TheExcellencie

ofaFree-State
Ncptunc, thc Roman god ol thc sca,
inspiring thc nglish rcpublic to maritimc grcatncss.
:nv :no:~s noiiis iinv~vv
avid Vomcrslcy, Gcncral ditor

Thc xccllcncic
ol a FrccStatc,
r, Thc Right Constitution
ol a Commonwcalth
MarchamontNedham

ditcd and with an !ntroduction

by 8lair Vordcn
iinvv:v vuxb
Indianapolis
This book is publishcd by Libcrty Fund, !nc., a loundation cstablishcd to
cncouragc study ol thc idcal ol a socicty ol lrcc and rcsponsiblc individuals.
Thc cuncilorm inscription that scrvcs as our logo and as thc dcsign motil
lor our cndpapcrs is thc carlicstknown writtcn appcarancc ol thc word
lrccdom ( amagi ), or libcrty. !t is takcn lrom a clay documcnt writtcn
about acc n.c. in thc Sumcrian citystatc ol Lagash.
!ntroduction, cditorial additions, and indcx
ac.. by Libcrty Fund, !nc.
All rights rcscrvcd
Frontispiccc: From OftheDominion,or,O.nershipoftheSea, by John
Scldcn, .6a. !magc is rcproduccd courtcsy ol Thc 8odlcian Library,
Univcrsity ol xlord, shcllmark \ct.Ad..6.
Printcd in thc Unitcd Statcs ol Amcrica
c .c , 6 a .
v .c , 6 a .
Library ol Congrcss CataloginginPublication ata
Ncdham, Marchamont, .6ac.6,.
Thc cxccllcncic ol a lrccstatc: or, thc right constitution ol a commonwcalth/
Marchamont Ncdham, cditcd and with an introduction by 8lair Vordcn.
p. cm(Thomas Hollis library)
!ncludcs bibliographical rclcrcnccs and indcx.
isnx ,c6,c (hardcovcr: alk. papcr)
isnx ,c6,c6 (pbk.: alk. papcr)
.. Political scicnccarly works to .cc. a. RcpublicanismGrcat 8ritain
History.,th ccntury. . Grcat 8ritainPolitics and govcrnmcnt.6a.66c.
!. Vomcrslcy, avid. !!. Titlc. !!!. Titlc: Thc right constitution ol a commonwcalth.
,c..x ac.c
a..'6dcaa ac.ccc,
iinvv:v vuxb, ixc.
Allison Pointc Trail, Suitc cc
!ndianapolis, !ndiana 6ac.6
cox:vx:s

Thc Thomas Hollis Library, by avid Vomcrslcy vii

Prclacc ix
Acknowlcdgmcnts xi
Abbrcviations xiii
!ntroduction xv
Marchamont Ncdham and thc nglish Rcpublic xvi
Ncdham and MercuriusPoliticus xxv
Ncdham and TheExcellencie (.66) xliv
Thc Rcpublication ol TheExcellencie (.,6,) lvii
Thc Rcccption ol thc Rcpublication lxxxiii
Ncdham and His Classical Sourccs ciii
Thc Tcxt and thc Notcs cvii
Thc xccllcncic ol a FrccStatc .
To thc Rcadcr
vi
<
Contcnts
An !ntroduction to thc Following iscoursc
Thc Right Constitution ol a Commonwcalth .
All bjcctions Against thc Govcrnmcnt ol thc
Pcoplc, Answcrcd ,
Thc riginal ol All Just Powcr !s in thc Pcoplc ,c
rrours ol Govcrnmcnt, And Rulcs ol Policic ,
Avvvxbix A: Thc dition ol .66 .a,
Tcxtual mcndations .a,
Advcrtiscmcnt .a
Avvvxbix 8: Thc dition ol .,6, .a
Titlc Pagc .a
Thc Prclacc .a
Tcxtual Adjustmcnts .c
Avvvxbix C: Corrcsponding Passagcs ol MercuriusPoliticus .
Thc ndnotcs .
Thrcc thcr ditorials .,
!ndcx .
vii
:nv :no:~s noiii s ii nv~vv

Thomas Hollis (.,ac,) was an cightccnthccntury nglishman who

dcvotcd his cncrgics, his lortunc, and his lilc to thc causc ol libcrty.
Hollis was traincd lor a busincss carccr, but a scrics ol inhcritanccs al
lowcd him to pursuc instcad a carccr ol public scrvicc. Hc bclicvcd that
citizcnship dcmandcd activity and that it was incumbcnt on citizcns to
put thcmsclvcs in a position, by rccction and rcading, in which thcy
could hold thcir govcrnmcnts to account. To that cnd lor many ycars
Hollis distributcd books that hc bclicvcd cxplaincd thc naturc ol lib
crty and rcvcalcd how libcrty might bcst bc dclcndcd and promotcd.
A particular bcncciary ol Holliss gcncrosity was Harvard Collcgc.
!n thc ycars prcccding thc cclaration ol !ndcpcndcncc, Hollis was
assiduous in scnding to Amcrica boxcs ol books, many ol which hc
had had spccially printcd and bound, to cncouragc thc colonists in thcir
strugglc against Grcat 8ritain. At thc samc timc hc took pains to cx
plain thc colonists gricvanccs and conccrns to his lcllow nglishmcn.
Thc Thomas Hollis Library makcs lrcshly availablc a sclcction ol
titlcs that, bccausc ol thcir intcllcctual powcr, or thc inucncc thcy cx
crtcd on thc public lilc ol thcir own timc, or thc distinctivcncss ol thcir
approach to thc topic ol libcrty, comprisc thc crcam ol thc books dis
tributcd by Hollis. Many ol thcsc works havc bccn cithcr out ol print
viii
<
Thc Thomas Hollis Library
sincc thc cightccnth ccntury or availablc only in vcry cxpcnsivc and
scarcc cditions. Thc highcst standards ol scholarship and production
cnsurc that thcsc classic tcxts can bc as salutary and inucntial today as
thcy wcrc two hundrcd and lty ycars ago.
avid Vomcrslcy
ix
vvvv~cv

Thc rcpublican writings ol Marchamont Ncdham arc a landmark in

Vcstcrn political thought. Vriting in thc ycars lollowing thc cxccution
ol King Charlcs ! and thc abolition ol thc monarchy in .6, Ncdham
proposcd an altcrnativc to thc improviscd and shortlivcd constitu
tional cxpcdicnts that lollowcd thc ovcrthrow ol thc monarchy. !nstcad
ol clinging to rcmnants ol thc nativc constitution, urgcd Ncdham, his
countrymcn should rccovcr thc principlcs and lorms ol rcpublican rulc
that had prospcrcd in classical antiquity. A disciplc ol Niccol Machia
vclli, whosc mcthods ol argumcnt hc imitatcd and whosc rcasoning hc
adaptcd to an nglish sctting, Ncdham opcncd thc way lor thc morc
scarching or lcarncd rcpublican thinking ol his contcmporarics Jamcs
Harrington, Hcnry Ncvillc, and Algcrnon Sidncy. TheExcellencieofa
Free-State, publishcd in .66, is thc most cohcrcnt cxprcssion ol Ncd
hams rcpublican thought.
Ncdham was no abstract political analyst. Hc was a hircd journalist.
Likc his closc lricnd and lrcqucnt litcrary ally John Milton, hc pub
lishcd tracts in ordcr to inucncc cvcnts. From .6c to .6 hc wrotc lor
thc Commonwcalth, which had rcplaccd King Charlcss rulc. From .6
onward hc wrotc lor thc protcctoratc ol livcr Cromwcll. Yct bchind
his outward cnthusiasm lor thc ncw govcrnors ol ngland lay sharp
criticisms ol thcir charactcrs and mcasurcs. To rccovcr his mcanings wc
x
<
Prclacc
nccd to probc thc political contcxts ol his writings and to cxplorc his
rclations with thc rulcrs who cmploycd him.
My introduction will attcmpt thosc tasks. !t will also cxplorc thc
circumstanccs that lcd to thc rcpublication ol The Excellencie in .,6,,
thc vcrsion in which it has bccn primarily known. Thc rcappcarancc
ol thc work, undcr thc sponsorship ol thc wcalthy nglish bibliophilc
and commonwcalthman Thomas Hollis, bclongcd to a litcrary cntcr
prisc that has had substantial conscqucnccs lor political argumcnt on
both sidcs ol thc Atlantic. Libcrty Fund, thc publishcr ol thc prcscnt
volumc, was loundcd by thc widcly rcad busincssman Picrrc Goodrich,
with thc aim ol promoting undcrstanding ol idcas ol libcrty. Hollis
had thc samc purposc. !n pursuit ol it hc arrangcd thc rcproduction
and disscmination ol scvcntccnthccntury writings that havc bccomc
known as a canon ol Vhig litcraturc. Although Hollis did not claim,
or achicvc, lor Ncdham a standing cqual to that ol Milton, Sidncy,
or Harrington, hc maintaincd that Ncdhams writing dcscrvcd attcn
tion alongsidc thcirs. Modcrn pcrspcctivcs on thc history ol political
thought vindicatc his asscrtion.
8lair Vordcn
~cxxowivbc:vx:s

ditors nccd thc aid ol cxpcrts and collcagucs and arc gladdcncd whcn,
as in my casc, it comcs with kindncss and gcncrosity. ! warmly thank
Laura Goctz and avid Vomcrslcy, my guidcs at Libcrty Fund, Susan
Halpcrt ol thc Houghton Library at Harvard and Colin Higgins ol thc
Library ol Christs Collcgc, Cambridgc, and scholars Rodncy Allan,
Harald 8raun, Justin Champion, Mark Grccngrass, Rachcl Hammcrs
lcy, Alan Houston, Paul Rahc, and avid Vootton. Two dcbts, both ol
thcm to skilllul and cntcrprising young historians, arc cxccptional: to
Richard Fostcr, whosc assistancc in thc prcparation ol thc tcxt and thc
tcxtual apparatus has gonc bcyond his mcchanical bricl, and to Moscs
Tanncnbaum, who has supplicd mc with invaluablc inlormation about
thc rcccption ol thc cightccnthccntury cdition ol The Excellencie in
Amcrica.
xiii
~nnvvvi ~:ioxs

8lackburnc |Francis 8lackburnc,| MemoirsofThomasHollis, a vols.,

continuous pagination (London, .,c)
E TheExcellencieofaFree-State (London, .66)
H Thomas Hollis, iary, MS. ng. ..., Houghton
Library, Harvard
Knachcl Marchamont Ncdham, TheCaseoftheCommon.ealth
ofEngland,Stated, cd. Philip Knachcl (Charlottcsvillc,
\a.: Univcrsity Prcss ol \irginia, .6)
LP 8lair Vordcn, LiteratureandPoliticsinCrom.ellian
England (xlord, U.K.: xlord Univcrsity Prcss, acc,,
and printing acc)
MP MercuriusPoliticus
xv
i x:vobuc:iox

Marchamont Ncdham (.6ac.6,) was thc pionccr ol nglish rcpub

licanism. His argumcnts lor kinglcss rulc wcrc rst publishcd in bricl
cssays writtcn in .6ca, during thc rulc ol thc Commonwcalth that
lollowcd thc cxccution ol King Charlcs ! in .6. !n .66, whcn li
vcr Cromwcll had bccomc lord protcctor, Ncdham brought thc cs
says togcthcr in his anonymously publishcd tract The Excellencie of a
Free-State; Or, The Fight Constitution of a Common.ealth. His advo
cacy gavc a ncw dircction to nglish political thought. Postcrity has
paid lcss attcntion to him than to Jamcs Harrington, thc othcr ol
thc two most innovativc rcpublican writcrs ol thc .6cs. Harrington,
whosc trcatisc Oceana appcarcd vc months altcr The Excellencie, was
thc morc pcnctrating writcr, but hc lollowcd whcrc Ncdham had lcd. Thc
signicancc ol TheExcellencie was rccognizcd in thc rcign ol Gcorgc !!!
by thc radical Vhig bibliophilc and antiquary Thomas Hollis, whosc
promotion ol works lavorablc to his own conccption ol libcrty madc a
largc impact in uropc and, still morc, in Amcrica. Hollis arrangcd thc
rcpublication ol Ncdhams tract in .,6,. Thc cdition hc sponsorcd was
circulatcd in ngland, rcvolutionary Amcrica, and rcvolutionary Francc.
Sincc thcn thc tract has bccn largcly ncglcctcd until rcccnt timcs, whcn
thc cxpansion ol intcrcst in scvcntccnthccntury political thought rc
vivcd attcntion to it. Now TheExcellencie is brought back into print.
xvi
<
!ntroduction
!n Ncdhams timc as in othcr historical pcriods, political thought
was a rcsponsc to political cvcnts. No writcrs idcas havc bccn morc
closcly wovcn with cvcnts, or bccn lramcd with a kccncr cyc to thcir
coursc, than Ncdhams. To undcrstand thc choicc and purposcs ol his
argumcnts wc must rccrcatc thc circumstanccs that thcy addrcsscd.
1

