NEWES FROM PERNASSVS The Politicall Touchstone Taken From Mount Pernassus Whereon the Governments of the greatest Monarchies of the World are touched Printed at Helicon 1622. THE PREFACE THE truest and securest precepts of Policie are those which either are drawen from the prudent resolutions or vnadvised errors of great Princes in the deliberations of their most important affaires or from the study of Policie all consisting in a severe and iudicious censure of the actions of the Great and the studious in Histories which haue the gift to know how to examine them well draw out of them most excellent rules for the wel-governing of many people which being very true it is no marvaile if the best Writers of matters of State have growen extreamely odious to those that raigne by reason that as Princes willingly lend an eare to the praises which happen to be given them although they come from the pen or mouth of an impudent Flatterer so likewise they haue in exceeding abhomination all censures which are made vpon their actions it being an insupportable miserie vnto them that their imprudence and calamities should serve for instructions vnto others not to commit the like faults This truth assures me that these my present Advertisements from Pernassus where in a sporting manner the actions interests true ends and defects of many Princes not very iust coming to be censured touched discovered and noted would bring them infinite displeasure if they should be openly published Wherevpon I that at any hand will not give disgust to any person private or publike whatsoever haue fully resolved to keepe them from the Presse as from the fire for the length of time maturing things that which for infinite respects in our Age is odious the present Princes wanting and those affaires growing olde which now liue and that in regard of their importance are held in great ielousie I hope that these my Labours will then with particular liking bee read of the Vertuous whom I indevour to please and delight In the meane time I haue presumed to hide these my Writings in your Lordships Librarie vnto whom I present them to the end they may be published to the world at such time as they cannot giue distaste to any one But then my desires shal be accomplished when these my Workes such as they are may giue vnto your Lordship that satisfaction which I so exceedingly desire in regard of the infinite devotion I beare vnto your Name and the innumerable obligations wherein I stand ingaged vnto you which haue created me a debtor vnto you in so great a summe that if I should spend my whole life in your service yet I should thinke I had done nothing but that still I should die ingratefull THE CONTENTS THe Spanish Monarchy arriveth at Pernassus beseecheth Apollo she may be cured of an Yssue in her arme and by the Politicall Physicians dismissed The Monarchy of Spaine lamenteth for that her falshoods are discovered Maximilian the Emperor is advertised of the troubles begun amongst his sonnes Most of the Princes Commonvveales and States of Europe are vveighed in a paire of Scales by Lorenzo Medici The Spanish Monarchy goeth to the Oracle at Delphos for to knovv vvhether ever she shall attaine to the Monarchy of the World and receiveth a contrary ansvver Philip the second King of Spaine after some contestation about his Title entreth vvith great pompe into Pernassus Almansor sometime King of the Moores encountring vvith the Kingdome of Naples they relate one to another the miseries they sustaine by the oppression of the Spaniards Sigismond Battor learneth the Latin tongue The Cardinall of Toledoes Summa is not admitted into the Library of Pernassus The French desire the receipt of the Spanish scent for Gloues The Monarchy of Spaine throvveth her Physician out of the Windovv Most of the States of the World are censured in Pernassiu for their errors The Duke of Cuize his Secretary is punished for speaking amisse Certaine Persons for example vnto others are shevved vnto the people The Monarchy of Spaine inviteth the Cardinal of Toledo to be her Royall Divine in her Councel of State vvhich he refuseth and vvhy The Spaniards attempt the acquisition of Savoy but do not prevaile The Duke d'Alva being arrived at Pernassus in complementing vvith Prospero Colonna they fall foule about defrauding the Colonesi of their Titles NEVVES from Pernassus CHAP. 1. The Spanish Monarchy arrives at Pernassus beseecheth Apollo she may be cured of an Yssue in her arme and by the Politicall Physicians is dismissed ALthough the Majestie of Apollo had decreed vnto the High Mighty Monarchy of Spayne immediatly vpon her arrivall at this Court vvhich vvas some fovvre months past not only a solemne entrance but the publike Consistory of the Learned in the Royall Hall of Audience vvith the presence of the Excellent Muses yet vvas it not executed vntill tvvo dayes since by reason she consumed all those fovvre moneths in according vvith the Princely Poets such Titles as she vvas to giue and receiue from others and in agreeing hovv to receiue and hovv to be receiued in Visitations vvhilst the Vertuous stood amazed and bitterly complayned of the hard condition of these modern times plagued vvith the corruption of such vanity but greater vvas the affliction of the Vertuous because many Learned Princes openly refused to be visited by that great Queene saying That they suspected the receiving some affront from her for that they had lately Letters out of Italy vvherein they vvere advised by their friends to stand vpon their guard it being the particular custome of the Spaniards to goe to visit persons more to iniure then to honor them and that therefore it seemed to them a kind of exceeding madnes in stead of avoiding affronts to attend them in their houses and reverently to receiue them vvith Cappe in hand And albeit so potent a Monarchy to the great vvonder of all men had shevved herself much more sparing in giuing to others satisfaction of Titles then in bestovving her golden Pistolets nevertheles she hath receiued from those Princely Poets and from all the Vertuous Potentates that more regard the substance then the vanity of things in this same titular busines as much content as she could desire Hovvbeit the reputation of so great a Queen hath bin much blemished in this Court by reason she is seen notvvithstanding the extreme necessity that lyeth vpon her for the acquisition of friends to shevv her self too forvvard in alienating such from her as desire nothing of her but satisfaction of vvords Further it hath bin observed for a particular of much note hovv the Mr. of the Ceremonies advertised her that that great punto she so stands vpon is an odious thing onely proper to barbarous Kings and most vnvvorthy so great a Lady and such a Princesse of Europe as she vvas vvhereunto vvith much disdaine she ansvvered Hovv she vvondered that he considering the place he held should haue so litle vnderstanding as not to
to attempt it The weight of this Kingdome was answerable to that of the last fifteenth yeare which amounted to sixteene Millions But the English to giue more weight to their Kingdome would haue put the Kingdome of Scotland into the Scale when the Scottish Nobilitie with drawen swords in their hands opposed themselues freely protesting that they would never suffer their Country to be annexed to the Kingdome of the English for yet fresh was the lamentable example of the miseries of Flanders who when she saw her Earles become Kings of Spayne foolishly beleeved that shee should command over the Spanyards whereas soone after not Spayne was sacked by the Flemmings but Flanders by the covetous and cruell Spaniards and that which made vp their miserie Charles the fifth the Emperor and King Philip his sonne by their continuall residence in Spayne of Flemmings became Spanyards The vnfortunate Flemmings by losing their Prince of naturall subiects grew to be esteemed strangers and men of little faith And so Flanders the naturall Country of Charles the fifth the Patrimony of King Philip became according to the termes of moderne Policie a State of fiue States and began to be governed by strangers with those jealousies and with those oppressions of Customes Taxes Contributions and Donatiues as begat those bad humors those ill satisfactions from whence since hath proceeded that ciuill warre which after an vnspeakable profusion of Gold an infinite effusion of bloud an incredible losse of honour to the Flemmings was converted into a covetous merchandise of the Spanyards Therefore the Scots by such lamentable miseries haue learned not to permit their King vpon any termes whatsoever to abandon the Royall Seate of his ancient Kingdome for to place it in a greater newly fallen vnto him in which case the Scots should vnder their cruell enemies the English be sure to suffer all the calamities which inferiour Nations are wont to endure at the hands of the superiour Some that were present at this Act report how the Spanyards told the King of England that those Scots which had spoken so arrogantly in the presence of his Majestie were to be seuerely chastised to whom the King of England answered That the Spaniards ought not to giue that counsell vnto others which had proved so pernicious to themselues and thereupon hauing commanded the stay of weighing their Kingdome hee assured his Scots that ere long he would giue them all possible satisfaction After this the vast Ottoman Empire was put into the Scale which the last fifteenth yeare arrived to the summe of two and thirtie Millions but now was found to be lesse then sixteene the strangenesse whereof made all the Princes very much to marvaile and particularly the Venetians who could not beleeue such a fall whereupon they desired that with more diligence it might be reweighed and it appeared how in that litle time running betweene the first and this second weighing it had fallen eight hundreth twenty and two pounds whereby it was manifest that the Ottoman Empire heretofore so terrible to the world now consumed with luxury covetuousnesse and idlenesse runneth headlong to his ruine which gaue great contentment to all those Princes Nevertheles it was observed by some of the wisest there present that the Spanyards were not so glad of it as the rest out of a doubt they had that the depression of the Turke would be the exaltation of the Venetian