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

CHAP. 4. Philip the second King of Spaine, after some contestation about his Title, entreth with great pompe into Pernassus. (Book 4)

THe mighty King of Spayne, Philip the second, who (some two months since arrived at this Court, was not permitted before yesterday to make a publicke and solemne entry, because that on certaine Tryumphall Arches, which with a Royall magnificence were erected vnto him by the Spanish Nation, these wordes were written: Philippo secundo Hispaniarum, vtriuss{que} Siciliae, & Indiarum Regi Catholico, Italiae pacis Auctori foelicissim••. Which distasting the greater part of the Italian Princes, they required them to be cancelled, saying: That they would not at any hand acknowledge from the Spaniards that peace of Italy, which with ready mony they bought of the Hollanders. This aromaticall matter was a long time disputed, and albeit the Italian Princes had concludingly proved in iudgement, that the present peace of Italy was not to be acknowledged from the good mindes of the Spaniards, who would haue seized on it all, had it not beene for that great diuersion, but altogether from the

warres of Flanders, yet in the greatest heate of this con∣tention, the Queene of Italy with her wonted prudence pacified the matter; for hauing called all her Princes to∣gether, she advised them to leaue ostentation, and vain∣glory to the Spaniards, and applying themselues to substan∣tiall things to continue feeding them with breath. The concourse both for number, and quality of Princes which assembled to grace, and serve so great a King, was the greatest, and the honorablest, that euer Pernassus had seene. And so powerful a Prince had place amongst those Monarchs, which are famous in the world more for pru∣dence, and advisednes vsed in peace, then for valor she∣wed in warre: and greatly did the Learned marvaile at the Imprese, which he carried painted in his Standard generall, of a writing penne, wherewithall, by the testimony of Historians it plainly appeared, that in the potent Kingdome of France, and other places, where good occasion had beene presented vnto him to employ it, he had caused greater batteries and ruines, then Charles the fift his Father had done, or could do with most part of the Cannons of all Europe. An Imprese, that was much com∣mended by the sacred Colledge of the Vertuous, it being greatly to the honor of all Writers, that a Penne in the hand of a man, who knew how to mannage it, could worke such memorable effects. So mighty a King was entreated in Pernassus, alla grande; for euen the chiefest Monarchs of Christendome thought it a great reputation vnto them forto be able to serue him, insomuch that the day after his entry, being vnder the Barbers hand, the fa∣mous Queene of England continually held the bason vp close to his beard; and the warlike King of France, Henry the fourth, counted it a great glory vnto him to wash his

head, the vvhich he performed vvith such excellent dex∣teritie, as if he had beene borne for the Trade, although some malignants haue published, that it was without Soape, and onely with very strong and sharpe Lye.

This great Monarch was presented by all the Vertuous of Pernassus with sundry Presents of Poesie, and other most elaborate Writings; the which he exchanged with much liberalitie: And to a learned personage, that pre∣sented him with a most worthy and honest Discourse, wherein he shewed the way, how the noble Parthenope, and the whole Kingdome of Naples, that by the robbe∣ries of Souldiers, corruption of Iudges, oppressions of Great-men, and by the generall ransackings of the rave∣nous Vice-roys, which from Spayne are sent thither to be fatned, is now come to vtter desolation, may be made to returne vnto the ancient greatnesse of his splendour, he gaue twenty Ducats, and consigned the Discourse to his Confessor; charging him to yeeld him a good ac∣count of it, as of a Worke, that was very holily written: But vnto a sufficient Politician, that presented him with a long Discourse, howbeit cleane contrary to the former, entreating of the meanes which was to bee vsed, for afflicting the sayd Kingdome of Naples more then now it is; & how it might be reduced to such calamity and mise∣rie, that the generous Steed, which without Bridle and Saddle, the Seate of State doth (with ill fortune) carry for Imprese, should patiently endure both Pack-saddle, and Burthens; yea, and quietly draw in the Coach too: because he held that to be vnderstandingly written, ac∣cording to the true termes of good Policie, hee gaue twelue thousand Crownes a yeere, and created him a Grande of Spayne.