and ouer-reached In her discourses and in resoluing of most important businesses she sheweth admirable wisdome and circumspection but whether it be through her naturall tarditie or artifice of her officers who are all most greedy merchants of great negotiations or because she is of opinion that no resolution is done with decorum that is not long a doing and with tedious delayes expected of all men Shee executeth her determined resolutions with such slownesse that the face of affaires changing with the times her resolutions determined with great wisdome doe often proue vnhappy And therefore doe all conclude that shee is more couragious in the skill of plotting machinations than in the exercise how to manage Armes in which she sheweth to haue an vndanted heart a resolute constancie and an vnspeakable sufferance of all crosses and inconueniences but so weake in resolutions that her extraordinarie circumspection hath many times the semblance of timiditie Whence it followeth that shee seemeth more apt to maintaine States than to acquire them Diuers notable men laugh at her to see her addresse and gouerne all her actions by the compasse of certaine solid and mature Counsels without euer referring them into the hands of that Fate or Chance which hath so greatly fauoured the French and yeelded them so glorious when in their actions and managements they haue gouerned themselues with much valour and little braine There be some that thinke this hapneth onely because she is as sparing of her owne bloud as she is thirstie and insatiate of other mens And therefore doe the expertest Captaines of warre mocke and gibe at her to see her aspire at the Empirie of the whole Vniuerse without euer fighting The reason whereof is because this most potent Queene being of long time accustomed to purchase great Estates by Alliances and Mariages she abhorreth the dreadfull custome of the French to conquer kingdoms with the price and hazard of their owne dearest bloud She being then more wittily-warie than boldly couragious it followeth that she is more mischieuous vnto her enemies in times of peace than warre whence it is that the French who hitherto haue liued with her in a supine or stupid carelesnesse after so many calamities endured haue at last learnt to double the barres of their doores when they haue concluded peace with the Spaniards She is most carelesse and lauish of her owne riches but so greedy of other mens that shee careth not to desolate her Patrimoniall Estates so shee may make conquest of others She is of so secret and hidden thoughts and of a minde so abstruse and vnsearchable that there is no wit artifice or skill of man able to looke into her drifts Nay Linx himselfe with his through-piercing sight cannot penetrate into them no not so much as the outside of them whereas men of a glimmering or short sight may plainly see into the very bowels of the French and other Nations For he that shall with with iudgement goe about to describe the Genius and customes of so great a Princesse must confidently beleeue that in all the managements she hath in hand and in all the affaires that others negotiate with her shee is inwardly cleane contrary to that shee appeareth without And although that among the foresaid vertues shee be full fraught with so enormous vices notwithstanding by reason of her prodigious fortune all of them are interpreted and admired in her as vertues whence it followeth that diuers great Princes take it as an honour to imitate her in her vices She is of a most sturdie and robust complexion whereby all iudge her to be long-liued She onely languisheth of the indisposition to haue her limbs much distracted which doth much debilitate the forces of so huge a bulke And although that with the helpe of the libertie of Genoa and of the alliance shee hath with the Duke of Sauoy shee vseth diuers meanes and artifices to contract them neuerthelesse by reason of the diuersitie of the interesses of these Potentates she makes no great vse of them This mighty Princesse receiueth no greater damage from any than from her chiefe Spanish Officers whom alone she imployeth in great charges all which are by them exercised with such and intolerable surquedrie as they will not onely be honoured as men but adored as Gods An impertinencie so great as it hath stirred vp a loathing and nastinesse of the Spanish Dominion not onely in the Italians and in the Flemmings but in the Spaniards themselues One thing hath caused great wonderment in all that behold so potent a Queene which is that her whole bodie is full of horse leeches for the most part of Genoa some of which are so big and fat as they appeare to be of those great Ecles that come out of Holland or those big Lampreis that breed in Seuerne It is not knowne whether it be through impotencie or negligence or through a destinie fatall vnto great Princes whose vitall bloud these noysome creatures seeke euermore to sucke that shee endeuours not to shake them off and be freed from them This most mighty Queene then being entred into the Royall Palace before Apollos Imperiall Maiestie stretched forth her left arme causing her seruants to vnswathe the same and so naked shewing it vnto Apollo and to the whole sacred Colledge of the learned she thus bespake Imperiall Sir and gratious father of all good letters This which your Maiestie seeth yea euen this is that stinking cauterie and loathsome issue of Flanders which the French the Germanes and some Italian Princes that now friendly faune vpon me together with the helpe of that formidable Virago and transmarine Renegada made in this mine arme for the distrust or suspition they had of me I acknowledge that the Princes forenamed had iust cause to be iealous of my power when after the death of Henry the second they saw France falne into the wretched calamitie of infant-Infant-Kings and that I in their minoritie sought to sowe discords in that goodly kingdome Now that these suspitions are vanished and that ay me why doe I not blush to speake it the contention which I haue had with the French and particularly with that vndanted limbe of the Deuill the Prince of Bearne is now ended and that I haue at last beene condemned my selfe in all costs and charges My humble request vnto your Maiestie is that this grieuous and fasheux cauâ—erie be healed and closed vp For most men are of opinion that for the infinite number of humors that haue runne vnto it it is now become so festred and enraged a cankre as I feare which God aâ—ert it will proue the losse of my arme I did not passe into Italie through mine owne ambition or vnquenchable thirst wholly to sway the same as mine enemies report It is well knowne to all the world that I was vntimely called thereunto and euen haled vnto it by the Princes of Italie themselues to free them from the great feare they were in of the French
