unanimously in this resolution that they would all of them personally appear before the most Illustrious Venetian Liberty to whom they would first make known their several sences and would afterwards acquiesce in her judgement This was then made known to that Illustrious Lady who was gratiosluy pleased to give those Vertuosi what satisfaction they desired Peter Crenitus spoke first and said That since it was agreed upon by all men that all sublunary things are first born grow and increase afterwards and in process of time decay it seemed very strange to him that onely the Commonwealth of Venice was seen still to flourish the more the elder it grew and that the Laws Orders and wholesome Institutions which after a relaxation are at last quite forgotten in other Principallities were known to increase in vigour and exactness and to be more diligently and readily observed only in Venice which was the cause that in the Venetian Commonwealth those reformations of Government those reassumings of State were never seen which with infinite tumults the Roman and Florentine Commonwealths had so often used it being the peculiar vertue of the Venetian Senate to perpetuate her self in her flourishing liberty by the punctual observance of her ancient laws and that those defects not being seen in Venice which as it appears other Potentates know not how to shun and that all diligence though never so exquisite doth soon terminate in that supine negligence which bereaves all Principalities both of liberty and life he thought he might assuredly affirm that thorough such wisdome the Republick of Venice should last as long as the world did Next spake Angelo Politiano saying That he admired the wise Venetian Commonwealth for what Peter Crinito had related and for a thousand other most excellent orders but that he thought it to be a very rare thing that an Aristocratical Commonwealth the true foundation whereof was held by the most understanding Writers upon Common-wealths to consist in the parity of means amongst the Nobility could be so long maintained in so much peace and greatness in that disproportionable inequality of riches which was apparently seen in the Venetian Nobility in which though there were the two so hazardous extreams of immense wealth and great poverty yet that defect did not appear in Venice which humane laws seem not able to inhibit that the rich should trample upon the poor who though they did greatly envy the fortune of the wealthy yet either by reason of the immense charity which reigns in all the Venetian Nobility towards the publick liberty or that the very great riches of those that possessed them were not made use of to the injury of inferiours the poor as well as the wealthy did live peacefully and modestly together in that happy Country After Politiano spoke Pierio Valeriano and said that the onely miracle which was to be wondred at in the Venetian Commonwealth was the rare and miraculous situation of her Metrapolitan City from which he thought that the Venetians ought immediately to acknowledge the great benefit of their glorious liberty as that which hath still preserved them from the forces of many forraign Princes who have endeavoured to put upon them the chain of servitude Then said Iulius Scalager that the stupendiousness of the Venetian liberty which fild the whole world with wonder was that the very Nobility which sate at the Healm did not only patiently pay the ancient grievous taxes of the publick Treasury but with incredible readiness did oft times impose new ones upon themselves which were afterwards rigorously exacted by
very imperfect in Similies Metaphors Allegories Hyperboles and other figurative expressions with which they deck and adorn their learned Poems sent two daies agoe for the Muses to come unto him with whom he bitterly complained that the most Noble Poetical Fury was inspired into certain ignorant people who not able to undergo the labour of purchasing by their perpetual study the perfection of Poetry published poor Poems by which that Poetry lost much reputation which is the delight of Learning the only recreation of the Learneds labours the very restorative of the Vertuosi the Jewel of all Liberal Arts not without much imputation of blame to them the Muses who were desired by the choicest Vertuosi that Poetical fury might only be inspired into laborious wits and such as were in love with Learning and who might make themselves worthy to receive so singular a grace from them 'T is said that Polyhimnia in the name of all the other Muses answered his Majesty That they in the inspiring of Poetical Fury and the flowing vein of elegant Verses into others were alwaies used to have respect to the fruitfulness and natural vivacity of mens wits and that his Majestie very well knew that the gift of Poetical fury must of necessity precede the knowledgs of Arts Sciences and Learning to the end that those who should have received so particular a favour from the Muses might afterwards improve the Talent which was given them by perpetual study and that his beloved Pindarus when they first inspired him with Poetical fury he was altogether void of all those pretious Sciences with which he afterwards did so richly adorn himself When Polyhimnia had thus ended Erato added that the bad Poems of some late Italian Vertuosi was not to be attributed to the idleness of the Poets but to the misery of the present times wherein none of those liberal Mecena's being to be found who were formerly the maintainers of Poetry such Sciences were now only