MACHETE

a tool or weapon half knife and half cleaver, used in Cuba and other tropical countries. 1527), Florentine statesman and author; s. of a lawyer; became clerk in chancery of Florentine republic, 1494; second chancellor and sec., 1498-1512; his political experience among the subtle, worldly people who then led civilization in Renai ance period, and the frequent opportunities afforded by foreign emba ies, account for urbanity, cynicism, and wide knowledge of M’s books. The Christian standard was entirely abandoned; hence Machiavellian ism was synonymous in XVI. cent. with everything that was evil. Throughout his career, however, he showed himself a patriot; to impre on Florence the need for militia he wrote addre to Gonfalonier Soderini, 1506, entitled Disc or so sulla pro vis i one del danaro, a scheme, subsequently adopted, for financing citizen army. He fell from office with return of Medici, 1512, when his reforms were undone and he was exiled; racked and imprisoned on suspicion of having conspired with Boscoli, 1513; released and wrote, in retirement at his country villa, works of politic a) wisdom intended for his native city; I2 Principe, finished 1513, and widely read in MS., was not pub. till after his death; his famous comedy, the Mandragola, was pub., 1524,