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 LXXXIII. ADVERTISEMENT.

Apollo having highly commended the King of Spains De∣cree, That no Advocates nor Proctors should go into the Indies: The Doctors of Law quarrel grievously with his Majesty for it.

THe abode of Parnassus owes not its happiness only to Apollos excel∣lent Government, nor to its being inhabited by the prime select Wits of the world, but to the vertuous living of her inhabitants, the perfecti∣on of their manners, and to the exquisiteness of all the best Laws which cul'd from out the whole world, are diligently introduced, and observed in that State. For those who live there, are bound to bring with them the best Customs of their Countries: A thing which hath been so advan∣tagious to every privat man, and hath brought so great reputation to the Publick, as it appears evidently, that the Country is to be esteemed hap∣py, which lives not only by her own Laws, but by choice Laws pickt out from all other civil Nations. Wherefore Apollo being informed that the Potent Kings of Spain have upon several penalties prohibited the pas∣sing of any Proctors or Advocates into the Indies, intituled it a most ho∣ly Edict, and highly praised the piety of those Monarchs who have shew∣ed such charity to the new world, as to preserve it from that disease which hath filled the old world with so many sad controversies. His Maje∣stie moreover gave present order that so excellent an Edict should be re∣gistred in a Table of Brass, which should to eternal memory be fixt in the chief Market-place, next to the twelve Tables of the famous Roman Laws. I must not forget to let you know that the Doctors of Law were mightily scandalized hereat, who earnestly recommended unto his Majesty the indempnity of their reputations; saying, that if they might not obtain so much favour, as that this Law might not be published, it would afford occasion to many to imitate the Anconitans, Norcinans, Re∣canetesans, and others, who, with no little dishonor to Learning, had ba∣nished those professers of Law, who were held in so great admiration by other people, as they verily believed nothing could be well said, or done, without the liking of a learned-Lawyer: And that they did the more ear∣nestly beseech his Majesty to consider their case, for that the indempnity of the sacred Liberal Sciences, wherein the Students of Law had spent so much time and monies, was therein likewise concern'd. Apollo, con∣trary to the opinion of all men, was strangely offended at this their pres∣sure, and in great anger answered those Doctors. That he could not but very much wonder at their boldness, who durst affirm in his presence, that they had spent both time and monies in learning the Liberal Sciences, as if the Delfick Law were not sufficiently known to the whole world, wherein the study of the Law was declared to be no Liberal Science, but a meer mechanical mystery, introduced in the world to afflict manking, studied without any delectation of the soul, or speculation of the under∣standing,

and without the assistance of the sacred Muses, which was so ne∣cessary in all good Sciences, and only practised for meer avarice of gain, to fatten a fowl filthy beast with monies, who though he wholly wanted that vivacity of wit, which is so much loved by learning, it was sufficient to become a great Advocate, if he had but an Oxes brain, and a Porters complexion.