Marchamont Ncdham and thc nglish Rcpublic
nglish rcpublicanism was a crcation, not a causc, ol thc nglish civil
wars.
2
8clorc thcm, it is truc, wc can nd much skcpticism about
princcly rulc, much complaint about thc tcndcncy ol such rulc to dc
gcncratc into tyranny, and much hostility to thc cvils ol princcly courts.
Vc also nd amplc intcrcst in thc politics and virtucs ol ancicnt rc
publics, as wcll as a thorough acquaintancc with Machiavclli, thcir
most advcnturous modcrn intcrprctcr. Yct thosc prcoccupations wcrc
compatiblc with loyalty to, cvcn vcncration ol, thc nglish monarchy
and thc rights bcstowcd on kings by law and custom. Thc Parliamcnt
that rcsistcd Charlcs !, known to postcrity as thc Long Parliamcnt, sat
lrom .6c to .6, though it was purgcd ol its royalist mcmbcrs in .6a
and ol thc morc cautious or conscrvativc ol its parliamcntarian oncs
in .6. uring thosc thirtccn ycars thc rcvolution was translormcd.
!t took dircctions, and lound targcts, that would havc bccn unimagi
nablc to its initiators. Mcn who wcnt to war with Charlcs ! in .6a
sought to prcscrvc what thcy took to bc thc ancicnt constitution and
.. ! havc discusscd aspccts ol Ncdhams carccr morc lully in Vit in a Round
hcad: Thc ilcmma ol Marchamont Ncdham, in PoliticalCultureandCultural
Politics in Early Modern England, cd. Susan Amusscn and Mark Kishlansky
(Manchcstcr, U.K.: Manchcstcr Univcrsity Prcss, .), pp. c.,, and in LP.
Thc rst publication is mostly conccrncd with thc ycars bclorc .6., thc sccond
with .6.6c.
a. ! ocr accounts ol scvcntccnthccntury nglish rcpublicanism in avid
Vootton, cd., Fepublicanism, Liberty, and Commercial Society, zo,,z,,o (Stan
lord, Calil.: Stanlord Univcrsity Prcss, .), chaps. ., and Rcpublicanism,
Rcgicidc and Rcpublic: Thc nglish xpcricncc, in Fepublicanism:SharedEu-
ropeanHeritage, a vols., cd. Martin van Gcldcrcn and Qucntin Skinncr (Cam
bridgc, U.K.: Cambridgc Univcrsity Prcss, acca), .:c,a,.
!ntroduction
<
xvii
thc sharcd authority ol king and Parliamcnt. !n thcir cycs Charlcs had
subvcrtcd that authority. Hc had brought novcl and illcgal challcngcs
to thc libcrty ol thc subjcct, to parliamcntary privilcgc, and to thc rights
ol propcrty. Charlcs himscll bclicvcd thc Parliamcntarians to bc thc
innovators. !n thc ycar or so bclorc thc outbrcak ol war, thcy ccrtainly
assumcd startling powcrs, both lcgislativc and cxccutivc. Yct thcir ini
tiativcs wcrc cmcrgcncy mcasurcs, justicd in Parliamcnts vicw by thc
kings dcscrtion ol his rcgal obligations. Parliamcnts targct was thc
misrulc ol a particular king, not thc o cc ol kingship.
No onc in .6a would havc prcdictcd thc abolition ol thc monarchy
scvcn ycars latcr. That dcvclopmcnt was thc rcsult ol political cvcnts,
not ol political thcory, which through thc .6cs strugglcd to kccp up
with thosc cvcnts. Thc ncw modcl army, which by .66 had won thc rst
civil war lor Parliamcnt, was radicalizcd in its altcrmath. !t was lurthcr
radicalizcd by thc bricl but bittcr sccond civil war in .6, which it
likcwisc won. Now thc army turncd on its political mastcrs, most ol
whom it suspcctcd ol cntcrtaining too much rcspcct lor thc dclcatcd
king and too littlc lor thc soldicry. !n thc lall ol .6, whilc a par
liamcntary dclcgation ncgotiatcd with Charlcs lor his rcstoration, thc
army rcsolvcd to movc against him. !n cccmbcr it occupicd London
and lorcibly purgcd thc Commons in thc opcration that would bccomc
known as Pridcs Purgc, altcr Coloncl Thomas Pridc, who carricd it
out. Ncxt month thc minority ol Mcmbcrs ol Parliamcnt whom thc
army had allowcd to rcmain, or thc Rump as thcy camc to bc dcrisivcly
callcd, crcctcd a court to try thc king. Thc court convictcd Charlcs as
a traitor to his pcoplc and as a tyrant who had dcclarcd war on thcm
and borc thc guilt ol thc blood thcy had shcd. Hc was cxccutcd on
c January .6.
How would hc bc rcplaccd: Vhcn, lorty wintcrs latcr, Charlcss
youngcr son Jamcs !! lost his thronc, his opponcnts had an altcrnativc
monarch in thc utch Princc Villiam ol rangc, who was rcady to
rulc with his wilc, Jamcss daughtcr Mary. !n .6 no mcmbcr ol thc
Stuart lamily, outragcd as it was by what it vicwcd as thc murdcr ol its
lcadcr, would havc acccptcd cnthroncmcnt at thc hands ol thc murdcr
crs. Charlcss opponcnts wcrc too dividcd to choosc a monarch lrom
xviii
<
!ntroduction
among thcmsclvcs, a movc that anyway would havc commandcd no
scnsc ol lcgitimacy. Yct rcpublican rulc would bc illcgitimatc too. Thc
armys political lcadcrs, livcr Cromwcll and his soninlaw Hcnry
!rcton, did not scck it. !n .6, thcy had lor a timc bccn willing to rcstorc
thc king himscll, on tcrms in somc rcspccts morc gcncrous than Parlia
mcnts. !t is truc that by that timc thcrc wcrc gurcs within thc armys
ranks, and among its civilian allics, who wcrc sporadically cxprcssing
or implying an avcrsion to kingly govcrnmcnt. 8ut thcy did not dcvisc,
il indccd thcy cvcn conccivcd ol, an altcrnativc systcm ol rulc.
nly whcn Charlcs was dcad did thc ncw rulcrs conlront thc qucs
tion ol constitutional scttlcmcnt, and thcn in slow and gingcrly lash
ion.
3
Rcpublican rulc was improviscd. !t cmcrgcd not by dcsign but
by dclault. n onc rcading, thc cloudily wordcd prcamblc to thc act
abolishing thc o cc ol king, which thc Rump passcd in March .6,
rcpudiatcd kingship only in thc unlimitcd lorm to which Charlcs had
allcgcdly aspircd and lclt opcn thc possibility ol a rcturn to thc mixcd
monarchical constitution that Mcmbcrs ol Parliamcnt had bclicvcd
thcmsclvcs to bc dclcnding in .6a.
4
A lurthcr two months clapscd
bclorc thc Rump passcd an act dcclaring ngland to bc a Common
wcalth and Frcc Statc. This timc thc govcrnmcnt could not cvcn
agrcc on a prcamblc to vindicatc thc mcasurc, which was conscqucntly
publishcd without onc.
5
Thc Rump would not havc bccn ablc to rcach
any dccision about thc constitutional luturc at any point during thc
lour ycars ol its powcr, sincc lrom .6 to .6. it was prcoccupicd
by thc challcngc ol conqucring !rcland and Scotland, whcrc royalist
armics kcpt thc Stuart causc alivc. nly with Cromwclls dclcat ol
thc invading Scots at Vorccstcr in Scptcmbcr .6. was thc rcgimc
sccurc. Vhcn Parliamcnts attcntion thcn turncd to thc scttlcmcnt
ol ngland, divisions opcncd within it. Thc latal split was bctwccn
Parliamcnt and its army. !n April .6 thc army, which had lorcibly
. ! havc dcscribcd thc politics ol thc Commonwcalth pcriod in The Fump
Parliamentzo,8zo (Cambridgc, U.K.: Cambridgc Univcrsity Prcss, .,,).
. S. R. Gardincr, cd., TheConstitutionalDocumentsofthePuritanFe.olution,
zo:zooc, rd cd., rcv. (xlord, U.K.: Clarcndon Prcss, .6a), pp. 6.
. !bid., p. .
!ntroduction
<
xix
dcstroycd thc king, uscd its lorcc to dcstroy thc Parliamcnt that had
opposcd him.
From .6 to .6 ngland was rulcd not undcr a ncw constitu
tion but by what was lclt ol thc old onc. That rulc was unicamcral, lor
not only had kingship bccn abolishcd but at thc samc timc so had thc
Housc ol Lords, Parliamcnts uppcr chambcr. Thc Lords would ncvcr
havc passcd thc lcgislation that sanctioncd thc trial ol thc king. To
rcmovc that obstaclc thc Rump had rcsolvcd on January .6 that
thc Commons, bcing choscn by, and rcprcscnting thc pcoplc, havc thc
suprcmc powcr in this nation, and wcrc cntitlcd to lcgislatc unilatcr
ally.
6
Yct thc Rumps claim to rcprcscnt thc pcoplc was contradictcd
by thc abscncc lrom thc Commons ol that majority ol rcprcscntativcs
whom thc army had purgcd, and by thc nations plain hostility to a rc
gimc whosc vcry cxistcncc, which only armcd lorcc could sustain, was
at odds with thc rcspcct lor thc ancicnt constitution on which parlia
mcntarianism had takcn its stand in thc civil wars.
How might thc country bc brought round to kinglcss rulc: Not, thc
govcrnmcnt kncw, by prolcssions ol thc lcgality ol thc rcgicidc or
thc rcpublic. Thc Rump in ccct acknowlcdgcd its own illcgality. !n
thc altcrmath ol thc rcgicidc it drcw on an argumcnt that was widcly
circulatcd in .6a and that lound its most lamous and accomplishcd
cxprcssion in thc Le.iathan ol Thomas Hobbcs (.6.). Hobbcs wrotc,
not to justily a particular lorm ol govcrnmcnt, but to cxplain thc ob
ligation ol subjccts to obcy any govcrnmcnt, whatcvcr its origins, that
has acquircd thc protcctivc powcr ol thc sword. !n trcatiscs and pam
phlcts writtcn on thc Rumps bchall, thc samc principlc was adoptcd by
a numbcr ol lcsscrknown writcrs.
7

Nonc ol thcm articulatcd it morc ccctivcly than Marchamont
Ncdham, whosc short book TheCaseoftheCommon.ealthofEngland,
Stated was publishcd in May .6c and rcpublishcd latcr in thc ycar.
Thc powcr ol thc sword, cxplaincd Ncdham, is, and cvcr hath bccn,
6. JournaloftheHouseofCommons, January .6.
,. Qucntin Skinncr, Conqucst and Conscnt: Hobbcs and thc ngagcmcnt
Controvcrsy, in !isionsofPolitics, vols. (Cambridgc, U.K.: Cambridgc Univcr
sity Prcss, acca), :a,c,.
xx
<
!ntroduction
thc loundation ol all titlcs to govcrnmcnt, and thosc who do not sub
mit to its jurisdiction havc no claim to thc bcncts ol its protcction.
8

TheCase has two parts. Thc rst scts out vc principlcs that vindicatc
thc claims to obcdicncc dcmandcd by thc Rumps command ol thc
sword. Thc argumcnts ol thc sccond part warn rcadcrs against thc in
duccmcnts ol cncmics who conspirc or wish lor thc Rumps ovcrthrow.
ach ol lour hostilc groups, thc royal party, thc Scots, thc nglish
Prcsbytcrians, and thc Lcvcllcrs, is accordcd a chaptcr ol rclutation.
Thc nal chaptcr ol part a, ocrcd by way ol conclusion, takcs a dil
lcrcnt coursc. Titlcd A iscoursc ol thc xccllcncy ol a Frcc Statc
Abovc a Kingly Govcrnmcnt, it urgcs thc nglish to sct asidc thcir
inhcritcd prcjudicc in lavor ol monarchy and to grasp thc supcriority
ol rcpublican rulc. Ncdham, who was an innovator on many intcllcc
tual and litcrary lronts,
9
brought his powcrs ol innovation to thc is
coursc. Hc uscd thc titlc pagc ol TheCase to draw particular attcntion
to thc iscoursc and its thcmc.
10

Latcr in .6c thc young writcr John Hall, who likc Ncdham was an
cmploycc ol thc Commonwcalth, took up thc rcpublican casc in his
work The Grounds and Feasons of Monarchy. His carccr was so inti
matcly bound with Ncdhams, and thc argumcnts and languagc ol thc
two mcn rcscmblcd cach othcr so oltcn, that thcir writings can bc hard
to tcll apart.
11
!n .6c Ncdham and Hall introduccd rcpublicanism to
nglish politics.
Marchamont Ncdham (or somctimcs Nccdham, a spclling that prob
ably indicatcs thc contcmporary pronunciation ol thc namc, which
likcly would havc rhymcd with lrccdom) is a gurc troubling to rcad
crs who cxpcct political thinkcrs to pursuc a disintcrcstcd scarch lor
. Knachcl, p. .
. Scc p. xci, n. a.
.c. Knachcl, p. ., comparc ibid., pp. ..6.,.
... Halls political writings and thcir a nity with Ncdhams arc discusscd
in avid Norbrook, !riting the English Fepublic: Poetry, Fhetoric and Politics
zo:,zooc (Cambridgc, U.K.: Cambridgc Univcrsity Prcss, .), and in LP. For
Halls carccr and writings scc also Nicholas Mcowcll, Poetryandllegiancein
theEnglishCi.il!ars (xlord, U.K.: xlord Univcrsity Prcss, acc).
!ntroduction
<
xxi
truth. Hc is thc scrial turncoat ol thc civil wars. !n thc rst war hc
wrotc lor Parliamcnt. !n thc sccond hc wrotc lor thc king. !n .6 hc
was caught printing royalist matcrial and was thrcatcncd with a chargc
ol trcason. Hc avcrtcd it by switching his allcgiancc to thc ncw rulcrs,
who rcscucd him lrom pcnury with a handsomc stipcnd. !n thc .6cs
hc supportcd cvcry rcgimc in its turn: thc Rump, 8arcboncs Parlia
mcnt, thc asscmbly with which Cromwcll rcplaccd thc Rump in July
.6 but which cndurcd only until cccmbcr ol that ycar, whcn it, too,
succumbcd to a military coup, thc protcctoratc, which succccdcd 8arc
boncs and which hcld powcr, rst undcr livcr and thcn, altcr his
dcath in Scptcmbcr .6, undcr his son Richard, until Richards dcpo
sition in May .6, thcn thc Rump again, which was rcstorcd by thc
army that had cxpcllcd it six ycars carlicr, thcn thc army altcr it had
cxpcllcd thc Rump again in ctobcr .6, and oncc morc thc Rump
whcn it rcsumcd powcr at thc cnd ol thc samc ycar. Thcrcaltcr hc sup
portcd thc rcstorcd monarchy.
Ncdham airily acknowlcdgcd his translcrs ol allcgiancc. Most ol his
political writings TheExcellencieofaFree-State among thcmwcrc
publishcd anonymously, but in .6c TheCaseoftheCommon.ealth, his
rst trcatisc lor thc rcpublic, appcarcd undcr his own namc and drcw
attcntion to his convcrsion. Pcrhaps, its opcning words dcclarc to thc
rcadcr, thou art ol an opinion contrary to what is hcrc writtcn. ! con
lcss that lor a timc ! myscll was so too, till somc causcs madc mc rccct
with an impartial cyc upon thc aairs ol this ncw govcrnmcnt. Thc
passagc would rcappcar almost vcrbatim in a publication ol .66. that
rcjoiccd in thc kings rcturn.
12