prized by modern men as brought with them certain and present advantage not such as brought only delight and reputation an unhappiness which was the cause why in this present age such studies were only plyed as serve to feed the body and those not regarded which only feed the soul. Whence it was that even they the Muses were with much sorrow forced every day to see that those very elevated and noblest Spirits which they did most intirely love and into whom they had inspired all the most excellent Poetical fury that they were able did rather violently resist the gift of Poetry and the instigation of their minds bigg with Verse then pursue it And that therefore the best Italian Wits being forced even for necessity of bread to abandon the noble study of Poetry to which they were naturally addicted did so greedily thrust themselves into more gainfull studies as that a noble Italian Wit even then when he was most inflam'd with the composure of an elegant Stanza was forced to forgo that his laudable labour and for the getting of a couple of crowns to turn Advocate in a civil case at Law That if his beloved Virgil did by his taking-Verses so much increase the honour of Poetry it was because he was perpetually encouraged by Augustus his bounty That it was impossible for modern Poets to cultivate by their assiduous studies those fields of Poetry which produced nothing but barren brakes and that it even broke the hearts of her and of her fellow-Muses to put his Majestie in mind that Iovan Andrea dell ' Anguilara a noble Italian Poet died for meer want in a Lodging in the Street Torre di Nona at Rome and that Sanazzarro being reduced to a great scarcity of all necessaries died mad in the same City and that Lodovicus Ariosto and Torquatus Tasso resplendent lights of Italian Poetry were so hardly dealt withall by the avarice and ingratitude of the present times as all the Vertuosi saw them enter into Parnassus without Clokes and with tattered clothes The XXVIII ADVERTISEMENT Torquato Tasso presents Apollo with his Poem of Giurusalemme Liberata or Godfrey of Bullen For which Lodovico Castelvetro and Aristotle are severely reprehended by his Majestie TOrquato Tasso two daies after his admittance into Parnassus presented his learned and elegant Poem of Giurusalemme Liberata before Apollos feet and desired that if it should be thought worthy it might by his Majestie be consecrated to immortality Apollo gratiously received the Poem and according to the ancient custom of this Court gave it to the Reformer of the Library who at this present is Lodovico Castelvetro that it might be renewed After two months space Tasso applyed himself to Castelvetro who told him that having diligently perused his Poem he found not that he had therein observed the Rules of Poetry published by Aristotle That therefore he did not think it fit to be placed amongst the publick Writers of the Delfick Library wherefore he might do well to amend those errors and then return to him and he would again renew it Tasso was much astonished at this unexpected answer wherefore being incenst he forthwith went to Apollo and told him that with much labour and infinite pains-taking he had composed the aforesaid Poem in the weaving whereof he had only observed the Talent which Nature had given him and which his Caliope had inspired into him Wherein he thought he had fulfilled all the duties of Poetry and that his Majestie having prescribed no Laws thereunto he knew not with what authority Aristotle had published any rules to be observed in it And that he never having heard that there was any other Lord in Parnassus but his Majestie his fault in not having observed Aristotles Rules was an error of ignorance and not of any malice By these words of Tasso Apollo was as highly offended against Aristotle as Princes use to be when their Authority is intrench upon in so much as he forthwith commanded the Guard of German Poets to bring that bold Philosopher bound unto him which they did Apollo with an incenst countenance and irritated voice asked Aristotle whether he had been so shamefully impudent as to dare to prescribe Laws and publish Rules to be observed to the high conceptions of the Vertuosi in whom he had alwaies been pleased that there should be an absolute liberty of writing and inventing For the lively wits of his Literati being loose from any tie of rule and free from the chains of precepts did greatly to his contentment every day enrich the Schools and Libraries with gallant Composures woven with new and curious inventions and that to make the wits of conceited Poets subject to the bondage of Law and Rules was to infringe the Grandezza and to take from the alluring delights of their products and greatly to inslave the wits of learned men who when they handled their pen with wonted and unbridled liberty they divulged such writings as by reason of their novelty and elegancy did not only afford
