life has generally proved disagreeable. In perfons of rank and circumftances, there are few inftances, if any, of regard being paid to the better judgment of the man. The endearing benefit of abfolution, and a perfect deliverance from frights and fears of the most affecting kind, must be very engaging arguments with the weaker fex. Strong and confident affertions, high and mighty promifes, with which the agents of Rome abound, are to them far more affecting and convincing, than the utmost clearnefs and ftrength of argument. I will not proceed to many other confiderations, but conclude with a very interefling particular, which feems not to have been commonly known. It must have been of great and comfortable importance, in fixing the adherence of the ladies to fuch faculties and privileges.

In the collection of letters and other writings relating to the pipih plot, in the hands of G. Triby, Efq; and published by order of the House of Commons, 1680. at pag. 122 and 123. we have the Latin criginal, attended with a tranflation, faculties and privileges granted to the right rev. father in God, John Laker, an English prieft; to be by him extended unto and executed, in the kingdoms of England and Scotland, and all other the dominions of the king of Great Britain,

excepting Ireland. The 4th, which is to our prefent purpose, is as followeth, Of granting a liberty and allowing a right to all from whom due benevolence hath been with-held, or to whom upon any pretence it hath been refufed, of demanding and claiming the duties of the marriage bed. The Latin is much shorter.Reftituendi jus petendi debitum amiffum.

MACHIAVE L's

VINDICATION

O F

HIMSELF and his WRITINGS,

AGAINST

The IMPUTATION of IMPIETY, ATHEISM, and other HIGH CRIMES:

EXTRACTED FROM

His LETTER to his FRIEND ZENOBIUS;

And TRANSLATED into ENGLISH,

By MR. NEVILLE*.

See the Life of Mr. Neville, prefixed to the last edition of his Dialogues on Government, printed for Mr. Millar, in the Strand.

L-3

MACHIAVE L's

VINDICATION

OF

HIMSELF and his WRITINGS, &c.

T

HE difcourfe we had lately (dear Zenobio) and the preffing importunity of Guilia Salviati, that I would ufe fome means to wipe off the many afperfions caft upon my writings, gives you the prefent trouble of reading this letter, and me the pleasure of writing it.

I have yielded, you fee, to the entreaty of Guilio, and the reft of that company, for that I esteem it a duty to clear that excellent fociety from the fcandal of having fo dangerous and pernicious a person to be a member of their converfation: For by reafon of my age, and fince the lofs of my liberty, and my fufferings under that monster of luft and cruelty, Alexander de Medici,