Ncdhams carccr, which rcpcatcdly madc him thc lricnd or cncmy
ol politicians and writcrs with whom hc had at lcast oncc had thc op
positc rclationship, challcngcs thc catcgorics ol allcgiancc and conduct
that govcrn our pcrccptions ol both thc political and thc litcrary his
tory ol thc civil wars. Ncdham did havc onc point ol consistcncy. !t
lay in his avcrsion, which hc sharcd with Milton, to Prcsbytcrianism,
thc parliamcntarian grouping that had lavorcd thc rcturn ol thc king
.a. TheTrueCharacterofaFigidPresbyter (London, .66.), prclacc.
xxii
<
!ntroduction
in .6 and that was thc common cncmy ol royalism and thc rcpublic.
Hc dctcstcd it lcss lor its political goals than lor its commitmcnt to
rcligious intolcrancc and lor thc scopc it gavc to clcrical dogmatism.
Yct no othcr cncmy ol Prcsbytcrianism swung so blatantly bctwccn thc
altcrnativcs to it. To contcmporarics hc was that spccklcd chamclcon,
a mcrccnary soul,
13
a cat that (throw him which way you will) still
light|s| on his lcct.
14
Ncvcrthclcss, it would bc a mistakc to think ol
Ncdham mcrcly as a hack polcmicist, tamcly obcdicnt to thc dcmands
ol his succcssivc cmploycrs. !l hc nccdcd thcir paymcnt and protcc
tion and thc outlcts his mastcrs gavc him lor litcrary cxprcssion, thc
mastcrs thcmsclvcs nccdcd his cxccptional skills ol pcrsuasion. vcn
as hc supplicd thc propaganda thcy rcquircd ol him, hc lound a mcans
ol asscrting, with rcsourcclul obliqucncss, an individuality and indc
pcndcncc ol voicc. Vhcrc, il anywhcrc, his own convictions lay cannot
bc authoritativcly dccidcd. Vhat wc can say is that within cach public
position hc adoptcd, and most ol all in his rcpublican writing, hc con
trivcd to opcn a gap bctwccn opinions hc was callcd on to propagatc
and oncs hc simultancously lostcrcd. !n our latc wars, hc rccallcd in
.6a, thc pcn militant hath had as sharp cncountcrs as thc sword, and
bornc away as many trophics.
15
No writcr, not cvcn thc dazzling roy
alist journalist Sir John 8crkcnhcad, who was a rival ol Ncdhams in
thc rst civil war and a collaborator in thc sccond,
16
borc o as many
trophics as hc. Ncdham won thcm largcly through his managcmcnt ol
ncws. 8ut it was his polcmic that politicians valucd or lcarcd most. His
succcss cnablcd him to tcst to thc limit thc paticncc ol his cmploycrs,
or anyway thc morc convcntional or mainstrcam ol thcm, who lound
in his writings much to angcr or troublc thcm.
.. LP, p. a,.
.. Quotcd lrom thc lourth pagc ol (thc conlusingly paginatcd) !ordforll:
Or,TheFumpsFuneralSermon (.66c) in Paul A. Rahc, gainstThroneandltar:
Machia.elli and Political Theory Under the English Fepublic (Ncw York: Cam
bridgc Univcrsity Prcss, acc), p. .,,.
.. pistlc dcdicatoric in OftheDominionoftheSeas by John Scldcn, trans. and
cd. Ncdham (London, .6a).
.6. Pctcr V. Thomas, SirJohnBerkenheadzoz,zo,,:FoyalistCareerinPoli-
ticsandPolemics (xlord, U.K.: Clarcndon Prcss, .6).
!ntroduction
<
xxiii
Ncdham was born in 8urlord in xlordshirc. Altcr a pcriod at x
lord Univcrsity and at Grays !nn, London, hc rosc to promincncc in
his carly twcntics as cditor ol thc wcckly parliamcntarian ncwsbook
MercuriusBritanicus, which bcgan in .6. Thc collapsc ol ccnsorship
in .6ca, and thc impact on thc population ol thc civil wars and thcir
attcndant controvcrsics, crcatcd a widc litcrary markct that thrivcd on
thc vivid rcporting ol ncws and on plain, dircct, carthy rcasoning. Thc
gcnrc suitcd Ncdhams gilts, as did thc war ol pamphlcts that paral
lclcd that ol thc ncwsbooks. Britanicus championcd thc radical clcmcnt
within thc parliamcntarian causc. !t attackcd lukcwarm wrctchcs,
modcratc lricnds, and ncutcrs who rcgrcttcd thc outbrcak ol thc
war or who wantcd to cnd it on tcrms that would lcavc thc king scopc
lor rcncwcd misrulc. Thc war, Ncdham urgcd, must bc lought to thc
nish. Hc riskcd Parliamcnts displcasurc by indicating that Charlcs
might bc dcposcd and rcplaccd by his cldcst son, thc luturc Charlcs !!.
!n .66, as thc war ncarcd its cnd, Ncdham wcnt too lar. Parliamcnt,
in its dcalings with thc king and in its dcpictions ol him, had clung to
thc convcntions ol dclcrcncc, rclcrring rcvcrcntly to his majcsty and
mainly blaming his misrulc not on him but on cvil adviscrs around him.
Ncdham, howcvcr, wrotc ol Charlcss guilty conscicncc and bloody
hands.
17
Parliamcnts rcsponsc was to closc down Britanicus and havc
Ncdham bricy jailcd.
Now Parliamcnt discovcrcd thc lorcc ol his motto, Nemomeimpune
lacessit : no onc strikcs mc with impunity. First hc lcnt his pcn to thc
cmcrgcnt Lcvcllcr movcmcnt, which was protcsting thc cmcrgcncc ol
a parliamcntary tyranny in placc ol thc dclcatcd rcgal onc. Thcn in
August .6, hc wrotc, possibly with thc connivancc ol thc lcadcrs ol
thc ncw modcl army,
18
TheCaseoftheKingdom,Stated, a tract dcsigncd
to lacilitatc ncgotiations bctwccn thc army and thc king through
which both sidcs hopcd to outmancuvcr thc Prcsbytcrians. 8y thc ncxt
month hc was in thc kings cmploymcnt. Charlcs madc him cditor ol a
ncw wcckly ncwsbook, MercuriusPragmaticus, which would run until
.,. Vordcn, Vit in a Roundhcad, pp. ..6.
.. LP, p. ..
xxiv
<
!ntroduction
.6, and whosc prolcsscd aim was to writc his majcsty back into his
thronc. !t was sccrctly writtcn and publishcd in London, a city that
Parliamcnt ostcnsibly controllcd. !t did not advancc a royalist thcory
ol govcrnmcnt. Ncdhams substantial cssays in political thcory wcrc
all writtcn on thc parliamcntarian sidc. Thc wcapon ol Pragmaticus
was satirc, a talcnt that Ncdham cxubcrantly aimcd at his Puritan and
parliamcntarian lormcr cmploycrs.
His translcr ol allcgiancc to thc Commonwcalth in .6 was contrivcd
by John 8radshaw, who had prcsidcd ovcr thc trial ol thc king and was
now prcsidcnt ol thc cxccutivc arm ol thc rcgimc, thc council ol statc.
Ncdham bccamcil hc was not alrcadyan intimatc, dcvotcd lricnd
ol 8radshaws
19
and ol 8radshaws cqually dcvotcd associatc, thc poct
John Milton, who was thc councils Latin Sccrctary. Soon Ncdham and
Milton wcrc litcrary partncrs on thc Commonwcalths bchall. !n Junc
.6c, a month altcr thc appcarancc ol Ncdhams TheCaseoftheCom-
mon.ealth, thc lormcr cditor ol Mercurius Britanicus and Mercurius
Pragmaticus launchcd a third ncwsbook, MercuriusPoliticus. Milton, on
thc statcs bchall, was soon supcrvising thc production ol Politicus and
working closcly with Ncdham in thc prcparation ol its contcnt, which
lrcqucntly cchocd prosc writtcn by Milton himscll on bchall ol thc
rcgicidc and thc rcpublic.
20
From Scptcmbcr .6c on, matcrial lrom
The Case bcgan to appcar as wcckly cditorials (an anachronistic but
unavoidablc tcrm) in Politicus. Anthony Vood, whosc cvcry political
instinct was rcpcllcd by thc ncwsbook, conccdcd that it madc Ncd
ham thc Goliah ol thc Philistincs ... whosc pcn was in comparison
with othcrs a wcavcrs bcam. Tis incrcdiblc what inucncc |it| had
upon numbcrs ol inconsidcrablc pcrsons.
21
Most ol thc matcrial in
TheExcellencieofaFree-State rst appcarcd lour ycars carlicr in wcckly
cditorials ol Politicus, bctwccn Scptcmbcr .6. and August .6a. That
pcriod and thc dcvclopmcnts ol .6. which prcccdcd it arc thc rst
ol two contcxts that shall bc cxplorcd in ordcr to grasp thc purposcs ol
.. !bid., pp. ,.
ac. !bid., chap. .
a.. Voods account ol Ncdham is lound in Anthony Vood, theniae Ox-
onienses, vols. (London, ..ac), :..cc.
!ntroduction
<
xxv
Ncdhams rcpublican argumcnts. Thc sccond is thc pcriod ol thc pro
tcctoratc prcccding thc publication ol TheExcellencie.
Ncdham and MercuriusPoliticus
Likc MercuriusBritanicus in thc rst civil war, MercuriusPoliticus spokc
lor thc boldcr spirits among Ncdhams cmploycrs. Vithin thc ncw rc
gimc thcrc wcrc two opposing impulscs. Thc rst was a dcsirc to cntrcnch
thc rcvolution that had bccn achicvcd by Pridcs Purgc, thc rcgicidc, and
thc abolition ol kingship and thc Housc ol Lords. Thosc dccds, it was
urgcd, should bc rcmcmbcrcd and cclcbratcd in print, whilc mcmbcr
ship ol ccntral and local govcrnmcnt should bc conncd to mcn rcady
to cndorsc thcm. Thc nation should bc bound by oath to support thc
Commonwcalth. Royal statucs and othcr visual survivals ol monarchy
should bc dcstroycd. Thc oppositc impulsc was toward thc broadcning,
not thc rcstriction, ol thc rcgimcs basc. Many Mcmbcrs ol Parliamcnt
who had bccn cxpcllcd lrom thc Commons at Pridcs Purgc or had thcn
voluntarily withdrawn lrom it rcturncd to it altcr thc cxccution ol thc
king. vcn among thosc who had rcmaincd at Vcstminstcr during thc
kings trial, thcrc wcrc a numbcr who had rcscntcd thc purgc and wcrc
troublcd by thc rcgicidc. Rcturning mcmbcrs hcld thosc scntimcnts
morc kccnly. Thcy wantcd to rclcgatc thc cxccution ol Charlcs to thc
past and to hcal thc wounds that it had causcd. Thc purgc, thcy hopcd,
would bc at lcast partly undonc and an attcmpt would bc madc to rc
turn to thc original, limitcd goals ol Parliamcnt in .6a, lrom which thc
rcgicidc and thc cstablishmcnt ol thc rcpublic had dcviatcd.
!n that contcst John 8radshaw was a lcading gurc on thc radical
sidc. Miltons and Ncdhams publications backcd his stancc.
22
Likc Bri-
tanicus bclorc it, Politicus disparagcd lukcwarm, ncutral, modcratc
mcn. !t urgcd that powcr and voting rights should bc thc prcrogativc
ol thc Commonwcalths party ol its own, mcn ol valour and virtuc,
scnsiblc ol libcrty, who had darcd to carry out or cndorsc thc rcgi
cidc and who now rcsistcd thc tcmporizing instincts ol thcir collcagucs.
aa. LP, pp. ..
xxvi
<
!ntroduction
Ncdham hailcd thc mcmory ol Pridcs Purgc, that noblc act, and ol
thc rcgicidc, so noblc and hcroic an act ol justicc, onc ol thc most
hcroic and cxcmplary acts ol justicc that was cvcr donc undcr thc
sun.
23
To royalists, thc rcgicidc had bccn a dccd ol sacrilcgc against
thc divincly appointcd rulcr. Ncdham, dctcrmincd to strip kingship
ol its mystcry, laughcd at Charlcss hcir, young Tarquin.
!n thc cditorials ol .6.a that would rcappcar in The Excellencie,
Ncdham dcvclopcd and cxpandcd thc rcpublican thinking that hc had
announccd in TheCaseoftheCommon.ealth in .6c. Now TheExcel-
lencies argumcnt appcarcd in a sprightlicr lorm, onc dcsigncd to at
tract a widcr rcadcrship than TheCase . Thc lcarncd apparatus ol The
Case was omittcd. Thcrc wcrc individuals in thc Rump, chicl among
thcm Hcnry Martcn, Thomas Chaloncr, and Jamcs Harringtons litcr
ary partncr Hcnry Ncvillc, who likcly cncouragcd Ncdhams rcpublican
advocacy.
24
Politicus backcd advcnturous social and commcrcial policics
that wcrc pursucd by thosc gurcs in Parliamcnt. !t also sharcd thcir
irrcvcrcnt wit and thcir dctachmcnt lrom thc Puritan solcmnity that
charactcrizcd thc run ol parliamcntary opinion. Thcy wcrc travcllcd
mcn, ol cosmopolitan outlook, rcady to look bcyond thc traditions and
pcrspcctivcs ol nativc political thought. Powcrlul as thosc Mcmbcrs ol
Parliamcnt could somctimcs bc, thcy stood outsidc thc parliamcntarian
mainstrcam. Ncdhams lricnd Milton noticcd how lcw ol nglands
ncw lcadcrs had bccn abroad.
25
Thc nation, hc bclicvcd, would ncvcr
gain political hcalth until it importcd ripc undcrstanding and many
civil virtucs . . . lrom lorcign writings and cxamplcs ol bcst agcs.
26

