against the evil which so free a Definition might occasion amongst their Subjects it was not a good remedy to cloake it over with fair words as the Author of the Book had done for mischiefs were not cured by concealing and that he and all the rest of the Princes would confess the Definition to be true which they seemed so much to dread if they would call to mind that when they did any thing which for the impiety thereof did neither agree with the Laws of God nor man if they were afterwards asked by any one why they had done so impious a thing they were ready to alleadge the Reason of State for the occasion thereof Then turning to Lewis the twelfth Apollo said The better to manifest the truth of what I say to your self and to all these Princes which are here present I will make use of one of your Actions which will make it appear clearly that the Definition of State published by my Literati and which you do now so much oppugn is very true You know your first Wife was Sister to Charles the eighth your Predecessor in the Kingdome of France and I know you likewise remember that you did adhere to the Conspiracy made by Francis Duke of Burgundy by Charles Duke of Burgundy and by many other great Lords against the Kingdome of France and that you were taken prisoner by King Charles your Sisters husband and that whilst the putting of you to death as a Rebel was in agitation your Wives efficacious Prayers was that which saved your life You know likewise that Charles being dead a little while after you succeeded him in his Kingdom and that you might marry the Queen Dowager Wife to the late Charles you got to be Divorc'd from your former Wife which you excused by pretending that your Marriage with so great a Princess was done by compulsion as if there needed violence to marry the Sister of so great a Prince to any one you your self know Lewis that this Divorce was neither answerable to the Laws of God nor Man tell me then what was the reason that moved you to banish that wife your bed to whom you confess you owe your life King Lewis freely answered Apollo that doubtless it was the Reason of State that had compelled him so to do for the Queen Dowager of France having in her the noble Dowry of the Dukedome of Britany he had marryed her to the end that that Province which was of so great importance and from which France had formerly received so much mischief should not again be disunited from his Kingdom See then said Apollo how you made that marriage which you knew did neither agree with the Laws of God nor man being forced to do so by Reason of State by which example you and all these Princes may cleerly see that the Definition made by my Literati of the Reason of State is most true now then since you are convinced of the foul impiety thereof know that the best means that you can and ought to use to keep your self and your State from being damnifyed thereby is not to use it for it is too bare-faced Hypocrisie to seem more to abhor fould words then foul deeds The LXXXVIII ADVERTISEMENT Marcantonio Moreto desires Apollo that he may have leave to make an Oration in the publike Schooles of Pernassus in the praise of the Clemency of the most glorious King of France Henry the Fourth but is denyed it MErcantonio Moreto a famous French Orator told Apollo some few days since that having exactly examined all the vertues of all the French Kings and compared them with the valor and glory of King Henry the Fourth he found that there was not any of them that might be compared to him and that to make the French adore so gallant a King and to incite all Christian Princes to heroick vertue he desired his Majesty to give him leave to declame in the praise of so glorious a King publikely in the Rhetorick school and because to speak of all the vertues which did abound in so great a King would require more then a months space to do it to the end that his Oration might not exceed the usual time of one hour he would onely celebrate that admirable vertue of Clemency which was so peculiar to his Henry as that he cleerly found by the use thereof he had so far exceeded all humane mansuetude as that he bordered upon heavenly mercy for he had pardoned such injuries in his most implacable enemies as would never have been forgotten by any one save by a King of France a vertue which appeared to be so much the more eminent in that great Monarch for that in these so corrupt present times to pardon injuries vvas not thought to be an heroick and vertuous action but base and abject covvardise The same Moreto told every one that contrary to vvhat he could ever have believed Apollo vvas highly incensed at that his request and that with an angry countenance he said he was grosly ignorant in going about to celebrate the most revengeful and implacable K. that did ever live for his mercifulness and that if he would praise the infinite valor of Henry the fourth his invincible constancy in adverse fortune moderation in prosperity his excellent knowledge in military affairs wherin he had far exceeded all Kings and Commanders who had ever purchased the glorious name of warlike the more then humane vivacity of his spirit the vigilancy of his indefatigable minde or his dexterous government of that great Kingdom he nor his Literati who were partially addicted to so puissant a King could not hear any more melodious Harmony but that since that noble acquisition which he made of France he had revenged himself much more cruelly upon his enemies then merciless Augustus had done by his execrable Proscription that Pernassus was no place to exaggerate falshoods in Notwithstanding this so resolute answer Moreto was not discouraged but with great observancy replyed that having exactly considered all the vertues of his King he did again affirm unto his Majesty that he found not that any one of them did shine more brightly in him then his clemency Then Apollo looking with a very pleasant countenance upon Moreto said t is plainly seen thou honest French man that thou art onely a meer Grammarian for thou seemest not to know that that King onely ought not to be vindicative who as did Augustus kills his enemies when he hath conquered them for to take an evil wishers life away to the end that he may not see his enemies Triumphs and prosperity to the end that he may not suffer a thousand torments and deaths hourly is a kind of pitty He is to be accounted revengeful and infinitely cruel who suffers him to live who confounds him with pardon and who doth continually martyrise and torment him by his worthy actions and perpetual prosperity as yours and my beloved Henry hath been observed to do more then
