Nevves from Pernassus The politicall touchstone, taken from Mount Pernassus: whereon the governments of the greatest monarchies of the world are touched.

CHAP. 17. The Duke d'Alva beeing arrived at Pernassus, in complementing with Prospero Colonna, they fall foule about de∣frauding the Colonesi of their Titles. (Book 17)

DOn Hernando de Toledo Duke d'Alva, a few dayes since, arrived at Pernassus, and by expresse order from Apollo, a diligent examination of his actions beeing made by the militarie men, he was found wor∣thy to be admitted into Pernassus amongst those famous Captaines, which without effusion of bloud, knew how to vanquish an enemy, more by patience, and art, then by open force; or valour; that durst hazard the fortune of Kingdomes vpon the doubtfull chance of a Battaile. But because Lodovico Guicciardino, an vnderstanding Writer of the affaires of Flanders; had preferred a Complaint, how that for certaine matters not very pleasing, vvhich he had written of the Duke, he had beene ill entreated by him, therefore he stayed a long time to cleare him∣selfe of such an imputation; for there was an Edict of Apollo very rigorously observed in Pernassus, whereby that Prince, or private man, was declared to be infamous, which durst offer any wrong to any Historian, or other Writer, for things written by him not very honorable, but yet true: Howbeit, of such power were the Dukes friends that Guicciardino was contented to revoke his complaint,

whereupon withall the greatest solemnitie he was ad∣mitted into Pernassus, and had a place in his Majesties Company of men at Armes, which was commanded by that famous Quintus Fabius Maximus; who for the ex∣cellencie of his well-aduised warinesse, was surnamed Cunctator. And it happened, that amongst the other Prin∣ces, and Captaines, which the said Duke visited, one was the most excellent Lord Prospero Colonna, by whom he was receiued with all kind of honour; and so much the more, because he vnderstood that the Duke made a pub∣like profession of beeing the disciple, follower, and imitator of his slow, but sure way of making warre. How∣beit, a strange and troublesome accident fell out in this visitation; for at the first meeting, the Duke having given the Lord Prospero the Title of your Honour, he was so incensed with disdaine, that taking himselfe to be highly wronged by so vile a title, with an angry voyce he said; Duke, I had thought thou wert come hither, to ho∣nor one that is greater then thy selfe, not to vndervalew him; but because it is the fashion of the Colonesi to an∣swere the injuries of words with deedes, goe out of this house, and in the street (with my sword in mine hand) I will prooue vnto thee, that all those, vvhich vse such base termes to men of my ranke, deserve not to be ad∣mitted into the Company of honourable persons. The Duke remained much astonished to see that great Cap∣taine take the matter so hainously at his hands; and going to withstand the Lord Prospero, who offered to thrust him out of the chamber, they fell to grapple one with another: And because the Spanyards, which were in company with the Duke, seeing him in such termes

with Colonna, entred into the chamber to assist him: the Italians which belonged vnto the Lord Prospero did the like; whereupon in regard of the number of persons in so streit a place, there ensued a cruell frey; the noyse whereof comming into the street, was the cause that the newes of so dangerous an accident was suddainly carried to Apollo; who in all hast dispatched thither the Regent of the Vicaria vvith the guard of Archers, who freed the Duke out of the Lord Prosperoes hands: and the vprore beeing quieted, hee commanded the Spanyards, that had beene very ill handled, to returne home to their houses; Thereupon the Lord Prospero, to prevent any sinister information that might haue beene given a∣gainst him, presented himselfe before Apollo, vnto whom (the fame goeth) with a troubled countenance he vsed these vvords: Sir, it is well knowen, that men of the fa∣mily of Colonna, of the qualitie I am of, haue alwaies enjoyed the title of Excellencie, antequam Abraham fieret, and ere the Spanyards were in rerum natura; Wherefore for that Nation to abuse a man of my ranke, as the Duke d' Alva did me but now, is most insupportable; for if the vilenesse of him that offendeth, doth infinitely aggra∣vate the injurie vvith him that is offended, how is it pos∣sible, that an Italian Baron of my qualitie, should con∣taine himselfe within the bounds of modestie, seeing himselfe vndervalewed by that Nation, whose miseries, not aboue foure dayes agoe to speake of, so mooved the whole World to compassion, that throughout all Chur∣ches they were recommended to the charitie of well-dis∣posed Christians, of whom almes were gathered, to free them from the miserable servitude, wherein they were

