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 LV. ADVERTISEMENT.

For remeady of many disorders which are found in Histo∣ry, a General Assembly of Historians being summoned, Apollo publisheth a severe Edict against them, and ma∣ny Historians are reprehended for their errors.

THe General Assembly of all Historians, vvhich vvas intimated some moneths ago by the Censors, by express order from Apollo, to meet in Delos, vvas ended tvvo days ago, much to his Maj. satisfaction, by rea∣son

of the excellent orders that therein vvere established in a business, wherein the eternal Fame of those things consist, which are composed by gallant men. This caused the more general content in all the Ver∣tuosi, for that modern Writers have strayed far from those laws which they devoutly promised to observe when they took the oath of Historians before Apollo; and because the importance of the business doth deserve it, Menante will not grudge to give you the very Edict which was pub∣lished yesterday morning in his Majesties name by the sound of Trumpet in the Market places, and afterwards posted upon all the Colledge gates of this State.

We Phoebus, by the Grace of God Emperor of the fixed Stars, King of Planets, Prince of the Zodiack, Duke of Light, Marquis of Gene∣ration, and Earl of all visible things; To all our faithful Vertuosi, and well-beloved Literati, health. We having much to our displeasure found, that many modern Historians have much wandred from that way of truth, which was walked in to the publique good of others and their private honor, by our faithful Pen-men Dionysius, Livy, Salust, Tacitus, and many others; to the end that future Ages which do so eagerly read History, may be sure to find truth from the pens of faithful Writers, and not be abused by lies given out unto them by flattering and mali∣cious ignorant Historians, do by this our Edict, which is to continue for ever, call into the memory, and give notice to all those who undertake the noble work to eternize by their writings the actions of famous men, that they must always remember, that being to write, not to the pre∣sent, but to those that are to come, they publish writings full of that Historical truth, which renders the names of sincere Pen men glorious and eternal to future ages: And that they should value the blame and threats of such as are justly taxed for their unworthy actions, but as dung; there being no more woful folly, then continually to labor with pen in hand how to shame themselves, by writing falsehoods, without any advantage to those whom they flatter, declaring, that to publish false Histories, is to assassinate the Vertuosi who read them: And therefore our will and pleasure is, That those who run into so enormous excesses, be irremissably punish'd by the like assassination. And because it is appa∣rent that Princes have arrogated so much authority even over the free pens of Historians, as not to suffer any thing to be written of them, though it be true, which is not fully to their satisfaction (a pretension which hath so banished historical truth from the pens of writers) as the great wits of our choicest Vertuosi being frighted by the base fawnings whereby modern Princes will be flattered, the weighty imployment of writing History, reserved onely for the choicest Pen-men, is now adays (to the great shame of the present age and infinite damage of the future) fallen in the hands of ignorant people: We therefore by reason of this foul disorder, are forced to put Princes in mind, That their Authority ceasing with their lives, they are fools if they believe they are able af∣ter their deaths to hinder our Vertuosi from writing the truth of their actions to future times. And we do more particularly advertise the same Princes, That their valliant carrying of themselves in affairs which require freedom, is the cause why our faithful Historians, esteeming them∣elves offended by so much severity, out of meer rage of revenge, after he lives of such Emperors, write rather Invectives then Histories, as