CARENT NIHILO CARI DEO Hen Do Cary Baro de Leppington Comes Monmouthensis et honble Ord Balnia Eques Guil Faithorne fe I RAGGVAGLI DI PARNASSO OR ADVERTISEMENTS FROM PARNASSUS IN TWO CENTVRIES WITH THE POLITICK TOVCH-STONE WRITTEN ORIGINALLY IN ITALIAN By that Famous ROMAN TRAFANO BOCALINI And now Put into ENGLISH By the Right Honourable HENRY EARL of MONMOUTH LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley at the Prince's Arms in St Pauls Church-Yard and Thomas Heath in Russel-Street near the Piazza of Covent-Garden 1656. THE TRANSLATORS EPISTLE TO HIS COUNTREYMEN THE READERS THe Spaniard Mendosa may seem to have reason on his side when he saies El Ambition de la Emprenta es una Colpa que no basta arrepentirse Ambition to be in Print is a fault past repentance Which he goes about to make good by asserting that Una dia es siempre Maestro del otro y contra lo que si scribe oy estarà Manana quien sabe mas One day is Master of another and whatsoever is written to day there will be somebody who will know more to morrow And this he likewise seeks to prove saying Y quien no supo menos Ayer And who knew not less yesterday But all this is but a seeming truth and nullum simile est idem For as for his first Position If Knowledge be the thing of this World which is most to be aspired unto as certainly it is to impart this Knowledge unto others is so far from being a fault as it is rather a great piece of charity which is truely said to cover a great many faults Does not our Saviour say No man lights a Candle to set it under a Bushel And if monopolizing any earthly commodity be an adjudged grievance to monopolize Learning is questionless the worst of monopolies In the next place what he brings for proof of this his position may receive this answer That if nothing should be written to day there would but few know more to morrow And so likewise for answer to his question of our yesterdaies knowledge it would be as much as that of this day had nothing been either said or done yesterday But alas I am not so happy as to be concern'd herein who not having any thing of mine own worthy of my Countreymen doe but present them with that in English which was written many years ago in Italian and part whereof though not above the fourth part and some of that but in part also hath been formerly Printed in our Language by some others who may peradventure have forborn publishing the rest of the Ragualia's or Advertisements which you have fully and faithfully here laid down before you as not thinking them all so highly seasoned nor so full of salt as those which they have pickt out and which belike made more for their then present purpose But as for my part I must confess that after having at the desire of some friends fallen upon this Translation I found so much Gusto in it and not any thing that without injury to my Author I thought I could leave out as I shal believe them to be of a queasie and deprav'd stomack who shall not find enough therein to please their palats For my Author is an Ambodexter plaies rarely well at the Back-Sword gives sometimes very home and sharp Stockadoes and in fine laies about him hard on all sides without any fear Marry I cannot say as usually it follows or Wit For believe me you will find no lack of that in him but sufficient to please all Parties howsoever they stand affected And having said this I leave him to your further perusal hoping that the more you read him the better you will like him as did and doth Your Compatriot MONMOUTH A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS OF THE FIRST CENTURY OF ADVERTISEMENTS ADVERT 1. THe Society of Polititians open a Ware-house in Pernassus wherein are sold divers sorts of Merchandize very usefull for the vertuous living of those that are Learned 1 Advert 2. The usual Guard of Pernassus having taken a Poetaster who had been banished Pernassus upon pain of death found a paire of Cards in his Pocket which when Apollo saw he gave order that he should read the Game of Trump in the publick Schools 4 Advert 3. Apollo having notice how Henry the fourth that Potent King of France was most wickedly assassinated ordered for the indempnity of his beloved French that powerful succour should be sent from Arcadia into France 5 Advert 4. Whilst Michel Angelo Buonaroti was copying forth the ilfavoured fore-front of Seneca's House he was asked by Pierius Valeriano wherefore he did so And Buonaroti gives him the reason 7 Advert 5. 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 joynt agreement of all the Learned men was chosen Umpire 8 Advert 6. A learned Laconick is severely punished by the Laconick Senat for not having used requisite brevity in his discourse 14 Advert 7. The Censors of Learning do severely punish one of their Associates who in his more mature years seemed to be pleased with Italian Poetry 15 Advert 8. Apuleius his Golden Ass and Plautus his Asinaria complain to Apollo of their Masters great severity and receive no very pleasing answer ib. Advert 9. A Summary of what the Learned in Sciences have sowed and reaped 16 Advert 10. Menante comes into the Politicians Ware-House and by the Merchandizes which the Learned buy there he studies how to know the quality of their Wits 17 Advert 11. The excellent vertue of loyalty and faithfulness being secretly departed from Pernassus Apollo when he knew where she had hid her self sent the Muses Melpomene Thalia to perswade her to return 21 Advert 12. In the General Diet of the Learned appointed by Apollo to be held in Helicon his Majesty contrary to all mens expectations decrees Eternity to the name of Vicenzo Pinti called in the Court of Rome the Knight of the Lute 22 Advert 13. John Francisco Peranda with much ado gets leave of Apollo to be admitted into Pernassus and despiseth Fracastoro's proffer who would have restored him to his eyesight which he had lost 23 Advert 14. The Italian Academies send Commissioners into Pernassus to obtain some remedy from Apollo for their corruptions and find the business impossible to be effected 25 Advert 15. Anneus Seneca being accused before Apollo of two fowle Vices which were commonly found in all the Sects of Moral Philosophers doth excellently well defend his own Cause and the like of his Associates 26 Advert 16. Ambassadors are sent from the College of Gardners to Apollo to obtain some Instrument from him whereby they might without any cost or charge cleanse their Gardens of all improfit able hearbs and are laught at by his Majesty 27 Advert 17. A doubt arising upon the truth of an usual