State Then came the Polach Senators and put into the Scale their Kingdome which in regard of the small authoritie the King hath there and the too much command which the Palatines arrogate vnto themselues made but a poore reckoning for it did not amount to six Millions of pounds whereas in times past it alwayes exceeded twelue After them the Signory of the Councell of Tenn put into the Scale the flourishing estate of the Venetian Commonwealth most admirable for the greatnesse thereof and oportunitie of scituation fitting for all great enterprises which went beyond all expectation in the weight for it came to eight Millions the cause whereof was sayd to be the huge masse of Gold which those wise Senators in so long a time of peace had gathered togither into their Treasury Next came the Swittzers the Grisons and other free people of Germany and brought their Comonweales to the Scale How beit the Princes required that they might be weighed each one severally by it selfe wherewith the Germanes were well contented so that it might be done But Lorenzo having put the Commonwealth of Basil into the Scale it appeared that the greater part of the other Common weales of Germany were all so linked together that it was impossible to seperate them one from another which put a many of ambitious Princes there in a sweate Then the Duke of Savoy caused his State to be put into the Scale by his noble Knights of the Annonciata which equalled the weight of the last fifteenth yeare but Lorenzo having added into the Scale that most noble prerogatiue of Title which the sayd Duke Charles Emanuell enioyeth of the Prime Souldyer of Italy it was seene to aggravate the weight a Million foure hundreth and twenty pounds After this with a pompe and Maiestie matchable to Kings appeared the Duke of Lorraine whose State though litle equalled the weight of great Kingdomes and it was considered that it fell out to be so by a certaine good fortune which that Prince had to haue his States so happily seated that he could easily put the Lowe-Countreys into grievous difficulties by impeaching the passage of those succors which the Spaniards conduct thither out of Italy whereby he hath growen into such reputation that to the most offerer he selleth for ready Gold the marchandise of that his adhering in such sort that after he had dreyned the Spanyards asmuch as any the devoutest French Lord of the Holy League whatsoever syding afterwards with the French he knew so well how to change his coppy that a King of France such as was Henry the fourth the great Duke of Toscan and the Duke of Mantoua were glad of his allyance And fully to make vp the Spanyards iealousye the famous Venetian Commonwealth drew into her pay a Prince of that House with such affection that if that great Lady had not made a vow of perpetuall chastity and her nature according to the custome of some Indians had not bene stytched vp the first day she was borne by the Venetian Signory most jelous of her honor it was verily beleeved by many that she would haue taken him to husband It was observed that the Duke of Savoy envyed much the felicity of this Prince because he finding himselfe also seated betweene the French and the Spanyards of Milan as the Duke of Loraine was betweene the French and the Spanyards of Flanders in stead of so many benefits and so many commodities as fell vpon the Duke of Loraine he had received most cruell kickes not onely from the French then his enemies but from
into Italy Forces that were able to maintaine the acquests they had made not that they could be sufficient to subdue the whole Thou speakest the truth sayd then Almansor but goe on and declare vnto me the prejudices which thy falling into the hands of the Spaniards brought vnto the Popes Know then replyed the Kingdome of Naples that whereas before the Popes were the terror of my Kings now it happeneth to bee cleane otherwise for they liue in a very great agony lest the Vnion of Milan with Naples should one day follow to which marke they obserue the Spanyards haue directed the scope of all their thoughts vvhereupon the Spanyards whose proper nature it is to make good vse of the feare vvhereinto they see they haue put the Princes their neighbours haue arrogated vnto themselves such authority in the Court of Rome that they vaunt they are the true arbitrators of all the most important matters vvhich there are handled Moreover when the Kings of Naples were not Kings of Spayne the Popes with every litle menace of denying the investiture obtayned of my Kings Principalities Dutchyes Earldomes and other great States in gift buying their friendships also with mariages and many other sortes of liberalitie but now the feare being ceased if the Popes vvil make their kinred great with titles of important States they must be glad to buy them with their ready mony and the advised Kings of Spayne besides the pretious Gold of entreaties which at any hand they will bee sure shall precede for a first payment sell them vnto them thoroughly sawced Important interests and grievous disorders are these sayd Almansor vvhich thou hast recounted vnto me but how cometh it that thou Kingdome of Naples which art the Magazine of Silkes the Granary of Italy shouldest goe so ragged and be so leane Seeing the Spanyards that come naked out of Spayne answered the Kingdome of Naples after they haue beene three or foure dayes in my house will needs cover themselves all over with gold it is no marvaile if I be spoyled to clothe so many Raggedemuffins besides if thou sawest the rapacitie of the Vice-roys that to recover them selves are sent vnto me or if thou knewest the rapines of Secretaryes of thousand Officers and other Courtiers which they bring along with them all thirsty of my bloud thou wouldest greatly marvayle how it were possible I should satiare the raging and greedy swallow of so many hunger-starved wretches As for the litle flesh thou seest on my back the Spanyards affirme that in the booke of a certaine Florentine who hath given rules of the cruell moderne Policie they find written that being a Kingdome conquered after the manner of those horses vvhich are kept only for races I ought to be maintayned low in the flesh I but sayd Almansor then the Milanesi how are they entreated They also replyed the Kingdome of Naples are bathed with the water wherewithall thou seest mee so wet only this difference is betwixt vs that in Milan are droppes in my house flouds The true occasion of the diversitie of these entreatings is the quality of the Lombards dispositions most vnlike to my Neapolitans for the Nobilitie of the State of Milan are naturally phantasticall free resolute and farre from that vice so proper to my Neapolitans of flattery and affectation but so bold and hardy that they dare say how if one only Cremonese spirit had beene found amongst my Neapolitan Barons it would haue hindered that same forced donatiue that hath brought me to eate Bread and Onyons the which although with great words it hath beene often demanded by the Spanyards in Milan they haue beene as resolutely answered that they should take care to liue Besides the confining of the Grisons of the Duke of Savoy and Venetians are the cause that the Kings of Spayne proceed with more diseretion in Milan for when the Popes managed Armes I my selfe also was for their occasion greatly respected But soft Almansor yonder commeth my most capitall enemy Don Pedro de Toledo wherefore I pray thee withdraw a litle for at any hand I would not haue him take notice that I lament my disgraces heere vvith thee and for this onely vvere it for nothing els may I tearme my servitude most wretched in that I am forced to call this miserable state wherein thou seest me the happy golden Age. CHAP. 8. Sigismund Battor learneth the Latin tongue YEsterday about eight of the clocke in the evening the ordinary Post of Germany arrived at this Court and brought very ioyfull newes how Sigismund Battor Prince of Transilvania was growen so inamored of the gracefull Latine tongue that to his great glory he spake and wrote with the puritie and eloquence of the Cesarean style whereupon all the Vertuous earnestly besought Apollo that for such good newes there might be made in Pernassus all those demonstrations of ioy which to incourage Great-men to the loue of Learning were wont to be made when any Prince became learned But his Maiestie that seeth into the vttermost secret of all things denied those Vertuous their request and told them that then only there should be feasting in Pernassus when out of the freenesse of a noble minde and meere election of studies not constrayned by any necessitie Princes applyed themselves to Learning and that they were to know how Prince Battor had gotten the elegant Latine tongue neither out of ambition to shew himselfe to bee learned nor out of a vertuous curiosity to know many things but onely out of necessitie for his reputations sake to correct the foolish and childish absurditie which he committed in Gender Number and Case at such time as in the warre of Hungary he tooke that fatall resolution to arme himselfe against the Turke for to adhere vnto the Emperor of Germany whom in regard of the strong and lively pretensions which he hath to the Principaliâ—y of Transilvania he was to haue in more horror then seventy Ottoman Emperours CHAP. 9. The Cardinall of Toledoes Summa is not admitted into the Library of Pernassus THe illustrious and reuerend Francesco Cordova Cardinall of Toledo a personage of exemplarie life an exquisite Divine and excellent Philosopher hee that in his owne person honoured the Word of God in the Pulpit more then any other Preacher whatsoever of his time some few dayes since arrived at Pernassus having beene received vpon the confines of the State by Alessandro d' Ales and Cornelio Musso Bishop of Bitonto and all the way entertayned at his Majesties charge This honorable learned man presented his Writings vnto the venerable Colledge of the Vertuous and those of Philosophie were not only commended but admired as also the Commentaries composed by him vpon the divine passages of all the sacred Writers were received with extraordinary applause and shortly after they were carried in a precious Vrne vnder a cloth of Estate into the Delphicke Library and with the name of the Author consecrated to Eternity Onely his Summa although