Politicus concurrcd.
8ut would thc majority in thc Commons wclcomc Ncdhams cdi
torials: And could his ncwsbook convcrt thc public rathcr than an
tagonizc it: Margarct Judson has obscrvcd that, as a rulc, rcpublican
a. !bid., p. .a.
a. !bid., pp. ,,, ....
a. Lco Millcr, JohnMiltonandtheOldenburgSafeguard (Ncw York: Locwcn
thal Prcss, .), p. .,a.
a6. CompleteProse!orksofJohnMilton, vols., cd. . M. Vollc ct al. (Ncw
Havcn, Conn.: Yalc Univcrsity Prcss, .a), :..
!ntroduction
<
xxvii
idcology had only a minor rolc in thc litcraturc writtcn on bchall ol
thc Rump.
27
Thc rcpublican argumcnts that Ncdham rst voiccd in
TheCaseoftheCommon.ealth may havc bccn lormulatcd in his mind
long bclorc its publication. MercuriusBritanicus had slyly cast admiring
glanccs at thc utch rcpublic and othcr lrcc statcs.
28
!n Novcmbcr
.66 Ncdham contributcd to a tract, !oxPlebis;or,ThePeoplesOut-Cry
gainstOppression,Injustice,andTyranny, which was writtcn on bchall
ol thc Lcvcllcr lcadcr John Lilburnc. Thcrc Ncdham uscd argumcnts
dcrivcd lrom thc Discourses ol Machiavclli. n that occasion hc did
not cmploy Machiavcllis thinking to arguc lor kinglcss rulc. Howcvcr,
hc did dcducc lrom it points that in Politicus would rcappcar, in similar
languagc, to support that purposc.
29
Ncvcrthclcss, it was not until .6c
that hc cspouscd rcpublicanism in print. Much ol thc rcpublican ma
tcrial that would rcsurlacc in Politicus may alrcady havc bccn draltcd
whcn TheCase appcarcd, or it may havc bccn rst writtcn in thc ycar or
so altcr thc publication ol that tract.
30
8ut it was not until Scptcmbcr
.6., whcn Cromwclls victory at Vorccstcr achicvcd thc nal dclcat ol
thc royalist causc, that thc rcpublican cditorials bcgan. !t sccms likcly
that thc iscoursc ol .6c had tcstcd thc watcr and that only altcr
Vorccstcr was thc watcr dccmcd warm or salc cnough lor thc advcn
turous campaign ol Politicus.
31

Thc campaign was conductcd against a background ol mounting in
tcrnational scllasscrtion by thc Commonwcalth. Alongsidc its cxploits
a,. Margarct Judson, FromTraditiontoPoliticalFeality:StudyoftheIdeasSet
ForthinSupportoftheCommon.ealthGo.ernmentinEngland,zo,,zo (Ham
dcn, Conn.: Archon, .c), p. ...
a. Vordcn, Vit in a Roundhcad, p. .,.
a. Ncdhams involvcmcnt in thc pamphlct is cvidcnt not only lrom thc dis
tinctivc stylc and vocabulary ol thc passagc but lrom his rcusc ol matcrial lrom
it in latcr writings. LP, p. a.
c. H. Sylvia Anthony, MercuriusPoliticus undcr Milton, JournaloftheHis-
toryofIdeas a, (.66): 6c, at pp. 6ca.
.. Matcrial lrom thc rcpublican chaptcr ol TheCase would rcappcar in Politi-
cus, but only altcr Vorccstcr. Ncdham rcproduccd a passagc ol it (p. .6, Knachcl,
pp. ..6.,) in thc cditorial ol a Scptcmbcr .6., and a lurthcr bricl passagc
(claiming that virtucs in hcrcditary rulcs arc vcry rarc: p. ., Knachcl, pp. ..,.)
rcappcars on Fcbruary .6a. Thc sccond cxtract, and much ol thc rst, would bc
rcproduccd in TheExcellencie. Ncdham thus publishcd that matcrial thrcc timcs.
xxviii
<
!ntroduction
on thc battlccld, it had built a lormidablc navy and was rcady to usc it.
!n .6a it cmbarkcd on an cpic naval war with thc utch, whosc rapid
risc to commcrcial and maritimc prospcrity had bccn thc cconomic
miraclc ol thc agc. Algcrnon Sidncy (or Sydncy), an cncrgctic mcmbcr
ol thc Rump in its latcr stagcs, and a writcr as cagcr as Politicus that thc
nglish should cmulatc thc wisdom and virtuc ol rcpublican Romc,
would rcjoicc to rccall in his DiscoursesConcerningGo.ernment, writtcn
undcr Charlcs !!, thc cxploits ol thc Rump, which in a lcw ycars good
disciplinc ... produccd morc cxamplcs ol purc, complctc, incorruptiblc,
and invinciblc virtuc than Romc or Grcccc could cvcr boast.
32
Thc
rcpublicanism ol Politicus drcw on thc Commonwcalths achicvcmcnts
too. Ncdham had alrcady proclaimcd in TheCase that nglands ncw
rulcrs wcrc in cvcry way qualicd likc thosc Roman spirits ol old.
!n .6a Politicus avowcd that nglands high achicvcmcnts sincc thc
cxtirpation ol tyranny may match any ol thc ancicnts (p. .), in an
othcr publication ol thc samc ycar Ncdham dcscribcd ngland as thc
most lamous and potcnt rcpublic in this day in thc world, indccd, thc
grcatcst and most glorious rcpublic that thc sun cvcr saw, though
hc hcrc madc an cxccption ol Romc.
33

Yct il thc cditorials congratulatcd nglands ncw rulcrs, thcy also had
lcss comlortablc mcssagcs lor thcm. Thc ovcrt and primary purposc
ol Politicus, thc onc lor which Ncdham was paid, was to assist thc cn
trcnchmcnt ol thc rcpublic and thc ovcrthrow ol its royalist cncmics.
Hc prcscntcd his proposals as mcans to prcscrvc thc Commonwcalth
lrom its cncmics abroad, and as banks or bars or bulwarks against
thc rcturn ol monarchy. 8chind his cndorscmcnt ol thc rcgimc, howcvcr,
thcrc lay criticism ol it, in which Ncdhams individuality ol voicc asscrts
itscll. Thc Rump sought to prcscrvc its powcr by clinging to thc impro
viscd scttlcmcnt ol .6. That scttlcmcnt, Ncdham indicatcd, could not
last. Hc madc it clcar that it was not cnough lor thc Rump to havc dc
clarcd ngland a Commonwcalth and Frcc Statc, as it had donc in May
a. Algcrnon Sidncy, DiscoursesConcerningGo.ernment, cd. Thomas G. Vcst
(!ndianapolis, !nd.: Libcrty Fund, .c), p. a.6, comparc ibid., pp. ., ,a.
. LP, pp. .a, a., pistlc dcdicatoric and p. , OftheDominionoftheSeas
by John Scldcn.
!ntroduction
<
xxix
.6. Thc nation must bccomc lrcc indccd (pp. 6, c, .), a statc ...
rcally lrcc (pp. , ., ., .6). !t must sct asidc its insular prcoccupa
tions and cxplorc thc historics ol rcpublics ancicnt and modcrn. !t must
cmulatc thcir virtucs and shun thcir mistakcs. !t thus would not only sc
curc libcrty at homc but would cxport it through its might and arms and
ships, and thus lrcc ngland lrom thc thrcats poscd by lorcign kings.
Thc utch war must bc lought in thc causc not only ol national might
and prospcrity but ol rcpublicanism. Politicus ycarncd lor thc cxtinction
ol monarchs and ol monarchical intcrcsts and instincts in thc Ncthcr
lands, in Scotland, in Francc, and in !taly. Ncdhams statcmcnts on that
thcmc mirror lincs ol thc Horatian dc on Cromwclls rcturn lrom
!rcland in .6c by Andrcw Marvcll, a poct whosc writings bcar many
othcr rcscmblanccs to Ncdhams.
34
Anticipating thc cmancipation ol
Scotland, Francc, !taly, and all statcs not lrcc, thc pocm summons old
visions, to which thc abolition ol monarchy gavc a lrcsh intcnsity, ol thc
libcration by nglish lorcc ol lorcigncrs cagcr to risc against thcir nativc
opprcssors. Politicus bcats thc samc drum.
35

Ncdhams cditorials roamcd history lor illustrations to support his
thcsis. !n that practicc hc lollowcd Machiavclli, to whosc Discourses
thc cditorials wcrc indcbtcd in lorm and contcnt. !n thc popular mind
Machiavcllis was a dirty namc. Ncdham, likc many othcr writcrs who
lcarncd lrom him, rcmcmbcrcd to disavow thc ruthlcss aront to po
litical morality which Machiavcllis The Prince, that unworthy book
(p. .ac), was commonly takcn to constitutc, though Ncdham also con
trivcd to turn Machiavcllis dcpictions ol statccralt to his own polcmi
cal uscs. Howcvcr, thc Machiavclli who mainly intcrcsts Ncdham is
not thc analyst ol princcly rulc but thc cclcbrator ol rcpublican vir
tuc. Ncdhams historical cxamplcs wcrc sprcad across a widcr rangc ol
placc and timc than Machiavcllis, but at thc ccntcr ol his historical
attcntion, as ol Machiavcllis, was ancicnt Romc. Thcrc was nothing
ncw in thc drawing ol parallcls bctwccn nglish and Roman history.
Thc political and imaginativc litcraturc ol thc Rcnaissancc had oltcn
. LP, chaps. 6.
. !bid., pp. 6,6.
xxx
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!ntroduction
dwcllcd on thcm. 8ut Rcnaissancc writcrs had writtcn undcr mon
archy. Though thcy dctcctcd innumcrablc instructivc rcscmblanccs ol
charactcr or circumstancc bctwccn thc Roman rcpublic and modcrn
timcs, thcy discovcrcd dccpcr and morc prcssing modcrn corrcspon
dcnccs in thc impcrial monarchy, thc cmpirc that had succccdcd thc rc
public. 8y contrast Ncdham, likc Machiavclli, ccntcrcd his argumcnts
on that Roman rcpublic, ol which modcrn ngland could now bc sccn
as a countcrpart. !n thc spirit ol Machiavclli hc commcnds thc activc,
magnanimous, gallant charactcr ol lrcc citizcns, thcir lovc ol glory
and virtuc, thcir lolty aspirations and thc cdgc to thcir spirits. Hc
lollows Machiavclli in linking rcpublicanism to austcrity, in obscrving
thc classical distinction bctwccn libcrty and liccnsc, and in aligning
lrccdom with disciplinc, virtuous povcrty, honcst povcrty and thc
dcnial ol luxury.
36

