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 XCIX. ADVERTISEMENT.

Apollo having received news by an express Poet, whereat he was much rejoyced, communicates it to his Literati with great Iubile.

SO greatly is Apollo pleased with mens vertuous proceedings, as he doth maintain an infinite number of men, not only in Italy, and the other parts of Europe, but in all parts of the world where Learning flou∣risheth, to whom he gives large Salaries, to give him speedy notice by expresses of all the honorable actions, and worthy works, that either a∣ny Prince, or privat man doth perform in any whatsoever Kingdom. Which being after freely communicated by his Majesty to his beloved Literati, serves them for a learned and useful Lecture. This was the cause why the Royal Hall of Audience was filled betimes the next mor∣ning with an infinite number of the Literati of Pernassus, who had heard, that on Tuesday about eight of the clock at night, a Poet was come unto his Majesty, that they might partake of the news he brought from Italy, which being the Soveraign Queen of all Provinces, the Su∣preme Monarch of all the most famous Kingdoms of the world, and the particular Seat of all the most reputed Sciences, is not only looked upon by Apollo, and all the other favourable Planets, but by all the fixt Stars, with those benigne aspects which beget in men the vivacity of a sprightly genius, born to new inventions of the quaintest and ra∣rest things, and the knowledg how to talk well, and do better, toge∣ther with the delightfull vain of writing learnedly, and the easie appre∣hension of all the Liberal Sciences. Apollo appearing then in the Hall, drew first the Letters from out his bosom, which were brought to him by the Post from Italy, and shewing them to all the lookers on, said, My beloved Literati, the world which never ceased in producing Princes of eminent vertue, and private men of excellent Learning, will likewise for ever hereafter produce great store of the like; for by Gods parti∣cular goodness, Learning, which by the inundation of barbarous people, hath some time been seen to go less, cannot notwithstanding perish. Re∣joyce then all of you together with me, be blithe and chearfull; for so the acceptable and happy news requires you to be, which I have now received from Italy, where my most vertuous Francisco Maria della

Rovere, Duke of Urbin, and the Prince of all the modern Literati, per∣ceiving that that sacred Justice, which eternal God hath pleased should inhabit upon earth, to the end that there should no difference arise a∣mongst men touching Meum and Tuum, and that it be not suddenly lul'd asleep by the unfortunate labours of an infinite number of Law∣yers, who by their writings have buried the wholsom Laws in the ditch∣es of cautions, and confusions, so as it is now become prejuditial to that height, as Suits at Law, may now be added as a fourth plague to the former three, wherewith the living God is wont to scourge mankind; a punishment which afflicting the mind, and consuming the wealth of whatsoever rich Patrimony is more cruel then their War, Plague, or Famin: A disorder which, my beloved, is the more harmful to human kind, for that though it be known, and complained of by every one, yet hath it been given over as an uncureable disease, nor was there ever any Physitian found yet, who durst undertake the amendment thereof; but that God who by his inscrutable Judgements hath suffered such a disorder to reign thus long amongst men, now at last hath out of his in∣nate goodness which suffers not mischiefs nor errors to reign long upon earth, raised up a new Justinian, who hath drawn sacred Justice, out of that obscurity and confusion, wherein the unwary Lawyers by their im∣broiled writing had thrown her: For the Illustrious Francisco Mario della Rovere, hath set forth a holy Edict, which commands that no Ad∣vocate in pleading for his Clyent before any Judge of his State, shall be suffered to alleadg any thing but the very Laws themselves, Accur∣sius his Gloss, the Comment of Bartolo, Baldo, Paolo de Castro, Giasone; and in criminal affairs, Angelo de Maleficii, and some few others: This is so excellent a Decree, my beloved, as I cannot but with tears call to mind, that Law-Suits have been so inhumanely immortal in all Tribu∣nals, as that more disputes have been raised, then have been able to be decided in any one mans life-time. And yet every one knows, that e∣ven amongst the Turks (who are wise in this point, though ignorant and without books they have been known to be resolv'd and decided at one only Audience. Add to this, my beloved, that the most pernitious disease of everlasting pleadings, which ought to have been banish'd out of the Territories of all Princes who fear God, and covet their peoples welfare; is for the final infelicity of man, become a dreadful and mor∣tal Merchandize of unprofitable men, who whilst they suck the vital bloud out of Artificers, husbandmen, Merchants, and others that are of service for Commerce, and waste all their wealth; nothing is so much magnified in the world, as the great incomes left by Advocates, Notaries, Sergeants, Proctors, and Judges. His Majesty having said this, he went accompanied by an infinite company of Vertuosi who had heard him, to the chief Temple of Pernassus; whither being come, he beseeched God that he would grant many years of long life to Fran∣cisco Mario, for the universal good, that he would fill the world with Princes of like conditions, and that he would awake the like honora∣ble and holy thoughts in other earthly Potentates, as so wise a Prince had put in execution in his happy Patrimony; for it was a misery and affliction not to be indured by the best composed minds, to sea the ad∣ministration of Justice reduced to that confusion, as the common, more common, nay most common opinions of privat Doctors being more

alleadged at the bar, then the Authority of the Law it self, Suits were grown so chargeable and so eternal, as it were better for men to part with their patrimonies, then to defend it with much anguish of mind before such cruel Harpyes.