knovv that a Prince vvith out gravity shevveth like a Peacocke vvithout a tayle It is not possible to vvrite vvith vvhat curiosity and desire this Princesse vvas expected nor vvhat a concourse of people came from all parts of Apolloes State to looke vpon this povverfull Queene that vvith such a monstrous course of felicity hath in so short a time vnited vnder her most spatious Kingdomes and therof framed an Empire so formidable that there is not a Prince in the vvorld vvhich for suspition of her hath not armed himselfe The Monarchy of Spayne in comparison of those of France of England and other ancient Monarchies is young in age but of body farre bigger then any other vvhatsoeuer and according to the proportion of yeres she is of of an vnmeasurable greatnes vvhence it is argued that if she continue grovving vnto that terme vvherein humane bodies are wont to come to their full perfection she will become so great a Gyantesse that she will arriue to that vnmeasurable height of the Vniversall Monarchies wherunto the Rom. Monarchy attained but the accidents of matters of State affirme for certain that she wil neuer be bigger and that she was as high in her tendrest yeres as euer she vvilbe in any time to come whatsoever The which is plainly demōstrated by this apparant argument that in these present times she hath grovven more slovvly halfe a fingers breadth then she did tvvo handfulls in times past This mighty Lady is of complexion very tavvny much inclyning to the Moore therefore her customes are rather proud then graue and in all her actions hath more of the cruell then the severe so that not having beene able nor desirous to learne that art so necessary for a Prince of pardoning it is the firme opinion of many that thereby her greatnes is the more impeached for placing her estimation vpon nothing more then to be called the Mistris of Nations in the knovvledge of being most resolute to strike off the heads of such odious Poppies as in the gardens of her States overtop their fellovves she reioyceth not a litle that she is said in that sort to haue gone beyond that Tarquin the Great vvho vvas the first inventor of such a secret Being then so resolute in the execution of seuerities she is much perplexed in conferring of graces vvhich are seene to proceed very seldome from her and those too she doth are granted vvith so much authoritie as they are not very acceptable Hovvbeit in apparance she is all mildnes and vvholly dissolved into Complements but he that vvith the politicall Spectacle knovveth hovv to penetrate into the invvard of the heart shall discover her to be all pride all covetousnesse and cruelty in such sort that they vvhich haue long negotiated vvith her report That there is not any Princesse from vvhom come svveeter vvords and bitterer deeds vvhereby it happeneth that as a friend she greatly allureth men and as a Mistres exceedingly terrifieth them Her hands be out of all proportion long vvhich she extendeth euery vvhere as may be most for her profit vvithout discerning friend from foe or a stranger from a kinsman She hath the nailes of an Harpy most rapacious vvith fingers of so hard and strong a tenure that she neuer letteth goe any thing vvhich she once fastneth on Her eyes be blacke and of a merveilous sharpe sight She looketh afquint so that fixing her eye vpon one she attentiuely beholdeth another a matter of much danger to Princes for of late yeares having set her face vpon Argier before any body vvas avvare she fastned her looke vpon 〈◊〉 And in those eyes is discouered a world of greedines because she neuer beholdes any thing that she doth not earnestly covet vvith her heart vvhereupon the Speculatiue affirme That this Queene is enflamed vvith an immoderate thirst of others Estates and she never had freind vvhom in a short time vvith sundry devises she made not a slaue All vvhich doe manifest vnto the vvorld that she is fitter to governe slaues then free-men She standeth so much vpon the punto of State that she vvill not vouchsafe to stirre a foot for to encounter good occasions vvhich many tymes haue gone home even to her ovvne doores to find her out She goeth beyond all other Queenes vvhatsoever either past or present in the knovvledge hovv to cover vvith the cloake of hypocrisie any interest of hers though neuer so diabolical and albeit she is seene daily to enter into actions that are none of the best yet she maketh ostentation of nothing more then of her Conscience Whence the French so often deceiued vnder colour of most holy pretexts haue at length to thier cost learned to arme themselues and get to horse assoone as they once heare her propound matters full of pretences of Religion and blessed Charitie tovvards her most beloved Neighbor She is so excellent in the exercise of horsemanship that she hath not only vvith good fortune tamed the generous Courses of Naples but also made gentle even those most vitious mules of Spayne that by their naturall instinct are so vvilde and vnruly She is aboue all other Ladies most suspitious insomuch that her ovvne Nation excepted she trusteth not any of all those that are subiect vnto her though vpon all occasions she hath proved them most faithfull a matter of such preiudice vnto her that the vnderstanding part of the vvorld plainly say hovv for that only most important defect it is not possible she should euer grovv greater And this happeneth because no Prince living eareth lesse then she to be loved of her people placing all her study hovv to make her self to be feared Whereupon the Polititians haue observed it as a kind of very great madnesse in her to be so confidently perswaded as she is that she can dravv people to adore her by oppressing them Neverthelesse with these so odious Customes she allureth all men vnto her service for the infinite abundance of her treasures is that calamitie which vvith such violence haleth vnto her even those minds that are bound to abhorre her She is most accurate in petty things but in great affaires no other Queene hath suffered herself to be more easily deceived In discoursing of and resolving importāt matters she sheweth admirable vnderstanding and prudence but either by her naturall sloth or the cunning of her ministers most covetous Marchants of great businesses or because it seemeth vnto her that no resolution is made with Decorum if it be not a long time expected by the World she executeth her resolutions vvith so much delay that the face of affaires changing vvith the time those resolutions which haue beene most prudently deliberated haue often proved infortunate And therefore it is the opinion of all men that she is more able in laying of Plots then in the managing of Armes wherein she hath great courage exceeding constancy vnspeakable patience of all discommodities but so litle resolution that her extraordinary circumspection hath many
times the face of feare whereupon she seemeth more apt to maintaine then conquer States There are many singular men that laugh at her for ruling all her actions by such solide and mature counsels without ever venturing any in the hand of that Chance and Fate vvhich haue so favoured and made glorious the French when as on occasions they haue bene carried more by valor then discretion And some are of the minde how that only proceedeth from her being as sparing of her owne bloud as she is thirsty after others Whence it is that the most vnderstanding Captaines in the Art of warre deride her for aspiring to the Empire of the World and yet will neuer fight for this mighty Queene being resolved to make acquisition of great States by marriages she abhorreth that dreadfull custome of the French to buy others Kingdomes with the price of their owne bloud Being then more advised then couragious she is more dangerous to her friend in peace then to her enemy in vvarre wherefore the French that hitherto haue liued with her in a supine negligence haue at length after so many calamities learned to double barre the doore when once they haue concluded a peace with the Spaniards She is most carelesse of her owne but so greedy of others riches that she careth not to waste her owne patrimoniall estates so as thereby she may get anothers She is so close so reserved that it is not possible for any cunning of man to find out her ends but he that will iudge of the disposition and customes of such a Lady must be fully perswaded that in all the affaires which either she manageth herselfe or others haue to negotiate with her she is within quite contrary to that she appeareth without And albeit that amongst the aforesaid vertues she hath so notorious vices yet by the greatnesse of her fortune every thing in her is interpreted and admired for Vertue so that many wise Princes hold it an honor to imitate her even in vices She is of constitution very strong whereupon it is concluded that she is long-liu'd only she suffereth in the indisposition of the distraction of her members a matter that doth infinitely weaken so great a Body and although with the ayde of the liberty of Genoa and the alliance she hath with the Duke of Savoy she vseth many devises to vnite them yet by the diversity of the interests of those Potentates she prevaileth litle But such a Princesse by nothing receiueth so much preiudice as by her principall ministers the Spaniards whose services alone she vseth in the greatest Charges exercised by them with so much insolency odious pride 〈◊〉 they will not be honored as men but adored as gods an impertinence that hath made the Spanish Dominion distasifull not only to the Italians and Flemmings but euen to the very Spaniards themselves This mighty Princesse then appearing in the Royall Hall before the Maiesty of Apollo she caused her seruants to vnbinde her left arme and shewing it naked vnto Apollo and to all the sacred Colledge of the Learned she spake in this manner Lord and Father of good letters this vvhich you see is that same stinking Yssue of Flanders vvhich the French the Germanes and some Italian Princes vvhich seeme my friends and that in bowelled beyond Sea Renegada made me so many yeeres since out of the suspition they had of mee I grant that the Princes I haue named had iust cause to bee iealous of my power at such time as after the death of Henry the second they saw France falne into the calamity of infant Kings and that in their minority I sought