Ncdham lollows Machiavclli morc daringly on anothcr lront. Ma
chiavclli had dwcllcd on thc conicts in rcpublican Romc bctwccn thc
aristocracy, or thc scnatorial class or ordcr, and thc pcoplc. Ncdham
portraycd a parallcl conict in civilwar ngland. Machiavclli not only
hclpcd Ncdham to lrcc himscll lrom insular and traditional ways ol
political thinking but assistcd his cmancipation lrom lamiliar habits ol
social thinking. Thc civil wars had not bccn lought in thc causc ol rc
publicanism, but ncithcr had thcy bccn wars bctwccn classcs. Thcy had
bccn lought bctwccn sidcs whosc lcadcrs acccptcd thc hicrarchics and
dclcrcnccs ol a socicty dominatcd by landlords and, in thc towns, by
aldcrmanic oligarchics. Thc wars had, it is truc, provokcd a grcat dcal ol
social protcst. Thc most conspicuous protcstcrs wcrc thc Lcvcllcrs, who
in thc sccond hall ol thc .6cs assailcd abuscs ol thc lcgal systcm that
lavorcd thc rich and powcrlul at thc cxpcnsc ol thc poor. Thcy did not,
howcvcr, think ol thcmsclvcs as contcnding lor onc ordcr ol socicty at
thc cxpcnsc ol anothcr. !t was Ncdham who injcctcd that pcrspcctivc
into political dcbatc.
Ncdhams rclations with thc Lcvcllcrs, bcing mostly hiddcn lrom
postcritys vicw, arc a tantalizing subjcct. Thcy wcnt back at lcast as lar
6. !bid., pp. a, .6,.
!ntroduction
<
xxxi
as .6, whcn hc composcd a prclacc to a tract writtcn by John Lil
burnc, or writtcn on his bchall.
37
Ncdhams contribution to !oxPlebis,
anothcr pamphlct in Lilburncs causc, lollowcd in .66. !n his writings
both lor thc royalists and lor thc Commonwcalth, Ncdham attackcd
and dcridcd thc Lcvcllcrs, as his cmploycrs would havc cxpcctcd or
rcquircd him to do. cspitc his outward hostility, his accounts ol thcm
somctimcs hint at a pcrsonal sympathy. !n Politicus his withcring as
saults arc aimcd not at thc Lcvcllcr program but at thc odious signi
cation so mislcadingly carricd by thc common usagc and application
ol thc tcrm (p. ), which implicd thc lcvclling ol propcrty and thc
community ol cstatcs. !n this hc cchocd thc scntimcnts ol thc Lcvcllcr
lcadcrs thcmsclvcs. For Lcvcllcr, though a convcnicnt shorthand tcrm
lor us, was a pcjorativc labcl, indignantly disowncd by thosc to whom
it was applicd. No morc than Ncdham wcrc thc Lcvcllcrs opposcd to
thc tcnurc or protcction ol propcrty. As a political party thcy wcrc bro
kcn by thc cnd ol .6, yct Ncdham rctaincd his sympathy lor thcm.
!n Politicus hc not only cxtcndcd Lcvcllcr idcas but, innovating again,
gavc thcm a classical and Machiavcllian lramcwork.
38
Hc also widcncd
thc rcadcrship lor thcm. Acquaintancc with classical history was not
conncd to thc minority ol thc population who attcndcd univcrsitics,
cvcn il popular knowlcdgc ol thc ancicnt past was uncvcn in dcpth.
Largcly pcrhaps through Ncdhams inucncc, appcals to classical and
cspccially Roman history bccamc a lamiliar lcaturc ol popular litcrary
production in thc .6cs.
39

!n onc scnsc Ncdhams championship ol thc pcoplc wcnt lurthcr
than Machiavcllis. Although Machiavclli dcspiscd thc parasitic gcntry
,. Vordcn, Vit in a Roundhcad, p. ac.
. MercuriusPoliticus was quotcd in thc causc ol honcst Lcvclling by Charlcs
Hotham, Corporations!indicatedinTheirFundamentalLiberties (.6.), aa.
. Nigcl Smith, Popular Rcpublicanism in thc .6cs: John Strcatcrs Hcroic
Mcchanicks, in MiltonandFepublicanism, cd. avid Armitagc, Armand Himy,
and Qucntin Skinncr (Cambridgc, U.K.: Cambridgc Univcrsity Prcss, .),
pp. .,, Joad Raymond, John Strcatcr and TheGrandPolitickInformer, His-
toricalJournal . (.): 6,,. !n .6 various ncwsbooks alcrtcd a popular
rcadcrship to classical parallcls to currcnt aairs, though on a lcss ambitious scalc
than Politicus.
xxxii
<
!ntroduction
and lavorcd thc pcoplcs causc, hc maintaincd that Romc had thrivcd on
thc conict bctwccn thc two ordcrs. Thc scnators had thus bccn as ncc
cssary to Romcs grcatncss as thc pcoplc. Ncdham at onc or two points
implicitly cndorscs that vicw, but his populism (as lor simplicity wc shall
call it) had a still strongcr partisan thrust than Machiavcllis. Hc givcs
thc tcrm thc pcoplc a doublc cdgc, which is achicvcd, likc much clsc
in his writings, by his talcnt lor ambiguity. !n his cditorials thc phrasc
can mcan all thc inhabitants ol thc nation, or it can cxcludc thosc who
arc socially privilcgcd. Thc asscrtion in Politicus that thc original ol
all just powcr is in thc pcoplc was not in itscll a populist claim. !t
cchocs thc rcsolutions ol January .6 through which thc Commons,
whosc mcmbcrs wcrc mostly gcntry, asscrtcd its right, as thc rcprc
scntativcs ol thc pcoplc, to try thc king. !n thc Rumps thinking, thc
intcrcsts ol thc pcoplc arc assumcd to bc thosc ol thcir lcadcrs. Likc
wisc Ncdhams claim that all statcs arc loundcd lor thc sakc ol thc
pcoplc was compatiblc with much parliamcntarian argumcnt ol thc
.6cs that had had no contcntious social dimcnsion. vcn so, likc
thc Lcvcllcrs, hc prcscnts Parliamcnt as thc scrvant, not thc mastcr,
ol thc pcoplc, lor all majcsty and authority is rcally and lundamcntally
in thc pcoplc, and but ministcrially in thcir trustccs, or rcprcscntativcs
(p. 6). Thc idcas ol conscnt and rcprcscntation that hc brings to his
accounts ol ancicnt rcpublics owc much morc to his own socicty than
to classical thought. Hc placcs thosc principlcs at thc ccntcr ol his ar
gumcnt and givcs thcm a socially radical dimcnsion.
40

Ncdham docs not count all adult malcs as thc pcoplc, as onc or two
ol thc Lcvcllcrs wcrc rcady to do. For him thc rabblc arc bcyond thc
political palc. Yct thc tonc ol his statcmcnts lrcqucntly brings Lcvcllcr
pcrccptions ol thc pcoplcs rights to mind. Fluctuating and sociologi
cally imprccisc as his vocabulary is, it rccasts thc political contcsts ol thc
timc. Thc Rump, asscrts Ncdham, has rcmovcd thc namc ol king but
not thc thing king. For thc intcrcst ol monarchy, whosc custom it
hath bccn to lurk undcr cvcry lorm ol govcrnmcnt, may rcsidc in thc
c. avid Undcrdown, Prides Purge (xlord, U.K.: Clarcndon Prcss, .,.),
p. a6.
!ntroduction
<
xxxiii
hands ol many, as wcll as ol a singlc pcrson (p. ,). !t is disccrniblc in
opprcssion by noblcs, or by grandccs, as much as by monarchs. nly
whcn thc intcrcst is pluckcd up root and branch will thc rights
and lrccdoms that bct a rcpublic bc sccurcd. Thosc truths havc bccn
hiddcn, undcr monarchical or aristocratic rulc, by thc addiction to cus
tom and thc ill cducation that arc lostcrcd by govcrnors who havc
kcpt thc pcoplc in uttcr ignorancc what libcrty is (pp. ., c, .6).
Vriting against a uid political background, and lor a rcgimc within
which thc balancc ol powcr rccurrcntly shiltcd, Ncdham lound im
prccision and mallcability ol languagc indispcnsablc tools. n onc
subjcct his ambiguitics crcatc pcrplcxity, pcrhaps by dcsign. !n ancicnt
Romc, hc maintains, thc initial rulc ol kings gavc way, not to popular
rulc, but to thc dominancc ol thc scnatc. Although thc Nation had
bccn accountcd lrcc undcr scnatorial rulc, thc pcoplc bccamc lrcc
indccd only whcn thcy challcngcd it and cstablishcd thcir own o ccrs
and thcir own powcr. !n turn thcy wcrc wormcd out ol thcir libcrty
at timcs whcn scnatorial or noblc cncroachmcnts undcrmincd that
achicvcmcnt (p. .). thcr scvcntccnthccntury writcrs took as thcir
modcls ancicnt Sparta or modcrn \cnicc, rcpublics rcnowncd lor sta
bility. Thosc commcntators distanccd thcmsclvcs lrom thc mcmory ol
Athcns, or at lcast lrom thc anarchical aspcct ol its dcmocracy. 8ut in
Ncdhams cycs thc Spartan pcoplc wcrc opprcsscd by thc pridc ol thc
scnatc. Thc multiplicd monarchy or grandcc govcrnmcnt ol con
tcmporary \cnicc lclt thc pcoplc littlc bcttcr than slavcs undcr thc
powcr ol thcir scnatc, whcrcas Athcnson which Ncdham hopcd to
writc at lcngth clscwhcrcwas thc only pattcrn ol a lrcc statc, lor all
thc world to lollow, having bccn lrcc not only lrom kingly tyranny
but lrom scnatical cncroachmcnts (p. ..). !n Romc thc pcoplcs libcr
tics wcrc won by thc crcation, in opposition to scnatorial powcr, ol
thc tribuncs, that ncccssary o cc, and by thc lcgislativc rolc ol thc
pcoplcs asscmblics (pp. .c, a6). nly thcn could Romc, which had
long bccn dcclarcd a lrcc statc, bc propcrly callcd onc.
Vhat thcn ol nglands constitutional arrangcmcnts: Most ol thc
timc Ncdham vindicatcs, at lcast implicitly, thc principlc ol unicamcral
rulc on which his mastcrs had alightcd. At timcs wc might supposc his
xxxiv
<
!ntroduction
allusions to tribuncs and popular asscmblics to bc intcndcd to lurthcr
that goal. Altcr all, thc Housc ol Commons claimcd to rulc as thc
rcprcscntativc body ol thc pcoplc. !oxPlebis, thc anonymous tract on
Lilburncs bchall ol .66, to which Ncdham had contributcd and which
had attackcd thc jurisdictional powcrs ol thc Housc ol Lords, had ap
pcalcd to thc Housc ol Commons as thc most honourablc tribuncs ol
thc pcoplc.
41
uring thc procccdings against Charlcs !, John 8rad
shaw cxplaincd that nglands parliamcntwhich whcn 8radshaw
spokc had bccn rcduccd to thc Commonswas what thc tribuncs
ol Romc wcrc hcrctolorc to thc Roman Commonwcalth.
42
ocs Ncd
ham mcan, thcn, that thc Housc ol Lords has bccn nglands scnatc,
and that in .6 thc Commons, nglands tribuncs, rightly triumphcd
at thc scnatcs cxpcnsc: Somc passagcs ol thc cditorials may havc bccn
prudcntly intcndcd to allow lor that intcrprctation, but thcrc arc morc
that conlound it. !n thcm Ncdham makcs it plain that thc nglish scn
atc has rcmaincd in bcing sincc .6 and that its powcr and lailings arc
thc basic problcm ol thc rcpublic. Thc incscapablc mcssagc, though hc
is carclul not to spcll it out, is that thc cquivalcnt to Romcs scnatc is
not thc Lords but thc Commons. Convcntional parlancc oltcn rclcrrcd
to thc Commons, attcringly, as thc scnatc.
43
Ncdhams cquation ol
thc two is unattcring. Hc impcls us to dcducc that ngland will bc
truly lrcc and havc a truc rcpublic only whcn it has acquircd somc
cquivalcnt to Romcs ncccssary tribuncs and its popular asscmblics. !t
is a rcvolutionary proposal, and to most or all mcmbcrs ol thc Rump
it would havc bccn a horrilying onc. Thcrc is no surprisc in its having
bccn advanccd only bricy and imprcciscly.
Running throughout Ncdhams cditorials is an implicit contrast bc
twccn a truly lrcc statc and thc oligarchical rcgimc in powcr in ngland
that claims to havc crcatcd onc. Thc contrast bccomcs cxplicit in a tract
ol .6. by a collaborator ol Ncdhams, Charlcs Hotham, a scholar ol
.. !oxPlebis (London, .66), p. , scc, too, ric Nclson, TheGreekTradition
in Fepublican Thought (Cambridgc, U.K.: Cambridgc Univcrsity Prcss, acc),
p. .n.
a. Milton, CompleteProse!orks, :n., comparc ibid., :6.
. Scc, lor cxamplc, LP, pp. ., aa, ,.
!ntroduction
<
xxxv
Cambridgc Univcrsity who was aggricvcd by his rcccnt rcmoval lrom
a post thcrc. Hotham scts his idcal ol a right rcpublical govcrnmcnt
against thc absolutc oligarchy ol a Hogcn Mogcn that is now in powcr
in ngland.
44
Ncdhams own purposc is claricd whcn wc rcturn to his
rclations with thc Lcvcllcrs. !n raising thc subjcct ol Romcs tribuncs
in !oxPlebis, thc tract ol .66 writtcn on Lilburncs bchall, Ncdham ad
vanccd an argumcnt that strikingly anticipatcd his claims ol thc .6cs.
Thc pamphlct rccallcd that altcr thc cxpulsion ol Romcs hcrcditary
kings, thc Tarquins, thc nobility bcgan to takc upon thcm thc rulc ol
thc pcoplc: and by a grcatcr tyranny than thc Tarquins had donc. So
thc pcoplc, cnlorccd by a ncccssity ol thcir prcscrvations, crcatcd
Tribuncs, as guardians ol thc publick libcrty, whcrcby thc insolcncc and
arbitrary powcr ol thc nobility was rcstraincd.
45

8y .6 Lilburnc was himscll making thc samc casc in his own namc.
uring thc publication ol thc cditorials ol Politicus ol .6.a hc was
cxilcd by thc Rump. Hc wcnt to Holland, and thcncc to Flandcrs, bc
lorc rcturning to ngland in Junc .6. !n .6a, writing abroad, Lil
burnc praiscd thc notablc prcamblcsthc cditorialsol Politicus.
46

