The XLI. ADVERTISEMENT.
The Censors of Parnassus, having by order from Apollo, published a rigorous Edict against Hypocrites, are forced to moderate it, by reason of a weighty particuler discove∣red unto them by Plato.
THe publike Censors of this Court, having learnt for certain, that a kind of goodness which is lately discovered in some of the Litte∣rati of Parnassus, is but a composure of artificial appearances, and real falshood, and that hellish hypocrisie gets every day more footing in mens minds, to the end that all Parnassus may not be infected with so contagious a disease, published by order from his Majesty, a severe Edict six days ago against Hypocrites. And is it not a great wonder that Plato himself who is held by all the Vertuosi of Parnassus to be the true Idea of all purity and sincerity, and the very pattern of goodness, should presently appear before the Censors Tribunal, and openly oppo∣sing himself to the Edict which was so generally well received, saying with his wonted freedom, that through the manifest ignorance of mo∣dern men, in judging upon the true condition of mens manners, it was a very pernitious resolution which was tane in Parnassus, to extirpate all that Hypocrisie, by which in these unfortunate times, even good men were forced to keep up their reputation; for plain-dealing men, peo∣ple of open hearts and cleer mindes, enemies to cunning and double dealing, who in former times were honored and admired like so many Demi-gods, were so far from being well esteemed of in this present Age; as to speak the naked truth, and to proceed in all a mans actions with sincerity, were nor esteemed good nor vertuous things, but rather scurrility, a relaxed life, a licentious way of proceeding, an unpolisht be∣haviour; wherefore even the best men, and those that formerly walked