to sow dissention in that Kingdome But now that those suspitions are vvanting and that in the great contention vvhich I had with the French and particularly vvith that same vnchayned Prince of Beaâ—ne I vvas condemned in costs I doe beseech of your Maiesty that so fastidious an Yssue may be stopped since every one seeth that by the great abundance of humors vvhich are there concurring it is become so raging a Canker that I pray God it doth not end vvith the ruine of the vvhole I did not passe into Italy through mine owne ambition nor had that ardent desire to possesse my selfe wholly of it as mine enemies affirme it is vvell knowne that I was called nay forethly haâ—â—â—… thither by the Princes of Italy themselues to deliuer them from the great feare they were in of the domination of the French And happy had it beene for my House of Spayne vvhich I had covered with Slate of silver and Tyles of massie gold if I never had had any thing to doe with the Italians a double dealing Nation full of deceits and interests and onely good to imbarke men in dangerous affayres vvithout Bisket and then to abandon them in the middest of greatest perils making profession of nothing more then to fare well at other mens costs And it seemeth marueylous strange to mee that Italy which as every man knowes hath suffered her selfe to be towzed by so many strange Nations should now make such profession of chastity to mee that if shee see me never so little to moue shee entreth straight into a jealousie that I vvill depriue her of the honour of her Liberty And albeit the greatnesse wherein the Kingdome of France standeth at this instant secureth Italy and all the Princes which I have named from the feare they are in of my power yet vvhen it shall so seeme good to your Maiestie I am ready to give security to every one of not offending so that this same fastidious Yssue of mine may be stopped By order then of his Maiestie the Yssue then was diligently considered by the politicall Physicians and having made an exquisite consultation thereupon they delivered That in regard the Spanish Monarchy was troubled with an ardent thâ—rit of Domination that Yssue was necessary for her whereby those grosse humors might be purged away which from Peru distilled downe into her stomacke and caused that vnquenchable thirst And those worthy Physicians considered that if the sayd Monarchy had not that Yssue there was manifest danger that the pernicious humors of Peru would mount vp into the head of Italy with apparant ruine of the principall members which now remaine free in her and that the said Monarchy of Spayne would fall into the Dropsie of an Vniuersall Monarchy to avoid vvhich inconveniences nothing was so proper said they as that same Yssue of Flanders which was to be kept open so long as Peru ministred those pernicious humors to the Monarchy of Spayne This resolution greatly displeased the Spanish Monarchy vvherevpon being much incensed she said thus Sir if through the malice of others I must so foully consume away my selfe in ministring oyntments to the Canker vvhich my enemies call a divertiue Yssue some peradventure that litle dreame of it shall haue their share in it This was presently apprehended by the English the French and Italians who replied
That they cared not a rush for any thing she could doe for they sent but the refuse of their States in to Flanders whereas the Spaniards consumed Gold and vitall bloud there And that to secure themselues from the formidable power and ambition of the Spanish vvhich appeared to haue no Horizon the English French Germans and Italians were forced conformable to the Aphorisme of the politicall Hipocrates Tacitus Consilijs estu res externas moliri arma procul habere CHAP. 2. The Monarchy of Spaine lamenteth for that her Falshoods are discouered I Know not whether it were by accident or by the malice of some French-men or indeed as many haue grievously suspected by the plottings of that nation which is such an implacable enemy to the French but so it was that many yeares since the Royall Palace of the Monarchy of France was set on fire and so great was the Flame and so terribly did it burne that the neighbouring Monarchies were in extreame feare lest that fire wold end with the ruine of their States in such sort that for the preservation of their owne euery one ranne to the extinguishing of the flame of anothers house The English though natural enemies to the French brought thither the waters of their Thames the Germans those of the Mose and of the Rhine the Venetians emptied almost all their Lakes And in truth it was a mervailous thing to see that even the Monarchy of Spaine her self esteemed so cruell an enemy to the French should labour amongst the chiefest friends to extinguish that fire whereas the common fame went she would rather haue reioyced to haue warmed herselfe at it wherevpon euery one remained much astonished when they saw that with care and vnspeakeable charitie she not only brought thither her waters of Tagus and Iberus but even the boundlesse Ocean it self whereof when the English and Hollanders will permit her she is absolute Mistres Howbeit some Politicians sinisterly interpreting the charitie of the Spaniards publikely affirmed that it was a pernitious matter in the occasions of the French to admit the assistance of the Spaniards who being eternall and capitall enemies to France were rather to be recounted Architects of euery French ruine then zealous of the greatnesse of that Kingdome as men that measuring all the actions of those which raigne in the workes of Princes with the only Compasse of their interest many times doe not admit even pietie towards God much lesse charitie towards men But these Politicians were so much the more held in abhomination with the world by how much it was most apparant that the Spaniards in their diligence and charitie to bring water vnto that fire not onely equalled but went beyond any friend whatsoeuer of the French And that which encreased all mervaile and brought high reputation to the Monarchy of Spaine with simple men was that Flanders and Austria her ancientest patrimonies burning with the cruell flames of warre she had preferred the safety of the French before the care of her owne affaires Now because neither humane labour nor any quantity of water was sufficient to extinguish the least sparke of such a dreadfull fire but rather the flames of those bloudy ciuill warres notwithstanding all diligence and remedies daily more and more encreased euen good men and the deuoutest Simplicities began to lend an eare vnto the advise of the Politicians and to suspect that the charitie of the Spanish Monarchy was altogether interest which indeed is right Spanish charitie so that they resolved no longer to giue credit to apparences but to looke into them and see what matter it was that the Spaniards brought in their Barrels and they found that in stead of water to quench the fire they were filled with Pitch Oyle Rozin and diabolicall dissentions to encrease it which treachery also some French Barons were discouered to vse who more then others making profession of extraordinary charitie employed those Barrels and the matter in them lent them by the Spanyards Whereupon vvith iust indignation they vvere slaine by the French Monarchy and burned in the very same fire vvhich vvith such sedition and infidelity they had nourished in their Country And the Spanyards were not onely chased away from that Worke but vvith sound of Trumpet proclaymed and published for Hypocrites and by a particular Edict of the French Monarchy the World vvas made to know that if ever in time to come there vvere any one found that could be induced to beleeue how any kind of charitie could fall into the minds of the Spanyards towards the French he should bee held and reputed for a notorious Simplicity and that if after the first admonition he should perseuere in his errour as malicious and seditious hee should be tossed in a Blanket It vvas strange to see how the Spanyards and those French before-named had no sooner abstained from that Worke but that the inflammation of France vvhich before vvas so great that even men of the best iudgement affirmed how it vvas not possible to bee extinguished by any humane meanes ceassed of it selfe Whereupon the famous Flowers-de-luce of Gold so trampled on before rose vp more resplendent and flourishing then ever they vvere and France that through the excessiue ambition of many had beene cruelly tormented for forty yeeres together and better became to the great marvaile of all men quiet and pacified in the twinckling of an eye so that then it evidently appeared that the Spaniards were the first Authors of that fire in France which with such farre pretences of Religion and charitie they haue labored to make the world beleeue they would so faine haue extinguished It is generally reported that the Monarchy of Spaine retired herselfe into her Royall Palace and how for a long time together she would not suffer herselfe to be seene of any one giuing her selfe over to a deepe Melancholy and with abundance of teares freely acknowledging that she would rather haue lost two of the best Kingdomes she had then see the vvorld condemne and deride those holy pretences of hers with which she had so often to her infinite comodity sold even the most stinking Assafetida for Muske and Ambergriece for now it seemed vnto her that she remayned without her richest treasure and that she had lost the inexhaustible Mynes of Gold and Siluer of Peru and of all the new World seeing she was depriued of the benefit of being able euer after to make the simple multitude beleeue that blacke was white thinking it withall a very hard case to be driuen to that fearefull passe wherein she had alwaies seene the French that she must be forced to make acquisition of Kingdomes only with the point of the sword whereas in times past with the sole apparences of her holy pretexts vvhich had served her in stead of a most flourishing army she had put the whole world into combustion And that it exceedingly grieved her to be fallen into such an ill opinion with men that she was