had Audience given him yesterday by Apollo To whom he said That he was much disquieted in his mind by reason of divers injuries which he had received from â—…undry of his ill-wishers in a great Prince his Court Dove le persecutio 〈◊〉 sâ—…â—…ssercitano coâ—… artificii di â—…essanta Caraâ—… where persecutions are exercised cunningly and to an excessive height and the more for that he could not be revenged without pulling greater ruine upon himself then what his enemies had occasioned him and yet he found not that he had so vertuous a soul as to put on the generous resolution of pardoning offences Wherefore to free himself from the hellish torment which he continually lived in he addrest himself unto his Majesty humbly beseeching him that he would prescribe him som receit whereby he might cleanse his soul from the many passions of Hatred wherewith it was foully polluted Apollo appeared clearly to commisserate this Gentlemans unhappiness insomuch as he commanded a great bowl of the water of Lethe to be given him to drink so prepared as it should make hateful things be forgotten but should in no sort prejudice the remembrance of benefits received The Gentleman drunk up the water with much greediness which to the great wonder of all men was found to have the vertue onely of making him forget such injuries as he had received from men of a inferior fortune then he was and that those which he had received from his betters were rather more deeply graven in his mind then forgotten Whereupon many began to murmure that that vertue was not found in the Lethean waters which had been so much discourst of by the Poets When his Majestie did assertain them all that the waters of Lethe had as they should ever have the same vertue but that it had not wrought the desired effect in that Gentleman because men nobly born and of generous hearts did usually write injuries received from mean men in sand but over hand blows given by men of power in characters never to be blotted out for that it became Nobility to forget offences out of magnanimity not to pardon them out of necessity The XXVIII ADVERTISEMENT The Duke of Laconia is accused before Apollo to have Idolatrized a Favorite of his for having advanced a faithful Secretary to the highest State-preferments and he defends his cause excellently well THe now Duke of Laconia hath so highly exalted a subject of his for whom he hath a great affection from a low and mean fortune to the highest State-dignities as he hath not only admitted him into the Laconick Senat a preferment ambitiously coveted for the eminency thereof even by great Princes but having infinitely enriched him by giving him great revenues hath made him be as much honoured and respected as highly as any whatsoever Personage of the State This famous Duke was accused before Apollo some few days ago by those who did much envy the advancement of this his servant for idolatrizing a Favorite Apollo being highly incenst against this Prince for so hainous a fault without further informing himself as upon all occasions he is used to do of the truth of the impaachment sent immediately for Luigi Pulci Provost-Marshal of this State and threatned to punish him severely if he did not within half an hour bring the Duke of Laconia a prisoner unto him in the most shameful manner he could devise Pulci did diligently obey for he dragg'd that Prince along immediately before his Majestie loaded with irons Apollo who was presently advertised of this Attachment by an express Messenger gave order that the greatest bel should be rung whereby the Quarantia Criminale should be summoned which was done whither the Duke being brought Apollo having himself acquainted him with the fault which was laid to his charge told him in a very angry manner That he aforded him onely one half hours space to make his defence in And in the interim as if the Prince his case had been altogether desperate he commanded that he should be condemned to eternal infamy who having committed so foul an Indignity as to adore a servant of his own was not worthy to live amongst the vertuous Princes of the Phebean Court. The Duke began then thus to defend himself Most mighty Sir and Father of the Vertuosi I have so arm'd my conscience with the breast-plate of Innocency and have behaved my self so vertuously in all my actions as I am more then certain that I have never deserved ill at your Majesties hands nor am I any whit affrighted at your Majesties anger nor at this precipitate Judgment that the horrible sentence of my Infamy should precede the Cognizance of my cause I onely wonder to see what I thought never to have seen that the foulness of an Impeachment even in the justest of Tribunals as this is should be able so greatly to indanger the reputation of one of my condition But I rest pacified with Gods will who will have the gold of Innocency refined in the fire of Calumny by the Test of Persecution I freely confess unto your Majestie That I have exalted my Friend much more then my accusers have informed against me and in this my action which hath been made by relation to appear so hainous to your Majestie I am onely sorry that I have not shew'd my self so grateful to this my friend as his deserts challenge I should have been And if those who accuse me and other Princes of prodigallity of Giddy-headedness and of poorness of Spirit born to serve servants did not suffer themselves to be blinded with malice and envy when they see a Courtier greatly beloved and rewarded by his Master but would with an unbyassed mind consider the merits of Court Favorites they would stile that vertuous liberality which they now call Vicious Prodigallity those gifts the debt of Gratitude which they term inconsiderate actions and that a vertuous affection to which they attribute the Infamy of Idolatrizing Minions But it appertains not to common men to penetrate Abditos principis Sensus et si quid ocultius parant Tacit. lib. 6. Annal. into the secret of Princes Whence it falls out that ignorant men call Vertuous Gratitude the effect of an abject mind The Principality of Laconia as is very well known to your Majestie is elective wherein the neighbouring Princes have always had a greater stroke then he who was Governor not onely out of the common end of all elective Princes in procuring potent Friends to those of their blood after their own death but by reason of the adherence which Forreign Princes have for no small ends with such Senators as have the prerogative of chusing a new Prince whose followers they work upon by those means which are too well known to all men And your Majestie likewise knows that the Prince of Macedonia had by his subtilty got so great a Power in my State and was so far encreased in strength above all the Grecian Princes as he was not onely