of it keepe my Spaniards in heart For to tell thee the very truth who pryest into the secretest thoughts of all men both by Sea and Land by the infinitenesse of conspiracies of counter-mines and of complots that by mine implacable enemies haue bin plotted and contriued against me and now more than euer are practised to my detriment I begin to faint and dispaire of any good successe At this exorbitant question the Temple did shake and the earth trembled round about a great distance off when from the mouthof the Minister of Apollo proceeded these words The vniuersall Monarchie shall againe returne to the farre renowmed Italian Nation at what time it shall haue banished those intestine iarres and ciuill discords which haue brought her in bondage to forraigne and strange nations After so dolefull an answer the Spanish Monarchie full of spight and anguish came forth of the Temple but confounded with amazement when shee saw the Monarchy of France present her selfe before her whom hauing first entertained with some ordinary complements shee tooke by the hand drew her apart and friendly imparted vnto her the answer that the Oracle had giuen her And how the vniuersall Monarchie was by diuine prouidence like to return vnto the Italian nation which thing succeeding France should finde and feele new Iulius Caesars as Spaine second Scipioes And that to secure and settle their affaires shee thought there was no better way than to share and diuide Italy equally betweene them Moreouer she offered to teach her the secret that she most successefully had experimented in the Indies by vertue of which they might both assure themselues of the Italian Nation in such sort as there should no memorie be left in the world of so wicked a race of men but the bare name Vnto whom the French Monarchie framed this answer Oh Spaine first suffer me to forget that most vnfortunate diuision of the Kingdome of Naples which my King Lewis the twelfth made with thee and then we will confer of this matter For know Spaine it is not so easie a thing to consen and iniurie the French the second time as I see you perswade your selfe Then as touching the secret you propose vnto mee how wee may assure our selues of the Italians I pray you doe you attempt it and put the same in execution since to desart and desolate the world of people as you haue done and practised in the Indies and to dominere ouer a bare land void of inhabitants is a certaine politicke precept that is not found in the Register of the French reason of State For I haue and that to mine owne cost learnt to bee contented with a little so it be good And therefore doe I found my greatnesse more on the multitude of good subiects than on the wide extent of a Kingdome And so that my French Nation may liue at ease and commodiously in this world I am well pleased to admit of other Nations therein The negotiation of the concord of Italy is long and tedious and you know by good experience that purges giuen to assure a man from a disease he feareth do many times hasten the same I will not omit with the Genuine liberty that is proper to my nature confidently to tell you how that the enterprize to subdue all Italy is not so easie a taske as I perceiue you apprehend to your selfe For when I had such toyes in my head which to me proued most pernicious and I verily beleeue will proue no better to you I thought as you thinke now and I haue manifestly discouered that the Italians are a kinde of creatures that are euer more warily vigilant how to escape our hands and who can neuer bee tamed or brought vnder the yoake of strangers bondage And although as most subtle Apes and crafty Monkies they easily transforme themselues into the customes and fashions of those Nations that sway them yet doe they euer keepe fixed in their hearts their ancient malice and hatred They are great Merchants of their seruitude which they trafficke and trucke so cunningly that if they but once put on a paire of Breeches after the cut of Madrill they will induce you to beleeue that they are become true and perfect Spaniards and if they weare but a great Folio ruffe of Cambricke we presently thinke them to bee turned into right French-men But come once to the close or vpshot of any businesse with them they will then shew you more teeth than can be found in fifty bundles of handsawes or a thousand combes And Italy doth iustly resemble those greedy and couetous Dames who with the strong and sharpe lye of their blandishments scald their vnheedy louers but neuer let them come to the iouissance and fruition of that which they most desire And therefore beleeue me who haue to my no small cost made tryall of it concerning the conquest of Italy you shall in the end reape nothing but losse and shame Philip the second of that name King of Spaine after long strife about his Title makes his solemne entrie into Parnassus Rag. 12. 3 Part. THE most Mighty King of Spaine Philip the second who two moneths since arriued in this Court could not before yesterday bee admitted to make his publike and solemne entrance The reason hath bin because that in certaine triumphant Pageants which the Spanish Nation hath with royall magnificence erected vnto him there were fairely written these words Philippo secundo Hispaniarum vtriusque Siciliae Indiarum Regi Catholico Italiae pacis Auctorifoelicissimo Which words for so much as they were somewhat distastfull vnto most of the Italian Princes they instantly required that they might be cancelled and blotted out saying that vpon no tearms they would neuer acknowledge that peace of Italy from the Spaniards which themselues so dearly and with such vast summes of ready money purchased of the Hollanders and Zelanders This Aromaticall contestation was long debated and canuast to and fro And although the Italian Princes did concludingly prooue in iudgment that the present peace of Italy did not directly proceed from any well-meaning sincerity of the Spaniards who if they might haue had their wils would haue enthralled the same had not that great diuersion bin made to them but ought wholly to be acknowledged from the warres in the Low-Countries Now in the greatest heat of this controuersie the Queene of Italy with her wonted wisdome interposing her selfe appeased the same who hauing conuoked all her Princes she exhorted them to leaue all vaine ostentations and spungy vauntings vnto the Spaniards and meditating on reall and substantiall subiects continue to feed them with vapourous smoke The Horse-troope both for the quality and number of the Princes that concurred to fauour to court to attend and to serue so great a King was the most numerous and the most honourable that euer was seene in Parnassus So was this mighty King ranked among those Monarchs which in the world haue bin more famous for their wisdome
first day of August then all the Princes and Potentates of Europe assembled in Phocis not onely to meet with so important a businesse as the perfect knowledge of their owne affaires but that also of others which in matter of State importeth much more Whereupon by an ancient and just prerogatiue the first that came to be weighed was the Aristocraticall Monarchy of the Apostolike Sea whose temporall State was put into the Scale and because the weight of the last fifteenth yeere was but sixe Millions of pounds and now was found to amount vnto seuen and an halfe euery one knew that the addition of the noble Duchy of Ferrara had caused that increase The next that was put into the Scale was the State of the seuen Princes Electors of the Roman Empire which by old Records appeareth to haue weighed in times past seuenty Millions of pounds but since by the indiscreet gouernment and courses of many Emperours that lusty complexion which made it euermore redoubted was so spoyled that it fell into those dangerous and foule infirmities which after a long Quartane found end in an Hecticke Feuer that hath now so consumed it as our age beholdeth it left with nothing but very skinne and bone Howbeit though it be so much decreased in State yet the great bulke it hath of body maketh it in shew very goodly to look vpon the rather because the intrinsecall imperfections are not discouered for many good persons with the ancient Titles of the Empire and Maiesticall name of Caesar haue beautified it very excellently without but when it came to be weighed it was found quite empty within a feather not being so light as the name of a Prince without authority is vaine whence it is that the Roman Empire proued so weake as it weighed but 480 pounds Then the famous Peeres of France brought vnto the Scale the flourishing and warlike French Monarchy a square of fiue hundreth and fifty miles euery way replenished with an infinite