I ragguagli di Parnasso, or, Advertisements from Parnassus in two centuries : with the politick touch-stone / written originally in Italian by that famous Roman Trajano Bocalini ; and now put into English by the Right Honourable Henry, Earl of Monmouth.

The Eighteenth ADVERTISEMENT.

The Hircanians send Ambassadors to Apollo, to be resolved by his Majestie in the Important Article, Whether it be lawfull for the people to kill a Tyrant?

AMbassadors came the 19 of this present monenth from the Warlike Nation of Hircania to this Court, where two daies after they had Audience given them in great pomp by his Royal Majestie: For the Ver∣tuosi being very desirous to see the Customs and Habits of Forreiners, came in great numbers to honour Personages so quallified. The Ambas∣sadors being brought before Apollo, the chiefest of them said, That the famous Nation of Hircania being at present miserably opprest by a Prince, who with unheard of cruelty did Tyrannize over them, had been per∣swaded by the fame of his Majesties wise and true answers, to send them so farr a Journey as to Parnassus, only to know the true decission of that weighty Question, Whether or no it were lawfull for the common peo∣ple to kill a Tyrant? It is not to be believed how strangely Apollo was incenst to hear such a question propounded; he was so mightily moved to anger against those Ambassadors, as giving no other answer, he strait∣way rose up in an unwonted fury, and commanded, that for example to others who should dare to propound so pernitiously seditious doubts, they should be immediately drag'd out of the Hall; which was accordingly done. Such an action appeared so hidious to the Illustrious Muses and the Senat of Vertuosi, as not any one of them durst intercede with his Majestie in the behalf of these unfortunate Ambassadors. But Apollo seeing much confusion and amazement in the faces of his beloved Muses, and Vertuosi, said, he thought he had too slightly revenged himself upon those Ambassadors, for this their so scandalous and perfidious demand; for that it was not only not lawfull for the people to dispute so seditious an Article, but that they should keep it like fire, from entring into their brests, since such a doubt would be apt to cause more mischief in the world, then Paris his Apple had done. For those that were born in a Re∣publicks Liberty, had no occasion to raise any such Dispute; since in a free Country, every light shadow, little semblance farr-fetcht suspition, or least jealousie that a Senator should affect to Tyrannize over his free Country, was sufficient to cause revenge be taken by a halter or hatchet, without cavelling upon such foolish words, and calling in question a busi∣ness of so great importance; for in a well governed Commonwealth, if a Senator should incur any such suspition, any colour, shew, or suspition, though never so remote, ought to serve for so convincing proofs, as the party accused must first be hanged, and his process to be made afterwards by usual course of Law. But that in Monarchies, where the base Ple∣beians were incapable of themselves to discern between a lawfull Prince and a Tyrant, they ought, for the great commodity which the peoples ig∣norance gives to such as are ambitious, seditious, lovers of novelty, and

such as dispair of their own affairs, of painting out wicked Tyrants for le∣gitimate Princes, and legitimate Princes for cruel Tyrants; to keep the world from slaughter and execrable confusion, they ought, I say, accor∣ding to Tacitus his precept; Bonos Imperatores voto expetere qualescun{que} tollerare. Tacit. lib. 4. Hist. To pray for good Princes, and to bear with any. This being said, Apollo, who out of his innate goodness cannot endure that any should part distasted from him, though they by their impertinen∣cies have given occasion of offence, commanded that the Ambassadors should be sent for back; who when they appeared before his Majestie, he said unto them, Beloved Hercanians, To people who love to live peace∣fully, Ferenda Regum ingenia, nec usui crebras mutationes, Tacit. lib. 12. Ann. Princes humors are to be born withall, and then especially when they are occasioned by puniard, venem, or any other mischievous machinati∣on: For the alwaies just God being the only competent Judge of Princes, and not the people, who are continually carried about by seditious men, you ought, Quomodo sterilitatem, aut nimios imbres, & cetera Naturae mala, ita luxum, vel avaritium Dominantium Tollerare. To tollerate the luxury or avarice of Soveraigns, as you do barrenness, too much rain, and other evil of Nature.