more to say but declared that though Iuvinal baulked the quarrel he suffered not in his honour nor did he do any thing misbecoming an honourable Cavalier Poet for it was not Bernis wit that he feared but his corrupt times too unequal to those of Iuvinals The LXII ADVERTISEMENT Domitio Corbulone being severely prosecuted by the Quarantia Criminale a Venetian Magistracy consisting of forty men for some words spoken by him in his Government of Pindo which were formerly declared by Apollo's publick Edict to be Tyrannical Is at last acquited with much praise THe City of Pindo and all its large Territories being filled by great store of Murderers and dangerous factions by the too much lenity of some of its late Governors which did greatly anoy the peace of good men Apollo to curb the licentiousness of his most seditious Subjects by exemplary punishment sent severe Domitio Corbulone some two months ago to that Government Who so carried himself as in a short space the people of that State were reduced from mighty seditions into a peaceful condition And enquiring of some of his Confidents what the people thought of him they freely told him that his rigorous proceedings against many had so affrighted the Uuniversality as he was hated by all of them Corbulone was overjoyed at this answer and replyed to those his beloved friends in the well-known saying Oderint dum Metuant Let them hate provided they fear This was suddenly reported to Apollo as a capital fault His Majesty liked not this accusation and committed the examination thereof to the Quarantia Criminale for it had been long before published by a Decree from his Majesty That whatsoever Prince were he either legitimate natural or hereditary who should dare to use such insolent and rash words should be held and reputed an abominable Tyrant and that if any Officer should though at unawares let them escape his mouth he should suffer capital punishment Corbulone was therefore cited to appear before the Court which he did the next day where the cause was severely canvast by the Judges And whilst all the people of Parnassus expected to see some rigorous sentence pass upon Corbulone he was by his Majesties approbation gratiously absolved and sent back to his Government with more plenary Aurhority then before For the Judges declared That such words were abominable and altogether Tyrannical in Princes which have the means to be gratious but very honorable in an Officers mouth who hath nothing in his power but the detested lash of Justice That Prince being truely to be admired who could make himself be beloved by his Subjects and reverenced That Officer to be reputed very sufficient who had the genius to make himself be feared and obeyed The LXIII ADVERTISEMENT The Chair of privat Tranquillity being void by Diogenes the Cynicks promotion to a higher degree Apollo offers it to the famous Philosopher Crates who refuseth it THe Cynick Diogenes he who for so many years to the general advantage and his own particular glory had the publick Chair in these Schools wherein his Office was to praise Poverty Solitariness and Peace of mind By whose perswasion Atalus the very King of Treasures put on that admirable resolution of forgoing all his riches and become a Stoick in Parnassus was by reason of his great deserts exalted two months ago to the sublime Dignity of the Muses Arch-Flamming so as so noble a place being void his Majestie bestowed it upon the famous Crates who went yesterday to Apollo and contrary to all mens expectation refused so noble a Chaire saying that the charge of poverty and of the souls peace being greatly injured by Diogenes his promotion to that immense dignity he could not discharge his duty with that fervency with that purity and integrity of heart as the place required For the very first day that he should undertake the imployment he should necessarily be so puft up with ambition and should have so great a desire to obtain the same dignity which his Predecessor had obtained as would drive from out his mind though never so well composed that sincerity which makes an Orator speak from his heart not from his mouth and that the necessity of his ambition and his violent desire arose not from any vice but from that laudable zeal of reputation which is most intense in even the most mortified Vertuosi of Parnassus For if in process of time he should not receive the same honor from his Majsty as Diogenes had done the world would think that the whole had happened not by reason of his humility not for that he preferred a privat life before publick Magistracy quiet before business or poverty before riches but because his Majestie had not found such deserts in him as he had done in Diogenes So as having his soul perturbed by the violence of ambition he could not hope to reap any advantage by exagerating the praises of Humility the contempt of Riches and of the vanity of worldly Greatness it being impossible