the Emperors Tiberius, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, have to their great shame •…•…ound. And to obviate the great inconvenience, occasioned by their ignorance▪ who in these modern times do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the worth of History by their Sottish writings, o•…•… will and pleasure is and we do expresly command, That hereafter no man, of what degree o•…•… condi∣tion soever he be, shall dare to write History, unless he be first approved of for purity of language, by Iulius Caesar; for •…•…ence by Livy; for policy, by Tacitus; for the good understanding of Princes interest, by Guicchardin. And more over under pain of perpetual infamy, we do ex∣presly prohibit for the future, the writing particular Histories of any what∣soever City, unless it be the Metropolis of some Empire, Kingdom▪ or great Province: And this we do, to the end that the precious jewel of Time be not mispent in mean things, both by him that writes, and by him that reads. And for the same reason we ordain, That it shall not be lawful for any writer, to publish the life of any Commander, un∣less he have commanded in chief in some Armies, or had deserved his pay twenty times told, won some Provinces, besieged and taken some strong holds, and have sought two set battels at least in open fields. And to take away all abuses that may be committed by ambitious men, we declare, That those whose lives any one shall undertake to write, have the same requisite parts as were in Bellisarius, in Narsetes, in Godfrey of Bullen, in Alexander Fernese. And to rid the world as much as may be of a certain arrogant Ambition which is known to reign in many, we likewise command. That it be not lawful to write any particular History of any Family, unless it be made appear to our Colledge for History, that it hath maintained it self famous and illustrious in the world for full five hundred years, with plenty of Personages who have put a period to important wars, and honourable undertakings; and that in this parti∣cular they take our glorious and well-beloved Families of the Orsina's, Caietans and Collenesses for their examples. And because it is well known by many former examples, that to suffer an ambitious man to write his own acts, is to put a naked sword into a mad mans hands, we do expresly command, That it shall not be lawful for any one to write any Commentary or formal Story of his own life, unless he have given in sufficient security to contain himself within the terms of modestie and truth; and unless he be declared by our Colledge of Historians to be so eminent a Personage, as his actions deserve to be consecrated to Immor∣tality for the good of future ages. And to extirpate the wicked vice of Flattery out of the world, to the which (to our infinite grief) we see our Vertuosi are much inclined, we do expresly command, That it be not lawful for any writer to publish the life of any whatsoever Hero, though he be Emperor or King, before he be dead, allowing mention of men whilst alive to be onely made in general Histories, or in some short par∣ticular Elogies. Moreover, to shun the infinite follies which are daily seen in many Histories, our express wil & pleasure is, that it be not lawful for any writer to compose the Historie of any particular foreign Nation, unless he have lived for the space of twenty years in that Countrey, whose Story he will write. And for the like reason we do forbid any whatsoever Vertuosi to undertake to write History, unless he have tra∣velled many Provinces; unless he have been Secretary or Counsellour to some great Prince, or be not Senator to some famous Common∣wealth;

and chiefly unless he have spent two third parts of his life in fol∣lowing Courts, which we have judged to be the more requisite, for that in our Delfick Library we find some Histories written by Courtiers, who are altogether ignorant of the purity of Languages and of all the most important precepts of the Art of writing History; but so abounding in smart politick precepts, as they make clearly appear that it is the parti∣cular vertue of accomplished Courtiers to publish to posterity, not such things as they have gathered up by hear-say, but the most hidden in∣trinsical meanings of Princes, which they by their quick speculative wits have known how to penetrate into. And because in many volume∣nous Histories, we read bitter invectives against the Nation which is an enemy to the place where the Author of the History lives, we do here renew our Edicts published in this particular some years ago; wherein for the indemnity of Historical truth from the blames imputed by one Nation to another adverse Nation, we have ordained, That an abate∣ment shall be allowed of 60 per cent. And because we are assured, That the sad loss to learning, of the greatest part of our beloved Livies pretius Dechads, is occasioned soly by Lucius Florus, we do expresly command, That from henceforth it be not lawful for any one to epitomize or write a breviate of the writings of any whatsoever Historian. So also, with all the plenary power that we have over learning, we forbid all our Ver∣tuosi, at any time hereafter to write the universal History of the world, or of any particular Nation, which like the famous Romans, French or Saracins have done gallant acts, compendiously, or in small volumes; as many have done to little or no purpose, who have written the actions of all Nations, from the beginning of the world to their own times, in a few sheets; experience having taught all men, that the reading of things so succinctly written, is altogether unuseful, it being unpossible to reap that abundant fruit, which is tasted in particular Histories, where not meerly res gesta, the thing done is related, but the reasons and counsels thereof. In the last place, we put the reverend Preisthood in mind, that they attend to the reading and writing of sacred things; and leave the writing of profane Histories to those lay people, who think it a meretorious truth not a sinful murmuring, to asperse the actions of Princes, or private men, who have done things amiss. Given at our Zodiack, the 20 day after our entrance into Libra, the year of our la∣borious course, 5570.