disposition and that a litle before had receiued of the Apostolicke Sea that glorious title of the most Catholike King Truly replyed Almansor in the Chronicles which thou hast named of my Nation many foule actions cōmitted by divers Princes out of ambition to raigne may be read but this which thou hast recounted of Ferdinand goeth beyond them all But if thou O Almansor sayd the Kingdome of Naples diddest with thy Nation keepe the Kingdome of Granada chayned so many hundreth yeares vvhat course tooke the Spanyards for to free him That Vnion of the Kingdomes of Castile and Aragon replyed Almansor which followed vpon the marriage between Ferdinand and Isabella occasioned the libertie of the Kingdome of Granada a most vnhappy Vnion the which no lesse then I haue done and continually still doe the greatest Potentates of Europe haue lamented doe lament and perpetually with vnfained teares vvill lament as that which is the true and onely roote from vvhence are sprung all those greatest subversions of States which vnto this day haue beene seene in many partes of Europe but more remarkeably in Italy And beleeue me Neapolitan Kingdome that even till now might I haue raigned happily in Spayne if this pestiferous Vnion had not overthrowen my greatnesse for the many jealousies that raigned betweene the Castilians and Aragonians were my inexpugnable Cittadels which would haue maintayned my raigne here for ever Withall assure thy self O Kingdome of Naples that the aydes which the Popes gaue to Ferdinand and Queene Isabella greatly accelerated my taking in Peace peace Almansor said then the Neapolitan Kingdom for after thou wert chaced out of Spayne by the ambitious Spanish Nation the Popes vndervvent such miseries that it may be truly sayd how with ready mony they bought those extreame calamities wherewithall afterwards they encountred for though the Sea Apostolicall were well contented to see the Moores driven out of Spaine yet that satisfaction was much dissasted with my servitude which followed presently vpon it the Popes having never had any thing in greater feare then that I should fall into the hands of a mighty Prince vvho might make them liue in those perpetuall jealousies vvherein finding themselues drowned even vp to the very eyes many of them and particularly those that haue a greater knowledge of things of the vvorld do not alwayes make quiet sleepes A cleare testimony of the truth which I speake was the lamentable and wicked sacke of Rome perpetrated by the Spanyards a litle after my servitude with which ingratitude they payd the Apostolicke Sea for all they were debtors vnto it aswell for the remission of the Tribute of Naples as for the other succors which they received in the vvarre of Granada A calamitie that having past the termes of most grievous miseries hath in such manner opened the eyes even of men of the drowsiest vnderstanding that every one cōmeth clearely to know what it is to vnchayne the Lyon out of a zeale of pietie for the Spanyards no sooner saw themselues freed from the impediment of the Moores of Granada but that through the ambition which they shewed in desiring to cōmand over the whole Vniverse not onely in Italy but throughout all Europe most important jealousies of State and most grievous interests of Religion discovered themselues in so much that I haue often heard it discoursed by men of most vnderstanding in affayres of the vvorld how peradventure it would haue beene lesse prejudiciall for many Princes of Europe that thou haddest raigned still in Granada then that the Spanyards should haue passed into Italy to acquire such important States as at this day they possesse there Hereunto may be added the prejudices both publike and priuate which my ruine hath brought and continually doth bring vnto the Italian Princes and more particularly to the Popes because the Kings of Spayne had no sooner fastned this Chayne about my legge but presently they began to aspire vnto the Dominion of all Italy and the quicklier to arriue thereunto they knew very excellently how to interesse themselves in the differences which at that time depended betweene the Princes of Italy and the French about the possession of the Dutchy of Milan wherein that top of man Charles the fifth carried himselfe in such sort that hee made himselfe to bee knowen the worthy Nephew of his Grandfather by the Mothers side for having with the Forces of the Italian Princes chased the French out of Italy instead of restoring the Sforzi to the State as it was agreed betwixt him and the confederate Princes with the fraud of a thousand Turkish quarrels pickt of purpose which he well knew how to invent against the Sforzi he made himselfe absolute Master of that so important a Dutchy Stay Kingdome of Naples and making a point here sayd Almansor satisfie me in this seeing the noble State of Milan was fallen into the hands of the Spanyards what hindred them from running precipitously to the acquisition of all Italy and seeing thy servitude doth manifest vnto the world that the aydes and succours of Princes serue more for the benefite of him that giveth them then for the profit of him that receiveth them why would not the Italian Princes rather suffer that Milan should be vnder the Dominion of the French then by receiving ayde from the Spanyards runne the danger of letting that Dutchy beeing so important a member of Italy fall into the hands as thou saydest it did of the Kings of Spayne The power of the Kings of France answered the Neapolitan Kingdome defendeth that remnant of Liberty which remaineth in Italy from the ambition of Spaine for those glorious Kings out of the interest of their greatnesse will not endure that the Dominion of all Italy should fall into the power of the ambitious Spanish Nation which cannot extinguish the ardent thirst they have of commanding neither with the Conquest of all the new World discovered by them nor with so great a part which they possesse in the old Besides the Italian Princes who know the great perill wherein they finde they are of a dangerous and miserable servitude have so vnited themselves together that although they be many in number yet make they but one Body and the Spaniards who haue vsed and doe vse all possible devises to dis-unite them evidently perceive that they wash a Black-Moore But touching the State of Milan thou must know how it was iudged more secure for the publike Liberty of Italy that that Dutchy should fall into the power of the Spaniards then that it should remaine in the hands of the French who for that they were ioyning to Italy when therein they should possesse any little part there would haue beene manifest danger that they would haue made themselves absolute Lords of the whole but in the Spanyards it would fall out cleane contrary for their Forces albeit very great are notwithstanding so farre off that by so long a tract of sea they could with much difficulty transport out of Spayne
very learned was not received by those Vertuous who freely told him that there were so many Workes already of that kinde in his Majesties Library as some of them seemed superfluous for an infinit many of great Divines had with such diligence handled matters appertayning to the consciences of private men that they had put the salvation of soules into comprimise for the only regard of a shillings gaine And that the world very much desired to see a complete Summa composed vpon the consciences of great Princes a matter most necessary for the quiet of the whole Vniverse and altogether omitted by Divines wherein those actions of Princes should be exactly discoursed vpon with which so often they put the world into confusion filling it with robberies assassinates and such flaughters of men that many of them blinded with the ambition to raigne vpon earth have made rivers to runne with humane bloud The Colledge of the Learned hearing these particulars sayd That they much desired to have these Questions disputed and resolved Namely whether Christian pietie will admit the speciall hipothesis which the violence of the sword hath vsurped over others States Whether a Principality that by Armes and fraud is forceably taken from another Prince may be held by one that hath the true feare of God Whether that course of ruling a Kingdome which is conquered onely to the end to impoverish and waste it that so it may be governed without jealousie may be practised by one that is borne in the Christian Faith Whether the exalting of Reason of State to such an height that it should trample vnder feet as at this present it doth all Lawes divine and humane be not a more detestable and execrable Idolatry then worshipping Nabuchadnezzars Image or the golden Calfe And lastly the Colledge sayd That then their desires would be fully accomplished when there could be found a Divine so much fearing God that with his Writings durst fright Princes as much from doing evill as many others with their great Volumes had terrified private men for it seemed a strange thing vnto them that infinite learned Divines had so laboured to reason of the strict accompt which Shop-keepers are to render even for idle words vnto the Majestie of God and in the meane time had omitted to make mention of those exorbitant errors committed by great Princes when with their Armies over-running States they send all things into perdition both sacred and prophane And that with more benefite to mankinde and eternall reward to themselues Divines might have discoursed vpon the actions of Lewis the twelfth and Frances the first both Kings of France of Ferdinand King of Aragon and Charles the fifth the Emperor whose soules departed out of this world with the heauy burthen of halfe a million of manslaughters all comitted by their ambition to raigne and whereof they were to giue a strict accompt to Almighty God All which were matters exceeding necessary to the end that mankind so much afflicted by the ambition of Princes might one day receiue the consolation which with such longing it desireth when those that raigne should be terrified from doing amisse and be made to know that Hell was prepared aswell for the Great as the small CHAP. 10. The French desire the Receipt of the Spanish Sent for Gloues THe emulation which is seene to raigne betweene the two warlike and powerfull French and Spanish Nations is as great as it is eternall for there is not any vertue appearing in the French which is not exceedingly coveted by the Spanyards neither are the French ever quyet till they haue attayned vnto those rarities wherwithal they see Spayne