that any man should be so efficatiously eloquent as to be able to perswade others to that sort of life which the standers by must needs say was abhor'd by the perswader The LXIV ADVERTISEMENT Many people having wasted themselves in keeping great Tables and going gloriously attired desire their Princes to make a Pragmatical Law for the Moderation of such expences but obtain not their suit PEople subject to Princes who live in Parnassus learning by experience that luxury and vanity in apparel are so much increased as that there is no patrimony how great soever which may not be quite consumed in a short time by womens vanity and mens ambition and plainly seeing that bravery was grown to so great a height as a whole portion though very great was not sufficient to buy Jewels for a young maid that was to be married which was the cause why parents could not marry off their daughters It being likewise known that delicacies for the pallat were oflate years so prodigiously doted on as modern gormandizing hath quite ruined those Families which were made great by antient Parcemony They by joynt consent presented themselves all some few daies ago before their several Princes whom they earnestly desired that some remedy might be found out to prevent this their so apparent ruine All the Princes were very well pleased with this their peoples Petition and then it was that they knew it to be true what many have written That peremptory or pragmatical Laws ought only then to be published to the people when they themselves desire them For if they be inacted against their wils they seldom produce good effects the reason is because prodigality never frightens scapethrifts till they have been acquainted with the hideous and dreadful face of poverty All the Princes therefore by common consent caused many excellent pragmatical Laws to be made by understanding men wherein luxuriousness and superfluity being abridged nothing but decency was seen in apparel and men did eat
and Kingdom and consequently his reputation and was forst to flye from Naples and to bury himself alive in a Monastery in France where he dyed for meer madness and that he had learnt by Tiberius his wise demeanor in the like case that it had been more honorable for him to have lived a cornuted King in Naples then a private man of honor in France Apollo did then pardon the disturbance which that noble Frenchman had occasioned and bad Tiberius proceed to make his defence who said And because the too great connivance at the shameful life which my wife led in Rome would certainly have rendred me contemptible both to the Senate and people of Rome a thing which would have been of equal danger to such a personage as I who lived in hope of that greatness which I afterward acquired as the resentment of such an injury by way of revenge would have been I chose the middle way between these two dangerous extreams which in dubious resolutions proves always best So as not to be an eye-witness of that injury which I could neither revenge nor tolerate I went from Rome under a pretence of living privatly and hid my self in Rhodes This my modesty this great respect which I bore to Augustus his blood was the true and chief cause which did not only induce him to love me but which did oblige him to demonstrate that his love in such sort as the world hath seen since his death For this Pr. who was as wise as he was glorious pittying my so much scorned condition and infinitely loathing his daughters infamous life behaved himself so rigorously towards her as his demeanor may serve for a rule to every wise Prince how to handle their unchast daughters If then so great Patience if the respect reverence and perfect obedience and so many other lawful pieces of cunning which I continually used to work my self into Augustus his affection be vitious comportments and fraudulent deceits as my enemis have represented them to your Majesty I refer my self to those who are to judge upon my reputation I now come to the second Article of my impeachment I acknowledge the cruelty which I am accused to have used towards the Romish Nobility to be true and all that Tacitus hath said of me in that point to be very true but I desire that such difference as ought to be be put between the cruelties used by a new Prince and those which are practised by an ancient and hereditary Prince for if I have taken away any mans life out of an innate cruelty or thirst after humane blood or out of any capricious inhumanity I submit my self to the rigour of the Cornelian Law as if I were one of the meanest and most abject plebeians of this State but if it were meer State necessity which forced me to be cruel to those of Augustus his blood to the chiefest Senators the commanders of any extraordinary worth and in fine even to worth it self I desire every one to consider how new Princes are necessitated to do horrid and cruel acts though it be much against their Inclination And upon this occasion I will for my defence make use of my implacable accuser Tacitus his words He hath openly profest that the horrible Proscription made by Augustus which I confess did surpass all the most immense cruelties that were ever commanded by cruel man was done not out of any inclination to severity by those who of themselves did infinitely blame such an act but onely out of meer State necessity Sane Proscriptionem Civium divisiones Agrorum neque ipsis quidem qui fecere Laudatas Tacit. lib. 1 â—nnal These are Tacitus his words Which if it be true am I to be condemned for having wisely known how