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 XXXVIII. ADVERTISEMENT.

Gonzalvo Ferrante Cordova desires Apollo that the title of Magno or Great may be confirmed unto him, and in∣stead of being granted his request, receives a very unsa∣tisfactory Answer.

GOnsalvo Ferrante Cordova, called by the Spaniards il Gran Capi∣tano, appeared some days ago in Parnassus, with a noble train of many Castilian Gentlemen, and having in a haughty Oration related unto his Majesty, his famous actions in war, demanded the confirmati∣on of the Title Magnns, which was given him by the consent of the whole Militia, and by all the Historians of Europe. Gonzalvo was graciously received by Apollo, who bad him give in in writing all his Military enterprises, and commanded afterwards that they should be diligently examined by Giovani Giovanno Pontano, by Francisco Guic∣chardin, and by the most reverend Paulus Iovius, and that they should make an exact report thereof to the Senate of History, to the end that if they should be found to be such as did deserve the Title of Magnus, they might confirm it unto him by his Majesties Authentick Letters Pattents. Gonsalvo delivered unto those Historians a very perfect Com∣mentary of all his Actions, which were by them diligently examined, and weighed; and afterwards made a full relation thereof in open Col∣ledge, where they resolved what answer should be given to Gonsalvo; who being sent for into the Court, Titus Livy the Master of the Col∣ledge, told in the name of the whole Senate; that they had very ex∣actly considered his war enterprises, and had at last concluded that for what he had done in Granada, being things done under the command of a C. who was his superior, according to the stile of the Court of Parnassus they were not to be reckoned upon, the whole glory of victory in such cases being given to the Captain General, who commanded the Army in chief; and that though he had been General at the business of dri∣ving the Moors out of the Kingdom of Granada, they thought the acti∣on was not such as might deservedly confer the glorious Title of Mag∣nus upon the Commander in chief; for it was no great business for all Spain to drive out a few Moors, who were divided amongst themselves, out of Granada. Then Livy added, that his enterprises done in Affrica, in the taking in of some small places, were not thought worthy to be considered in a subject, who demanding the high Prerogative of the Title of Magnus, must make it manifest unto the world that he had at∣chieved enterprises which were t•…•…ly Great; and that it appeared cleerly by his writings, that he had won all his reputation in Military affairs, in the war which he managed in the getting of the Kingdom of Naples, wherein two field battles were famous and worthy considerati∣on; the one given at Saminara, the other at Garigliano; which if they

were sufficient to purchase a man the Title of Magnus, there were so many Bellisarii, Narsetti, Carli Martelli, Scanderbegs, and other famous Captains in Parnassus, who had done more memorable acts, as their would be more Magni in the world then Parvi, to this Gonsolvo replyed, that he thought that in the Neapolitan war, they ought not to reflect upon particular actions, but to the whole noble work and enterprise which he had gloriously brought to an end, by winning a flourishing and strong kingdom unto his King and Master. Livy replyed, that they had also taken into their consideration, his winning of the whole King∣dom of Naples, wherein he seemed to suffer much in his reputation, as having therein used more fraud, then true Military valor; and th at therefore the History Colledge, had adjudged that Neapolitan enterprise not to deserve the name of an honorable atchievement; and that he was therefore to know that the glorious Title of Magnus was by a par∣ticular Prerogative onely granted to those who had atchieved valiant enterprises, by their meer Military worth and vertue: that therefore the Colledge could not possibly think that Gonsalva could pretend to have won the kingdom of Naples by force of Arms, whereinto being called but a little before as a friend, by the ill-advised Neapolitan Kings; and that he might defend them, afterwards when those unfortunate Kings stood in greatest need of help, and just then when they had put the whole kingdom into his hands, he had the heart to declare himself their Enemy, which whether it was an action fitting to confer the Title of Magnus upon him that did effect it, the History Colledge would make Gonsalva himself judge. Livy said moreover, that his obscu•…•…e Cata∣strophe, might be added to what had been said; misbecoming such a one as Gonsalvo, who desiring to be stiled Magnus, desired to be the Protosavio of the world, since after the acquisition of such a kingdom, not knowing how to secure his reputation, he most ignorantly suffered himself to be disarmed, to have the government of Naples afterwards taken from him, and to be brought back to Spain and be confined, and dye there mad. Gonsalva then exclaimed, and said: That Pompey had made a much more unfortunate end then he, and yet had obtained the title of Magnus. To which Livy answered, that according to the in∣stitutions of Parnassus, those who to compass an Empire lost their lives, or came by any other unfortunate end, lost no reputation; nor had Pompey the great any ways done so, who had always the same generous thought, (though he knew how to conceal it) as C•…•…sar had. In fine, Livy said, That the two inexcusable errors which Gonsalva made in his managing the taking of the kingdom of Naples, did much derogate from his desire, for that he did not onely exceed the bounds of a Com∣manders Liberality, and Authority, when after the conquest of so great a kingdom, by rewarding so many Barons. Commanders, and other deserving men, he had purchast unto himself an attendance of so ma∣ny signal subjects, not having the requisite head of leaving means unto his King to shew himself thankful to those who had served him: and that with affability, and behavior far differing from the austerity of his Nation, he had appeared openly to affect that attendance and love of the Neapolitan Barons, which ought mainly to be avoided by such a oneas he, who was the Officer of a King naturally very jealous, by which foolish proceeding he raised in him those jealousies, which he

could not free himself of without Gonzalva's ruine of reputation; and that the apprehension of affecting the government of other mens kingdoms, was neither given, nor born withal in wise men; for to be lukewarm in such cases, proved always a mortal advice to them that u∣sed it. Gonsalvo was much incenst to hear Livy speak thus, who could not forbear saying that he had served his King with such Loyalty as be∣came a Castilian Baron, that the cunning how to betray a mans Prince, was not known in Spain, and that the Lords of his Nation reputed it a greater honor to receive injuries from their Kings, then to betray them. To this Livy replyed, that if he were of so well a composed mind, he might do well to desire to be stiled an honest man, which should willing∣ly be granted him, and not Magnus, which he should have then deserved when he should have thought it more glorious to dye King of Naples, then to be confined to a poor Castle of Spain, onely for having deserved such a reward as could not be countercambiated by any thing else, then by the ingratitude which was used towards him. Then Gonsalva, with∣out bearing any respect to the place wherein were so many eminent per∣sons, said, that they proceeded unjustly with him; for that blaming his constant loyalty, they affirmed unto him in publike, that he should have received a better reward in •…•…arnassus; if he had been guilty of a thousand trecheries; and that King Ferdinando's ingratitude did not onely not obscure his reputation, but did infinitely add unto his glory; and that the reason of state which taught men that to measure their actions one∣ly by the compass of interest, not by the yard of reputation, was a Do∣•…•…e which better became great Kings and Princes, then such Cap∣tains as he was, in whom Perjuries, Treasons, and I recherie, were al∣ways accounted infamous, whereas the gaining of kingdoms by su∣preme Potentates, though by foul means, were termed glorious at∣chievements. Livy then replyed unto Gonsalva in bitter language, that the Italians were not so ignorant but that they very well knew that the Title which was given him in the business of Naples was Capitano Ma∣jor, which in Italian or in English is General, not Magnus; that he put too great a value upon himself; and that the History Colledge had ra∣ther bereave Bawdy-houses of the Title of Signoria, where it was bu∣ryed through the vanity of Ambitious men, then that they would send the so highly esteemed name of Magnus thither.