they wondred very much to see that she should find such faithfull secrecy in all her Nobility when they had very much desired but all in vain to obtain so much from one single Secretary and a pair of Councellers A calamity affirmed by these powerfull Queens to be so much the greater as that in this present fraudulent age the first weapons which some Princes use to draw against their enemies was to corrupt other Potentates chief Officers with vast sums of Gold they therefore desired to know of her by what means she in her weightiest affairs obtained so much secrecy from her Nobility and such obedience also in the certain danger of their ruine To this the Venetian Liberty answered That she did allure her Nobility to the vertue of Secrecy by rewards and frighted them from the vice of disobedience by punishments The aforesaid Monarchies replyed That they likewise made use of the same means yet could not compass the same ends That said the Venetian Liberty is because the rewards given by Monarchies are poor and the punishments slight in comparison of those which were practised in well governed Commonwealths To this answer was made That Monarchies could affirm the contrary for the rewards of free Countries compared with the profuse liberallity which great Kings use towards their chief Ministers of State was but beggery For it was never known that the State of Venice rewarded the fidelity of any of her Senators with the rich Donatives of Castles Citadels Cities and other Noble and rich Fee-Farms with which Princes did often remunerate their Ministers of State the greatest rewards used by the Venetian Commonwealth to her most meritorious Senators being to promote them to greater Magistracies and that by degrees and not without their having taken much pains ere they could come by it Moreover that the greatest part of her imployments being rather expencefull then profitable they only brought with them an increase of reputation That then for the poynt of punishment certainly punishments inflicted by the resolute will of Princes for great offences were incomparably more severe and dreadfull then those which were decreed against a Senator by any Senat which were usually rather mild and circumspectious then precipitate and cruel And that there was a great disproportion between a Prince who judged his Vassal and a Senator who by his sufferage punisht his equal his friend one of his own bloud That the State of Venice used no worser Gibbits Gallowses Fetters Ropes nor fire in their Nobilities misdemerits then were used in Spain France England and Poland unless it were the Cavala Orfano which was the Venetians utmost severity That if Kings had not that Channel in their Kingdoms they could notwithstanding sew up their disloyal Officers in sacks and cause them to be thrown into deep Rivers and Wells The Illustrious Venetian Commonwealth did then smile and said That in lieu of those Fee-Farm Rents which Princes bestow with such a limited authority upon their well deserving servants she gave unto her Loyal and obedient Nobles the Kingdom of Candia Corfu and the other Islands subject to her Dominions the States of Dalmatia Istria Freuli Padua Vicenza Verona Brescia Bergamo Crema and that most majestical Miracle of the most Royal Cities Venice And all this with full authority to command and govern them absolutely so as her Nobility were not to be esteemed as privat men but as Kings and great Princes who in the weighty affairs of the Commonwealth were faithfull to themselves whereas the servants of Princes were faithfull to others and that the detestation which the Noble Venetians had of selling the Commonwealths secrets to forrein Princes arose from the infinite disproportion between what they should lose by their fellonious dealing and what they got by their Loyalty That there was no proportion or comparison between the remorse which a Minister of State feels for having betrayed his Prince and the fear a Senator had to be unfaithfull to his free Country Because to be unfaithfull to others was to betray himself Lastly the Venetian Liberty said That the rewards which Princes give to their Secretaries and other State-Ministers did often produce pernitious effects and clean contrary to the intention of the givers For that they did not only make the Officer grow more coole in his Masters service since he had nothing more to hope for from him but that Princes minds being so mutable and the plots of their Court-rivals so frequent it often hapned that the servant sought by his disloyalty and by suppressing his Master to secure that reward which by his good service he had got All which were pernitious effects and wherein their rewards fell so much the shorter for that the Patrimony of the Venetian Nobility encreasing alwaies with the greatness of their Empire the love of their Senators was daily encreased more and more and their charity towards the weal-publick Then she said the disproportion in punishments between her and Monarchies was far greater for she had often had experience that when her Nobles have even been in arms and much importun'd by forrein Princes if she should but mention unto them the Senats displeasure and their degradation from Nobility there was not any Venetian Senator who would not with unspeakable chearfull obedience hasten to Venice with firm resolution rather to lose his life between two pillars then to be deprived of that Liberty which is so highly valued by generously minded men and that there was not any Senator of Venice who would not willingly suffer death rather then put himself in subjection to any whatsoever forrein Prince The reason why because the Noble Venetian was a Fish which being born in those Waters of Liberty could not live out of Venice in the element of servitude The XXVI ADVERTISEMENT Francis the First that Potent King of France meeting the Lady Philosophy naked profered her his Royal Mantle which would not be accepted THe bountifull King of France Francis the First met casually yesterday the Lady Philosophy leaning upon Aristotle and Plato as she went sporting her self in Parnassus And seeing her to be naked the King had a strange compunction of mind to see that the very Queen of all human Sciences who ought to abound in all the most exquisite delights should be so poor as that she should not have wherewithall to cover her self Wherefore that magnanimous King throwing off his Royal Cloak or Mantle which was all imbroidered with Flowre-de-Luces made of Diamonds would therewithall have covered that beautifull Lady when first having rendred all due thanks to so great a King for so courteous an offer she said That she who had no shame to hide nor deformities to cover might without any prejudice to her reputation walk naked in Parnassus The XXVII ADVERTISEMENT Apollo complains bitterly of the Muses for that they inspire many mean wits with Poetical fury and they defend themselves excellently well APollo finding the products of Modern Italian Poets for the most part
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