to establish my self in a new Principality and for having had the wit to execute those precepts which not only every other Politician but even Tacitus hath publisht and if it be true that indulgence mansuetude and clemency are then vices in a Prince when such signal vertues are used towards those who though they be pardoned keep malice in their hearts and covet revenge is there any one here present who thinks that if I should have suffered Agrippa Posthumus Germanicus and the others of Augustus his blood to have lived that they would ever have sincerely loved my greatness and if it be a grounded precept in Policy that Princes ought to indeavour above all things to reign void of jealousie and if a Prince can never be said to be safe in a State whilst those live who were driven out of it or who pretend more right thereunto then he will not every one how little knowledge soever they have of worldly affairs confess with me that it was not any innate cruelty in me but meer necessity of state Policy which forst me to appear so severe towards those of Augustus his blood for a Prince is wise in his cruelty when as Tacitus himself says he runs danger by being merciful Moreover the many slaughters which I and after me many other Emperors gave order for against the chiefest of the Roman Senators ought not to be imputed to our cruelty as they do unjustly affirm who do now persecute me but to the indiscreet pride of those Senators who though they law Liberty banisht from out their Country yâ—t through a proud stubbornness of not putting on the cloak of humbleness or rather through a foolish ostentation of free speaking when they were inslaved and of commanding in subjection did every day more and more irritate Princes to use all sorts of severity and inhumanity against people so proudly spirited Hence it is Sir that neither Tacitus nor any other who writes my story could ever say that I was severe against any Citizens or any of the Roman or Provincial Plebeians for they never gave me any just occasion of suspition but onely say that which I confess to be true that I did persecute the noblest of the Roman Senate the which I did to abase them to terrifie them to make them mistrustful one of another to disunite them and to make them indure that slavery which I saw they did abhor nor can any Politician teach me any better rules then these to be made use of to the Nobles of a Country which being but a little before bereft of its Liberty will not onely not accommodate it self to servitude but foolishly pretends to limit the Princes Authority in commanding and in servitude keeps the pride of freedom and an inraged mind upon any good occasion to revenge the injury done unto its Liberty whence it is that hang-men spies and Atturney-Generals are the fittest instruments to establish a mans self in those new states which but a little before hath lost the Liberty of a free Commonwealth for every cruel action is held a prudent resolution when it secures the life the state and honor of that new Prince who knows how to use it Moreover I heartily
rather liberal and gracious towards them then to redouble their blows their discourtesies their lashes their ill usage For to murmur complain or call their Master ingrateful doth beget in him such obstinacy not to reward one who may otherwâ—…se be of some desert even as the curses and blasphemies which the Gally-slaves use to those that correct them are the true causes which draws on their more severe correction Which is so true a thing as Princes hold it for an undeniable maxim That an open enemy and a distasted Courtier Differant nomine nonre The XLIX ADVERTISEMENT Natalis Comes an Historian is severely punisht by Apollo for having said somewhat in an Assembly of the Literati which did hainously offend his Majesty VVHilst Natalis Comes the Latin Historian discoursed some daies since under Melpomenes Porch together with many other Literati of this Court of the glory of those great Princes who have left eternal memory behind them of their honorable actions according to the custom of Historians tearmed the seisure or getting of a Kingdom made by a Potent Prince without any title of right or justice a glorious atchievement Which being suddenly carried to Apollo's ear by those malignant spirits which both the air and earth doe continually abound in his Majesty grew so incenst against Natalis as at the very instant that he was brought prisoner to him he forbad him entrance into any of the Libraries for three year And though his Majesty hath been intreated by the chief Historians of this State to shew some mercy to this his Vertuoso he hath not only denied to doe it but hath freely said that since there could be no greater wickedness committed then the unjust liberty which some Princes have usurped to bereave one another of their States an action which hath filled the whole world with those sad disorders wherewith mankind is so much afflicted he thought it too sore an iniquity that any so perfidious Literato should be found in his State who should dare to call those wicked thefts which are not committed without a million of aggravating circumstances glorious atchievements The L. ADVERTISEMENT The chief Monarchies of Europe and Asia which now reside in Parnassus fall sick at one and the same instant and not being to be cured by Esculapius Hippocrates or any other able Physitian they are restored to their health by a skilful Farrier EVery one in Parnassus did infinitely wonder that upon one and the same day all the chief Monarchies of Europe