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 LXVIII. ADVERTISEMENT.

The great Emperor Maximilian the first, having said in a great Assembly of the chiefest Princes of this State, that the Mahometan Religion was nothing but Policy, proves by ••••cellent reasons to the very teeth of the Ottoman Mo∣narchy, who complained hainously thereof to Apollo, that he had said nothing but truth.

VVHilst some daies ago the Emperor Maximilian the first, Lo∣dovick the eleventh King of France, Matthias Corvino King of Hungary, Stephano Battori King of Poland, and the famous Andrea Gretti, Prince of the Venetian Republick, were reasoning together (as it is the custom of great Princes to do) touching the affairs of the world, they spent much time in considering the greatness of the Ottoman Em∣pire; and whilst every one spake their opinion of that Government, The Emperor Maximilian did freely confess that there were many Military Disciplines practised in the Ottoman Empire, which were worthy of ad∣miration, but that the Mahometan Sect was throughout so impure and foul, as it seemed to be altogether unworthy the practice of men; and that a desire of piety was manifestly seen in many Institutors of Divine Laws, although the Religion which they profest, was notoriously false; their errors being occasioned meerly out of their ignorance of Divine things; but that the infinite impieties which were discovered in the Ot∣toman Sect, were wholly malitious in giving Laws to her followers; Ma∣homet having proved himself to be a better Politician then Divine; it being clearly seen, that to purchase followers who would imbrace that new Sect, he had more respect in the forming of his Alcharon to satisfie the body then the soul, and to aggrandize an earthly Kingdom, then to make others gain Heaven. And that in other Sects, the Institutors there of made use of Divine Precepts, for the bettering of human affairs, very cunningly cloaking over all their impieties, lest people when they should come to the knowledge of their foule hypocrisie, might be scan∣dallized. But that Mahomet alone, out of a meer greediness of Govern∣ment, did affrontedly laugh at sacred things, to raise the value of pro∣phane ones.

These words, though they past between Princes of such eminency, were suddenly brought to the Ottoman Monarchy, who took them so ill, as he immediatly gave the Emperor Maximilian to understand by a Bas∣sa of his, that he would, as it became him to do, defend with his Arms, the contrary to all that he had spoken to the prejudice of his Laws; and at the same instant that he sent this Ambassy, he made ready his nume∣rous Army. Maximilian nothing affrighted at this defiance, summon∣ed the Diet at Ratisbon, that he might have such assistance from Germa∣ny against so potent an enemy, as is usually given either first or last.

Apollo, who was soon acquainted with this news to the end that he might appease those two great Monarchs, called an Assembly of all the Princes the next day; who when they appeared, he much complained of the Ottoman Monarchy's barbarous proceedings, since even in Pernassus, where argumentations, and difference in opinion being only decided by the rule of truth, he had dared to use force.

He then told them, that he had summoned that honorable Assem∣bly, only that they might hear from the Emperor Maximilian's own mouth, all he reasons which had induced him to accuse the Mahome∣tan Sect, as being composed of nothing but Policy. His Majesty after∣wards commanded the Emperor to begin his Justification. Whereup∣on Maximillian, with such Majesty as became him, began thus.

I was moved to say that the Mahometan Sect was nothing but Poli∣cy, meer ambition, and interest of Reigning, and that the first Institu∣tors thereof were more ambitious then pious, out of these clear reasons. For that Mahomet, to the end that his Armies might be free from those incumbrances, and expence of Wine, wherewith the Militia of Christi∣an Princes is so much molested, did forbid the use thereof to those of his Sect; a Precept wholly Political, as that which frees the Turkish Souldier from that expence which doth so abound in the Christian Mi∣litia, particularly where there be Dutchmen, or Northern Souldiers, who consume more in drinking, then in meat, clothes, or even in pro∣viding themselves with Arms. Moreover the great advantage which their Princes receive from their Souldiers sobriety, though it be known to all men, yet are they more particularly known to me, who whilst I made war in the world, was much more troubled with my Dutch Soul∣diers drunkenness, then with my enemies Arms. Add to this, that whereas amongst the Turks, the fields serve either for arable ground, or pasture, our grounds are encumbred with vines. The other more then Political Institution of the Mahometan Law is, That the great∣ness of a Prince consisting in the multitude of his Vassals; the Maho∣metan Law, to the end that her Disciples may have so great a benefit, permits them by a rare example of unbounded lust, to have at one and the same time, but in divers places, plurality of wives, and as many con∣cubines as they please, without any sin unto their soul, or prejudice to their honour: A thing which more resembling the Custom of Beasts, then any Institution of Man, is altogether unfitting to be named, much more to be practised by any Nation: A Law, which by reason of the unexhaustible multitude of children which the Fathers of Families have in the Ottoman Empire, is altogether Political: For the infinite num∣ber of Turks serves not only for abundance of food for powder in the Ottoman Wars, but to reap the same benefit, which we Christian Princes doe out of that trite politick precept, of keeping the people low: For the custom which many of us have of burthening the people with extraordinary Taxes and Impositions, so to keep them low, and by the severity of our penal Laws, which are now become matter of mo∣ney, are things which breeding ill bloud in our Vassals, doth oft-times make them rebel. But wise Mahomet hath only known how to keep the people low perpetually, and yet with their delight and satisfaction, which was never yet known to any other Politick Legislator; for in∣finite number of children being of necessity to be born unto the Turks,

