1802. ] 
In the year 1512, the family of the Me- 
dici were refored by the powerful affitt- 
ance of Pope Julius IT. and of Ferdinand, 
King of ‘Spain: Lorenzo de’ Medici, the 
eldeft fon ot the deceated Piero, aflamed 
the reins of government, when, as is ufual 
in fuch cafes, all thofe who had held of- 
fices under the republic were removed ; 
and the unfortunate Machiavel, with an 
unfhaken fortitude, underwent ‘the igno- 
miny ard the pains of torture, which were 
inflicted on him for the vain purpofe of 
procuring information redative to the ac- 
tors in the confpiracy. 
tt was under the reign of this Lorenzo, 
who died a victim to his debaucheries, 
that Machiavel wrote his Prince: this 
circumtance may account at once for the 
fatire and the fecrefy of it. 
But to the Vindication: it was wriften, 
it feems, at the preffing importunity of his 
friend Zenobio Buondelmonte, and Gui- 
Jio Salviati, who were defirous that Ma-+ 
chiavei fhould wipe off the many afper- 
fions which were caft upon his writings. 
*« T have yielded (faid he) to the entreaty 
of Guilio, and the reft of that company*, 
for that I efteem it a duty to clear that 
excellent fociety from the fcandal of hav- 
ing fo dangerous and pernicious a perfon 
to be a member of their converfation : for 
by reafon of my age, and fince the lofs of 
my Jiberty, and my futferings under that 
monfter of lufiand cruelty, Alexander de’ 
Medici, fet over us by the divine ven- 
geance for our fins, I can b2 capable of 
no other defign or enjoyment than to de- 
light and be delighted in the company of 
fo many choice and virtuous perfons, who 
now affemble themfelves with all fecurity 
under the happy and hopeful reign of our 
newPrinceGafmo : but that I may 
avoid the loquacity incident to old men, I 
will come to the bufinefs: if I remember 
well, the exceptions that are taken to 
thefe poor things I have publifhed are 
reducible to three: 1. That in all my 
writings I infinuate my great affection to 
the democratical government, even fo 
much fo, as to undervalue that of monar- 
chy in refpeét of it; which latt I do not 
ob{curely in many paffages teach, and, as 
it were, perfuade the people to throw off, 
2. Next, that in fome places I vent very 
great impieties, flighting and vilifying the 
church as author of all the mifgovernment 
in the world, and, by fuch contempt, make 
* That party of friends, probably, who 
were in the habit of meeting at the houfe of 
Cofimin Rucellai, and of difcourfing on to- 
pics of literature and policy. 
Defence of Machiavel. 
441 
way for atheifim and profanenefs. 3. 
Laitly, that in my book of ¢ The Prince,’ 
I teach monarchs all the execrable villa- 
nies that can be invented, and inftruc 
them how to break faith, and to oppre(s 
and to enflave their fubjects.”” 
It is curious to mark the inconfiftency: 
of the firft and third of thefe accufations : 
in the former Machiavel is charged with 
favouring democracy, and in the latter 
with teaching monarchs how to break 
their faith, and to oppre{fs and enflave 
their fubjects! This ts really cutting with 
a two-edged {word. 
Tie charges are feparately repelled : to 
the firft he replies’ with a protefation, 
““ that the animating of private men, ei‘ her 
direétly or indirectly, to difobey, much 
lefs to fhake off any government, how def- 
potical foever, was never in his thoughts — 
or writings.” 
‘Yet (he continues) 
that I may not anfwer this imputation | 
barely by denying, I fhall affert, in this 
place, what my principles are in that 
which the world calls REBELLION, which 
I believe to be not only a rifing in arms 
again{t any government we live under, 
but acknowledee that word to extend 
to all clandeftine confpiracies too, by 
which the peace and quiet of any country 
may be interrupted, and by confequence 
the lives and eltates of innocent perfons 
endangered. Rebellion then, fo defcribed, 
Thold to be the greateft crime that can 
be committed among men, both againft 
policy, morality, and i foro con/cientia ; 
but, notwithttanding all this, it is an of 
fence which will be committed whilff the 
world lafts, as often as princes tyrannize, 
and, by enflaving and oppreffing their 
fubjects, make magiftracy, which was in- 
tended for the benefit of mankind, prove a 
plague and deftruGtion to it; for, let the 
terror and the guilt be never fo great, it 
is impoflible that human nature, which 
confifts of paflion as well as virtue, can 
fupport with patience and fubmiffion the 
greateft cruelty and injuftice, whenever 
either the weaknels of their princes, the 
unanimity of the people, or any other fa- 
vourable accident, fhail give them reafon- 
able hopes to mend their condition, or 
provide better for their own intereft, by 
infurrection.” 
Machiavel then proceeds to recommend 
the exercife of clemency ad moderation to 
princes, and that they fhould return to 
that excellent maxim of the ancients, 
that the intereft of kings and of their 
people is the fame,’ “ which truth (conti- 
nues he) it has been the whole deiign of 
my writings to convince them of, 
2 “* Now, 