so grievously oppressed by the of Moores of Granada. The Spanyards enjoy the dominion of the greater part of Italy; where, by such as I am, notwithstanding that daily they threaten it vvith a cruell, and vniversall servitude, they are loved, honoured, and even served. With their pro∣digious avarice they haue deprived vs of out wealth; and in that lamentable sacke of Rome vvith their vnexpressa∣ble lust they violated the honour of our chastest Ma∣trons. And now, in exchange of so abject a patience, they would also take from vs this litle honour of breath wee enjoy, and these miserable Titles, the vnhappy re∣maines, and deplorable reliques of the Italian reputation: Which is a matter so hard to be digested, that by every honourable Italian Baron it ought to be revenged, not vvith complayning words, as I doe, but vvith daggers points.

It is reported by them that vvere then present, how all the while the Lord Prospero was speaking, Apollo did nothing but smile, and that when vpon his conclusion he burst out into those words, how the Spanyards abuses towards the Italians vvere to be revenged with daggers points, he fel to laughing out-right, and said, Prospero, thou art, and ever wert too much given over to choller: and I am inforced to tel thee, how it infinitly mislikes me, that such a one as thou, who hast alwaies made a particular profession of prudence, shouldest marvaile, that slaves, which for twentie yeares together have beene fedde in the Gallyes vvith course, and mouldy Bisket, when they light vpon a batch of new white Manchet, should fill their bellies till they are ready to cracke againe: Where∣as that raging appetite of theirs, and every other disho∣nest

act, vvhich they vse, to asswage their hunger, ought to be so farre from seeming odious vnto honest men which behold it, that it should rather moove them to pittie. Therefore do yee Italians likewise permit, that the Spanyards, men but new in this World, and lately got out of the servitude of the Moores of Granada, may glut them∣selves with meate so delicate to their taste, as are the ho∣nourable Titles, vvhich they haue found in Italy: for I assure thee, that vvhen they shalbe cloyed vvith such va∣nities they also vvill become, as the French are, such cur∣teous Gallants, that they vvill vvillingly giue the Title of Excellency even to their horse-boyes, much more to such as thou art. And I tell thee, that if thou hadst that prudence, and that perfect knowledge of the World, as I vvish thou haddest, thou vvouldest very well perceive, that those exorbitances, and that so odious manner of proceeding, which the Spanyards vse in Italy, whereof thou so complaynest, is even as so much sweet suger for you Italians, and bitter poyson for the Spanyards; who if to their valour, to their advisednesse, and vnspeakeable ambition vvhich they haue to raigne, they had affable and curteous manners annexed, vvith the vtter destructi∣on of that remnant of Libertie, which is yet out of the Lyons jawes, they would soon become absolute Masters of the World. All which are insolencies, that vvith dag∣gers points, not by you Italians, but by the Monarchy of Spayne herselfe, ought to be revenged vvith all kinde of crueltie on her Spanish Ministers, who with their vanitie distaste the good servants of so great a Queene, and make her government nothing acceptable to her sub∣jects: A disorder that bringing much difficultie to the substance of that Vniversal Monarchy, wherunto it is not

possible she can arrive vvith the publike hatred of all Italy, hath high need of remedie.

