Page:The historical, political, and diplomatic writings, Vol. I (Detmold, 1882).djvu/6

iv his death, however, the "Discourses on the First Ten Books of Titus Livius," the Florentine History, and "The Prince," were printed at Rome with the authorization of Pope Clement VII. But disregarding this previous papal permission, Pope Paul IV. ordered these works to be placed in the , which order was confirmed by the Council of Trent in 1564. Eight years later, the commission on the Index proposed to the descendants of Machiavelli to publish an expurgated edition of his works, on condition that the author's name should be suppressed. This offer, however, was indignantly rejected by his grandsons, Giuliano do Eicci, son of the daughter, and Niccolo Machiavelli, son of one of the sons; and thus for centuries his writings remained utterly discredited in Italy.

Bayle in his Dictionary observes that "Machiavellism" and the art of "governing tyrannically by violence and fraud are terms of the same significance"; thus creating the word "Machiavellism," which has been generally adopted in European languages. Later, no less a personage than Frederick the Great, while Crown Prince of Prussia, published his "Anti Machiavelli," which, it is said, he somewhat regretted after having become king; and of which a Frenchman said, with as much wit perhaps as truth, that "the greatest homage which any prince had ever paid to the doctrines of Machiavelli was to have refuted him, so that he might follow his precepts with the greater impunity."

The writings and reputation of Machiavelli became early known in England. Lord Bacon refers to him several times in his Essays, but makes no unfavorable reflections upon him. Shakespeare mentions him three times, and of course takes the then prevailing popular view of his character. First, in the Merry Wives of Windsor, Act III. Sc. 1, the host of the Garter inn exclaims: "Peace, I say! hear mine host of the Garter. Am I politic? am I subtle? am I a Machiavel?" Secondly, in the First Part of King Henry VI., Act V. Sc. 4, when the captive Maid of Orleans pleads for her life on the ground of being with child, and says, "It was Alençon that enjoyed my love," the Duke of York exclaims, "Alençon! that