indued And because that sent with which Gloues are made so sweet is a particular invention and gift of the Spanyards the French haue omitted nothing that might bring them to the perfection of making the like and to their great charge they furnished themselves with Muske Ambergriece Civet and all other the most odoriferous Drugges the East produceth but all to no purpose for neither charge nor diligence were sufficient to make them attayne to the end of their intent howbeit before they vvould giue it over as desperate the noble French Nation had recourse vnto his Majestie the productour of all Aromatickes vvhom they earnestly besought that hee vvould bee pleased to teach the French the vvay how to make the right Spanish sent for sweet Gloues Whereupon Apollo was never seene to laugh more heartily at the fall of the infortunate Icarus then hee did at the request of those French whose hands hee commanded his Priests that stood by him to smell vnto and tell him what they sented of The Priests immediatly obeyed and affirmed vnto his Majestie that they sented vvell Which Apollo hearing he sayd to those French that nature alwayes vsed to countervaile a defect vvith some rare vertue and that therefore the gift of making Gloues so sweet shee had only granted to that Nation whose hands stunke most abhominable CHAP. 11. The Monarchy of Spayne throvveth her Phisitian out of the window THis morning the Monarchy of Spayne hauing sent for her ordinary Phisitian a litle after with her owne hands she threw him out of the window of her Royall Pallace whereupon the poore wretch being all battered in pieces died incontinently An accident that seemed the more strange in regard the Phisitian was held by all the Court to be a man of extraordinary honestie and in the practise of his profession most admirable Sundry were the discourses that were made vpon so remarkeable a matter But Apollo desiring to know of the Spanish Monarchy her selfe the true cause of so grievous a resentment that mighty Queene told him how aboue forty yeares since vpon occasion of some accidents that befell her and other signes which she had discouered she feared that in processe of time she should catch some dangerous French disease from the Royall House of Burbon and therefore to provide for the inconvenience which shee foresaw she had demanded counsell of her Phisitian who prescribed her a long fashidious and chargeable purgation compounded of divers Oyles of Holy Leagues of insurrections of people of rebellions of Nobilitie of Cauteries and other very bitter ingredients whereby she had spoiled her stomach weakned her strength and altogether lost her appetite and that the infinite quantitie of Syrrupes and the many medicines which she had taken with such anguish had wrought no other effect but the accelleration of the disease which without that vnlucky and vnseasonable purgation peradventure she shold neuer haue had Moreouer that the many Leaches which were applied to many parts of her body had in such manner sucked the best vitall bloud of the Gold of that Spayne that thorough the weaknesse of her complexion she was not able to euacuate those evill humors of Flanders which had held her and doe hold her oppressed By which disorders all occasioned through the naughty counsell of that imprudent Physitian she was so exasperated
against him that she had solemnely sworne to throw him out of the window if to free her from future infirmities he euer after ordained her any purgation And that perceiving how the paine which she hath at this instant in the shoulder of Holland vvas an apparent Lues Gallica she had demanded counsell of the same Physitian for to cleare her selfe of it who vnmindfull of his former errors had foolishly ordayned the second purgation wholly and altogether like the former and that therefore being ouercome with paine she had throwen him out of the Window so punishing him at once for both the faults he had committed for it seemed vnto her that he had well deserved the misfortune of that resentment seeing that by the accidents following with such infelicitie of her Spanyards he had not learned to know that purgations made before their time for diseases that are feared doe not worke those good effects which either the Physitian beleeveth or the Patient desireth CHAP. 12. Most of the States of the World are censured in Pernassus for their errors APollo carefull of nothing more then to see that the Princes of the World should in the vpright gouernment of their States giue the people such satisfaction as they ought introduced into Pernassus many ages since this admirable Custome That euerie yeare the names of the chiefest Potentates of the earth written vpon litle schedules should be put into an Vrne and then being drawen foorth one by one the publicke Censor of Politicall matters should in the presence of the sacred Colledge of the Learned record the disorders which he had obserued in the gouernment of their States whereupon those Princes were bound either incontinently with satisfying reasons to defend such things as were obiected against them or els within a Moneth to reforme them An institution no doubt very noble and holy for it hath effected that in the progresse of so many ages since first it was vsed Princes haue corrected an infinitie of errors besides knowing that they are to be called to so strict an accompt it maketh them endeuour to liue so vertuously that in the presence of so many Princes they need not to blush Vpon the day appointed then most of the Potentates of the World appeared before Apollo And Count Baldazar Castiglione the Politicall Censor said vnto the reuerend Lord Giouanni dalla Casa Nuntio for the Sea Apostolicall in this State which was first drawen out of the Vrne That it seemed vnto him a most scandalous matter and indeed vnworthy the Greatnesse and Maiestie of the Popes that in Rome should be seene some potent Families vnto whom it served in stead of a rich patrimony to be dependant on forraigne Princes not very well affected to the greatnesse of the Apostolicke Sea which in euery occasion were apt with the power of their Factions to giue the Popes much trouble And that he might truly say how in all his time he had not seene a more foule and execrable thing then that which the Emperor Charles the fifth did when with the noble Charge of the Kingdome of Naples he rewarded the cruell seditions and shamefull treacheries which the Cardinall Pompeo Colonna vsed against the High Bishop Clement the seuenth Then the Lord Giouanni demanded of the Count how long it was since he had conuersed in the Romane Court who answering Some seuenty yeares past the Nuntio replied that returning thither now he should find how by reason of the abundance of vertjuice which the Pompei Pabritij Prosperi Ascanij of the family of Colonna the Virginij and other more principall Barons of the House of Orsina had eaten the teeth of their Nephewes and Grand-children were so set on edge that they could hardly chaw ther broth for the Popes which had tyed those exorbitances about their fingers knew so excellently how to practise the Tarquinian precept that they haue reduced those Poppies which heretofore were as high as Cedars to the humble stature of ridiculous dwarffes This answere satisfied the Count who turning to the Romane Empire next diawen out of the Vrne he said vnto him That the present disorders which were seene not only in the great patrimony of the House of Austria but in all Germany proceeded from the negligence of the present Emperor Rodolphus and therefore he much desired that that Maiestie would with more care embrace the government of his so many States remembring that Princes rulers of mankinde bore vpon their shoulders the heauiest weight and had in their hands the most laborious worke that any the painefullest day-labourer whatsoeuer could exercise The Censor vvas exceedingly thanked by the Romane Empire for this aduise whereunto with much grauitie he answered That it was a disgrace common with all Princes to be accused of negligence when scandals arose in their States although it notoriously appeared that in regard they were occasioned by the practises of more mighty enemies they could not possibly be avoyded by an vnderstanding Prince Wherefore it was to be considered That the monstrous felicities which the most mighty House of Austria haue had by inheriting with their Matches the States of Flanders the Kingdomes of Spaine of Naples Sicilia Bohemia Hungarie and Portugall haue giuen all the Princes of Germany of Italy and of Europe such diabolicall jealousies that they haue caused both the passed and present ruines now beheld in their ancient patrimony Whereunto the Emperors which haue raigned since Maximilian the first of famous memory albeit they were reputed most valorous prudent princes could neuer after apply any salue that did not infinitely exasperate the sore of the disorders of Germany wherein had concurred such abundance of malignant humors that it might truly be said it was immedicable Further it was to be remembred what small authoritie the moderne Emperors haue had in Germany so that it were not only a discurtesie but open injustice to will one that hath his hands fast bound behind him to performe the acts of Orlando Moreouer the qualitie of the Empire was to be regarded which being electiue they that serued had more authoritie in it then they that commanded Besides the present weaknes of the House of Austria in Germany from whom with the seditions of Religion the hearts of their subiects are stollen a theft so important that they may well abandon those States as lost wherein such dangerous seed is sowen Wherupon the present Emperor seeing himselfe depriued of the obedience of his subiects desireth euery one to reflect vpon the qualitie of the Cousins which the House of Austria hath in Spayne and they shall finde that the people of Almaine borne for their libertie to secure themselues from the monstrous power of such a Family take impious and wrongfull reuenges euen on those which shall not be free from the servitude of the Spanyards if for the sinnes of men they euer arriue to that point of commanding ouer the World from which by the meere goodnes and mercy of God they are put off as
