3 It is in the Harleian Miscellany, v. 298, and a copy of
the meanly printed original is in the Ticknor Collection,
Boston Public Library.
This little pamphlet was put out in the poorest dress possible,
bespeaking a press of meagre equipment, and a printer without an idea
of the form which even the leaflet can assume in skilful hands. Without
imprint, author's name, or any mark of identification, it indicates a
secret impression and [33]issue--one of the many occasional pamphlets
which appeared at the time from "underground" shops which least of all
wanted to be known as the agent of publication. Neville either avowed
the authorship or it was traced to him, and the displeasure of Cromwell
and banishment from London followed.
In 1681 he printed "Discourses concerning Government," which was much
admired by Hobbes, and even Wood admits that it was "very much bought up
by the members [of parliament], and admired: But soon after, when they
understood who the author was (for his name was not set to the book),
many of the honest party rejected, and had no opinion of it" A later
writer describes it as an "un-Platonic dialogue developing a scheme
for the exercise of the royal prerogative through councils of state
responsible to Parliament, and of which a third part should retire every
year."{1} Reissued at the time under its better known title--"Plato
Redivivus"{2}--it was reprinted in 1742,{3} and again by Thomas Hollis
in 1763.