volumns of Letters that were there were but troublesom, and took up a great deal of room. And that all men being full of ambition and vain glory, and the manner of Modern writing being reduced to the naked speaking what they think, without any artifice, and that there be but few men who want business, and who cannot write, the easie admittance of e∣very one that writes Letters, into Parnassus, would occasion so great an inconvenience, as every one, though never so meanly learned, would print great volumns of his own Letters, only to make the miseries and base af∣fairs of his own house known: An error of the greater consequence, for that immortality is not sold at so cheap a rate in Parnassus: And that to these so many respects, it was yet further added, That it was discovered many had been so ambitiously presumptious, as to publish false Letters written to such a King, or such a great Prince, whom they had never seen, nor had ever had any business with them; a falshood the more worthy con∣sideration, for that in all true Letters, the vivacity of an unlooked for con∣ceit, sprang from the reallity of the fact, was that which was admired; whereas feigned Letters were alwaies full of affectation, a thing so much abhorred by good wits. The noble Caitaneans, did notwithstanding so much favour this their servant, as they overcame all these difficulties; moreover they made it appear to his Majestie, that of all Letters that had been yet printed, Peranda's deserved the first place. Wherefore Apollo, by reason of this testimony, and for that there were many of Peranda's Letters appertaining to History, which would be very acceptable to all the Vertuosi, he granted his request, and gave him the first place amongst all the Italian Secretaries. And though in honouring this Vertuoso, A∣pollo (according to his custom) had respect only to his merits, there were notwithstanding some lavish tongues which durst affirm, that this was done in favour to the Illustrious Cardinal Henry Caietan, a Prince who for the magnificency of his Works, for his undaunted courage, his laudable customs, candid genius, purity of soul, and for all the most excellent gifts of Nature wherewith he was richly adorned, is usually called his Ma∣jesties best beloved.
It must not be forgotten, that when (according to custom) all the Ver∣tuosi were permitted to pass their censures upon Perandas writings, Clau∣deus Ptolomeus said that they deserved to be corrected, because there were many words in them which were not Tuscan. But the Censurer bad Pto∣lomeus hold his peace, for that in learned writing, the Ingenious Vertuosi noted the conceptions, and that they were only malignant Pedants who censured words. And Peranda having lost his eye-sight some years before his death, Ierollomo Fracastoro proferred to restore him to his sight again; which if he should effect, Peranda promised him 500 crowns for his Cure. The Phisitian being then to do his work, Peranda was set down in a chaire, and asked the Phisitian whether all things were in rea∣diness wherewith to restore his eye-sight? The Phisitian said there was nothing wanting, for he had all his Instruments and Plasters. These things which you have named, said Peranda, do but little import towards giving me that comfort which I desire by my eye sight: Tell me, how goes the world? Even as it did, said the Phisitian, when you fell blind. If it be so, replies Peranda, I will not lay out my money in recovery of that eye-sight which I willingly lost that I might not see the present world drowned in those inormious and hatefull loathsomnesses, which do so much nauceate good mens eyes.