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 LI. ADVERTISEMENT.

The Achaians being much incenst against the Duke of Alva, for his cruel proceeding against their two Chief∣tains, take up Arms, and drive him out of their State.

VVHilst the Duke of Alva, after the execution of the two chief Heads of the People (whereof you lately heard) sought to se∣cure his State, by using great severity in the taking away of mens lives, his Countrey grew still more and more unquiet, it not being alwaies true, That to fall at the first, in new gotten and jealous States, to the ex∣tirpating of such as are most eminent, either for birth, attendance, worth, or riches, does free Princes of the jealousies which they have of the No∣bility and people: For some chief men of Achaia, as soon as they saw those two Ring-leaders of theirs put to death, only because they were much esteemed and beloved by the people, began to apprehend their own ruine: And because gallant men cannot live long in fear of danger, they thought it not only a safe way to be speedy, but (not being able to live quietly and void of suspition) they fell chearfully upon rash counsels; many of the best wits of Achaia made themselves the peoples heads, being grieved to see that the love which they bore to those two who made so unfortunate an end, should be judged a fault deserving death. So as the Duke of Alva's severity wrought the effect, which is usual in new Tyrannies which are crept into Free Countries, by reason of the discord between the Nobility and Commonalty, of reuniting the No∣bles and Plebeians in perfect love and charity, that so they may recover that Liberty by union, which they lost by foolish civil discord. The whole people of Achaia therefore, led on by the Nobility, took up arms upon an appointed day, and falling fowle upon their Prince, drove him easily out of the State. And it is now two daies since Alva reco∣vered Parnassus, and came immediately to do his obeysance to his Ma∣jesty, who did not only rece•…•…ve him very coolly, but was sorry that he had been deceived in the good opinion he had had of him. The Duke would have excused himself, and have alleadged reasons for his discrimi∣nation, but Apollo bad him hold his peace, and told him that such a one as he ought to know, that it was unwisely done by them who intended to make a Free People willingly to accept of slavery, to use cruelty (as he had done) at the very first beginning, and open inhumanity against the chief Personages of the State; whereby the people being made to de∣spair, they would try all means to free themselves from that heavy yoak of servitude, which they were unacquainted with; and that a business of such importance must be purchast by length of time, by little and little, insensibly introducing slavery amongst the people, and bereaving them of their Liberty, whilst they were not aware of it. The Duke reply'd, That he had learnt by Augustus his Proscription, by which ex∣tinguishing all the prime Nobility of Rome, he bereaft the people of

their Chieftains, that new Principalities were to be grounded by such means as he had used which counsel he had likewise learnt of Tacitus, who saies, nihil ausuram Plebem principibus amotis. Tacit. lib. 1. Annal.

To this Apollo answered, That he failed alwaies in his resolutions, who governing his own present actions by former examples, had not the same requisite circumstances as they had whom he took for his safe Pre∣sident; and that he ought to have considered, that in new Principalities, he could only safely practise that Ta•…•…quinian Precept of cutting off the heads of the highest Poppies, and which great Augustus knew so well how to put in execution, who had the like circumstances as that great Emperor had, who being armed, and victorious, could not only with safe∣ty make that so famous Proscription, but might easily quel any popular insurrection in Rome, by the same forces whereby he had annihilated the Roman Nobility: And that the Duke wanting that leaning-stock, in the using of the same severities which Augustus had happily practised, was much deceived; and that the example of the unfortunate Duke of Athens, who was called in by the Florentines to Govern their Countrey, being very like his case, did make it clearly appear to the whole world, That Principalities whereunto others are called by reason of the dissenti∣on of Citizens, are not secured by sudden and severe cruelties used a∣gainst the chief Subjects, but by cunningly keeping up, and heightning those divisions between the Nobility and common people, which ha∣ving occasioned the expulsion of the antient Liberty from out the Com∣monwealth, had introduced new slavery; and that such Princes ought, above all things, to keep themselves from doing any thing which might cause such universal distaste, as through meer dispair, might make the people reunite themselves with the Nobility; and that he saw every day more clearly, that the Spaniards wit was miraculous in the well govern∣ing of those people, which being born, and having perpetually lived un∣der Monarchy, received all servitude willingly; but that in Governing Nations that were either naturally Free, and indowed with ample Privi∣ledges, or which being lately past from Liberty into Slavery, Nec totam Libertatem, nec totam servitutem pati possunt. Lib. 1. Hist. was a business which did not suit well with the wits of those Nations, which having Promptum ad asperiora ingenium. Tacit. lib. 1. Annal. were extrordinary Prompti ferocibus.