Noblesse armed on horsebacke which not onely maintaineth peace at home but maketh so great a King formidable to all the Nations of the earth besides a world of learned men which adorne it Merchandise and Trades which enrich it Tillage and Husbandry which make it plentifull and abounding with euery good thing The ancient weight of so famous a Monarchy was twenty Millions of pounds but in the last fifteenth yeeres weight by reason of the horrible calamities whereinto by the disloyalty of some of her Barons she was thrown it did not arriue to twelue Millions howbeit now it not onely equalled but went farre beyond the weight of the best ancient times for it came to fiue and twenty Millions a matter of such maruel to euery one that the Spaniards got on their Spectacles and very narrowly obserued whether the Weights were right or no. To the ancient Kingdome of France was added the acquisition of Bresse giuen vp by the Duke of Sauoy which in regard it was so aduantagious to the City of Lyons augmented the weight of it aboue a Million Next were the many Kingdomes of Spaine put into the Scale by the Spanish Grandes and to the great wonder of those ancient men that could remember how an hundreth and twenty yeares since they were held in a poore and vile account the weight amounted to twenty Millions The Spaniards remained exceeding well satisfied with this weight of their Spaine and assured themselues that with the addition of so many other States they had besides to put into the Scale not onely to equall but farre to exceed the fiue and twenty Millions of the French Monarchy Wherefore instantly they put into the Scale the flourishing Kingdome of Naples which euery one thinking would increase the weight at least 2 Millions more it appeareth that then it weighed lesse by one and an halfe at this strange accident the Spaniards being much amazed said That either Lorenzo had vsed some fraud in the weighing or that of necessity the Scales were not euen because it was a monstrous thing that the addition of matter should abate of the weight Whereunto Lorenzo coldly answered That his Scales were euen but that neither the Indiaes void of Inhabitants nor the Neopolitans Milanese which were so farre distant from the Forces of Spaine and replenished with a people which so vnwillingly supported the command of strangers weighed any thing at all for it was the loue and multitude of subiects the fertility and vnion of States that giue weight and turne the Scale Hereupon the Spaniards added the Dutchy of Milan into the scale which in like manner abated a million of the weight whereat also the Spaniards were so much astonied that they would not put Flanders into the Scale fearing to receiue a greater distaste and affront Howbeit some said that if they had put in the Indiaes they might haue wrought some good effect but not those miracles which certaine lauish tongues haue deliuered who with the same facility talke of milions of Crownes that the Furnace men make of very bricke and tyle Then came the English Lords who put into the Scale their Kingdome so much redoubted for the strength of the wonderfull situation thereof for the continued mountaines which compasse it about seruing for walls made by the very powerfull hand of God in forme of bulwarks and the Ocean for most profound Ditâ—hes make it a Kingdome feared in regard of the commodity it hath to assaile others and the insuperable difficulties which they shall finde that offer 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 Kingdom of Scotland into the Scale when the Scottish Nobility with drawne swords in their hands opposed themselues freely protesting that they would neuer suffer their countrey to be annexed to the kingdom of the English for yet fresh was the lamentable example of the miseries of Flanders who when she saw her Earls become Kings of Spain foolishly beleeued that she should command ouer the Spaniards whereas soone after not Spain was sacked by the Flemmings but Flanders by the couetous and cruell Spaniards and that which made vp their misery Charles the fifth the Emperour and King Philip his Son by their continuall residence in Spaine of Flemmings became Spaniards The vnfortunate Flemmings by loosing their Prince of naturall subiects grew to bee esteemed strangers and men of little faith And so Flanders the naturall Countrey of Charles the fifth the Patrimony of King Philip became according to the termes of modern policy a State of fiue States and began to bee gouerned by Strangers with those iealousies and with those oppressions of customes taxes contributions and donatiues as begat those bad humours those ill satisfactions from whence since hath proceeded that ciuill warre which after an vnspeakable profusion of gold an infinite effusion of blood an incredible losse of honour
iust disdaine of the French Monarchy presently put to death and burnt in the very same flames which with so great sedition and treacherous infidelitie they nourished in the heart of their owne Countrey And the Spaniards were not only chased from that worke but by sound of Trumpet publikely proclaimed to be a company of false hearted hypocrites And by an especiall Edict of the French Monarchy all men were giuen to vnderstand that if euer there were any man found that would beleeue that any sparke of charity towards the French could lodge in the breast of a Spaniard he should be held esteemed and reputed an egregious Gull And that if after the first warning he should persist in his errour he should be tossed in a blanket as a factious and seditious fellow It was a thing worthy of admiration to see that so soone as the Spaniards and the foresaid vnnaturall French gaue ouer their worke that fire which before was so great that the most iudicious doe affirme it was in all humane reason inextinguible on a sudden ceased of it selfe Whereupon the eternall and farre renowmed Flower de Luces whilom so hurried and trampled vnder foot sprung vp againe more gloriously flourishing and resplendent than euer they were And France which through the immoderate ambition of some turbulent spirits had most barbarously bin tormented and molested more than full forty years to the great wonderment of all in the twinkling of an eye became quiet and in peace Whereby all the world came to know that the Spaniards had beene the first Authors of that euer deplorable French combustion which they vnder most specious shewes and pretences of Religion and christian Charity had laboured to make the world beleeue that they sought to quench Some report that the Spanish Monarchy vpon this retired her selfe into her royall Palace and that for many daies shee would not admit any body to see her hauing giuen her selfe ouer vnto so great melancholy that with floods of teares trilling downe her blubred cheeks shee loudly exclaimed that shee would much rather haue lost two of her best kingdomes than to see those her holy and hypocriticall pretexts so scoft at so derided and so laid open to all the world wherewith she remembred to haue diuers times to her infinite profit sold vnto the world most stinking Assa-fetidâ— in stead of Muske Ziuet and Amber-greece It seeming vnto her to be depriued of her richest treasure and to haue lost her inexhaust mynes of gold and siluer in Peru yea and of the new world besides seeing her selfe so vnluckily depriued of the hope and benefit to be at any time more able to depaint vnto the silly credulous people white for blacke or chalke for cheese deeming it a very hard case to see herselfe brought vnto the wretched and dreadfull condition in which she hath euer seene the French to be inforced to purchase kingdomes and dominions with the onely force of the point and dint of the Sword and not as heretofore she hath done with the onely semblances of her false-holy pretexts which haue sometimes stood her in stead of flourishing and strong Armies She knowes that she hath put the world into combustion and hath euer loued to fish in troubled waters And it grieueth her beyond measure that she hath so lost the good opinion of most Nations that shee is in some danger that none will hereafter beleeue her though she chance to speake the truth whereas heretofore the stimulation of false pretexts and of most apparent hypocrisie were held in credit and in lieu of thrice sacred verity most absolute zeale and perfect deuotion The Spanish Monarchie arriueth in Parnassus She intreateth Apollo to be cured of a Cauterie Shee is dismissed by the politike Physitians Rag. 4. 