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 XXIX. ADVERTISEMENT.

Cornelius Tacitus is chosen Prince of Lesbos; whither be∣ing come, his success proves not good

TWo months ago the Prince of Lesbos departed this life, whereupon the Electors of that State, who as every one knows, obey an Elective Prince, sent Ambassadors to Apollo, desiring him that he would be pleased to name a man unto them worthy of so high preferment, and they would willingly chuse him for their Lord and Master. Many worthy Letterati were propounded by Apollo; the Ambassadors thought, that since Cor∣nelius Tacitus was famed farr above all others for matter of Policy, he was fittest to be chosen. But before the business passed any further, they went to visit him, and asked him, in case they should chuse him for their Prince, how he would govern them: Tacitus speaking at large unto the Ambassadors of himself, said, that all men knew what his abilities were in the well governing a State; since the whole world set such an estima∣tion upon his writings, as he thought he might justly boast, that it was governed by the modern Princes, according to the rules of his Politicks: That having shewn others the true practice of the most exact Reason of State, they might easily believe he should know better then any other, how to put it in execution in his own State. And though upon this oc∣casion he durst undertake upon the sudden, in their presence, to make a compleat discourse upon the means that were to be used by a Prince who would govern an Elective Kingdom well, yet to let them see that he with much reason was acknowledged by the most understanding Polititians, to be the Master of that Art, he would tell them in two words, what sa∣tisfaction he intended to give them in his Government. Which was, That he would diligently imitate the late Prince in those actions which he should know gave content unto the people, and that he would ex∣ceedingly detest him in those which they were displeased with. He then added, That what he had said, was the very extract of all true Policy, the quintescence distilled by him, and only by him thought upon; and that relying much upon them, he had imparted unto them this secret, which if it were made common, Shop-keepers, and even the meanest sort of men, would know how to rule Kingdoms, and govern Empires.

The Ambassadors were much pleased with what Tacitus had said, and did assure him that he should be the man that should be chosen; they on∣ly advertised him, that when he should be created their Prince, it would behove him to speak in a more usual stile, that he might be the better understood by the people of Lesbos, who were not so learned as those of Parnassus.

To which Tacitus answered, That it was necessary for one like him, who profest to speak more sentences then words, to speak obscurely; for sententious meanings, and politick precepts, lost much reputation, when they were spoken in trivial Latin: And he, to the end that he might not communicate that political Science to the base rabble-rout, which ought

only to be known to great Kings, used that manner of Language; that therefore his conceptions were understood only by the choicest wits, whose accurate pallats were able to rellish them; yet for the general good of those that understood but little, he would bring with him for his In∣terpreters, Mercerus, Lipsius, Fulvius Orsinus, and that he would bring with him as far as from Italy, the most affable Courtius Pecchena, whom Ferdinand the great Duke of Tuscany, the best Scollar that ever came out of Tacitus his Schoole, had offered him, whensoever he should have occasion to use him.

The Ambassadors returned to Lesbos much satisfied with these answers, and made such relation of Tacitus his miraculous wisdom, as by the gene∣ral applause of all the people, he was presently chosen, and declared Prince. But the success of Tacitus his Government in his Principality, proved clean contrary to the expectation which was had of him: For soon after he had taken possession, he began first to sow, and then to nou∣rish great discord between the Nobility and the common people: and be∣cause the Nobility was of more worth, and better advised then the vul∣gar, who were kept under by the power of great ones, Tacitus secretly and cunningly adheared to the weaker side; wherefore the heads of the people growing very bold with the Nobility, by reason of the stout assistance which they received from the Prince, they exercised bruitish in∣solencies, by means whereof, in less then a months space, a dreadfull fire of civil Warr was kindled in Lesbos. Tacitus this mean while appearing in publick to be a well-wisher to the general peace, interposed himself as a mediator to compose those differences, which in privat he wished might never have an end; and shewed himself to be so zealous of all their goods, as he became the absolute arbitrator of the differences between both sides: And making use of the calamities of others, as an instrument whereby to agrandize his Authority, he first infused great fear into the people, that they would be quickly cut in pieces by the power of the Nobility, if they did not all the sooner find out some remedy for their preservation. By this means he easily obtained their good wils, that a Militia of forrein Souldiers should be admitted into the Metropolitan City, to keep them from being over-powered by the Nobility, which Militia he honested by the name of Souldiers of Peace: And they, with approbation of the Nobility, were permitted to be armed, under pretence, that by them he would curb the people, who were already grown too insolent. The Souldiers were three thousand in number, and an intiment confident of Tacitus was by him given them for their chief Commander. And to the end that they might be faithfull to him, and ready to serve him upon all occasions, he obliged them not only by othes, gifts, and all demonstrati∣ons of liberality; but made them as partial to him, as they were hatefull to the Nobility and common people, by permitting them to commit all sorts of cruelty and plunder against the Nobility and Commons of Lesbos, Tacitus being thus fortified in his power and greatness, did in a few daies fill the Senat and City Lesbos, as also the whole State, with Promooters and Spies, which he incensed against the chiefest of the Nobility of Les∣bos, who under pretence of divers faults, were bereft of their Estates and imployments, wherewith he exalted and agrandized their accusers. Where∣fore the chief men of the Senat, some through avarice, some through am∣bition, and very many to save their own lives, became wicked Ministers

