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 XXXIX. ADVERTISEMENT.

Many of the French Nobility intreat their Monarchy, that according as the Nobility of Commonwealths do, it may be lawful for them to use Marchandizing; and are by her shamefully denyed.

MAny of the Nobility of France, went some few days ago to visit the illustrious Venetian Liberty, and though they did much ad∣mire the Laws of living free, the excellent orders by which she maintains her self in that Liberty, which is now so hard to be found amongst men, yet they infinitely admire, and envy the greatness of the Noble Venetians, and did chiefly wonder, that the prime Senators of so excelse a Commonwealth, did freely exercise marchandising, which their Kings of France had declared to be mechanick, and they thought it very strange that the French Nobility should be made to believe, that the exercise of Arms, wherein men usually lose all their own estate, should be more Noble then that of Marchandise, which doth very much inrich men. Wherefore some of the prime Nobility of France, appeared not many days ago before their Monarchy, humbly desiring that she would be pleased, to declare by publike Edict that it was as honorable for her Nobility to follow Traffick and Marchandising, as it was held to be in the famous Commonwealths of Venice, Genua, and in many other Re∣publicks. The French Monarchy was much moved at this unexpect∣ed request; and as if something of unseemly, or misbecoming had been asked her, she with injurious words and an angry countenance, bad them be gone; and they thinking themselves greatly wronged, by be∣ing in so severe a manner denyed a request which they thought to be so just, appealed presently to Apollo, to whom they gave a particular ac∣count of all that had past between them and their Monarchy, and made the same request unto his M•…•…jesty. Apollo, who thought the French Nobility had demanded nothing but what was just, signifyed un•…•…o the French Monarchy, that if she should not satisfie her Nobility in the point that they might follow marchandising, without any ble∣mish to their honor, he could not choose but gratifie them therein. When the French Monarchy heard so great a novelty, that she might prevent so great a r•…•…ne which she foresaw was likely to fall upon her, came presently before Apollo, to whom she said, that his Majesty knew the true basis of her greatness, and her chiefest power lay in the swords of her Nobility, who having drunk in the opinion together with their milk, that merchandising was a thing as becoming Mechanick men, as mis-becoming those that were nobly born, and that the mystery of war, the managing of Arms, were the true Traffick, and proper Merchan∣dise of the Noblesse: and that to overthrow those solid foundations, would be no better then to annihilate not onely the kingdom of France,

but those likewise of Spain, England, Poland, and other Monarchies; which knowing very well the great necessity that powerful Potentates have of always keeping their Noblesse armed, had by mysterious cuning kept them from any thought of Merchandising, and that it was most certain that as soon as her Noblesse should taste the sweets of Trading, they would presently throw away their Arms, whereunto they were bred up, preferring the continual gain of Traffick, before the perpe∣tual expence of war; and that the effect which the use of Merchan∣dising produced amongst Senators, was plainly seen in all Common∣wealths, where for greediness of maintaining Traffick, they were seen to be too much inclined to peace. The same Monarchy did likewise put his Majesty in mind of the necessity she had of keeping her Noblesse in Arms, for she had found in all her most important actions, that a few of the Noblesse had overcome great Armies of Plebeians; for there was no comparison to be made between the valor and fidelity of the Noblesse who fought to win their Princes favor, and to purchase glory; and those foot taken up in the streets, who took up Arms onely for the poor gain of three Crowns a month. Apollo was much satisfy∣ed with these reasons alleadged by the French Monarchy; wherefore he not long after told those French Noblesse, who were returned to re∣ceive an answer of their business, that having reflected maturely upon their request, he thought it not convenient, that the French Noblesse famous throughout all the Nations of the world, for being born war∣riers, and whose true element was the perpetual managing of Arms, should now obscure their glory by the sordid gain of Merchandise; and that the ends of Republicks did very much differ from those of Monarchies: for the exercise of Merchandise, which by its continual gain did evidently abase mens spirits, made the expence of war seem odious and disarmed those who gave their minds thereunto, was not only good, but very excellent in Commonwealths; where such Senators whose Genius led them to the wars living in perpetual jealousie of their liber∣ty, were not a little suspected in free Countries, who desired that their Senators should rather be prudently wise, and greatly given to peace, then overmuch warlike; and thus were these French Noblesse dismist by his Majesty. And tis publikely said in this Court, that they were so exasperated by this repulse, as one of them was heard to say, O great God! What cheats, what cozenages are these which are put upon the Noblesse in Monarchies? and how can it be conceived by any man, what humane Law, what justice of God doth command, that to gain for a mans self by Merchandise should be thought shameful, and to plun∣der by Arms for others, should be held an honorable imployment.