through their plurality of wives, and abundance of concubines, Politick Mahomet, to the end that he may bring the wealthiest Families in a short time to beggery, hath not been ashamed to command in his Alcharon, that Bastards, which are by all Laws so much detested, should share e∣qually in paternal inheritance with children lawfully begotten. And if it be true which I have often read, and heard said, That a Tailor of Con∣stantinople shewed Solyman the Emperor thirty of his sons, and that one Giambelat, a man famous amongst the Turks for his fruitfulness, had eight sons born in one and the same night, and left fourscore sons a∣live when he died, what is the richest inheritance of whatsoever Turk alive, which being equally divided amongst so many children, will not beco•…•… •…•…r, and their Families be perpetually kept low, and forced to beg th•…•… pay of their Prince by following the Wars? And if that be true, which we Princes have daily experience of, That the Souldier that fears not death, overcomes all difficulties which he undertakes, and hap∣pily compasseth his end, whatsoever it be, and that it be impossible to withstand the most inconsiderable man that is, who despiseth his own life; what more politick and devillish precept could be infused into men by any ambitious Legislator, thereby to get the government of the whole world, then that of fate, which wicked Mahomet hath injoyned his followers to believe? Who being shamefully seduced by so false a Doctrine, believe firmly that all men have the prefixt and inevitable day of their deaths written in their forehead in Divine Characters, though not discernable by the eye of man. A Law as wicked before God, as greatly miraculous to aggrandize an Empire, to which infernal institu∣tion, the extent of the Ottoman Empire is solely attributed.

To these may be added the other powerful precept, That it is not lawfull for the Ottoman Emperors to restore any Kingdom to any what∣soever Prince, where they have built a Moschey. A Rule, which (as every one may easily discern) is only made to overcome the great difficulty which all Princes meet with, of keeping States newly acquired, and to make the Militia so obstinate in the defence thereof, as those Provinces which were conquered by victorious arms, are only lost by such arms as were conquered. Nor is the Decree given to the Ottoman Emperors, less politick then this, that they shall not be allowed, either for the main∣taining of their memory alive, or for the burial of their bodies, or out of any pious zeal, to build any Moschey, unless they have first acquired some Kingdom; a Law only instituted to excite the basest and most cowardly minded Ottoman Emperors, to the ambition of glory, and pro∣pagating Empire. But of all the Precepts that I have touched upon, or that can be related by any other, there is none, in my opinion more po∣litical, then that of their not admitting of any women into their Mos∣cheys, to pray there; a most wicked Law, and which doth manifest, that the Mahometan Sect doth more affrontedly make use of Religion as a pretence whereby to reigne, then any other Sect that was ever heard of. For what doth such a Law denote, but that Mahomet is content to oblige only the Masculine sex to sacred things, to the end that he might from them receive the advantage of loyalty, obedi∣ence, and meekness of spirit, and of the curb of piety, which modera∣ting mans too great inclination to sensuality, makes him keep the right rode of not offending any one; and receive the other advantages which

by a well-regulated Religion, men partake of from peaceable commerce; which because he cares not to receive from women, who are not apt to raise insurrections, to acquire nor keep States, he is content to say, only to keep them from falling headlong into all kinde of lasciviousness, when they shall see themselves utterly excluded from all heavenly glory; that if they live chastly, they shall, when their lives are ended in this world, pass into a place, where if they do not enjoy the blessings of heaven, they shall not at least suffer any evil; a shameful Doctrine, and such a one as never any Legislator durst dream of, in making a foolish and igno∣rant division, or distinction between the souls of men and women. I shall conclude this my justification with this last and chiefest Politick Law; That Mahomet knowing very well how much it mak•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Mo∣narchy, that Monarchs should keep their Vassals in exact obedience, as is due to all that reigne, hath not stuck to say, that those mens souls shall not share of salvation in the world to come, who for any faults committed by them, or for any other misdemerits, die in their Princes displeasure. As if a man how wicked soever he be, may not reconcile himself to God, either by contrition, repentance, or condign penance for offences done unto man.

Though the colour which appeared in the Ottoman Monarchies coun∣tenance shewed plainly how much she was confused, yet according to her accustom'd affrontedness, she would have reply'd, when Apollo beck∣ning to her to be silent, asked her, whether it were true or no, that by the Mahometan Law, no man might dispute touching the Articles of her Faith, but that it was to be made good by force of Arms; and the Ottoman Monarchy answering, that it was true, Apollo reply'd, that she her self had confest those things to be true, which the Empe∣ror Maximilian had affirmed. For as wealth honestly come by by good men, was maintained and defended by Justice, and plundered goods, by the same violence by which they were taken; so truth was defended by reason, but falshood by violence and obstinacy.