and Asia should fall desperately sick which many thought occasioned through the putrifaction of the air or by some unauspitious aspects of the heavens Apollo did not only send excellent remedies to all those Potentates but all the chief Physitians of this Court and commanded that great Esculapius should himself be assistant to their cure so as no remedy was left untri'd by so rare Physitians that so eminent personages might recover their healths but all proved to no purpose for all the Physitians did infinitely wonder that though their Medicines were most generous and very proper for the malady yet they did not work according to their particular vertues that their Manna Laxative Syrup and Sena it self though given in great quantity should rather prove restringent then cause usual evacuations by reason of which strange novelties wise Esculapius and the rest of the rare Physitians thinking that Nature yielded to the malady by reason of her weakness gave over the cure as desperat It hapned in this interim that a learned Politician went meerly by way of visit to see one of those sick Princes who had ben his antient Master from whom he understood the condition of his sickness and then desired to know what remedies were apply'd unto him and when he was satisfied in this his desire he found fault with the Medicines which were given him and exclaimed mightily against the Physitians not sticking to call them all ignorant puppies and forthwith sent with all speed for the Farrier of Parnassus who is trusted with the cure of Pegasus Who suddenly appearing he staid not to hear the relation of the sickness from the Patients own mouth as Physitians use to doe but without either feeling of Pulse or casting of water he presently knew the quality of the infirmity and straitwaies made a composition of Dragons bloud Bolearmenick whites of Egs and spreading it upon lint made Plasters of it and applyed them to those Princes and then made large swathes for their legs and arms afterwards he gave them a Laxative potion to drink in a syrup ordained by Galen These Medicines which were very much blamed and laught at by Esculapius Hippocrates and all the prime Physitians did in a few hours work so well with these Princes as they soon forsook their beds and ran skipping and leaping about more nimbly then ever they had done before Whereupon all the Vertuosi of Parnassus when they saw such admirable effects were much astonished that Empires Kingdoms and great States which could not be cured of the disorders which they were run into by skilfull Physitians with their Rubarbs and other Canonical Medicines should be so soon restored to their healths by a drench for a horse given them by a silly Farrier The LI. ADVERTISEMENT The Achaians being much incenst against the Duke of Alva for his cruel proceeding against their two Chieftains take up Arms and drive him out of their State VVHilst the Duke of Alva after the execution of the two chief Heads of the People whereof you lately heard sought to secure his State by using great severity in the taking away of mens lives his Countrey grew still more and more unquiet it not being alwaies true That to fall at the first in new gotten and jealous States to the extirpating of such as are most eminent either for birth attendance worth or riches does free Princes of the jealousies which they have of the Nobility and people For some chief men of Achaia as soon as they saw those two Ring-leaders of theirs put to death only because they were much esteemed and beloved by the people began to apprehend their own ruine And because gallant men cannot live long in fear of danger they thought it not only a safe way to be speedy but not being able to live quietly and void of suspition they fell chearfully upon rash counsels many of the best wits of Achaia made themselves the peoples heads being grieved to see that the love which they bore to those two who made so unfortunate an end should be judged a fault deserving death So as the Duke of Alva's severity wrought the effect which is usual in new Tyrannies which are crept into Free Countries by reason of the discord between the Nobility and Commonalty of reuniting the Nobles and Plebeians in perfect love and charity that so they may recover that Liberty by union which they lost by foolish civil discord The whole people of Achaia therefore led on by the Nobility took up
ambition that remainder of Liberty which is yet left in Italy For those glorious Kings for the interest of their own greatness will not endure it that the Soveraignty of all Italy should fall into the power of the ambitious Spaniard who hath not been able to quench his vehement thirst of Reigning with the Purchase of all the new World which he hath discovered and so much of the old as he doth possess Besides that the Italian Princes who know in how shrewd danger of a mischievous and most wretched slavery they stand are so united together that although they be many in number yet make they up but one body and the Spaniards which have used and still do use all possible artifices to disunite them perceive that they were as good let it alone But as for the State of Millan you must know it was judged safer for the publick Liberty of Italy that the said Dutchy should fall into the power of the Spaniards then if it had remained in the hands of the French who bordering upon Italy if once they had possession of never so little a part in it 't is a thousand to one but they would make themselves absolute Masters of all But in the Spaniards the case was clean