3 Part. IT is now foure months since the renowmed Maiestie of Spain ariued at this Court vnto whom Apollo forthwith assigned a day for her puklike solemn entrance which by the consent of the whole Consistory of the learned was appointed to be in the royal Audience Chamber in the presence and with the assistance of the Soueraigne Muses which solemnity for some vrgent occasions was not performed but two daies since The reason is because she hath spent the full time of foure moneths in consultation with the Poet Princes about the Titles which shee should mutually giue and receiue from others as also in agreeing about the manner how to receiue them and how they would receiue her in their reciprocall visitations The consideration whereof hath made all the vertuous of this Colledge to stand amazed and bitterly to bewaile the hard condition of these moderne times infected with the contagion of so many complemental vanities And the grieuances of the vertuous were so much the more increased for so much as diuers learned Princes openly refused to bee visited by that great Queene saying that they feared to receiue some insult or affront from her for they had lately receiued letters from Italy wherein they were by their louing friends forewarned to be circumspect and vigilantly stand vpon their guard it being peculiar vnto the Spaniards to goe visit others with intention rather to iniuâ—y than to honour them And that they thought it an egregious folly in lieu of auoiding of affronts abroad to expect them with bended knees and cap in hand at home in their owne houses And although that so potent a Monarchie to the great admiration of all hath shewed her selfe much more nigardly in giuing others satisfaction of Titles than in distributing of her Duckats shee hath notwithstanding receiued from these Poet Princes and from all vertuous Potentates who concerning this titular circumstance stand rather vpon reall substance than on the vanity of things the greatest gust and contentment she could desire True it is that one thing hath much empaired the reputation of so great a Queene in this Court which is that albeit shee stand in extreme need of trusty friends shee neuerthelesse sheweth herselfe so procliue and foreward to alienate those from her who expect for nothing at her hands but satisfaction in words Yea some haue noted as a remarkable thing that the Master of the Ceremonies hath forewarned her Maiestie that those precise punctilioâ— shee so nicely stands vpon are most odious and onely proper to barbarous Kings and right worthy her royall Maiestie And that a great Queen in Europe her equall hath in great passion and anger plainly told him to his teeth that she much maruelled both at him and all his ceremonials since hee seemed not to know how a Prince without grauity and State may rightly be compared to a peacocke without a traine It is impossible to set downe with what longing curiosity and earnest desire so renowmed a Princesse hath bin expected by all the learned of this Court for from the vtmost bounds of all Apollo's Dominions an infinite number of all sorts and sexes haue flocked hither to view the countenance of that mightie Queene who with a
to the Flemmings was conuerted into a couetous merchandise of the Spaniards Therefore the Scots by such lamentable miseries haue learned not to permit their King vpon any termes whatsoeuer to abandon the royall Seat 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 Spaniards told the King of England that those Scots which had spoken so arrogantly in the presence of his Maiesty 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 proued so pernitious to themselues and thereupon hauing commanded the stay of weighing their Kingdome he 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 arriued to the summe of two and thirty Millions but now was found to bee lesse than sixteene the strangnesse whereof made all the Princes very much to maruell and particularly the Venetians who could not beleeue such a fall whereupon they desired that wich more diligence it might be reweighed and it appeared how in that little time running betweene the first and this second weighing it had fallen eight hundred twenty and two pounds whereby it was manifest that the Ottoman Empire heretofore so terrible to the world now consumed with luxury couetousnesse and idlenesse runneth headlong to his ruine which gaue great contentment to all those Princes Neuerthelesse it was obserued by some of the wisest there present that the Spaniards were not so glad of it as the rest out of a doubt they had that the depression of the Turke would bee the exaltation of the Venetian State Then came the Polach Senators and put into the Scale their Kingdome which in regard of the small authority the King hath there 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 alwaies exceeded twelue After them the Signory of the Councell of Teâ—â— put into the Scale the flourishing Estate of the Venetian Common-wealth most admirable for the greatnesse thereof and opportunity of situation fitting for all great enterprises which went beyond all expectation in the weight for it came to eight Millions the cause whereof was said to bee the huge masse of Gold which those wise Senators in so long a time of peace had gathered together into their Treasury Next came the Switzers the Grisons and other free people of Germany and brought their Common-weals to the Scale Howbeit the Princes required that they might be weighed each one seuerally by it selfe wherewith the Germanes were well contented so that it might be done But Lorenzo hauing put the Common-wealth 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 separate them one from another which put a many of ambitious Princes there in a sweat Then the Duke of Sauoy caused his State to be put into the Scale by his noble Knights of the Annonciata which equalled the weight of the last fifteenth yeere but Lorenzo hauing added into the Scale that most noble prerogatiue of Title which the said Duke Charles Emanuell enioyeth of the prime Souldier of Italy it was seene to aggrauate the weight a Million foure hundreth and twenty pounds After this with a pompe and Maiesty matchable to Kings appeared the Duke of Lorraine whose State though little equalled the weight of great Kingdoms and it was considered that it fell out to bee so by a certaine good fortune which that Prince had to haue his States so happily seated that hee could easily put the Low-Countries into grieuous difficulties by impeaching the passage of those succours which the Spaniards conduct thither out of Italy whereby he hath growne into such reputation that to the most offerer he selleth for ready gold the merchandise of that his adhering in such sort that after he had dreyned the Spaniards asmuch as any the deâ—outest French Lord of the holy League whatsoeuer siding afterwards with the French hee 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 alliance And fully to make vp the Spaniards iealousie the famous Venetian Common-wealth 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 