Politicall Reflections Upon the Government of the Turks. Nicolas Machiavel. The King of Sweden's descent into Germany. The conspiracy of Piso and Vindex against Nero. The greatness and corruption of the court of Rome. The election of Pope Leo the XI. The defection from the church of Rome. Martin Luther vindicated. By the author of the late Advice to a son.

OSBORNE, Francis.

Edité par London: printed by J.G. [John Grismond] for Thomas Robinson in Oxford, 1656 [i.e. 1658]

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Second edition of this series of political essays, important for including a defence of Machiavelli, and a commendation of the Ottoman government, both much opposed to the general opinion of the time. The essay on Machiavelli praises his truthful exposition of the reality of power as actually practised. The essay is derived from Bovey's 1642 Atheisticall Polititian, expanded with new material. Machiavelli's ideas are presented as the craft of politics, the means by which a government can be well-run and well-ordered. Osborne similarly shares Machiavelli's controversial view of religion as a political device (Raab, p. 164). The Machiavellian influence can also be seen in the essay on the Turkish government, which uses the Islamic system as a model for European government and a barometer for its failings. The essay is "one of the most remarkable texts on Islam and the Ottoman Empire of the early seventeenth century. Osborne hailed Islamic principles and their socio-political ramifications while lamenting the unceasing Christian internal strife, blood shedding and persecutions. He also highlighted the Muslim unity in diversity and toleration of dissent. Muslim separation of Church and state, civil liberties, religio-political arrangements, rationalism, minimalism, tolerance and spirituality were the secrets of Ottoman civility, unity, morality, prosperity, good governance and expansions" (Shah). There are two editions dated 1656. This is identified by Madan as the second, an "Oxford counterfeit" of the original which was printed in London; "it may be assumed that this edition was really printed in 1658", as advertised as newly published in the 1658 edition of Osborne's Advice to a Son. There was a third edition in 1662. ESTC R23027; Francis Madan, "Some Notes on the Bibliography of Francis Osborne", Oxford Bibliographical Society, vol. IV, 1952, p. 58. Felix Raab, The English Face of Machiavelli, 1964; Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Islam and The English Enlightenment: The Untold Story, 2022. Duodecimo (144 x 78 mm). Contemporary blind ruled sheep. Slight rubbing to binding, minor sticker residue to front cover, contents lightly toned, still a very good, well-preserved copy.

N° de réf. du vendeur 157744

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Politicall Reflections Upon the Government of the Turks. Nicolas Machiavel. The King of Sweden's descent into Germany. The conspiracy of Piso and Vindex against Nero. The greatness and corruption of the court of Rome. The election of Pope Leo the XI. The defection from the church of Rome. Martin Luther vindicated. By the author of the late Advice to a son.
• Éditeur: London: printed by J.G. [John Grismond] for Thomas Robinson in Oxford, 1656 [i.e. 1658]