of their Princes cruelty and ambition, by accusing, and falsly calumniating the greatest Subjects of the State. Moreover, such Senators as he knew he could not oppress by false accusations, he imployed them abroad in for∣rein Negotiations, which were expensive, and could cause no jealousies; then by little and little he disarmed under colour of various pretence, the ancient Officers who had the charge of the Militia, and put their arms into the hands of such as were affectionate to him; and whilst by this deep and wicked cunning, he abased the powerful, he exalted new men, cho∣sen out of the meanest sort of the people, and who did wholly depend upon him, to be Senators, and other supream Magistrates. Then under colour of securing the State from being invaded by forrein Princes, he be∣gan to begirt it round with strong Citadels, which he put into the custody of forreiners, who were his friends. And because he could not endure that the people and Nobility should be armed, and knew that to disarm them, would be a dangerous business, he made use of a safe way to disarm his Subjects by long peace, by idleness, or wantonness, and by using se∣vere justice upon such as did any waies dispute these their necessary re∣centments: And totally to irradicate all vertue from out his Subjects souls, he caused costly Theaters to be built in the chiefest Cities, wherein pastimes, Comedies, Huntings, and other delightfull spectacles, were per∣petually represented, by the over-much use whereof the people and the Nobility, gave over their ancient care of publick affairs, and the thought of Military exercises: And as one who knew very well, that to come by his desired end of erecting a Tyrannical Government over a people who were born free-men, and had long lived in liberty, it was requisite to glut them with perpetual plenty and abundance, Tacitus gave himself wholly to provide that great store of all good things, should alwaies be found in his State.

Thus farr Tacitus his affairs past on successfully; but when he would go about the last precept of Tyranny, by laying snares for the lives of some great Senators which he was jealous of, he contracted so cruel and so universal a hatred against him, as lest he might be opprest by a great conspiracy which he found was plotted against him, he fled disguised six daies since from Lesbos, and returned to lead a privat life in Parnassus. His Nephew Pliny, who as all the Vertuosi know, was always the best friend that ever Tacitus had, was the first that came to visit him; he with a Ro∣man freedom, greatly reprehended his friend, that having prescribed such approved Rules of well governing States, to others, he himself should prove so unfortunate in his Principality of Lesbos. The same Pliny re∣lates that Cornelius Tacitus gave him these very words for answer; Hea∣ven (my Pliny) is not so far distant from earth, nor doth snow so far differ in colour from cole, as the exercise of Empire is far from, and unlike unto the Theory of Politick Precepts, and the best Rules of Reason of State: For that sentence which in Galba's person I teach Piso, and which hath won me so much credit amongst men, as it hath been thought to be the answer of an Oracle, and which the ignorant think may easily be put in practice, hath in the use thereof proved very unfortunate to me: The reason is, because the Metamorphosis is too great, when from being a pri∣vat man, one becomes a Prince. And know Pliny, that privat men hate and detest many things as great defects, and apparent vices in Princes, which are vertuous and excellent perfections. I tell thee this, for that

when I was first chosen Prince of Lesbos, I was resolved to steer the Na∣vigation of my Principality by the assured North star of the aforesaid sen∣tence; and therefore I diligently informed my self of all my Predicessors actions, firmly resolving to imitate him in those which were praised, and to shun those which were blamed in him: I knew that he had greatly offend∣ed the Senat by assuming too much Authority, by which he had taken unto himself the affairs of all the Magistrates; in so much as little more then the bare name of Magistracy remained unto them. I found he was much hated for the little esteem he made of the Nobility, and for that he would have all the affairs of the Senat depend upon him: And I knew also, that in his austeere manner of life, by which it appeared he desired to govern the State of Lesbos rather by absolute Dominion, and as an hereditary Prince, then as an elective Lord by limited Authority, he had distasted all men. Whilst I was a privat man, I thought this way of Go∣vernment to be bruitish, and altogether Tyrannical, and therefore I resol∣ved to shun it. But know, that the very first houre took upon me my Principality, I found those my first wholsom resolutions to be so grub'd up and eradicated by the cursed power of Rule, as to say it properly unto you, Vi Dominationis convulsus & mutatus. Tacit. lib. 4. Annall. I began to think those my Predicessors actions, which whilst I was a privat man; I esteemed so foolish, insolent, and Tyrannical, to be excellently good, and not things done out of phancy, or by chance, but good pre∣cepts politick resolutions, and necessary State-Reason: So as not able a∣ny waies to resist the violent ambition of Government, I thought I should be baser then a Pack-bearer, if I did not arrogate unto my self the whole power of command in Lesbos, where the Prince lives with much li∣mited Authority; which my inordinate desire did occasion that bad satis∣faction in the Senat, and whole people of Lesbos, which hath made me run upon the Rock which you see. All which disorders (my Pliny) are occasioned not through my ignorance, but through my knowing too much: For in the Principality of Lesbos, where people live between Li∣berty and Slavery, Nec totam Libertatem, nec totam Servitutem pati∣possunt. Tacit. lib. 1. Hist. They can neither endure to be wholly slaves, nor wholly free. He who will Reigne long quietly there, must not on∣ly resolve to leave things as he found them, but must be of a peacefull spirit, so farr from ambition, as that he may be able to put in practice the hard precept, of living himself, and suffering others to live: so as men who are absolutely Polititians, as I am, who are incited by nature to af∣fect sole Dominion, and who will measure all things by their Reason of State, prove very unfortunate in Elective Principalities.