beene stitched vp the first day she was born by the Venetian Signory most iealous of her honour it was verily beleeued by many that she would haue taken him to husband It was obserued that the Duke of Sauoy enuied much the felicity of this Prince because hee finding himselfe also seated betweene the French and the Spaniards of Milan as the Duke of Loraine was betweene the French and the Spaniards of Flanders in stead of so many benefits and so many commodities as fell vpon the Duke of Loraine hee had receiued most cruell kicks not onely from the French then his enemies but from the Spaniards his friends so that it was euident the Duke of Sauoy did now plainly see how that practise of his with the Spaniard was most pernicious for him Then came the Otto di Balia and put into the scale the flourishing State of the great Dukes of Tosâ—an which by reason of the excellent wits of the Inhabitants perpetuall plenty continuall peace and quiet security it enioyeth answered in weight to many Kingdomes Lorenzo greatly reioyced when he saw how vpon the foundations of those Churches and Hospitals which he and his Predecessors in the time of the Florentine liberty had laid in their Countrey their Successors according to the modell left them by Cosimo the Great had afterwards found meanes to erect strong Cyttadels whereupon Lorenzo to make a glorious shew of the worth and wisdome of the Princes of his house added into the Scale the admirable vnderstanding of Ferdinand the Great with the excessiue weight whereof it was so ouer charged that the huge chayne whereby it hung brake in two so that all went to ground This accident of the Scales so broken was an hindrance that other Italian Princes which remained could not be weighed whereupon it was concluded that comming according to the ancient custome to lay all the Princes and Potentates of Italy in ballance against the Monarchy of Spaine out of the vniuersall weight of the Italian Princes each ones particular would easily appeare Into the midst of the great Hall then was brought an
huge and euen paire of Balance whereinto on the one part was put all the Kingdomes of the Monarchy of Spaine and into the other all the Principalities of Italy and it was seene that they stood in equall ballance a matter of great trouble to all the Italian Princes but whilest they continued in this agony it was noted how the mighty French Monarchy with one onely louing looke which shee gaue to that Ballance wherein the Italian Principalities lay made it suddenly to turne on that side It may not be omitted how the Spaniards seeing the Dukes of Sauoy who the last fifteenth yeare refused to be weighed with the Italian Forces now to be put into the Ballance for to counterpoise theirs threatned them by biting their thumbs at them whereof those Princes being aware with a generosity worthy their vndaunted spirits they say thus vnto them Signory of Spain yee can no longer feed men with hopes for now we are throughly possessed of your courses ye thought to haue brought the Dukes of Sauoy by the cunning of your hopes to such a maâ—ne as to forgoe that little bread which they had in the mouth of their state to reach at the shadow of those great inheritances of Spaine which they saw in the bottome in the water And because the Spaniards complained for that the Dukes of Parma Modena Vrbin the Lords of Mirandola and the famous Roman Barons Gartani Colonesi and Orsini which haue the Fleece and are in their pay were weighed with the Italian Forces whereas in regard of that Order and the Pensions they receiue they were obliged to adhere to their designes and to be the ministers of their greatnesse They were answered by those Lords that they receiued the honours of the Fleece and inioyed the profits of those Pensions as honourable Ladies accept of gifts from their Louers only in a pure way of curtesie and not with an intent any way to forget what appertaineth to their honour CHAP. 4. Almansor sometime King of the Moores encountring with the Kingdome of Naples they relate one to another the miseries they sustaine by the oppression of the Spaniards THe famous King of Moores Almansor he that many yeares together raigned in Spaine ouer the noble Realme of Granada met yesterday with the Kingdome of Naples and falling in talke with him after hee had for a good space obserued the chaine which the said Kingdome of Naples wore fastned about his legge he told him that the manufacture thereof being Moresco he verily thought that he had many times seene and handled it somewhere else and a little while after with a shew of great maruell he affirmed that he knew it well and how it was the very same wherewithall both he and the Moorish Kings his Predecessors had for the space of seuen hundreth yeares held many Kings of Spaine in seruitude and therefore he earnestly intreated him to let him vnderstand how by whom and when he was chained in that manner A very good eye and an excellent memory hast thou Almansor answered then the Kingdome of Naples for this vnluckie chaine which thou seest about my legge was brought out of Spaine by Gonsaluo Corduba called the great Captaine and therefore it is very likely to be the same thou speakest of And now it is an hundreth yeares since first I found my selfe in the miserable seruitude wherein thou beholdest me and from which I know not whether euer I shall be freed for in regard of the mighty power whereunto I see the forces of the Spaniards arriued hauing vtterly lost all hope of assistance that may be expected from men I know that my ancient liberty standeth wholly in the powerfull hand of God who had need to renue in me the miracles of the Red Sea if my deliuerance shall follow The yeares replied Almansor confront well for a little before the time of thy seruitude the Spaniards vndid this my chaine from about the leg of the Kingdome of Granada wherewithall afterwards they bound thee But let it not displease thee O Kingdome of Naples to declare vnto me how it could come to passe that the Spaniards should make themselues Masters of such a Kingdome as thou art so potent and so far distant from their Forces By fraud Almansor said the Neapolitan Kingdome did the Spaniards get into Italy for by open force they had neuer beene able to make such notable acquests and as thou saidst well so disproportionable to their Forces which were so far off But heare and wonder at the large and grosse conscience of a King of Spaine in matters of State although he vsed much Art to seeme vnto foolish men a very Saint for thou shalt come vnto the knowledge of a Tragedy according to the rules of my Christian Religion most wicked and cruell but according to the termes of moderne Policie the most aduised that euer any Nation represented vpon the stage of the world Alfonso my King to his vtter and my chiefest ruine gaue Isabella his Neece for from this vnhappy mariage did my displantation take beginning to Iohn Galeazzo Duke of Milan for wife The minoritie first and then the vnspeakable silly weaknesse of so infortunate a Prince incouraged Lodouico Sforza to vsurpe the State vpon his Nephew Alfonso as it behoued him sought to hinder that Tyrannie whereof Lodouico being aware and knowing that without the ruine of my Kings it was not possible for him to arriue vnto the end of his most iniust desire hee fell into that resolution which afterwards both to himselfe to me and to all the Princes of Italy proued so fatall of drawing the French into Italy to the conquest of me My Kings to defend themselues from such mighty enemies called to their aide that holy soule of Ferdinand King of Aragon their Cousin who shewed himselfe so kinde a kinsman and such a faithfull friend that in stead of chasing away the French enemies he diuided me with them and to shew