hemselfe to the vast Ottoman Empire said vnto him That the crueltie which he vsed onely vpon light suspitions against his chiefest ministers was held by all the world to bee a bloudy course it being a received opinion that men of extraordinary valour and merit should not be layd hands on but for great and prooved offences And that when the Ottoman Princes did even justly take away the lives of their ministers the custome of seizing vpon their Estates to their owne vse and thereof vtterly depriving the children did scandalize all good justice because it seemed that with such cruell rigour the Estates rather then the faults of the delinquents were hunted after To this so open a correction the Ottoman Empire answered with admirable gravity That hee was growen to that greatnesse wherein hee was seene by the onely two most powerfull meanes of reward without measure and punishment vvithout end And that the sole foundation of he quiet of every State being placed in the fidelity of the most important ministers Princes were not to seeke any thing with more care then with immense rewards to allure them vnto faithfulnesse and vvith infinite punishments to terrifie them from trecheries That those ministers vvhich have in their power the Forces Command and Governments of States not beeing able to erâ—e but in most important matters it vvere the counsell of a foolish Prince vpon suspitions of that moment to arraigne accuse and heare the justifications of the offendor but in such a case the Prince which will runne no danger ought to indevour to surprise his minister vpon the sudden and to deale so securely that the execution of the punishment may precede even the accusation itselfe That many times it had fallen out that he with a suddaine chastisement had preuented the consummation of most foule treasons Which resolution though he acknowledged to be most seuere yet he knew it had so wrought that there vvere neuer seene in his State any Counts St Paul Princes of Orange Dukes of Guise d' Aumale du Maine de Mercure and other foule monsters of disloyaltie vvhich vvith the shame of those Princes that vvith halters poynards and axes knew not how to preuent such dangerous offences haue beene seene otherwhere It being a rule in matters of State as common as secure That that minister which giveth to his Prince the least shadow of suspicion of his faith incurreth a capitall paine because those Captaines which haue the care of Armies in their power are bound like the wives of Honorable personages to liue with such puritie of minde that they be free not only from blame but from the least suspicion of a blame-worthy thought That touching the seazure of his Basshawes estates after their death he thought he might truly say that the entertainements gifts and wealth wherewithall other Princes rewarded their ministers in comparison of those inexhaustible riches which he bestowed on his well-deseruing Officers were vile and poore as those Royall Treasures which Ruften Mahomet Ibrahin and infinite others left behinde them after their decease haue fully testified That the greatest regard which a Prince ought to haue in rewarding his ministers consisteth in prouiding that the vnmeasurable riches wherewith he bought of them infinite fidelitie may not possibly at any time be conuerted to the prejudice of him that vsed the liberalitie That from the grieuous disorders fallen out in the States of other Potentates he had found it to be a matter most pernicious vnto Princes that the extraordinary riches left by a deseruing minister should passe vnto his children not hauing first deserved it by their vertue valour and fathers said fidelitie of the Prince That he had not out of couetousnesse as many misjudged confiscated the great inheritances of his Basshawes but that by the coÌ„moditie thereof those subjects should not be idle consequently vicious which being descended of fathers of notable valour gaue the Prince assured hope they would imitate the vertues of their Progenitors That the gate of his Treasure stood perpetually open to the heyres of his ministers to restore them their fathers enheritances twice doubled when they with their fidelitie and valour should deserue them and how much the riches of men vicious and subject to ambition were apt to disturbe the peace of any Kingdome how great soeuer well appeared by the fresh examples which he had seene both in France and Flanders Whilst the Ottoman Empire spake in this manner he obserued that the renowned French Monarchy with the shaking of her head seemed to declare that she no way approued those reasons whereupon somewhat the more moued he said thus Mighty Queene my custome in seizing vpon the estates of my Basshawes is profitable for the greatnesse and quiet of my State and in regard of the friendship that is betwixt vs I would to God the same course were obserued in your France for you know full well to what vse Henry the Duke of Guize conuerted the exceeding riches wherewithall the liberall Kings Francis the first and Henry the second rewarded the merits of Duke Francis his father You and I and all those that raigne do know how the sweetest bayte that can allure men is a Crowne and there beeing no man which for to taste neuer so litle of it but would hold it a great pleasure for to expose euen his life to manifest danger of losing it Princes ought to be most vigilant in keeping with extreamest severitie the passages thereunto closed vp against all men nay they ought to accomodate their affâ—â—â—es in such sort that no priuate man whatsouer should once hope to taste of so sweet a thing And I tell you freely that if your Duke of Guize had in my State but only thought that which with such publike scandall he boldly put in execution in your Kingdome of France I wold the very first day haue given him that blow whervnto your King Henry the third although hee were incited vnto it by the greater part of the Princes of Italy could neuer be drawen vntill the very last hower of his shamefull disgraces and euen at that instant when the sore of the French vprores vvas become an incurable vlcer for where ambition raigneth among Nobles Princes are constrained to shew themselues all severitie continually keeping scaffalds in readinesse and prepared to punish the seditious and rebellious and their Treasury open to reward the quiet and the loyall that Prince beeing vnworthy to command that hath not the vnderstanding how to make himselfe be obeyed neither can there be a more scandalous matter seene or met withall in a State then that the Prince should liue in jealousy of an Officer which ought to tremble before him But it is the propertie of you the Princes of Christendome making profession of Learning and directing your selues by rules of Policie to call me Barbarous and my secure way of proceeding Tyrannicall whilst in the meane time yee suffer your selues to be reduced by your heroicall vertues of
clemency and gentlenesse to shamefull termes of enduring vnworthy things It is not possible to deliver how much the Ottoman Empire offended all the Vertuous of the sacred Colledge with his discourse who standing vp told him in great disdaine how they could proove vvith present reasons that all which he had said were most wicked conceipts vnworthy to be spoken by any person that had a soule or to be heard of men that made profession of honour Whereunto the Ottoman Empire answered smiling That others in the gouernment of Kingdomes might haue regard to Vertue and I know not what but for his part he would neuer be perswaded but that the quiet and peace of States ought to be preferred before all other humane interests whatsoeuer Then the Censor to cut off so odious a dispute turning to the great Dutchy of Moscovy said vnto him That the most noble prerogatiue of raigning ouer people which vvere louers of Learning and excellently Vertuous vvas the second amongst the greatnesses of a Prince Whereas hee by so endevouring to bring vp his subjects in a grosse ignorance reaped no small blame if not much disreputation because euery one skorned him for that expelling the famous liberall Arts out of his State he had only permitted his people to learne the benefite of vvriting and reading To this Censure the Dutchy of Moscovy answered That the dreadfull fire vvhich he had obserued Learning had euer kindled in those States where it had beene admitted had made him resolue not to suffer in any sort that so scandalous a a Cockle should be sowed in his Dutchy for men beeing the heards of Princes as sheepe the flocks of priuate persons it vvere extreame folly to arme those gentle sheepe their subjects with the malice which Learning engrafteth into their dispositions that attaine vnto it whereas otherwise in regard of that harmelesse simplicitie wherewith Almighty God hath creared them they may be comodiously ruled and gouerned be they never so many in number by one Prince alone And how he held for infallible truth that if the Germanes and Hollanders had beene maintained by their Princes in the simplicitie of their ancient ignorance and withall it had beene prohibited that the pure minde of those Nations might not haue beene contaminated with the plague of Greeke and Latin learning without all doubt they had neuer had the judgement with such a ruine of their old religion and destruction of many Princes that before ruled ouer those Prouinces to know how to frame those perfect formes of Commonweales in their Countries wherevnto neither the vvit of Solon the vvisedome of Plato nor all the Philosophy of Aristotle could euer arriue This answere so mooued the Censor and all the sacred Colledge of the Learned that with threatning lookes they said how the reasons alledged by the Great Dutchy of Moscouy were open blasphemies and it seemed the Learned were ready to make good their vvords with deeds when the greater part of the mightiest Monarchies were seene to betake themselues to their vveapons for defence of the Moscouite vvho growing more audacious vpon the forward assistance of so many Potentates boldly said If any one would deny that Learning did not infinitly disturbe the quiet and good gouernment of States and that a Prince might not with more facilitie rule a million of ignorants then an hundreth learned that were made to command and not to obey he lied in his throate The Vertuous vpon this daring defiance grew extremely incensed and stoutly replied That the Moscovite had spoken with an insolence worthy of an