Thcy appcar to cxplain thc lascination hc dcvclopcd, during his cxilc,
with classical history, about which hc rcad with so much dclight and
scriousncss. His chicl inspiration was Machiavclli, whosc books, lor
thc cxccllcncy and usclulncss in corrupt timcs and placcs, hc discov
crcd to bc thc bcst lor thc good ol all mankind that hc had rcad, worth
thcir wcight in bcatcn gold and as usclul, advantagcous, ncccssary,
and rcquisitc to mc, as a compass or pcrspcctivc glass.
47
8ut Lilburnc
rcad Machiavclli through Ncdhams cycs, and hc rcpcatcd Ncdhams
argumcnts, oltcn in Ncdhams wording. From thc outsct ol its rulc,
Lilburnc had rcgardcd thc Rump as thc rcplaccmcnt ol a rcgal tyranny
. Hotham, Corporations!indicated, pp. a6a, .
. !oxPlebis, p. .
6. John Lilburnc, s You !ere (|Amstcrdam:|, .6a), p. a, Rahc, gainst
Throneandltar, p. . Samucl cnnis Glovcr, Thc Putncy cbatcs: Popular
\crsus litist Rcpublicanism, PastandPresent .6 (.): ,c, valuably draws
attcntion to thc intcrcst ol Lilburnc and othcr Lcvcllcrs in classical history. Scc,
too, Smith, Popular Rcpublicanism.
,. Lilburnc, TheUprightMans!indication (|London|, .6), pp. ,, a.
xxxvi
<
!ntroduction
by a parliamcntary onc. Now classical history provcd to him that thc
pcoplc ol ngland had cvcn bcttcr rcason than thc old plcbcians, or
common pcoplc ol Romc to contcst cvcn to thc dcath, lor thc clcc
tion lrom amongst thcmsclvcs ol tribuncs, or kccpcrs, or dclcndcrs
ol thc pcoplcs libcrtics, inducd with amplc powcr, to prcscrvc thcm
against thc annihilating cncroachmcnts, that thcir prcscnt tyrannical
ridcrs havc alrcady madc upon thcm. Thus must thcy asscrt thcm
sclvcs, as thc Roman pcoplc had donc, against thc grcatcst ... patri
cians, noblcmcn, scnators.
48

Ncdham avowcd that rcpublics ourish whcn thc intcrcst ol thc
pcoplc is morc prcdominant than thc othcr (p. .). Thc pcoplc, who
bcst know whcrc thc shoc pinchcs (p. a), arc cqual, on thcir own,
to thc task ol dralting and passing laws. Lcgislation, rcquiring as it
docs no grcat skill, is thc propcr work ol thc pcoplc in thcir suprcmc
asscmblics (p. ). Yct thcrc will rcmain a nccd lor somc institution,
parallcl to Romcs scnatc, with which thc machincry ol popular in
volvcmcnt will sharc powcr. !t will supply, as thc Roman scnatc did,
thc wisdom that is rcquisitc lor thc managcmcnt ol thc cxccutivc and
lor thc handling ol thc sccrcts ol govcrnmcnt (p. .). !n such statc
mcnts Ncdham qualics his populism, pcrhaps with thc aim ol ocring
rcassurancc or conccssions to his mastcrs or to convcntional opinion.
!n othcr passagcs, pcrhaps lor thc samc rcason, his rcpublicanism is
itscll soltcncd. Somctimcs it sccms that thc modcrn dcprivation ol thc
pcoplcs libcrtics has bccn brought about not by kingship itscll but by
thc crosion ol rcstraints imposcd on it in carlicr timcs. Ncdhams Ma
chiavcllian languagc is tcmpcrcd, too, by a morc comlorting vocabu
lary, which promiscs thc nglish not thc animatcd political conict
that Machiavclli lavorcd but thc attainmcnt ol tranquillity and salcty
and thc prcscrvation ol inhcritcd rights and libcrtics (pp. ., , .66).
Machiavclli had insistcd on thc bcncts brought to Romc by thc tu
mults occasioncd by its social and political divisions. To most rcadcrs
in ngland, whcrc lcar ol public disordcr was an ancicnt and dominant
lcaturc ol thc political landscapc, that was an alarming asscrtion. Jamcs
. John Lilburnc, L. Colonel John Lilburne Fe.i.ed (|Amstcrdam:|, .6),
pp. .c.
!ntroduction
<
xxxvii
Harrington, who lollowcd Machiavclli on othcr lronts, rcnounccd him
on that onc. Ncdham by contrast docs invokc Machiavcllis tcaching on
tumults, yct his cspousal ol it is hcsitant and qualicd.
vcn so, his claims lor thc pcoplc must havc causcd uncasc in thc
Rump. Thc uncasc would havc bccn intcnsicd by his appcal to disal
lcctcd mcmbcrs ol thc army, a body whosc hostility to thc Parliamcnt
grcw during thc pcriod ol thc rcpublican cditorials and culminatcd in
thc coup ol April .6. ccrs and soldicrs saw thcmsclvcs as cham
pions or dclcndcrs ol thc causc ol thc pcoplc, which in thcir cycs thc
Rump was bctraying. Thcy also had gricvanccs ol thcir own. Vc know
lrom othcr cvidcncc that thcrc was murmuring among thc o ccrs that
thcy arc not rcwardcd according to thcir dcscrts, that thcy havc ncithcr
prot, nor prclcrmcnt, that Mcmbcrs ol Parliamcnt wcrc cngrossing
all placcs ol honour and prot to thcmsclvcs.
49
Ncdham rccallcd that
in rcpublican Romc thc pcoplc had ovcrthrown thc monopoly ol ol
cc hcld by thc scnatorial lamilics. Thcy had cnsurcd that thc road ol
prclcrmcnt lay plain to cvcry man (p. a), and that all placcs ol honour
and trust wcrc cxposcd to mcn ol mcrit, without distinction (p. a).
To thc cxtcnt that thc army stood lor thc Commonwcalths party ol
its own, Politicus can bc sccn as its mouthpiccc. l thc armys political
dcmands, nonc was kccncr or morc promincnt than its rcquircmcnt
that thc Rump, thc rcmnant ol thc Parliamcnt that had sat sincc .6c,
should dissolvc itscll. !n its placc thcrc must bc rcgular parliamcntary
clcctions that would root authority in thc nations conscnt. Roman sto
rics, urgcd Politicus, showcd that thc pcoplc ncvcr had any rcal libcrty
undcr a standing powcr (p. .c). For thc vcry lilc ol libcrty lics in a
succcssion ol powcrs and pcrsons (p. ) and in thc pcoplcs posscssion
ol a constant succcssion ol thcir suprcmc asscmblics (p. .c). Ncdham
rcpcatcdly insinuatcs that thc Rump, in rcsisting thc prcssurc to dis
solvc, is proving itscll to bc a standing scnatc, whosc survival is in
compatiblc with lrccdom. To thc dcmand lor lrcsh clcctions, howcvcr,
. 8ulstrodc Vhitclockc, Memorials of the English airs, vols. (xlord,
U.K.: xlord Univcrsity Prcss, .), :,c, and scc !ritingsandSpeechesofOli-
.erCrom.ell, vols., cd. V. C. Abbott (Cambridgc, Mass.: Harvard Univcrsity
Prcss, .,,), :,.
xxxviii
<
!ntroduction
thcrc was an obvious objcction. Vould not an clcctoratc so antago
nistic to thc Rump rcturn a Parliamcnt cagcr to dcstroy thc causc lor
which thc army had lought: Almost cvcryonc acccptcd that lormcr
royalists would bc disqualicd lrom voting until thc wounds ol thc
rcccnt conict had hcalcd. 8ut what ol Prcsbytcrians and ncutrals,
who had thcmsclvcs bccn outragcd by Pridcs Purgc and thc rcgicidc:
Much dcpcndcd on thc outlook ol Cromwcll, lord gcncral ol thc army,
who was also thc most powcrlul gurc, il lar lrom an omnipotcnt onc,
in thc Commons. Rccognizing thc di cultics that clcctions would
bring, hc hallconnivcd at thcir postponcmcnt, and by doing so in
currcd mistrust among thc Commonwcalths party ol its own, which
was gcncrally lcss rcady to acknowlcdgc thc problcm. Ncdhams argu
mcnt that thc votc should bc conncd to thosc who had activcly sup
portcd thc parliamcntarian war cortthc partyat lcast ocrcd a
straight lorward solution. Though this proposal could not bc cxpcctcd
to broadcn thc basc ol thc Commonwcalths support, it would rcmovc
thc obvious impcdimcnt to thc rapid dissolution ol thc Parliamcnt lor
which Politicus prcsscd. Thc Rump was not convinccd. !n Novcmbcr
.6. thc Parliamcnt plcdgcd not to sit lor morc than a lurthcr thrcc
ycars. For Ncdham, that was too long.
50

!l thc Rump rcmaincd in powcr, hc warncd, powcr would contract, il
it had not alrcady donc so, into thc hands ol a cliquc ol grandccs. Natu
rally hc did not say whom hc mcant, but a coalition ol civilian and mili
tary grandccs is pcrhaps thc likclicst answcr.
51
!t was not only thc Rump,
howcvcr, whosc continuation in o cc Ncdham challcngcd. Machiavclli
had warncd ol thc dangcrs to rcpublican libcrty poscd whcn thc powcr
c. His ncwsbook rcportcd thc dccision with outward dclcrcncc but with cvi
dcnt rcstlcssncss: Vordcn, FumpParliament, p. a.
.. !n .6 Lilburnc, drawing on a Roman cxamplc that Ncdham also uscd,
dircctcd a similar point solcly against military grandccs: against not only Crom
wcll but thc o ccrs John Lambcrt and Thomas Harrison, whom, with him, hc
portraycd as nglands cquivalcnt to thc triumviratc ol ctavian, Anthony, and
Lcpidus ( Upright Mans !indication, pp. 6). Howcvcr, that was altcr thc cx
pulsion ol thc Rump, lor which thc thrcc mcn had bornc most rcsponsibility.
dmund Ludlow, MemoirsofEdmundLudlo., a vols., cd. C. H. Firth (xlord,
U.K.: Clarcndon Prcss, .), .:6.
!ntroduction
<
xxxix
ol military lcadcrs is prolongcd. His argumcnt, which Ncdham had
takcn up in !ox Plebis,
52
appcars again in Politicus, which rcpcatcdly
counscls against thc prolonging or continuing or protracting ol
powcr, and against continuing powcr too long in thc hands ol particu
lar pcrsons. Ncdham particularly warns, in his customary intcrlincar
manncr, against thc cxtcnsion ol thc authority ol thc lord gcncral ol thc
army. Cromwcll would ccrtainly havc bccn onc ol thc grandccs hc had
in mind, lor Cromwcll had, on this lront too, carncd mistrust among
thc soldicry, whcrc it was lcarcd that his scllpromotion would dcstroy
thc armys political virtuc. Ncdham prcscnts Cromwcll as anothcr Ju
lius Cacsar, whosc command, likc that ol gcncrals at othcr momcnts
ol its history, Romc latally lcngthcncd. !n .6c Marvclls Horatian
dc warncd that Cromwcll might cross a Rubicon, grow sticr with
command, and acquirc suprcmc rulc.
53
Ncdham citcs Cacsars crossing
ol thc Rubicon to thc samc cnd (pp. ., ). !t was altcr that cvcnt, hc
contcnds, that thc bcaring ol arms, which hithcrto had bccn a mark ol
citizcnship, was kcpt ... out ol thc hands ol thc pcoplc. n thc samc
principlc, intimatcs Ncdham, Cromwclls army might bccomc a mcrcc
nary lorcc, a Practorian rathcr than a popular militia (p. a).
Vhilc thc cditorials wcrc bcing publishcd, Cromwcll was assidu
ously courting popular support by promiscs ol social and lcgal rclorm.
54