contrary For their forces though very great yet lie so far off that with a great deal of difficulty can any be transported such a long way by Sea out of Spain into Italy for the making good of what they have gotten there already much less such as would be sufficient for subduing of the whole You say true quoth Almansor but go on in your relation to me of the prejudices which your falling into the Spaniards hands hath brought to the Popes Know reply'd the Kingdom of Naples that whereas formerly the Popes were a terror to my Kings now the case is clean otherwise for they live in extream torment lest one day there should happen to be an union of Naples with Millan which they perceive to be the scope of all the Spaniards intentions Whereupon the Spaniards whose proper nature it is to reap singular profit from the fear in which they perceive they have put their neighbouring Princes have arrogated to themselves such high Authority in the Court of Rome that they boastingly give themselves out for the true Arbitrators of all important matters that are handled therein Besides what I have told you there is this more When the Kings of Naples were not Kings of Spain the Popes with every slight threatning to deny the Investiture got from my Kings Principalities Dukedoms Marquissates and other great Estates by way of Present besides that the Kings bought their friendship with Alliances and every other sort of Liberality But that fear being now over if the Popes will aggrandize their Kinsmen with the Titles of Important States they must pay for them with ready money And the subtile Kings of Spain over and above the precious Gold of Intreaties which they will have howsoever for the first payment sell afterwards at dear rates Important Interests and grievous disorders quoth Almansor are these you have told me but how comes it to pass that you Kingdom of Naples who are the Magazine of Silks the Granary of Italy go so ragged and are so lean As long as the Spaniards answered the Kingdom of Naples that come naked out of Spain will within four daies after they are arrived at my house be covered all over with Gold needs must I strip my self to cloath so many and such pittifull tatter-de-Mallions Moreover did you but behold the greediness of the Vice-Roys that are sent to my house to repair their fortunes and did you know the rapines of the Secretaries of a thousand Officers and other Courtiers whom every Viceroy brings with him all thirsting after my bloud you would extreamly wonder how it were possible for me to satisfie the ravenous and dog-like unsatiableness of such a company of starvelings As for that small store of flesh you see about me the Spaniards say they find it written in a certain Book of a Florentine which hath given out rules of the cruel and desperate modern Policy that being a conquer'd Kingdom I must like those Barbary-horses which are employed only in running of Races be kept low And how added then Almansor are the Millanois handled Why they too reply'd the Kingdom of Naples are bathed in the same water wherewith you see me so wet Only this difference there is betwixt us that at Millan it drops in and in my house it powres in amain The true causes of this diversity of usage are the qualities of the Lombards inclinations very much unlike to those of my Neapolitans For the Nobility of the State of Millan is naturally humorous free resolute and far from those vices that are most proper to my Neapolitans of flattery and affectation But so ready to lay about them and of that wavering disposition as I dare say were there but one head-piece of Cremona amongst my Barons it would be sufficient to obstruct that on-forced Donative that hath brought me to live upon bread and onions Which though it had been often demanded by the Spaniards in Millan and that in very high tearms they were told again that they should mind their own livelihoods Besides that the neighbourhood of the Grisons of the Duke of Savoy and of the Venetians are some cause why the Kings of Spain proceed in Millan with more discretion When the Popes stood to their arms I was then for their sakes much respected too But withdraw good Almansor for I see my most capital enemy Don Pietro di Toledo coming this way and I would not by any means he should perceive that I make my moan to you And certainly even for this may my slavery be tearmed most unhappy that I am enforced to call this miserable condition which you see hath brought me to the last gasp a most happy Golden Age. The Conte di Fuentes is admitted into Pernassus DOn Pietro Enriquez Gusman Count of Fuentes was admitted the last Consistory into Pernassus but with a very severe censure because Apollo would be exactly resolved whether in the time that for many years he had governed the Dutchy of Millan he had given any distast to those Italian Vertuosi who for the admirable fruitfulness of their wits born to the invention of elegant things are deservedly called by his Majesty The first born Sons of Learning And albeit that among other Objections made against that truely famous man that accusation did him most prejudice wherein he was â—…axed for giving his mind to that mischievous husbandry of sowing jealousies and planting contentions by which he had made those Italian Potentates whose friendship he should have procured with all the skill he had to be suspected by his King more then to the Government of the people yet were the difficulties of the heaviest accusations taken off by the conclusive proof of his having been in Italy a prodigy of nature