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 Sicilian Ambassadors cannot obtain Audience from Apollo; but are disgracefully driven away by his Majesty.

IN the Port of Pindus, about two daies agone there arrived a ship, which set on shore some Ambassadors from Sicily, sent by those of that Island to Apollo, about matters of great importance, who having given his Majesty notice of their arrival, demanded Audience. No soo∣ner did Apollo hear Sicilians named, but he shewed open signes of extream indignation against them, and commanded Luigi Pulci, Pro∣vost Marshal of Campania, to tell them he would not so much as see them, much less hear them; and that therefore they should get them aboard again. For because of that insupportable wrong which he had received from the Sicilians, he had of a long time firmly resolved never to have any commerce more with that Nation.

The Ambassadors returning to their ships, obeyed his Majesties com∣mands▪ To whom they sent an humble Petition, wherein th•…•…y declar∣ed, That they were sent to give his Majesty an account of the new Drudgeries, the unheard of oppressions, the miserable impositions which they suffer from the Spaniards. And that so calamitous were the afflictions wherein the miserable Sicilians found themselves involved, that they not only deserved to be graciously listened to by his Majesty, but were worthy to be pittied and bewailed by the most barbarous Scy∣thians that ever the earth bore.

The Petition was presented to Apollo by the reverend Father T•…•…maso Fazzello, a very elegant Writer of the Affairs of Sicily, who assured his Majesty, that at this present, the miserable condition of the Sicili∣ans surpassed the utmost of all humane afflictions. Apollo told Fazzel∣lo again, that the Sicilians demerits were such, as they had thereby made themselves most worthy of the hard usages whereof they complained so much. That therefore as soon as may be, he should give the Ambas∣sadors to understand, That if within two hours they did not pack out of the Haven of Pindus, he would have without more ado, their ship sunk with his Cannon: For he was absolutely resolv'd not to see the face of any that was of that most unadvised Nation, which was the first Author of those horrid scandals, that had brought excessive miseries up∣on her self, and other people of Europe: For having attracted that in∣humane and ambitious Spanish Nation, before utterly unknown to Ita∣ly, and the other Provinces of Europe, when with fatal resolution, they made themselves subjects to the Kings of Aragon. They then like∣wise gave the beginning to that fatal and cruel Tragedy, whereof did the Italian Princes know what the conclusion of the last Scene of the fifth Act is likely to be, they would keep a perpetual Fast, and upon their naked knees continually pray for the obtaining of Divine aid, to free themselves from those mischiefs, against which it is apparent that humane remedies are not able to do any more good.

Fazzello then reply'd, That his Majesty was not to be offended with the Sicilians; but that Queen Ioane the second, by her ever to be de∣plored adoption of Peter of Aragon, had occasioned the present evils of the Spanish Government in Italy; and that with very good reason, he might vent his discontents against that indiscreet and unchast Lady. To this Apollo answered, That indeed, those who had not an exact in∣sight into Princes secret thoughts (as he for his part had) laid the blame of the present slavery of Italy, upon that Queen; but the truth was o∣therwise: For it was a clear case, that she would never, to defend her self from the French Kings, have fallen into that error, of adopting a Spaniard for her King, had she not first seen him a powerfull one, by his rule over the Kingdom of Sicily: and that the Kings of Aragon were no sooner called to the Government of that Island, but they be∣gan those designs upon Italy, which for the Italians exceeding great tor∣ment, have had but too good success: And that they were all so u•…•…∣questionably deserv'd by the Sicilians, that to seek to lessen the calami∣ties in which they did pennance for the sins of their indiscretion, was as heinous a kind of impiety, as it were an act of highest charity, to make them yet more severe, that they may serve for a manifest exam∣ple to all Nations, what bitter fruits the plant of wicked and cruel reso∣lution doth in time bring forth, when out of a desperate rage, people run headlong into that abyss of subjecting themselves to the dominion of a forrein Nation▪

Fazzello reply'd▪ That all this had been very true, had the Sicilians altered the rule of an Italian King, to make themselves slaves to Barba∣rians: But that having by their Vesper changed the indiscreet and hairbrain'd French, into considerate and grave Spaniards, it seemed that the intention of the Sicilians having been good, deserved not such an odium from his Majesty.

At that, Apollo grew extreamly incens'd againk Fazzello too; and full of indignation, he said to him, And dost thou think that was not a very lewd ignorance of the Sicilians to remove from the insolence, the prodigality, the carelessness of the French Government, to the cru∣elty, to the avarice, and to the insupportable strictness of the Spanish? Were the Sicilians only ignorant of that which is known to every man, that the Dominion of the Spanish over Countries, is eternal: And therefore out of all question, deadly? Whereas the Government of the French is just like a violent fever, though it may be very dangerous, yet it yields one some hope of life, and there are many medicines with which it may be cured; as indeed you cured it with your Sicilian Vespers. A glorious Vesper certainly, had you not by that Physick brought your health into an infinitely worse condition. For, Fazzello, those people that are wise, never take up the Arms of Rebellion, but when they are sure to gain very well by it, and to change bondage into liberty: For the fish which perceives he cannot make his passage out of the boyling oyle into cold water, thinks it less hurtfull for him, to stay in the frying∣pan, than to make an escape, and leap into the glowing fire.