himselfe compleat a little after this vnhappy diuision hee entred into warres against the French and hauing ouercome them he forced them to returne full of shame and losse into their country whereupon the good King Ferdinand without any scruple at all of conscience became my absolute Lord and then it was that he fastned this chaine about my legge which thou remembrest to be the manufacture and worke of thy Nation And I doe not thinke that in all the Chronicles of the Saracenâ— Moores or Turks which it is likely thou hast read there was euer a more wicked trechery recorded done by a King that desired to be reputed a man of a good conscience and of an holy disposition and that a little before had receiued of the Apostolike Sea that glorious title of the most Catholike King Truly replied Aimâ—nsor in the Chronicles which thou hast named of my Nation many foule actions committed by diuers 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 said the Kingdome of Naples diddest with thy Nation keepe the Kingdome of Granada chained so many hundreth yeares what course tooke the Spaniards for to free him That Vnion of the Kingdomes of Castile and Aragon replied Almansor which followed vpon the mariage betweene Ferdinand and Isabella occasioned the liberty of the Kingdome of Granada a most vnhappy Vnion the which no lesse than I haue done and continually still doe the greatest Potentates of Europe haue lamented doe lament and perpetually with vnfained teares will lament as that which is the true and onely root from whence are sprung all those greatest subuersions of States which vnto this day haue beene seene in many parts of Europe but more remarkably in Italy And beleeue me Neapolitan Kingdome that euen till now might I haue raigned happily in Spaine if this pestiferous Vnion had not ouerthrowne my greatnesse for the many iealousies that raigned betweene the Castilians and Aragonians were my inexpugnable Cittadels which would haue maintained my raigne here for euer Withall assure thy selfe O Kingdome of Naples that the aids 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 chased out of Spaine by the ambitious Spanish Nation the Popes vnderwent such miseries that it may be truly said how with ready money they bought those extreme calamities wherewithall afterwards they encountred for though the Sea Apostolicall were well contented to see the Moores driuen out of Spaine yet that satisfaction was much distasted with my seruitude which followed presently vpon it the Popes hauing neuer had any thing in greater feare than that I should fall into the hands of a mighty Prince who might make them liue in those perpetuall iealousies wherein finding themselues drowned euen vp to the very eyes many of them and particularly those that haue a greater knowledge of things of the world doe not alwaies make quiet sleeps A cleare testimonie of the truth which I speake was the lamentable and wicked sacke of Rome perpetrated by the Spaniards a little after my seruitude with which ingratitude they paid the Apostolike Sea for all they were debtors vnto it as well for the remission of the Tribute of Naples as for the other succors which they receiued in the warre of Granada A calamitie that hauing past the termes of most grieuous miseries hath in such manner opened the eyes euen of men of the drowsiest vnderstanding that euery one commeth clearly to know what it is to vnchaine the Lion out of a zeale of pietie for the Spaniards no sooner saw themselues freed from the impediment of the Moores of Granada but that through the ambition which they shewed in desiring to command ouer the whole Vniuerse not onely in Italie but throughout all Europe most important iealousies of State and most grieuous interests of Religion discouered themselues insomuch that I haue often heard it discoursed by men of most vnderstanding in affaires of the world how peraduenture it would haue beene lesse preiudiciall for many Princes of Europe that thou hadst raigned still in Granada than that the Spaniards should haue passed into Italy to acquire such important States as at this day they possesse there Hereunto may be added the preiudices 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 Spaine had no sooner fastened this chaine about my leg 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 themselues 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 caried himselfe in such sort that hee made himselfe to bee knowne the worthy Nephew of his Grandfather by the Mothers side for hauing with the forces of the Italian Princes chased the French out of Italy in stead 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 inuent against the Sforzi he made himselfe absolute Master of that so important a Dutchie Stay Kingdome of Naples and making a point here said Almansor satisfie me in this Seeing the noble State of Milan was fallen into the hands of the Spaniards what hindred them from running precipitously to the acquisition of all Italie and seeing thy seruitude doth manifest vnto the world that the aids and succours of Princes serue more for the benefit of him that giueth them than for the profit of him that receiueth them why would not the Italian Princes rather suffer that Milan should bee vnder the Dominion of the French than by receiuing aide from the Spaniards runne the danger of letting that Dutchy being so important a member of Italy fall into the hands as thou saidst it did of the Kings of Spaine 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 haue of commanding neither with the Conquest of all the new World discouered 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 seruitude haue so vnited themselues 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 deuices to disunite them euidently perceiue 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 Italie that that Dutchie should fall into the power of the Spaniards than that it should remaine in the hands of the French who for that they were ioyning to Italie when therein they should possesse any little part there would haue beene manifest danger that they would haue made themselues absolute Lords of the whole but in the Spaniards it would fall out cleane contrary for their Forces albeit very great are notwithstanding so far off that by so long a tract of Sea they could with much difficultie transport out of Spaine into Italie 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 said 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 be 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 Spaniards haue directed the scope of all their thought whereupon the Spaniards whose proper nature it is to make good vse of the feare whereinto they see they haue put the Princes their neighbours haue arrogated vnto theÌ„selues such authority in the Court of Rome that they vaunt they are the true arbitrators of all the most important matters which there are handled Moreouer when the Kings of Naples were not Kings of Spaine the Popes with euery little menace of denying the inuestiture obtained of my Kings Principalities Duchies Earledomes and other great States in gift buying their friendships also with marriages and many other sorts of liberalitie but now the feare being ceased if the Popes will make their kinred great with titles of important States they must be glad to buy them with their ready money and the aduised Kings of Spaine besides the precious Gold of intreaties which at any hand they will bee sure shall precede for a first payment sell them vnto them throughly sawced Important interests and grieuous disorders are these said Almansor which thou hast recounted vnto me but how commeth 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 Spaniards that come naked out of Spaine answered the Kingdome of Naples after they haue been