Politicus allows us to undcrstand his bchavior as a bid lor thc powcr
basc lrom which to acquirc singlc rulc. Cromwcll had indccd donc hc
roic scrvicc lor his country, as Cacsar and othcr Roman lcadcrs namcd
by Ncdham did lor thcirs, but it is prcciscly in thc ambition ol such
mcn, and in thc tcmptation to pursuc it that will bcsct thcm, that
thc largcst dangcr to libcrty may lic. Cacsar, altcr all, who rst took
arms upon thc public scorc, and bccamc thc pcoplcs lcadcr, lc|t| in
ambitious thoughts to his unboundcd powcr and soon shook hands
with his rst lricnds and principlcs, and bccamc anothcr man: so that
upon thc rst lair opportunity, hc turncd his arms on thc public libcrty
a. !oxPlebis, p. 66.
. LP, p. 6.
. !bid., pp. .
xl
<
!ntroduction
(p. .ca). Likcwisc, what morc cxccllcnt patriot could thcrc bc than
Manlius, till hc bccamc corruptcd by timc and powcr: Vho morc
noblc, and courtcous, and wcllacctcd to thc common good, than was
Appius Claudius: (p. a,).
Thc dangcr to ngland is that thc pcoplcs ncgligcncc, in sucr
ing thcmsclvcs to bc dcludcd will allow thcm to bc won by spccious
prctcnccs, and dcludcd by crcatcd ncccssitics (p. c) and that a sup
poscd grcat patron ol libcrty (p. ,) will provc to bc its cncmy. Al
though Cromwclls clcvation would in thc cvcnt bc achicvcd through
military coups, thcrc sccmcd at lcast as much likclihood, during thc
pcriod ol thc rcpublican cditorials, that it would cmcrgc through thc
sccnario against which Ncdham rcpcatcdly warns: thc gradual contrac
tion ol powcr into a lcw hands and thcncc into a singlc pcrson. Thc
dangcr was thc grcatcr lor bcing barcly pcrccptiblc. Ncdham rccalls
Tacituss dcscription ol thc mpcror Augustus, who ncvcr dcclarcd
himscll, till, altcr many dclays and shilts, lor thc continuation ol powcr
in his own hands, hc got inscnsibly into thc thronc (pp. ). Thcrc
is also a morc sinistcr parallcl. !n thc opcning issuc ol Politicus Ncd
ham had dcscribcd Cromwcll as thc onlythat is, thc outstanding or
archctypal No.usPrinceps ! cvcr mct with in all thc conncs ol his
tory. Thc words unmistakably alludcd to thc modcl ol thc ncw princc
whosc rulc is thc subjcct ol Machiavcllis ThePrince. Now, in .6a, thc
ncwsbook rcproduccd thc chaptcr ol ThePrince that rccalls thc wickcd
dcviccs by which thc ncw princc ionysius ol Syracusc, thc Sicilian
tyrant ol thc lourth ccntury n.c. , achicvcd and maintaincd his tyranny.
Vhcn writing on thc kings bchall Ncdham had cxplicitly comparcd
Cromwcll to ionysius.
55
Hc could not namc him now, but disccrning
rcadcrs could hardly havc misscd thc idcntication. !t is hcightcncd by
Ncdhams rccollcction that ionysius had won his tyranny by cloath
ing himscll with a prctcncc ol thc pcoplcs libcrtics and had bccn by
that mcans madc thcir gcncral (p. ).
Somc ol Ncdhams boldcst obscrvations about thc protraction ol
Cromwclls command wcrc ocrcd in May .6a (pp. .a, ). Thcy
. !bid., pp. .a.
!ntroduction
<
xli
wcrc sharply topical, lor in that month thc Commons rcsolvcd that thc
o cc ol thc lord licutcnant ol !rcland, a survival lrom thc monarchy
that hc had acquircd in .6, bc not continucd.
56
!t was in May, too,
that Lilburnc mcntioncd thc notablc prcamblcs ol Politicus. Thcir
warnings about Cromwcll wcrc thc passagcs invokcd by Lilburnc, who
suspcctcd, as pcrhaps Ncdham did, that thc lord gcncrals lootdragging
ovcr thc holding ol parliamcntary clcctions dcrivcd lrom a lcar that a
ncwly clcctcd parliamcnt would lccl morc condcnt than thc prcscnt
onc in rcsisting his own aggrandizcmcnt. Lilburnc and thc Lcvcllcrs
had long hatcd Cromwcll, whom thcy bclicvcd to havc turncd ruth
lcssly against thcm, thcy had long bccn dismaycd by thc protraction
ol his military authority, thcy had long obscrvcd thc Machiavcllian
prctcnccs by which hc advanccd his own powcr.
57
Thc tcrms junta
and grandcc, which Politicus aims at both him and thc Rump, had
bccn uscd to convcy thcir own dctcstation ol thcm. Thcy had likcwisc
dircctcd thc tcrm lordly intcrcst, which rccurrcntly appcars in Politi-
cus, at Cromwcll.
58

Lilburnc rcturncd to thosc subjccts in a tract ol .6, in passagcs
that again dcploy thc argumcnts and languagc ol Ncdhams rcpubli
can cditorials. Grcat and glorious things ... lor thc pcoplcs good,
Lilburnc writcs, havc bccn prctcndcd by Cromwcll, so that hc might
thwart thc pcoplcs hopcs ol constant succcssivc parliamcnts and,
Julius Cacsarlikc, usurp powcr lor himscll. Lilburnc himscll rcpro
duccd thc chaptcr ol The Prince about ionysius ol Syracuscand
madc mischicvous adjustmcnts to it that hcightcncd its pcrtincncc
to Cromwcll.
59
Lilburncs litcrary campaign against Cromwcll in
.6 includcd a public lcttcr to my vcry good lricnd thc Mcmbcr ol
6. JournaloftheHouseofCommons, May ., .6a. ! am gratclul to John Morrill
lor discussions ol this point.
,. Valtcr Scott, cd., SomersTracts, . vols. (London, .c6.), 6:.
. !bid., 6:.
. Lilburnc, UprightMans!indication, pp. 6. Scc, too, Scott, SomersTracts,
6:, .6, The Le.eller (London, .6), pp. c (a tract publishcd by Thomas
8rcwstcr, thc publishcr ol Ncdhams TheExcellencie in .66), Collectionofthe
StatePapersofJohnThurloe, , vols., cd. Thomas 8irch (London, .,a), ,:,.
xlii
<
!ntroduction
Parliamcnt Hcnry Martcn, who had long bccn a lcllow sympathizcr ol
Ncdhams. Martcn actcd as a tcllcr against thc prolongation ol Crom
wclls lord licutcnancy in May .6a.
60
!n Martcns papcrs thcrc survivcs
a manuscript that was composcd, cvidcntly with a vicw to publication
or circulation, in thc summcr ol .6, shortly altcr Cromwclls lorciblc
cxpulsion ol thc Rump. Vrittcn, or ostcnsibly writtcn, by a mcmbcr ol
thc Parliamcnt, pcrhaps by Martcn himscll and ccrtainly by somconc
who hcld a numbcr ol his vicws, thc papcr rccallcd that thc Rump
had livcd in pcrpctual apprchcnsion ol what is now happcncd. Thc
Parliamcnt, thc papcr addcd, had brought dcstruction on itscll by its
clcvation ol Cromwcll to suprcmc command ol thc army that occu
picd ngland and that conqucrcd !rcland and Scotland. For nothing
did rcndcr thc parliamcnt morc unt to, and indccd morc uncapablc
to scttlc thc govcrnmcnt than thcir putting all thc powcr into thc
thrcc nations into onc hand, a dccision by which it was manilcstcd
to thc world that thc parliamcnt undcrstood nothing ol a Common
wcalth but thc namc.
61
!ts ignorancc on that subjcct was Ncdhams
complaint too.
Alongsidc Ncdhams indications that Cromwcll was a kingly aspircr
(p. a.) thcrc lay anothcr lorcboding. !n thc wccks bclorc thc rcgicidc,
and on occasions in thc ycars ol thc Commonwcalth and thcn ol thc
protcctoratc, a proposal surlaccd, somctimcs within Cromwclls circlc,
somctimcs outsidc it, that hc or thc rcpublic should strikc a dcal with
thc cxilcd court. Thc outcomc would bc thc rcturn ol thc Stuart linc,
now or at somc luturc datc, on tcrms that would guarantcc thc survival
ol thc parliamcntarians, or Cromwcll himscll, in powcr.
62
!t was an
unlikcly prospcct but, Ncdham cvidcntly scnscd, not an impossiblc onc.
!n Fcbruary .6., whcn thc antagonism ol his patron John 8radshaw
to Cromwcll was sharpcning, Ncdham publishcd an cditorial rccalling
thc unscrupulous achicvcmcnt during thc Vars ol thc Roscs ol that
6c. JournaloftheHouseofCommons, a. May .6a.
6.. C. M. Villiams, Thc Political Carccr ol Hcnry Martcn (Ph.. thcsis,
xlord Univcrsity, .), pp. 6,.
6a. Vhitclockc, Memorials, :,,, Jamcs Howcll, ndmonitiontomyLord
Protector (London, .6), Cromwcll, !ritingsandSpeeches, :aa.
!ntroduction
<
xliii
scllintcrcstcd dcposcr and cnthroncr ol kings, Richard Ncvillc, arl
ol Varwick (p. .,).
Although mostly conccrncd with advancing a political program,
thc cditorials ol Politicus advancc a rcligious program too. !t is a no
lcss radical onc. n no subjcct was Ncdham closcr to Milton, whosc
dcmand lor thc scparation ol church lrom statc is cchocd in two cdi
torials ol Politicus.
63
Though Ncdhams writing has nonc ol thc spiri
tual dimcnsion ol Miltons, it sharcs his lricnds avcrsion to what thc
two mcn saw as thc powcr and bigotry ol thc clcrical cstatc, cspccially
in its Prcsbytcrian lorm. As in politics, so in rcligion, thc rulcrs ol thc
Commonwcalth wcrc dividcd. Most Mcmbcrs ol Parliamcnt wantcd
rclorm ol thc church, but within cxisting structurcs and conccptions
ol statc control. nly a minority took Miltons and Ncdhams morc
larrcaching position. Thc rst ol thc two cditorials appcarcd on
a April .6a, just whcn thc Commonwcalths dcbatcs on rcligious
rclorm had rcachcd thcir dccisivc momcnt. !n rcsponsc to that cri
sis Milton wrotc thc sonnct to Cromwcll that urgcs him to protcct
thc passagc ol Gods spirit lrom thc contaminations ol thc world. Thc
sccond ol thc cditorials, on .a August .6a, was thc last onc that thc
ncwsbook would publish. Pcrhaps its passionatcly wordcd anticlcri
calism, which in its audacity rccalls thc suicidal attacks on Charlcs !
in thc last stagc ol Ncdhams carlicr ncwsbook Britanicus, cxplains
or hclps to cxplain thc dcmisc ol thc cditorials. r pcrhaps Ncdham
alrcady kncw that his scqucncc ol rcpublican argumcnts, which hc
may anyway havc lclt to havc run its coursc, was about to bc tcrmi
natcd, and hc dccidcd to concludc with a dcantly cxplosivc outburst.
8y August .6a thc intcnsication ol divisions within thc rcgimc had
paralyzcd thc govcrnmcnts capacity lor polcmical initiativcs. Hcncc
lorth Politicus conncd its indications ol opinion to thc slanting ol
thc ncws it carricd.
64

6. LP, pp. a.
6. Studcnts ol Politicus may wish to notc a run ol variant issucs lound at thc
Harvard Collcgc Library: scc H. Vcbcr, n a Filc ol MercuriusPoliticus in thc
Harvard Collcgc Library, NotesandQueries .6 (.): 666.
xliv
<
!ntroduction
Ncdham and TheExcellencie (.66)
Journalism, lor which Ncdham had such gilts, ncvcr satiscd him. Hc
longcd to writc trcatiscs that would givc scopc lor morc rccctivc
writing and would command morc public rcspcct. Scrious truth, hc
complaincd, is not rcgardcd in a pamphlct, thc vcry namc whcrcol
is cnough to raisc a prcjudicc upon any othcr notions, how rcasonablc
socvcr thcy bc.
65
!n August .6a hc concludcd thc last ol his cditori
als in thcsc words: bcing conncd to a lcw pagcs wcckly, ! havc bccn
ablc to givc you but thc barc hints ol things donc in hastc, which may
(pcrhaps) appcar abroad in a morc accomplishcd manncr hcrcaltcr.
66

Four ycars latcr, on or around a Junc .66, The Excellencie of a Free-
State appcarcd.
67
Most ol it consistcd ol matcrial rcproduccd, mostly
in thc samc ordcr, lrom thc cditorials that had run lrom Scptcmbcr
.6. to August .6a, though on thrcc occasions hc rcturncd to cditorials
publishcd carlicr in .6. (onc ol which containcd thc matcrial about
Varwick thc kingmakcr).
Unlikc thc cditorials, thc rcpublication prcscnts Ncdhams matc
rial in a cohcrcnt and convcnicnt lorm. !t is, alas, not morc accom
plishcd than thc carlicr vcnturc, and it is not thc cxpandcd vcrsion
that is apparcntly anticipatcd by his statcmcnt that thc cditorials havc
containcd only barc hints ol his thinking. Although hc madc a num
bcr ol adjustmcnts to thc cditorials in .66, hc lclt thcir csscntial char
actcr and contcnt intact. Journalists, who know that thcir matcrial is
soon lorgottcn, can aord to rcpcat it. !l thcy writc with a polcmical
purposc, as Ncdham did, rcpctition may bc ncccssary. To rcadcrs who
cncountcr thc cditorials in thcir gathcrcd lorm, thc rcpctitions may bc
an irritant.
68
Anothcr dccicncy, which lics in thc opportunism and
6. Vordcn, Vit in a Roundhcad, p. c.
66. A comparablc passagc had appcarcd in April .6a (p. .,): pcrhaps thc
cditorials had ncarly bccn tcrminatcd at that timc.
6,. For thc approximatc datc ol publication scc G. K. Fortcscuc, cd., Catalogue
ofthePamphlets. . .collectedbyGeorgeThomason,zo,czooz, a vols. (London, .c),
a:..
6. Thc rcpctitions irritatcd a rcvicwcr upon thc books rcpublication in .,6,.
MonthlyFe.ie., January .,6,, p. .
!ntroduction
<
xlv
thc distortions that charactcrizc his historical illustrations, is likcwisc
hcightcncd whcn thc cditorials arc vicwcd alongsidc cach othcr. Pcr
haps thosc wcakncsscs hclp to cxplain why, as lar as wc can judgc,
TheExcellencie madc lar lcss contcmporary impact than thc cditorials
had donc. !t did, howcvcr, rcsonatc in two signicant works by othcr
writcrs. Thc titlc ol Miltons tract ol .66c, TheFeadieandEasie!ay
to Establish a Free Common.ealth, and the Excellence Thereof, a book
in whosc composition and promotion Ncdham was closcly involvcd,
69

cchocs Ncdhams titlc: The Excellencie of a Free-State; or, The Fight
Constitution of a Common.ealth.
70
Thc sccond writcr is thc Puritan
politician 8ulstrodc Vhitclockc, anothcr associatc ol Ncdham, whosc
rccctions on thc nglish constitution would acquirc an cightccnth
ccntury lollowing. Vhitclockc rcproduccd passagcs that appcar in The
Excellencie, without naming thc book or its author, in his manuscript
Historic ol thc Parlcmcnt ol ngland, which hc probably drcw up
altcr thc Rcstoration, but in which hc is likcly to havc drawn on notcs
madc bclorc it. !ts main dcbt was to Ncdhams condcmnation ol thc
opprcssion ol thc pcoplc by classical oligarchics and to his discussion
ol thc cmcrgcncc ol Romcs tribuncs and popular asscmblics. n thc
subjcct ol oligarchy Vhitclockc lollow|cd| most thc history ol Romc,
as aording most cxamplcs, and pcrhaps too many rcscmblanccs, to
nglish history.
71

