Earth, has a Greater Abhorrence for those Desperate Maxims then my self. As to the Inventing of those Tenets, he made Protestation, that he had no Hand in't at all, and that the Po∣litical Part of his Discourses, was only Copy'd out of the Ge∣neral Practices and Councils of Christian Princes; and that if they pleas'd, he was ready to Instance in the very Presidents. After this, he appeal'd to the Justice of the Bench, whether it were not very hard to make it Mortal, for One Man to write the Naked History of a thing done; and at the same time to allow the very Doing of it to be Praise-worthy in Another. This Plea had brought him off, but for a Fresh Accusation that was Immediately started against him; which was, that he was Taken in the Dark One Night among a Flock of Sheep, putting Dogs Teeth into their Mouths, which must enevitably be the Ruin of the Shepherds; for it could never be Expected that the whole Flock would ever submit to the Government of One, if it had either Teeth, Wit or Horns. Upon the Proof of this Charge, he was Deliver'd up immediately to Justice, and the Law Executed upon him.
The MORAL.
The Secrets of Government ought not to be Touch'd with Unwash'd Hands, and Expos'd to the Multitude; for upon Granting the People a Pri∣viledge of Debating the Prerogatives of Sovereign Power, they will Infer Naturally enough a Right, and a Title to the Controlling and the Over-ruling of it.
REFLEXION.
HE that Exposes the Arts of Government to the People, does in Ef∣fect Appeal to 'em, and give the Multitude some sort of Right to Judge of, and to Censure the Actions of their Superiors. For what is any thing Publish'd for, but to be Read, and to lve consequently at the Mercy of the Reader how to Understand it? As if the Author should say, Gentle∣men, here's a Scheme of Politicks submitted to your Grave Considera∣tion, pray'e what's your Opinion on't? Can any Body think, that in a Question of State Exhibited after this manner, the Mobile will not de∣termine in their Own Favour, and clap what Bias upon the Proposition they themselves please? So that let the Matter be Handled never so Tenderly, 'tis a main Point lost yet; the very Admittance of the Com∣mon People into the Council, and Allowing them to be of the Quorum. Matchiavel Excuses himself well enough, as to any thing of Malice in his Discourses, for (says he) these Maxims are none of My Invention, nei∣ther has any Man living a Greater Abhorrence for those Poysonous Doctrins then my Self; but my Writings are onl yHistorical Notes and Abstracts drawn from the Life of an Universal Practice. Now the Hazzard