profane the vertuous Habitations of Parnassus Apollo sent many years agoe for two Companies of Riming Poets from Sicily who were very fortunate in their Meeter and had their conceits at their fingers ends whose Office was to scoure the Country and keep the fields free These some eight daies agoe took a Poetaster prisoner who was banished from Parnassus upon forfeiture of life if he should ever return thether and who though he were interdicted the use of Books or exercise of Pen yet he was seen every day in despite of Apollo and in Scorn of the Soveraign Muses to defile paper with Verses and even to pretend to the sublime name of Poet. The misdements of this fellow were much aggravated by a pair of Cards which the Sergeants whilst they were searching him found in his pocket which as conducing only to vice are capitally condemned They being therefore forthwith brought to Apollo he was strangely astonished at the bruitishness of the invention found out by vitious men to spend their time and waste their reputation and means but his Majestie did much more wonder when he understood that the foolishness of these men was arived at that height that they called that play which is done in so very great earnest and that they thought it a delight sport and pastime to hazard that money which is purchased with so much labour and which serves for so many things as without it Aristotle would be thought ignorant by the modern world and Alexander the Great a Plebeian Apollo asked this man what Game he used to play most at Who answering Trump Apollo commanded him to play at it which when he had done Apollo penetrating into the deep mysteries thereof cryed out That the Game of Trump was the true Court-Philosophy a Science necessary for all men to learn who would not live blockishly And appearing much displeased at the affront done this man he first honoured him with the name of Vertuoso and then causing him to be set at liberty he commanded the Beadles that the next morning a particular Colledge should be opened where with the Sallary of 500 Crowns a year for the general good this rare man might read the most excellent Game of Trump and commanded upon great penalty that the Platonicks Peripateticks and all other the Moral Philosophers and Vertuosi of Parnassus should learn so requisite a Science and that they might not forget it he ordered them to study that Game one hour every day and though the learneder sort thought it very strange that it should be possible to gather any thing that was advantagious for the life of man from a base Game used only in Ale-houses yet knowing that his Majesty did never command any thing which made not for the bettering of his Vertuosi they so willingly obeyed him as that School was much frequented But when the Learned found out the deep Mysteries the hidden secrets and the admirable cunning of the excellent Game of Trump they extolled his Majesties Judgement even to the eighth heaven celebrating and magnifying every where that neither Philosophy nor Poetry nor Astrologie nor any of the other most esteemed Sciences but only the miraculous Game of Trump did teach and more particularly such as had business in Court the most important secret that every the least Trump did take all the best Coat-Cards The Third ADVERTISEMENT Apollo having notice how Henry the fourth that Potent King of France was most wickedly Assassinated ordered for the indempnity of his beloved French that powerfull Succour should be sent from Arcadia into France ON the two and twentieth of this present Moneth late at night Apollo heard by an express Post sent with all speed from the University of Paris the sad news of the murder committed upon the glorious King of France Henry the fourth which news did so afflict his Majestie as in testimony of his inward grief he presently vailed his face with a thick dark cloud from which for three whole daies he showred down great store of tears And all the Letterati both Spaniards English Flemmish Germans and Italians did with abundance of tears bewaile the unfortunate mischance of so great a King It must not be here forgot that Apollo amidst his deepest sighes was heard to break forth into these words That the world was come to the poynt of being ready to return to its first Principles since the wicked perfidiousness of some was grown to that height of impiety as they would expose their lives to the Hangmans hands rather to purchase bad than good Fame Two daies after the Posts arival solemn Obsequies were ordered for so mighty a Monarch so as not only all Parnassus was covered with blacks but every of the Letterati put on his long mourning Weede And to shew to all the sacred Colledge of the Vertuosi that the Father of Learning was departed this world the Mecenas of the Vertuosi and the very Muses themselves did with dishevel'd hair assist at the Obsequies in widowy apparel A piece of sorrow not seen in Parnassus since the death of Octavianus Augustus The Learned of all the Colledges and several Sects of Philosophers made above two hundred mournfull Orations and yet of all the vertues of so great a King his more then humane Valor was only praised and t is very true that by reason of the many sighs of the Vertuosi the Orators were scarce heard So as Apollo esteeming it a piece of cruelty to rub the sore of so bitter a wound by continual remembrance as was done by Scollership throughout the whole world he commanded that the Obsequies of so magnanimous a King should be no farther proceeded in since such and so great was the loss as lest the world might live in perpetual affliction men should strive soon to forget it and so much the rather for that the Heroick Vertues of this invincible King were arived at such a height of Eminency as they stood no more in need of being praised by men And for that the noble Kingdom of France may vie and weigh even with Greece it self in point of Learning as is clearly testified by the Delfick Library so fully fraught with infinite Labours of the French Vertuosi for the Indempnity of that florishing Kingdom so dear unto his Majesty And for the better safety of his beloved French Apollo commanded that 60000 Pack-Horses should immediately be sent from Arcadia into France Some of the Vertuosi wondred much at this his Majesties resolution and told him that France which was furnished with so numerous and so noble a Cavalry as that she did not only nor know nor fear danger but did so farr despise it as that she went in quest thereof even by night with the Lanthorn of her undaunted heart that having with her invincible Sword won so famous a Kingdom she would be so well able to maintain her self in this her present misfortune as not to stand in need of Arcadian Pack-Horses To this Apollo answered That his beloved