ignorant and how they could also proue vnto him that men without Learning were asses and calues with two legges Now were they almost ready to goe together by the eares when the Censor cryed out Forbeare and carry due respect to this place where we are assembled to amend disorders and not to commit scandals vvhereupon such vvas the reuerence euery one bare to the Maiestie of the Censor that both the Princes and the Learned although they were transported with anger and disdaine became suddainly pacified All being quiet then the Censor said vnto the famous Venetian Libertie which next was drawen out of the Vrne That the hardest matter to be found in an Aristocracie as she well knew was to restraine the young Nobilitie who vvith their licentiousnesse distasting the better sort of Citizens had many times occasioned the ruine of most famous Commonweales And that he to his great griefe had heard how the young Nobilitie of Venice vvith their proud demeanour had offended many honorable Citizens of that State who exceedingly complained that vvhilst the insolency of the Nobilitie encreased the chastisements for it decreased And that therefore he remembred her that it vvas a dangerous point in an Aristocracie when those vvhich vvere to glory for that they were farre from those dangers vvherunto such are subiect as are to obey the humor of a Prince be heard to complaine that they are oppressed by many Tyrants Hereunto the Venetian Libertie answered That the disorder recounted by the Censor vvas true and vvithall dangerous but that the authoritie of commanding vvas so annexed to pride and insolencie that they seemed to be borne both at one birth And that the licentiousnesse vvhich the Nobilitie of all Aristocracies vseth towards the Citizens vvas by all the greatest men that haue discoursed of Commonweales reputed a desperate cure for although it vvas most necessary that insolencies should be restrained vvith seuere paines yet on the other side an Aristocracie vvas to abstaine as much as possibly might be from publike punishments of Noble men albeit seditious to the end that their shamefull suffering might not be an occasion to disinherit the vvhole Nobilitie it selfe of that respect vvhich is due to them from the people for hauing the gouernment of the State in their hands the interest of the publike conservation thereof requireth that they be held in highest reputation And although in her Venice disobedient and insolent Noblemen vvere not seene to be so often punished betweene the two pillars in the Piazza of S t. Marke as it seemeth many desired yet by the great Councell the Pregadi the Colledge and other supremer Magistrates that dispence the publike Charges those seditious Noblemen vvhich vvere discovered to carry a tyrannicall mind were cruelly afflicted vvith the torment of shamefull repulses And that many subiects of most noble Houses are seene in Venice vvhose ancient reputation for their demerits vvas maymed by Arquebuses charged vvith bullets of paper and that beeing strucken downe vvith such kinde of shot they could neuer rise since to honors and dignities things vvherein consisteth the life of the Noblemen of an Aristocracie And that to excruciate a body a greater torture could not be devised no not by Perillus himselfe then that vvhich once a Nobleman of Venice experienced vvhen in a concurrence of the Honorablest Charges he saw one younger then himselfe passe before him only because he vvas knowen to the Senate
to be more deseruing Castiglione did not only admit the justification of the Venctian Libertie but also did infinitely commend the circumspection and severitie which she vsed in punishing her Nobilitie vpon occasion of any demerit or defect Then the Censor said vnto the Dutchy of Savoy That his State beeing seated in the Confines of France and Italy he vvas necessited with all carefulnesse to maintaine himselfe neutrall betweene those Princes vvith whom he confined but in those last rumors of France by discovering himselfe openly to be wholly Spanish he had put not only his owne but the States of all the Princes of Italie in great trouble And that whilst vvith the bellowes of his forces he blew the fire of the French vprores kindled by the Spanyards ambition he ought to beleeve that that flame vvas to burne vp friends and kinâ—ed before ever it could get to the other Italian Potentates that vvere enemies The Dutchy of Savoy answered the Censor very readily That the adherence of his last Duke to the Spaniards vvas true but the faire occasion he had of three seuens in his hand euen forced him to set vp his rest hoping to encounter the most famous Primiera that euer any other Prince vvhatsoever had at Cards to vvhich venture he vvas the rather carried because he vvas assored he could lose but that mony which at that game he had wonne before That afterwards though by his ill luck the fourth Card vvhich was dealt him proued to be a Coaâ—e of affront vvherewith he had made the vvorst hit that could be encountred on the whole packe of Cards neuerthelesse he knew that the brauest mindes vvould confesse that albeit the resolution was very dangerous yet not to vvrong the Cards they vvould haue played no otherwise themselues The Censor apprehending the Metaphor very much commended the magnanimous resolution of that Duke vvho for that he might from a small feaver haue received in gift the Empire of the greater part of the World not only without any note of imprudence but to his infinite glory at such time as so resolutely he cast the Dye of all the greatnesse of his fortune vpon the table of Chance he might well speake those famous vvords anew Or Caesar or nothing Then the Censor turned him to the noble Great Dutchy of Toscan and sharpely reprehending him for going vvith his Galleys at it vvere prouoking of Waspes he recorded vnto him the miserie and calamities vvhich the Kinghts of S t. Iohn suffered at Rhodes at Tripoli and the great danger that lastly they ranne at Malta only because they vvould imprudently haue tyed squibbes to the Buls taile And that euery vvise Christian Prince ought rather to favour the present carelesnese of the Turks then to waken them with injuries of litle profit nay such as brought others much damage and necessite them to apply their mindes anew vnto maritime affaires which in these times they had euen abandoned Also he remembred him how infinite people daily complained for that by his hindering Italy of the trade of the commodities of the Levant all Drugges that came from beyond the Seas were growen to an excessive rate To this correction the great Dutchy of Toscan answered That the power of a Prince could not be termed perfect which with a number of armed Vessels had not some Dominion on the Sea And that his Gallies vvere not only very necessary for the Toscan greatnesse but also for the securitie of the Libertie of all Italy as scruing for a Schoole of Mariners for a Seminary of Captaines and souldiers at Sea That he confessed the dammage which they did to the trade of merchandise but vvithall he desired it might be considered that the mysterie of Warre either by Land or Sea could not be learned by souldiers nor exercised by Princes without prejudice to others And that Toscan breeding much filthinesse of fantasticall vnquiet braines and extravagant humors he had therefore great occasion for those Gallies that might serve as it were to carry forth all the filth of his State and thereby keepe it cleane employing such only for gally-slaues in them as had done euill before and that in regard of their vnquiet nature vvere like to doe worse after This excuse of the Great Dutchy of Toscan vvas approved both by the Censor and all the sacred Colledge Whereupon the Count said vnto the Libertie of Genoua vvho was last drawen out of the Vrne That the excessiue vse of exchanges which she permitted vnto her Nobilitie caused that great disorder of enriching the priuate and vvithall of empouerishing the publike vvhose revennues vvould haue risen to huge summes of Gold if the reall riches of her Nobilitie had beene employed in a just trade of merchandise The Genouese Libertie with a readinesse that gaue a particular gust to all the Learned answered How it was true that exchanges doe vvorke that effect vvhich the Censor had mentioned and therefore vvere most pernicious in any Monarchy vvhatsoeuer howbeit that notwithstanding they might be permitted in a well-ordered Commonwealth vvithout any prejudice of the publike interests because the richest and securest Treasures of a free State are the riches of the Nobilitie and Citizens together a matter which falleth not out in a Monarchy where betweene the commings in of the Prince and the meanes of private men there runneth a long wall of eight stories high built by Mine and Thine Further that in a Monarchy the mutation of the State commonly followeth vvith litle or no prejudice to the people only changing the name of Mathew to that of Martin but in the subversions of Commonweales where libertie is changed into servitude there the proper substance of private men is the publike treasure for then will they profusely spend all that ever they haue for to defend their owne libertie euen to the last gaspe CHAP. 11. The Duke of Guise his Secretary is punished for speaking amisse SOme two dayes since my Lo of Guise his Secretary talking vvith certaine French Barons about the passed tumults of France in making mention of his Masters partie he called it the holy League vvhich beeing reported to his Majestie he presently commanded the Strappado to be given him thrice in publike and then vvilled him to be told that for the time to come he should learne how to speake vvhen he named a diabolicall Rebellion CHAP. 14. Certaine Persons for example vnto others are shewed vnto the People APollo with much displeasure came to know how the greater part of moderne Princes to preuaile ouer their enemies doe not according to the manner of the ancient Heroes vse open force of Armes but for the most part fraude in the practise whereof they are so vnderstanding that vvith that only powerfull meane they haue brought to passe most important enterprises vvhence it is that the first vveapon vvhich they employ against their enemies is that same shamefull corrupting the faith of their male-contented subjects and stirring vp the Nobilitie to rebellion To remedy