three or foure dayes in my house will needs couer themselues all ouer with gold it is no maruell if I be spoyled to clothe so many Raggedemuffins besides if thou sawest the rapacitie of the Vice-royes that to recouer themselues are sent vnto me or if thou knewest the rapines of Secretaries of thousand Officers and other Courtiers which they bring along with them all thirsty of my bloud thou wouldest greatly maruell how it were possible I should saâ—iate the raging and greedy swallow of so many hunger-starued wretches As for the little flesh thou seest on my backe the Spaniards affirme that in the booke of a certaine Florentine who hath giuen rules of the cruell moderne Policie they find written that being a Kindome conquered after the manner of those horses which are kept onely for races I ought to bee maintained low in the flesh I but said Almonsor then the Milanesi how are they intreated They also replyed the Kingdomes of Naples are bathed with the water wherwithall thou seest me so wet only this difference is betwixt vs that in Milan are drops in my house floods The true occasion of the diuersitie of these intreatings 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 â—f one onely Cremonese spirit had beene found amongst my Neapolitan Barons it would haue hindred that same forced donatiue that hath brought me to eat bread and onyons the which although with great words it hath bin often demanded by the Spaniards in Milan they haue been as resolutely answered that they should take care to liue Besides the confining of the Grisons of the Duke of Sauoy and Venetians are the cause that the Kings of Spaine proceed with more discretion 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 Pedrode Toledo wherefore I pray thee withdraw a little for at any hand I would not haue him take notice that I lament my disgraces heere with thee and for this onely were it for nothing else may I tearme my seruitude most wretched in that I am forced to call this miserable State wherein thou seest me the happy golden Age. CHAP. 5. Sigismund Battor learneth the Latine tongue YEsterday about eight of the clocke in the Euening the ordinary post of Germany arriued at this Court and brought very ioyfull newes how Sigismund Bâ—ttor Prince of Transiluania was growne so inamored of the gracefull Latine tongue that to his great glory he spake and wrote with the purity and eloquence of the Cesarean style whereupon all the Vertuous earnestly besought Apollo that for such good newes there might be made in Parnassus 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 onely there should be feasting in Parnassus when out of the freenesse of a noble minde and meere election of studies not constrained by any necessitie Princes applyed themselues 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 be 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 took that fatall resolution to arme himselfe against the Turke for to adhere vnto the Emperour of Germany whom in regard of the strong and liuely pretensiors which he hath to the Principality of Transiluania hee was to haue in more horrour then seuentie Ottoman Emperours CHAP. 6. The Cardinall of Toledoes Summa is not admitted into the Library of Parnassus THE Illustrious and Reuerend Francesco Cordova Cardinall of Toledo a personage of exemplarie life an exquâ—site Diuine and excellent Philosopher hee that in his owne person honoured the Word of God in the pulpit more then any other Preacher whatsoeuer of his time some few dayes since arriued at Parnassus hauing been receiued vpon the confines of the State by Alessandrod ' Ales and Cornelio Musso Bishop of Bitonto and all the way encertained at his Majesties charge This honourable learned man presented his Writings vnto the venerable Colledge of the Vertuous and those of Philosophy were not onely commended but admired as also the Commentaries composed by him vpon the Diuine passages of all the sacred Writers were receiued with extraordinay applause and shortly after they were carried in a pretious Vrne vnder a cloath of Estate into the Delphicke Library and with the name of the Author consecrated to Eternitie Onely his Summa although very learned was not receiued by those Vertuous who freely told him that there were so many Workes already of that kind in his Maiesties Library as some of them seemed superfluous for an infinite many of great Diuines had with such diligence handled maâ—ters appertaining to the consciences of priuate men that they had put the saluation of
of those Princes that with 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 giueth to his Prince the least shadow of suspition of his faith incurreth a capitall paine because those Captaines which haue the care of Armies in their power are bound like the wiues of Honourable personages to liue with such puritie of minde that they be free not only from blame but from the least suspition of a blame-worthy thought That touching the seizure of his Bashawes estates after their death he thought he might truly say that the entertainments 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 behind 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 pernitious vnto Princes that the extraordinary riches left by a deseruing Minister should passe vnto his children not hauing first deserued it by their vertue valour and fathers said fidelitie of the Prince That he had not out of couetousnesse as many misiudged confiscated the great inheritances of his Bashawes but that by the commoditie thereof those subiects should not be idle and 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 heires of his Ministers to restore them their fathers inheritances twice doubled when they with their fidelitie and valour should deserue them and how much the riches of men vicious and subiect 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 renouned 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 Bashawes 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 doe know how the sweetest bait that can allure men is a Crowne and there being no man which for to taste neuer so little 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 extremest seueritie the passages thereunto closed vp against all men nay they ought to accōmodate their affaires in such sort that no priuate man whatsoeuer should once hope to taste of so sweet a thing And I tell you freely that if your Duke of Guiz◠had in my State but onely thought that which with such publike scandall he boldly put in execution in your Kingdome of France I would the very first day haue giuen him that blow whereunto your King Henry the third although he were incited vnto it by the greater part of the Princes of Italy could neuer be drawne vntill the very last houre of his shamefull disgraces and euen at that instant when the sort of the French vprores was become an incurable vlcer for where ambition raigneth among Nobles Princes are constrained to shew themselues all seueritie continually keeping scaffolds in readines prepared to punish the seditious and rebellious and their Treasury open to reward the quiet and the loyall that Prince being vnworthy to command that hath not the vnderstanding how to make himselfe be obeyed neither can there be a more scandalous matter seene not met withall in a State then that the Prince should liue in jealousie 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 Heroycall vertues of clemencie and gentlenesse to shamefull tearmes of enduring vnworthy things It is not possible to deliuer 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 proue with 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 Duchie of Moscouy said vnto him That the most noble perogatiue of raigning ouer people which were louers of Learning and excellently Vertuous was the second amongst the greatnesses of a Prince Whereas he by so endeuouring 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 onely permitted his people to learne the benefit of writing and reading To this Censure the Duchie of Moscouy answered That the dreadfull fire which he had obserued Learning had euer kindled in those States where it had been admitted had made him resolue not to suffer in any sort that so scandalous a Cockle should be sowed in his Duchie for men being the heards of Princes as sheepe the flocks of priuate persons it were extreme folly to arme those gentle sheepe their subiects with the malice which Learning engraffeth into their dispositions that attaine vnto it whereas otherwise in regard of that harmelesse simplicitie wherewith Almighty God hath created them they may be commodiously ruled and gouerned be they neuer so many in number by one Prince alone And how he held for infallible truth that if the Germans and Hollanders had been maintained by their Princes in