places as were aft to bear Corn. Apollo asked them then again To what case the world would be reduced if husbandmen had not weeded and purged it of such superfluous plants as the earth produced The Ambassadors answered That then doubtless the world would be so overgrown with wood as it would be uninhabitable Apollo asked once more whether they did believe that men did busie themselves in cutting down of Woods rather out of a desire that free commerce might be had among Nations or that they might reap the abundance of fruit which the earth produced being sown and planted by mans industry To this the Ambassadors reply'd That the great abundance of pleasant Products which by mans industry the earth brought forth made the noble Art of Husbandry appear not painfull but full of delight The Ambassadors having clearly learnt by this Answer and by the precedent Interrogatives made by Apollo That if men did neither eat nor drink the world would be so ful of Woods and Forrests as it would rather be a fitting habitations for Bears Wolves and other wild Beasts then for men departed the audience much confused They being gone Menenius Agrippa came to Apollo and told him That he having happily ended the important and difficult business of making peace between the Senat of Rome and the common people who being distasted had withdrawn themselves into the Aventine Mountain That he might purcase more Grace from his Majesty and a more honorable place in Parnassus he acquainted him now that he had bethought himself of another handsom story by which he hoped to agree the great disunion between the Hollanders and the Spaniard Apollo laught to hear this and answered Menenius That mens humors were so alter'd in process of time and that hatred was grounded so inveteraly in them as not only rediculous tales were not able to appease those obstinate people nor make them lay down their perfidiousness which they proposed unto themselves when first they rebel'd of purchasing their Liberty at the price of bloud or else to die in the quarrel but neither were the sad Tragedies able to effect it which to that purpose had been represented upon the Scene of the Low-Countries by the Spaniards for above the space of fifty years Menenio being departed with this little satisfaction Paolo Vitelli that famous conductor of the State of Florence appeared with his head cut off a most horrid spectacle in the Audience who complained bitterly of that Republick for that in a precipitous-manner without any confession made by himself or any of his friends who were imprisoned for his sake which did any waies prejudice his innocency he out of slight suspitions and not being suffered to speak for himself had his head struck off in Florence the very next morning after his imprisonment And that the Judgement was hastned not for that the importancy of the fact was such as could brook no delay but to hinder the intercession of great Princes who would have moved to assist him Apollo seemed much to abhor that Judgement and because he greatly loved and admired the worth of that Military man he desired the Judges that they would give their opinions in the case Who when they had heard the relation of the process gave sentence for Vitelli's innocency Wherefore Apollo by publick decree did restore Vitelli to his former ancient reputation Paolo thanked his Majesty and very humbly beseeched him that for his satisfaction and to keep other Commonwealths from giving such precipitous Judgements he would be pleased to shew some rigorous rescentment against the Florentines Apollo wisht Vitelli to be quiet for that his son Alessandro making use of the fair occasion which fell into his hands after the death of Duke Alexander had so revenged his fathers death as had infinitely surpassed all the tearms of the Guardian-ship for which he was impeached As soon as Apollo had given satisfaction to Vitelli Carmagnuolo a famous Venetian Captain who had likewise been beheaded complained bitterly before his Majesty against the State of Venice who out of vain suspitions had unjustly taken off his head And then he delivered his Process and his Sentence into Apollo's hands Apollo without either receiving or perusing the process willed Carmagnuolo to rest content for no Review nor yet appeal was allowed of from any sentence maturely given by an Aristocratical Senat as was that of Venice out of the great presumption he had of her exact administration of Justice Carmagnuolo being gon from the audience an African to the wonder of every one was seen to enter the Hall leading in his hand a lusty Lyon by a little chain which Lyon was so very tame as it fawn'd upon its Master like a little whelp This man presenting himself before Apollo in the name of Hanibal the Carthaginian gave him that Lyon which his Majesty was very well pleased withall who asked the African what art he had used to tame so fierce ravenous jealous and cruel a Beast The African answered By feeding him continually with his own hand Apollo turned then towards the Princes who for the honour of that Audience were there in great numbers and said unto them Learn Lords by the miracle of this Lyon which you see is become so tame that fair treatment doth domestichize even savage beasts doe you the like by your Subjects and make them not come hardly by their food through your angersom Taxes upon things necessary for human life for by so doing you shall not be beloved served and honoured by your own natural Subjects only but even by the most Forrein and Barbarous Nations of the earth This being said two armed foot-Souldiers appeared in the Audience who when they had presented his Majesty with their credential Letters told him that they having forsaken their Country wives children and means to serve Princes without any respect to their own lives that whilst they bore arms in the most remote Wars by vertue of the not only cruel but inhuman Military Laws they were cruelly slain hung up upon trees shot to death by their Superiors even for the smallest faults And that through the unheard of cruelty of Modern Commanders the ancient punishment for shaping out of their quarters of having their share of provant in Barley and other less severe executions being now no longer in use every least misdemeanor were it but of omission was punisht with death and not he who understood or knew most was thought the best Judge in the Camp but he who was most resolute in executing cruelty and that the inhumanity of Military Laws was grown so great as the circumspection equity and consideration which they ought to have who judge not beasts but men was esteemed poorness of spirit and idle folly That therefore the universality of Souldiers so sorely afflicted did humbly beseech his Majesty that he would be pleased to order the moderation of so inhuman Laws There was not any one in the Audience how severe soever who was not
