‎MACHIAVELLI, NICCOLO (+) STEPHEN JUNIUS BRUTUS (also attributed to HUBERT LANGUET and PHILIPPE DE MORNAY)‎
‎Princeps. ex Sylvestri Telii Fulginatis [Machiavelli] (+) Vindiciae contra tyrannos [Brutus].‎

‎[Both works:] (No place but possibly Basel, no printer), 1589. 8vo. In contemporary limp vellum. Extremities with wear and soiling, repair to upper part of spine and back board. Dampstain throughout, primarily affecting first and least leaves. A few worm-tracts throughout, occassionally touching text. (16), 201, (7)" 331, (3) + portrait. ‎

Reference : 61060

‎A most interesting sammelband containing two works on political theory, offering contrasting views on rulers legitemacy and how to exercise power. The two works are: Third Latin edition translated by Sylvestre Tellio of Machiavelli's foundational work of modern political philosophy ""The Prince"", perhaps published in Basel by Pierre Perna like the two previous 1580-editions or in Montbeliard by Jakob Foillet as suggested by “Verzeichnis der im deutschen Sprachbereich erschienenen Drucke des 16. Jahrhunderts” (VD 16). Machiavelli’s work is here as usual accompanied with the anonymous influential Huguenot tract ""Vindiciae contra tyrannos"" first published in 1579 of which authorship is uncertain but is usually attributed to Theodore de Beze, Hubert Languet or Philippe de Mornay. It was published in the Wake of the Saint Bartholomew's Day massacre and seeks through questions to question a King’s legitimatcy: are bound to obey or are able to resist their king when he breaks the divine law? Can the people resist a king on the grounds that he is destroying the commonwealth? Can foreign princes legally support a popular rising against a king on the conditions set out in the first three questions? ""The Prince"" and ""Vindiciae contra Tyrannos"" offer contrasting perspectives on the nature of power, the role of rulers, and the relationship between the state and its subjects. Machiavelli's work is pragmatic and focused on the exercise of power, while ""Vindiciae contra Tyrannos"" is a principled defense of liberty and justice against tyranny. Machiavelli's work is often associated with a cynical view of human nature and politics. He argues that rulers should be pragmatic and willing to act immorally if it serves the interests of the state. ""Vindiciae contra Tyrannos"" takes a more principled stance on morality, emphasizing the importance of justice and the natural rights of individuals. It argues that rulers are subject to moral constraints and that tyranny is fundamentally unjust. Machiavelli's ""The Prince"" is notorious for its pragmatic approach to power. Machiavelli argues that a ruler should prioritize stability and order over moral considerations, and he famously states that ""the ends justify the means."" He advocates for the use of deception, manipulation, and force when necessary to maintain power. ""Vindiciae contra Tyrannos,"" on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of justice and the rule of law. It argues that rulers derive their authority from the consent of the governed and that tyrannical rulers forfeit their legitimacy. The tract provides a theoretical framework for resistance to tyranny, advocating for the right of subjects to resist unjust rule. Adam M-49 Gerber, p. 71, 3. Kress, S. 79.‎