Machivael's [sic] discourses upon the first decade of T. Livius, translated out of the Italian. To which is added his Prince. With some marginal animadversions noting and taxing his errors. By E.D.

CHAP. XXV.

Whosoever would reforme an ancient state in a free city, let him retain at least the shadow of the old customes.

HE that hath a minde to reforme the state of a City, to bring it into liking, and the better with every ones satisfaction to main∣taine it, is forc'd to keep the forme or shadow of the ancient customes, to the end the people perceive not the change of them, though in∣deed they are quite new, & farr different from the fore-past. For they generally satisfy them∣selves as well with that that seemes to be, as that that is. Nay rather are they many times more mov'd with appearances, then truthes. And for this cause, the Romans knowing this necessity, when first they lived free, having in change of one King created two Consuls, would not suffer them to have more then twelve Lictors, because they should not outgo the number of those that attend on the King. Moreover, when the yearly sacrifice was made in Rome, which could not be done without the presence of the King, and the Romans willing that the people, by the absence of a King, should not find a lacke of any of the old ceremonies, created a head of the said sacrifice, whom they call'd the King Priest; who yet was lower in

degree, then the high Priest. So that this way the people was satisfied of that sacrifice, and never had any occasion by any default in it, to wish their Kings again restored. And this they all ought to observe, that would cancell the old manner of living in a city, and reduce it to a new and free course. For being these novelties somewhat moove mens mindes, there∣fore thou shouldst do well to call thy wits a∣bout thee, and work these alterations in the old mould, as much as might be. And if the ma∣gistrates, both in number, and authority, and durance, differ from the ancient, at least let them keep the same name: And this (as I have said) rather ought he to observe, who meanes to take upon him an absolute authority, which is call'd a Tyranny, for he is to innovate every thing.