greatness as is the miraculous and singular situation of those Marish and Fenny grounds which we cannot partake of All that understand any thing in State-affairs confess that the Senat is the Heart and Fountain of Life of every Free State Skilful Fencers when they will overthrow their enemy with few blows make a thrust at their heart and Princes who have en-deavored to subdue Commonwealths have made their first blow at the Metropolitan City of the Free State only to dissipate the Senat for these are the mortal wounds which kill all even the most potent Liberties For the Senat being routed and consequently the heart of the Commonwealth struck through it dies immediately An imperfection which Monarchies have not the greatness of whose Empire is alwaies where the Kings person is as the Duke of Guise made proof of who by his taking of Paris did rather accelerate his own death then hasten on his own greatness The Dictator Cesar proves this which I affirm to be true Who to Tyrannize over his Country made himself Master of Rome which Pompey was very indiscreet in abandoning only that he might defeat the Senat A thing which Hanibal the true Master of Militia and sole honor of Africa knew before him and endeavored it but knew not how to effect it And which after him the Emperor Charls the fifth that Founder of the greatness of the Spanish Monarchy knew very well how to do and did practice it against the Florentines and the 〈◊〉 This mortal wound could never be given to the State of Venice whose Metropolis where the Senat abides is fortified and armed with the proof-Armor of Marishes and Washes wherefore I think I may conclude that their wils are good who desire to bring in Liberty of living Free in our Country but their wisdom is but weak And that they who are for a Prince intend well and are excellently well advised and in taking a resolution in this our so weighty business I desire you all to remember that the Florentine Nobility which through the impertinency of the seditious people could never bring in a perfect form of living free in their Country not being able any longer to undergo the cruel and bloudy insolences of the base Plebeians were forced to call in a forrein Tyrant the Duke of Atene only that by extraordinary severity he might afflict the common people of Florence who did so abuse their Liberty Though these reasons were thought very efficacious by the wiser sort yet could they not make the people resolve upon chusing a new Prince Wherefore the business was carried for living free and that Ambassadors should be sent to Venice to receive the Laws of living free from that Commonwealth which was suddenly done The Ambassadors were received and welcom'd by the Venetian Commonwealth with incredible magnificency and the Venetian Government Orders and Laws were shewn unto them which the Ambassadors caused to be exactly copied out and registred and so departed And being returned to Mitilene they made their Report and read in publick Senat the Laws which they had brought with them which gave very bad satisfaction to all the common People and to the greatest part of the Nobility For the people could by no means indure that by the Venetian Laws they should be excluded from publick Government saying that that Country merited not to be called Free where all did not command And the wealthier Nobility being accustomed under Monarchy to purchase favors from the Favorits and to obtain places of Magistracy which they did shamefully execute from their Princes storm'd and said publickly That that was a most unfortunate Country where men were inhibited the making free use of their monies which was purchased by industrious men at the cost of so much sweat not only to buy meat and clothes but to purchase therewith such things which encreased reputation And that it was much better for Citizens to be ruled over by a Prince whose good will might be won by a thousand several waies then to be govern'd by inexorable Laws when they were administred by a numerous Senat where a little not being sufficient and enough not being alwaies to be had whereby to make so many prevaricate and break the Laws it might truely be said to be incorruptible And that under Monarchies the chiefest of the Nobility did from the first execute the prime places of the Principality and that in Commonwealths it was sad for them to begin together with the meanest Senators at the lowest imployments and come slowly by degrees to places of highest dignity That it required more then the usual years of man to arive at the supreamest preferments and the rigor of bestovving places of Magistracy only according to mens meer merit vvas a Precept first invented by Tyrants to keep potent men lovv and to exalt the mean But amongst all these bad satisfactions nothing distasted three parts of four of the Nobility more then the severe Magistracy of the Censors which they heard was used by the Venetians who perpetually did severely and strictly examin all mens behaviours wherefore they said freely that if the Nobility were so severely proceeded with in the State of Venice the Noble Venetians were slaves amidst their Liberty and the people of Miteline free amidst their servitude for very dread of these things all with a loud voice cryed out Monarchy Monarchy And that if any one would set up Liberty in Mitilene let them burn all Laws and Statutes for such understood that to be perfect Liberty where none obeyed all commanded and every one did what he list The XL. ADVERTISEMENT James Creyton a Scotchman having incenst the Vertuosi in Parnassus by a proud defyance was so shamed by them through a bitter jest as without ending the dispute they forced him to forgo Parnassus JAmes Creyton a Scotchman the Prodigie of Nature for Learning came some daies ago to this Court with such vain-glorious pomp and self-oftentation as moved as much nauseousness in the compleatest Vertuosi of this State as wonder in the meaner sort of people who are usually ignorant to see that a young fellow of but 25 years of age should pretend to be exactly knowing in all Sciences when the chiefest Vertuosi know the continual study of 80 years is but a short time to be Master of one only Science This Creyton the next day after his entrance into Parnassus caused a paper to be fixed upon the Gates of all the Colledges and upon the Pillars of all the Delfick Portici wherein in large Capital Letters these words were written Nos Iacobus Crytonius Scotus cujuscumque rei propositae ex improviso respondebimus We Iames Creyton a Scothman will answer ex tempore to whatsoever shall be propounded This bold defiance which was thought by many to be very arrogant did so nettle the Vertuosi as many of them framed Arguments even in the hardest Sciences wherewith they thought to choak him at very first But an acute Satyrical Poet bereft the whole