and other occurrences of his sicknesse Euen so for the cure of the Worlds infirmities let vs call in the World himselfe question with him feele his pulses and looke vpon the diseased parts of his body whereby the Cure may become the sooner remedied which now seems desperate and incurable In such wise did this aduice please the Lords of the Congregation that they suddenly commanded the World to be called vnto them who incontinently made his repaire being drawne in a Coach by the foure Seasons of the Yeare and by them was led into the Delphick Palace Hee was a man well stricken in yeares yet seemed to be of a galliard and robustuous complexion which betokened that hee might liue many yeares longer Onely it seemed that he had a wheezing in his pipes with some difficulty of breath and in speaking he shewed himselfe to be somewhat hoarse and wept continually which argued he ayled somewhat and laboured as yet more with some grieuous tormenting paine in his braine or some other inward part of his body The Philosophers askt him how hee had his face so ruddy and Iouially appearing which was a signe that he was in health hauing store of pure radicall moysture full of naturall heat and could not but haue a good stomack And they remembred that about a hundred yeares sithence they had seene him looke yellow as if hee had beene sicke of the yellow Iaundise yet now it seemed vnto them that hee was recouered But for all that they charged him freely to open his griefes that they might prescribe thereafter some remedies to helpe him Hereupon the World answered My Lords Presently after I was borne I fell into sicknesses and griefes whereof I languish at this instant My face which you behold so seeming red is done ouer with Ladies licks slicks and other painting stuffe of the Levant My Infirmitie is like the ebbing and flowing of the Sea with the self-same water in it for all it seemes to increase and fall but with this interchangeable course that when I haue a good countenance outwardly my griefe lies within mee as I feele my selfe at this instant And when I looke ill outwardly I am in perfect health within But if you please to try in what case I am indeed without dissembling any longer my miseries pull off my maske and gaudy coat and you shall see when I am starke naked that I am indeed but a liuing carcase The Philosophers out of hand disrobed him and when the World was stript naked they saw that the poore vnfortunate Creature had a scurfe foure fingers thicke ouer his flesh as bad as the Leprosie or the Catholicke disease which did eat into his flesh dangerously Whereupon the wise Reformers tooke ten Razours and euery one of them with a Razour began very diligently to shaue and pare off that thicke scurfe in apparance and busied themselues so long vntill they pierced to the quicke bone but could not in this huge Colossus meet with one Ounce of good substantiall flesh Which when the Reformers perceiued they stood a while amazed and when they had reuested him with his maske and â—oolish Robes they licensed him to depart And then after conference among themselues concluding the Cure too desperate and past helpe they abandoned the care of their publike thoughts and resolued to prouide for the sauing of their priuate reputation vnstaind And therefore they all ioyned together to satisfie the common peoples expectations and because they should see they were not idle nor carelesse of their good they caused Mazzon the Secretary to pen and publish the generall Reformation wherein with a preamble of magnificall words they testified to the world the perpetuall care which his Maiestie tooke for the vertuous conuersation of his Learned Societie of his indefatigable paines from time to time sustained for the safetie of Mankind and of the infinite labour and toyle of the Lords Reformers for the compiling and setting out of good Orders and afterwards descending to particulars they did put downe the prices of Coleworts Pilchards Pumpions and Melons And now when all the Lords were ready to subscribe to the Proclamation Thales the Milesian remembred them that some slie Hucksters when they sold Lupines Pease and Oaten meale vsed a little Dish that iâ— was a most intolerable scandall not to foresee this disorder This last aduice of Thales seemed very expedient to the whole Congregation and as most necessary it was added to the Reformation that these Dishes should be greater therefore from thence forwards Presently after they caused the Gates of the Palace to be opened and going into the Market place they commanded the Cryer to reade the Proclamation concerning the Reformation of the World which was done with such applause and ioy to euery man that all Parnassus rebounded with their clamours and shouts as tokens of the great contentments they tooke for this serious and long expected Reformation But the wisest sort smelt out the drift and laughed in their sleeues to see the rascality and foolish Idiots to delight themselues with bables as babies with nuts Men of vnderstanding know that vices will abound as long as men liue in the world Vitia erunt donec homines and that humane Prudence doth consist in this to haue wit sufficient for this one difficult resolution to forsake the world as another hath found it or to liue as not to liue CHAP. 18. The Duke of Hernia his Speech in the Councell of Spaine to a proposition Whether it were expedient for his Catholike Maiestie to conclude a peace with his brother in law the Duke of Sauoy I Could wish in these present stirres of Sauoy that I were rather a Minister and an executioner of your Maiesties Will Commandement then an Inuentor of counsell which if it chance to succeed ill in the euent may returne preiudiciall to the Author and hurtfull to your Maiestie But since we are brought to this passe that it is necessary to collect the summe of your deliberations and that this charge is now imposed on me I will inforce my selfe as farre as the weakenesse of my wit extends to satisfie the obligation of the Loyalty Affection and Deuotion which I owe vnto your Maiestie and my country The most sacred King Treats now whether he ought to lay downe armes and hostilitie and to forgiue all such iniuries as he receiued at the Duke of Sauoyes hands by that meanes pleasuring the Princes of Italy and the Pope in particular who by his Nuntio doth earnestly solicite the same Or else whether your Maiestie ought to depriue him by force of warre either of all his estate or of part thereby to secure your Dutchy of Milan from his treacheries being a member of so great importance both by it selfe and by the opportunity of the situation with the which it bindes together all the Body of this great Monarchy that it is deseruedly held to be the key of all your Kingdomes seeing that with the benefit of this