OSBORNE, Francis.

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Politicall Reflections Upon the Government of the Turks. 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

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