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 XXXII. ADVERTISEMENT.

The Militia of Ianisaries, seeing one of their Souldiers ill re∣warded, mutiny in the Ottoman Monarchy, and are by A∣pollo quieted.

TO the great terror of all the Potentates of this State of Parnassus in the Ottaman Quarter such an uproar arose, as Alarms were given throughout the whole City; and that potent Signory presently drew forth her numerous Armies, and as if she would come to a general battle, she ordered them in divers squadrons; wherefore the Germans, Spani∣ards, and Princes of Italy, growing very jealous, took up arms also, and sent out their Scouts to learn the reason of those rumors; who brought back word, that the whole Militia of Janisaries were mutinied against the Ottaman Monarchy. Apollo, who was presently advertised thereof by the Pretorian Bands of Satirical Poets who keep Corps de Gard continu∣ally in Foro Delfico, caused the uprore to be quieted, and then gave com∣mand that the Ottaman Monarchy, and the chief Commanders of the Ja∣nisaries who had mutinied, should appear before him: And because the Ottaman Monarchy, as also the Janisaries would present themselves before Apollo, accompanied by multitudes of men, they were told by the Lyrick Poets, who supply the place of Porters, that in such occasion of tumults, people came modestly attended to Princes; wherefore the Ottaman Mo∣narchy with his chief Visier, and the Gianasary who had been the occasi∣on of this uprore, without any other company, were admitted unto his Majesties Audience. Apollo demanded of the Janisary the true cause of that Tumult? Who answered, That he, accompanied by a Spahi, with evident danger of losing their lives, had taken by surprise the important Town of Testis in Persia: for which action, which was of infinite advan∣tage to the Ottaman Empire, the Spahi was largely rewarded by being made Captain General of the Asian Cavallery, and that he who had me∣rited

as much, as the Spahi was so ingratefully dealt withall, as he was on∣ly made Spahi della Porta; which fowle partiallity was so much detested by the whole Militia of Janiaries, as they had joyntly taken up Arms to revenge so great an injury. Apollo having heard this, turned to the Otta∣man Monarchy, and told her that he much wondred why such a Princesse as she who professed to recompence the worth and merit of her souldiers with infinite rewards, had shewed her self so partial towards that Janisary. To which the Ottaman Monarchy answered, that she had not so highly rewarded the Janisary as he had done the Spahi (though he very well knew it became him so to have done) out of an important reason, that it was well known to all men, that she took the young sons of her Christian Subjects, whereof he made three choices; making such as were of best natural parts, a Seminary of youths, who when they came to years of be∣ing imployed, they were placed in several services of the Chamber, and about the very person of the Ottaman Emperors; and to these, when they came to more mature years, the Government of Provinces was gi∣ven, the care of Armies, and the absolute command of his greatest Empire. That out of the second choice he made his mighty Horse-Militia, and his Gentil husmini della Porta, called Spahi. And out of the third, which was the refuge, and those of weakest natural parts, he formed his formi∣dable Militia of Janisaries. And if it should so fall out, that a Spahi should by his worth exceed the expectation which was had of him (as was seen in the Spahi who had surprised the Fort of Testis), he was admitted into the first rank; but if it should happen that any extraordinary worth should be found in a Janisary, by which he might have done some act of much merit, yet they were never raised to any higher degree by the Otta∣man Emperors, than to the degree of Spahi. And that the reason of this his resolution was ready; for that the first Seminary of Bassaes, as also the second of the Spahi, and the third of the Janisaries, every one of them a∣bundantly loving the brethren of their own Classis, to give the command of Armies, or Government of Provinces to men of the first or second Sera∣glio, who were very few in comparison of the Janisarie Militia, was no waies dangerous; but that to intrust places of jelousie in the hands of a Captain, or other Officer, who was come out of the Janisarian body, would be an indiscreet and dangerous advice, by reason of the great retinue of so dreadfull a Militia that such a Subject would have: And so much the more, for that whereas the Bassa's and Spahi's being men highly minded, and who do not willingly subject themselves to their equals, live continu∣ally in strife, jelousies, and emulation, by reason of their pretences to the same preferments; whereas the Janisaries, as being an ignorant sort of people, did not only live in greater union, but would greatly admire, love, and even adore those who by their extraordinary worth, were got out of their Classis. That therefore, to advance one to the Supream power of a General, who would be followed and beloved by so mighty a Militia, would be no better then to nurse up a serpent in ones bosom, which did misbecome a wise Prince to do. And that the Ottaman Empe∣rors held it for an infallible maxim in Policy. That that Militia on which the perpetuity, greatness and selicity of an Empire was grounded, should be commanded in chief by a foreiner; who would be obeyed by the Army, or rather out of the reverence which the Souldiers bear unto their Prince, then for any merit, Valor, Nobility, or attendance they should find in the

reiner. When Apollo had heard this justification made by the Otta∣man Empire, he did so much admire her wisdom, as he commanded that Janisary to be quiet: And turning to some Vertuosi that stood by, and said, that without reading wicked Bodine, or mischievous Machiavil, he found who was a perfect Polititian; since such barbarous Princes, and who profess utter enmity to Learning; were the Kings of men, in the ex∣act understanding how to govern the world, and in the exquisite practice of the best State-Reason.