crowns in Tilt and Turney when he himself should have a son 〈◊〉 the Lord Steward wondred much at this the Princes answer to whom he said What means this Siâ—… is not the child that is boâ—… your son your wife having brought him forth twelve months after you were married I now find said the Prince that privat meâ—… are not much acquainted â—…ith the Interests of Princes But to let you see that I have reason for what I say tell me how old I am Eighteen the twelâ—…th of 〈◊〉 month replyed the Steward Confess then said the Prince that the child 〈◊〉 now born is my brother not my son for privat men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 children from their brethren by their birthâ—… but Priâ—… by 〈◊〉 age and know that those shall be my best beloved sons who shall be 〈◊〉 â—…o me when I shall be 50 years old and when any such shall be born I will be content that extraordinary joy shall be shewn For when sons are born to a young Prince as I am bels should rather toll out for sorrow to Funerals than Trumpets sound for joy A Prince who marries whilst he is young runs hazard of having a multitude of sons which is the true stone of offence of whatsoever State this is so great a truth as a King can receive no greater blessing from heaven than to have but one only son alive Moreover a Prince who hath many sons whilst he is young ought not to covet long life for as Fathers desire to die with Supreme power in their hand so sons when they come to certain years of age have not patience to wait till the Fruit of Government grow to be ripe by their Fathers death for many great Kings have had sons who blinded with a desire of reigning would rather hazard their healths with eating green Grapes in Iune then tarry till they should be ripe in September If it be so said the Steward I must confess the condition of Princes is to be deplored in that wherein we privat men do envie them Know then said the Prince that when my son who is now born shall come to be one and twenty years old and I shall not put him into full possession of this my Principality if he shall then chance to contrive any thing against my Person or my State it is I that shall therein have erred more then he For it will be as great a discourtesie in me not to resigne over unto him my State then as it would be inhumanity in me if when I should be eating at a plentifull Table I should see him stand by ready to starve for hunger and not bid him eat The LVIII ADVERTISEMENT Apollo erects a new Tribunal in Parnassus for the punishment of flatterers but succeeds very unfortunately therein THe civil and vertuous life which the Litterati lead in this State of Parnassus is not so much to be attributed to the severe punishment threatned to such as are vitiously given as to the great rewards held out to such as are vertuous nor yet to the good genius which the Litterati are generally of as to Apollos wisdom who hath appointed several distinct Tribunals for every vice for every fault omitted and Judges thereunto appropriated for his Majestie hath learnt by the late disorders that when his Ministers are troubled with but a few affairs they dispatch them accurately well whereas those that have great store of business upon their hands are neither speedy nor very just in their dispatches Nor was Apollo aware till six months since of the great disorder which reignes in this State wherein many severe Tribunals being erected against all such principal vices whereinto men do most usually fail there was no Judge nor punishment set apart for the vice of flattery which his Majestie doth so much detest and which is so pernitious both to Princes and privat men So as his Majestie thought that disease was so generally diffused amongst men chiefly because there was neither Physitian nor Apothecary appropriated thereunto Wherefore his Majestie who is alwaies vigilant in the extirpation of all vice and in procuring indempnity to his Vertuosi thought it very necessary to correct so great an error and to curb so wicked a vice He therefore of his own meer motion erected a Tribunal six months ago in this Court under severe punishments against flatterers For his pleasure was that such as should be found guilty of so foul a fault should be tied to the infamous Chain which is in the chief Market-place and flead live by Marsia who was very skilful thereat having learnt it at his own charges And for the more severe punishment of so enormous a vice he chose the chief Satirical Poets of the State as the greatest enemies of flatterers to be their Judges Peter Aratine was made Lord Chief Justice Iuvenal the first Advocate Ariosto Attorney-General Francis Berna chief Notary who had Nicholas Franco and Cesar Caporali for his substitutes and six months being past since the erecting of the Tribunal in all which time no complaint came in against flatterers though flattery were seen to be daily used in Parnassus Apollo that he might have occasion to punish those wicked persons made use of a great many Spies who diligently watching over them might accuse them before the Tribunal This remedy wrought good effect for ere long they found Bartolomeo Cavalcanti who flattering a foolish Prince given to hunting wantonness all sorts of delights neglecting the Government of his State so far as he had transferred the care thereof into the hands of one that was mercenary ignorant and very passionate he termed him vigilant indefatigable in taking pains an enemy to all pastime which he had wholly placed in following business Cavalcanti was suddenly seased upon who upon examination presently confest all that could he desired Wherefore the Judge using all the mercy to him that could stand with Justice allowed him three daies to make his defence and Martia brandisht his knife about and put all other things in order when the Judge coming to examin the Prince who was flattered found that though he was notoriously known to be what was said of him he pretended notwithstanding that Cavalcanti had not only spoke truth but that in the praise which he with reason gave him he came short of his deserts So as being asked if he had any thing to alleadg against Cavalcanti or whether he thought himself offended by his gross flattery the Prince being much incenst answered that he had no reason to complain of one that had said truth and that he did not esteem those praises which he ought to reward injuries and added that he did very much wonder and was greatly scandalized at that new Tribunal which seemed to be invented rather to defame men of honour then to punish cheaters Aretin being much moved at this answer with more freedom then became him asked with what face he could pretend that Cavalcanti had not lied basely in praising such