After the publication of so severe an Edict, it was whispered in this Court (but because the business was carryed very secretly; and Menante, who advertiseth nothing but truths, tells it not for an assured verity) that many Historians, yea even of the first Classis, were severely reprehend∣ed: For tis said, that Iulius Caesar was commanded, that within twen∣ty days he should not fail to add the breaking open of the Roman Ex∣chequer in his Commentary, punctually as it passed; and that he should therein mention certain other particulars, which being more then mean∣ly loathsom, he had forborn to relate, lest it might entrench too nearly upon himself. That uetonius Tranquillus was severely reprehended, for that having made more open profession then any other Literato, to be ve∣ry circumspect in his writings, he had notwithstanding recounted such obscene lasciviousness of Tiberius, of not forbearing in his lust to make use of sucking caildren, pollutions which howsoever ought not to be

spoken of, not onely in respect that Historians cannot affirm those lewd actions for truths, which in point of lust are done in the dark, when doors are shut; but for that such things (though truths) ought not to be touched upon, which for the great scandal which they occasion, ought rather to beburied in oblivion, then divulged; it being the end of all Historians to insert vertue into mens minds, not to instruct vice. Tis said indeed, That Dion was told in milder terms, that History, which ought to be wholly real truths, the very pitch of politick instructions, needed not to be filled with the so often reiteration of those prodigies, with which he had so heaped up his writings, as they did even choak those that read them. And which was the more tedious, for that they had exceeded the bounds of discretion, both in their numbers and qualities: For Apollo his self smiled to see him write of so many showers of blood and stones; he not remembring that he had ever exhaled such Meteors, which were afterwards congealed into blood, or turned into stones. It is said, That Titus Livius, the father of the Roman Histories, blushed not a little at this reprehension which was given to Dion; perhaps, because he found himself guilty of the like errors: But it is certainly affirmed by all, that Lampridius was severely proceeded against; for by order of the whole congregation, his Histories were turned back upon his hands, and he was freely told, That he should go and teach those execrable lusts in the publike Classis, wherewith he had so delighted himself to fill his shameful papers, wherein he had written the lives of Heliogabalus, Cara∣calla, and other lascivious monsters of nature: It is also noised that Ma∣chiavel was reproved for his mad and desperate policy, with which he had so freely filled his Histories, and other writings, as he openly mani∣fested his desire was to draw his Readers into the same ditch of Impiety whereinto himself was shamefully fallen. Tis said, that in the next place the Congregation found fault with Guicchardin, for his having spoken amiss of the Venetian Commonwealth, the which was called by the whole Assembly, the Sanctuary of the Vertuosi, the true seat of perfect liberty, the Bulwark against Barbarians, the Mint of Libraries, the salt of humane wisdom, glory of the Italian Nation; and many do be∣lieve, that Guicchardin in the face of the whole Congregation, did not onely acknowledge, but bewail his error, alledging for his excuse, that meer envy to see the State of Venice grow daily more glorious in her eternal liberties, whilst the Florentines, by their domestick factions, lost their freedom, had made him so foully prevaricate; but that the Fame of Venice, the glory of that excellent councel, whereby she did (as a rare and onely example) daily increase both in State and reputation, was arrived at that height of splendor, as was not to be obscured by the pen of whatsoever passionate writer. It is also said, That Ialiano Goselini. Secretary to the Senat of Millan was sent for by the Censors; who told him, that certainly he thought he spoke to drunken men, when in the life wihich he writ of Don Ferrante Gonsaga, where he makes mention of the Apostolick sea, he did not stick to say, That her greatness was Cae∣sars particular care; and whilst Goseleni was about to defend what he had said, he was bid to go make Ballads, invented for flattery, it be∣ing the business of History to write real truths. And because Girola•…•…o Conestaggio, Conestaggio, Gentleman of Genua, had taken his History of Portugal out of the Delfick Library, which had been there many years before,

and had in lieu thereof given in another edition of the same History, which (as he said) was corrected in some places: The overseers of the Library, finding that he had rather abused then corrected that edition, which he had not reprinted (as he gave out) for the general good, but to give satisfaction to some, whose reputations were deservedly taken by him, he was told, That if he did not bring back the first edition in∣to the Library within eight days, the Assembly would put some affront upon him. For the ruine of the Portugueses being occasioned by those who had the care of instructing King Sebastian in his youth, it was very necessary, that by the unhappy end of so great a King, and by the mise∣rable calamities of the Portugueses, Princes should be taught to know, that the learned masters which are to have the care of breeding up their children in their youth, ought to be Commanders of tryed valour, and Senators of known Politick prudence.