With this answere Apollo returned the Lord Prospero exceeding well satisfied to his house, after whom the Duke d'Alva appeared before his Majesty with all his fa∣mily wonderfull melancholy, vvhich cast such milke in their faces, that the Spanyards seemed not so blacke, as ordinarily those Moores that come out of Granada vse to be. Then Apollo interrupting the complaint vvhich the Duke was about to make against the Lord Colonna, said; Duke, I am much displeased vvith the disorder, vvhich I vnderstand hath happened, and so much the more, by how much the cause of such an vprore is not very just, nor vvithall very honourable on thy side: And vpon this occasion it pleaseth me to remember vnto you Spanyards, that to be not only niggards, as to all men ye are knowen, but not to vse prodigalitie in giving vnto others those Titles, vvhich are desired, is a manifest signe of malignitie, because the ingenuous nobilitie of a Baron is knowen, by shewing litle covetousnesse in receiving Titles, and much liberalitie in giving them: For even by over much, not by due honour, doth greater reputation accrew to him that giveth, then to him that receiveth it. And you Spanyards, that vse such austeritie in desiring great Titles onely for your selves, are not avvhit encrea∣sed in reputation, but rather are become so odious, and ridiculous to all men, that the Italians in their Comedies, haue deservedly introduced the personage of the Spanyard to represent vnto the World a perfect Braggadochia. I won∣der yee should not preceive, that in thinking to arrive vnto the Dominion of the earth by abusing men, is the vvrong way to the wood; The mindes of men (Duke)

are taken vvith the baite of humanitie, vvith the whistle of gratitude, of courtesie, of gentlenesse; and that Fowler would shew himselfe very ignorant, that should goe with a drumme into a Dove-house for to take Pigeons, as I see you Spanyards, foolishly doe. More∣over, I tell you, that if ever any Nation vvere to make a baite of dignities, for to allure the Italians to fall into the nets of your Dominions, and light vpon the Lime∣bush of your servitude, it is you Spanyards, for the ends vvhich yee haue vpon Italy: Withall yee are to consider, that the States, vvhich yee possesse, of Naples, and Milan, are fastned vnto you with Waxe; for yee shall command over those two members no longer, then till the Italians resolve to chase you from thence; who if they could be assured, that after your ruine, they should not fall into the power of the French, ye should quickly know, that only vvith a litle disturbance, which they could give you in the Port of Genoua, they would put you into a thou∣sand intricate difficulties: all matters, that should admo∣nish you to give satisfaction, at leastwise in vvords, to them, whom in regard of your Interests in Italy, yee are obliged to respect. As for the injurie, vvhich you say you have received from the Lord Prospero, I tell you plainly, that whatsoever affront shalbe done you vpon any such like Titular occasion, I vvill not onely be insensible of it, but I vvill thinke you haue desirously sought it. Then the Duke would have excused himselfe vvith saying, that from his King he had instruction how to carry him∣selfe towards the Italian Barons in the particular of Titles, vvhen Apollo told him, that the Spanish abuses to the Italians were not to extend but only to the Neapoli∣tans, and Milanesi; and his Majestie also added, That if

much passion did not blind the Spanyards, they might easily see, how their Grandes, whom Spayne it selfe could not containe, and that in Italy, would play the Gyants, compared with the Romane Barons; and those of meane stature would prove but dwarsses. Herevpon a cloude, as white as snow, beginning by litle and litle to cover the person of Apollo, the Priests that were about him percei∣ved how his Maiestie would prophecie; so that every one falling prostrate on the ground, and vvith the rest, the Duke and his followers; out of that hollow cloud proceeded the divine voyce of his Majestie, which with a pleasing sound spake in this sort: I fortell vnto you, Spanyards, that vvith your rough and odious manner of proceeding, yee vvill one day compell the Italian Nobi∣tie; which is the Mistres of the cruell Sicilian Vespres, to plot some bloudy Neapolitan Even-song against you; it beeing the proper custome of the Italians, with greater rage to revenge the abuses of words, then the offences of blowes; as they that having short patience, and long hands, are borne not only with an heart most inclined to great resolutions, but that doe not vse to revenge in∣juries with all kind of crueltie, before they are quite for∣gotten by those that did them. And with your owne ruine, you vvill then finde them, with swords in their hands, to be Paladine Orlandoes, when ye shall per∣swade your selves, they are become most suffering Asses.