Poets Laureat, of being allowed to keep Parrets in his windows, and Apes at his gate. It is strange, that upon this occurrency, Tasso did not only make himself known to deserve the honour which his Majestie had done him, but worthy of much higher preferments. For he did not as many others do, who being exalted by Fortune, or by the pleasure of Princes, from a mean condition, to Supreme Dignities, think it is suffici∣ent if they put on the Stately Robe of that new Magistracy, though they leave their souls covered with an old base jacket, made of course cloth, and all tattered; but he immediately after having received so high an honour▪ clothed his soul with those Heroick and Royal Vertues, which becomes a Poet Laureat. For at the very instant that he received those Royal Ensignes from his Majesty, he kept open Court in his house for 40 daies together; in all which time, the Vertuosi of all professions were fed with such abundance and curiosity of delightfull Viands, as there was not any one Litterato in all Parnassus, who did not gorge himself with vertuous Composures, more then his stomack could digest, and who was not drunk with his savory conceptions. And all this with so great plen∣ty of all exquisite Science, as his Majesty and all the Muses marvailed ve∣ry much how the unexhausted multitude of so many elegant conceits, disht in with the choicest phrases, and smoothest way of delivery, could be served out by so fruitfuul a wit. But during this Jubile, and this Feassio'•…•… celebration, which gave general satisfaction, some pilfering Poets broke o∣pen Tassos most privat desk, where he kept his choicest Compositions, and stole away Aminta, which they divided amongst themselves; an in∣jury whereat Tasso was so much grieved, as it imbittered all his past de∣lights. And the Authors of so shameful a theft being discovered, and pursued by the Sergeants, they fled into the house of immitation, as into a secure sanctuary; from whence they were taken by the Provost Marshal, by Apollos express command, and shamefully led to prison. And one of them being found with the Prologue of the said Pastoral about him, he was forthwith punished according to the Sergeants custom, and question∣ed super aliis, & complicibus. Whereupon the wretch having the rope on, named 40 of his companion pick pocket. Poets, all of them base peo∣ple, who being given over to play, and to all lewdness, tend nothing else but to steal away the conceits of others labours, making themselves mer∣ry therewithall, abhorring to live gloriously in the world by the labour of their own studies. Urbanus the chief Justice, using the due rigor of the Law upon these sawcy companions, sentenced them to the Gallows; and the other morning many Gibbits were set up in the chief Market∣place, at the number whereof Apollo being much moved, he told the Judge, that though those thieves deserved the utmost punishment, he should notwithstanding give them some other severe exemplary chas∣tisement; for the detested cross-bars of Gallowses, made Justice be inter∣preted cruelty: They therefore deserved the name of good Officers, who made themselves known to be well sighted in forbidding faults; whereas such as thirsted after bloud, seemed to take delight in having Gal∣lowses often seen in the Piazzas, thinking that they had betterd their con∣dition, when they had got the name of being great Hangmen.