Seneca much moved with this sharp repremand resolved he would be no longer scorned for spending so immense a wealth only upon his belly and his back divided his whole Estate consisting of three millions and a half into four equal parts wherewith he founded as many publick Hospitals and indowed them with rich Revenues and ordered that the four sorts of fools wherewith the world did abound should be therein commodiously cured The first was to be for those foolish people who throw away their Estates waste their wits and lose their reputations in seeking for the Philosophers Stone fools that are indeed to be pittied for whom all good people ought to pray The second for those ignorant hiddy giddy people who Data opera seek for riches by Exorcisms and Inchantments The third was for the cure of such idle fools worthy of punishment who not caring to know things past by the reading of History foolishly imagin they may arrive at the knowledg of foretelling things to come by Astrology The fourth was for the advantage of such simple folks who having wasted all their Estates and not having one farthing left do notwithstanding still proudly boast of their Noble Families The LXXIX ADVERTISEMENT Some Princes of Pernassus having spent a great mass of wealth in a stinking sort of Merchandise and having thereby incurred great debts are forced to profess themselves Bankrupts and to leave Pernassus IN the Exchange of Pernassus the most important Bankruptship is discovered that ever hapned in the memory of man for it fell not out as usualy between private Merchants but between the most Potent Princes of this State in so much as no payments of monies are made any where and Merchants refuse to pay Letters of Exchange every one standing at a gaze till they see where this business will end which hath drawn along with it the breaking of divers other Merchants who were considerable The rich Indian Fleet almost wholly fraught with Sugars which entred some daies ago into the Gulf of Lepanto was the cause of these so many disorders Some of the chief Princes of Pernassus bought all the Sugar which brought in great store of money and then they provided many Magazines and Ware-houses and made great provisions of Cauldrons and other brass Vessels and were at such an expence with all this as they took up monies at huge high Interest from Merchants at all Marts by exchange and bartering The true end of these Princes was to know for certain whether they could happily compass the difficult business of preserving Turds a business which had been formerly endeavoured by many great men but still unfortunately Many rich Lords were so resolved upon the undertaking of this stinking occupation as they neither spared for cost nor labour to bring this their stinking designto their desired end for they put all their minnions Hephestion idols flatterers and bawds into the great Caldrons which they had prepared to whom they were not ashamed to pay all the most abject and base slavery and obedience These unfortunate Confectioners cover over this scum of people which are so fatal to men of power with the sugar of honourable imployments and highest dignities and though it was clearly seen that by reason of their stinking lewd conditions they did not only not become ever a whit the sweeter in merit and vertue but the more sugar was heaped upon them by those unfortunate Princes the more they stunk in the nostrils of men of honour yet did they daily persist the more in that their woful occupation and the obstinacy of those ill advised Princes was so fatal as the worser they found their business to proceed the more did their diligence and expences increase together with the impossibility and shame of the fowle undertaking those foolish Merchants did still beleeve that the infinite quantity of Sugar and fragrant Musk had power to make the stink of those their shameful favorites sweet and odoriferous But at last though late they found their business impossible to be effected and having consumed all their Sugar they were aware that those their Idols had not only shamefully infected theirCourts by their insufferable stench but had infinitely defamed them who for want of caution had doated upon so unsavory carrion wherefore they quit the enterprise and because the moneys which they had taken up at use were already grown due for fear of their Creditors they have all played least in sight and the more to aggravate so great a disorder we hear that a great King who that he might confectionate a base minnion of his was for certain the first who advised to this miserable Merchandize fell unfortunately off horseback as he fled away and is since dead His Majesty was very much troubled at these disorders and to hinder the like inconveniences for the future hath commanded that on the first day of August a remarkable day since not only the universal Banckrupt but the death of that great King hapned on that day so sad a misfortune should be publickly commemorated and if the example of so great a Monarch could not deter powerful men from the like undertaking it must be granted that this calamity was occasion'd through the same weakness of brain by which privat men are blinded and for avarice undo themselves in pursuit of the Philosophers Stone The LXXX ADVERTISEMENT Certain prime Politicians of Pernassus pray the Ottoman Monarchy to tell them the true reason why she makes short war with her enemies and are by her satisfyed MEnante who for the better satisfaction of his customers to whom he sends his weekly Gasetta's is very diligent in prying into the very secretest passages of Pernassus having discovered the other day that some Politicians of this Court desired Audience of the Ottoman Monarchy was so watchful as when they went to that mighty Queen he went along with them in company and heard Scipio deCastro whom those Politicians call their File-leader beseech her Majesty that she would vouchsafe to acquaint those Politicians that were with him with the true reason wherefore she makes but short war with the Princes who are her enemies even when she was victorious and certain to make greater acquisitions and did prosecute others even to their uttermost ruine I have heard that the Ottoman Monarchy did after no barbarous manner answer them you must know Gentlemen that I never use to lay down Arms when I make war against Nations which though never so great are divided into several Principalities wherein I finde discord and faction to reign till I have totally conquered them as I did in the Grecian Empire whose division into several despoters and the intestine discord which reigned amongst them did I confess throw open the gates unto me and made way for my acquisition of that famous Empire Likewise when I go against a Prince who is abandoned by his friends I never make peace with him till I have fully conquered him as was cleerly seen in the expedition which I