6. LP, pp. .
,c. !bid., pp. ,,n, .6, c.
,.. Stowc MS , lols. .cac, 8ritish Library. Vhilc Vhitclockcs longcr
cxtracts lrom Ncdham sccm to havc bccn takcn lrom thc tcxt ol TheExcellencie
rathcr than ol Politicus (lor on thc two pcrtincnt occasions whcn thc tcxts ol
thosc two publications divcrgc, Vhitclockcs wording is that ol thc tract rathcr
than ol thc ncwsbook), thcrc is onc bricl passagc in which Vhitclockc carrics
an ccho ol Politicus (lol. ..
v
, on Appius Claudius, scc p. .,,, bclow), and anothcr
that has matcrial also to bc lound in Ncdhams The Case of the Common.ealth
(lol. .ac
v
, on Sallust, Knachcl, pp. ..6.,). Vhilc Vhitclockc, in composing his
manuscript, may simply havc movcd among Ncdhams publications, thcrc is pcr
haps an altcrnativc possibility: that hc drcw on a compcndium ol notcs madc
availablc to him by Ncdham. Thcrc is a hint clscwhcrc ol litcrary collabora
tion bctwccn thc two mcn. !n .6a Ncdham, in dcdicating his translation ol John
Scldcns Mare Clausum to Parliamcnt in .6a, said that his work lor thc book
had bccn much indcbtcd, (as ! also am lor many othcr lavours), to a Right
xlvi
<
!ntroduction
Thc publication ol The Excellencie in .66 is not to bc undcrstood
mcrcly as a bid to givc pcrmancncc or status to argumcnts prcviously
ocrcd in an cphcmcral lorm. !t had anothcr purposc. Politicus had
bccn a vchiclc lor criticism ol a rcgimc ol which it was simultancously
thc most inucntial wcckly organ. TheExcellencie carricd sharpcr, and
morc startling, criticism ol thc prcscnt powcr.
72
Unlikc Politicus it was
not a govcrnmcnt publication. Sincc Cromwclls clcvation to singlc
rulc in cccmbcr .6, Ncdham had bccn working lor thc protcctor
atc, still with Milton at his sidc, in thc o cc ol Cromwclls sccrctary ol
statc John Thurloc. From thc bcginning to thc cnd ol thc Cromwcllian
rcgimc, Politicus gavc it uncquivocal support. !n Fcbruary .6 thcrc
was publishcd, by thc govcrnmcnt printcr Thomas Ncwcomb, who
also printcd Politicus, Ncdhams pamphlct TrueStateoftheCaseofthe
Common.ealth. !t was thc ablcst and most inucntial work to appcar in
vindication ol thc ncw govcrnmcnt. Thc rcgimc and its supportcrs did
what thcy could to promotc it.
73
Cromwcll, in onc ol a numbcr ol indi
cations that thc protcctor turncd to Ncdham lor hclp in thc prcparation
ol his spccchcs, would himscll commcnd it and draw on its argumcnts
in an addrcss to Parliamcnt in January .6.
74
Thc pamphlct was thc
only contcmporary work to which hc cvcr rclcrrcd in such a way. !t
may bclor thc cvidcncc is inconclusivcthat a copy ol thc tract was
handcd to cach Mcmbcr ol Parliamcnt during thc critical dcbatcs ovcr
thc authority ol thc protcctoratc in thc samc Parliamcnt lour months
Honourablc Mcmbcr ol your own grcat asscmbly (Scldcn, OftheDominion, sig.
Aav). Thc obvious candidatc is Scldcns lricnd and dcvotcd admircr Vhitclockc,
whosc own writing drcw cxtcnsivcly on Scldcns. Though Vhitclockc was no rc
publican, hc, likc Ncdham, dccs thc customary catcgorizations ol Puritan poli
tics. Likc him hc workcd lor, and was paid by, thc protcctoratc whilc rcgarding it
as a tyranny. Likc him hc had Lcvcllcr conncctions and sympathics that can sur
prisc rcadcrs accustomcd to his othcr laccs. Scc Ruth Spalding, Contemporaries
ofBulstrode!hitelockezoczo, (xlord, U.K.: xlord Univcrsity Prcss, .c),
pp. ,6, Vhitclockc, Memorials, :.,. For thc conncctions bctwccn Vhitc
lockc and Ncdham scc, too, Spalding, Contemporaries of Bulstrode !hitelocke,
pp. a.., LP , pp. .6.
,a. LP, pp. c..
,. StatePapersofJohnThurloe, cd. 8irch, a:.6, John Goodwin, PeaceProtected
(London, .6), pp. ,.,a.
,. LP, p. ...
!ntroduction
<
xlvii
carlicr.
75
8y contrast, thc publication ol TheExcellencie was lurtivc. !t
madc no mcntion ol thc carlicr appcarancc ol thc matcrial in Politi-
cus. !ts authorship was disguiscd by thc prctcnscor scmiprctcnsc,
lor Ncdhams languagc has charactcristically clcvcr ambiguitythat
thc anonymous writcr is a mcmbcr ol thc army (p. ,).
76
Thc publishcr,
Thomas 8rcwstcr, had a linc in unorthodox or radical publications, and
had lallcn lrom govcrnmcnt lavor upon Cromwclls clcvation. Ncdham
took many risks in his carccr but nonc bravcr or rashcr than thc publi
cation ol TheExcellencie. Thc trcatisc is an attack on thc protcctoratc.
That it did not cost him his lrccdom or cvcn his job is intclligiblc only
on thc supposition that thc govcrnmcnt graspcd what carlicr powcrs
had discovcrcd: that politicians had morc to gain lrom cmploying his
gilts ol propaganda, cvcn at thc cost ol ovcrlooking his dcparturcs lrom
thc o cial linc, than lrom driving him into opcn opposition.
77
!n his
survival as much as in thc tcrgivcrsations that impcrillcd it, his carccr
unscats our pcrccptions ol Puritan politics.
The Excellencie prcscnts itscll in its prclacc as a rcsponsc to high
and ranting discourscs ol pcrsonal prcrogativc and unboundcd mon
archy that havc rcccntly bccn publishcd. Ncdham singlcs out a work
that appcarcd in Scptcmbcr .6, a month bclorc The Excellencie was
rcgistcrcd lor publication.
78
This was Som Sober Inspections . . . of the
,. PerfectDiurnall;or,OccurrencesofCertainMilitaryairs (London, .6),
.. Scptcmbcr .6, p, .a, Perfect ccount (London, n.d.), 6. Scptcmbcr
.6, p. ..
,6. !t is unccrtain whcthcr anothcr rcpublican attack on thc protcctoratc, thc
Harringtonian tract carrying thc titlc CopyofaLetterfromanOcerofthermy
in Ireland (London, .66), was rcally writtcn by a soldicr. The Political!orks of
JamesHarrington, cd. J. G. A. Pocock (Cambridgc, U.K.: Cambridgc Univcrsity
Prcss, .,,), pp. .c.a.
,,. Hc scrvcd thc protcctoratc adroitly not only as a writcr but as an inlormcr
and as a ruthlcss orchcstrator ol lavorablc addrcsscs to thc rcgimc lrom thc lo
calitics. LP, pp. aa6. For his manipulation ol ncws in thc govcrnmcnts intcrcsts
scc Patrick Littlc, John Thurloc and thc cr ol thc Crown to livcr Crom
wcll, in Oli.erCrom.ell:Ne.Perspecti.es, cd. Patrick Littlc (8asingstokc, U.K.:
Palgravc Macmillan, acc), pp. aa, aa6a,.
,. For thc rcgistration scc TranscriptoftheFegistersofthe!orshipfulCom-
pany of Stationers, vols. (London, ...), a:ac. Thc lact that The Excellencie
was rcgistcrcd can bc takcn to climinatc any possibility that thc book was somc
how publishcd without Ncdhams willing involvcmcnt.
xlviii
<
!ntroduction
Late-longParliament (London, .6) by thc royalist Jamcs Howcll. !n
his royalist phasc in .6, Ncdhams ncwsbook MercuriusPragmaticus
had callcd Howcll that rarc gcntlcman and had commcndcd a scason
ablc antiparliamcntarian publication by him, lull ol high rcason and
satislaction.
79
A work by Howcll ol .6. about thc rcpublic ol \cnicc
had bccn twicc cndorscd in cditorials ol Politicus (pp. ., .6.). Now, as
so oltcn, Ncdham turncd against a lormcr litcrary ally. !n .6 Howcll
had urgcd Cromwcll to lollow thc coursc against which Ncdham, in
Politicus, had warncd in his allusions to Varwick thc kingmakcr. Thc
protcctor, Howcll proposcd, should rcach an agrccmcnt with thc cxilcd
court that would allow Charlcs !! to assumc thc thronc on Cromwclls
dcath.
80
SomSoberInspections has othcr advicc lor Cromwcll, ol a kind
that would havc bccn cqually unsavory to rcpublicans. Hc should rid
himscll, urgcd Howcll, ol thc obstructivc capacity ol parliamcnts that
had blightcd Stuart rulc.
Ncdham quickly admits that The Excellencie is not intcndcd lor a
particular answcr to Howclls tract. His dccision to bcgin with it, how
cvcr, brings him two opportunitics. First, hc is ablc to givc thc initial
imprcssion that his book is dircctcd, as thc govcrnmcnt would havc
likcd it to bc, against thc lamily and intcrcst ol thc Stuarts, and that
his own sympathics arc with his Highncss, thc protcctor. isloyal to
thc protcctoratc as TheExcellencie is, thc disloyalty is ncvcr cxplicit. !ts
cxtcnt bccomcs cvidcnt whcn wc rccognizc thc sccond advantagc that
Ncdham takcs ol thc publication ol Howclls tract. Hc clcvcrly lcts
Howclls plca lor unlcttcrcd singlc rulc, and his attack on parliamcn
tary govcrnmcnt and on thc Parliamcnt that Cromwcll had dissolvcd
in April .6, sct thc tcrms ol his own argumcnt. Ncdham agrccs with
Howcll that thc nation laccs a choicc bctwccn unboundcd monar
chy and rulc by a parliamcntand rcachcs thc oppositc answcr. Two
ycars carlicr, in TrueState, Ncdham had portraycd thc protcctoratc
as a middlc way bctwccn thosc choiccs. Hc had commcndcd thc !n
strumcnt ol Govcrnmcnt, thc constitution on which thc protcctoratc
,. MercuriusPragmaticus, a6 Scptcmbcr .6, p. .6.
c. Howcll, dmonition.
!ntroduction
<
xlix
bascd its authority, lor rcturning to thc traditional balancc ol powcr
bctwccn a singlc rulcr and Parliamcnt. !n The Excellencie thc middlc
way is lorgottcn. Rcadcrs ol Ncdhams prclacc arc now invitcd to dc
cidc which ol two courscs will bcst sccurc thc libcrtics and lrccdoms
ol thc pcoplc lrom thc cncroachmcnts and usurpations ol tyranny, and
answcr thc truc cnds ol thc latc wars: Howclls program, or a duc and
ordcrly succcssion ol thc suprcmc authority in thc hands ol thc pcoplcs
rcprcscntativcs.
!t soon bccomcs cvidcnt that thc unboundcd rulcr that Ncdham has
in mind is not a Stuart. !t is thc usurpcr and tyrant Cromwcll. !t also
soon bccomcs cvidcnt that thc altcrnativc Ncdham ocrs is a rcturn to
thc parliamcntary sovcrcignty that Cromwcll has brokcn. His purposc is
achicvcd by a slcight ol hand adroit cvcn by his standards. TrueState
had rcmindcd parliamcntarian rcadcrs that thc original ground ol our
rst cngaging in thc war against Charlcs ! had not bccn thc attainmcnt
ol parliamcntary or rcpublican govcrnmcnt. Thc kings opponcnts had
lought against tyranny, not kingship. Thcy had sought to rcgulatc thc
disordcrs and cxccsscs ol Charlcs !s rulc.
81
Thc prclacc to TheExcel-
lencie likcwisc has passagcs that sccm rcassuring to mainstrcam parlia
mcntary opinion. Claiming to spcak lor all thc lricnds and adhcrcnts
ol thc Long Parliamcnt, Ncdham rcmcmbcrs that it took up arms not
to dcstroy magistracy, but to rcgulatc it, nor to conlound propricty, but
to cnlargc it: that thc princc as wcll as thc pcoplc might bc govcrncd by
law. Yct bclorc wc know whcrc wc arc hc has contrivcd to indicatc that
thc truc cnds ol thc latc war will bc answcrcd by thc rulc ol sovcrcign
parliamcnts, which will makc ngland a glorious commonwcalth. For
in TheExcellencie thc duc and ordcrly succcssion ... in thc hands ol
thc pcoplcs rcprcscntativcs is a dcning lcaturc, cvcn thc dcning onc,
ol a lrcc statc, ol which thc book cclcbratcs thc cxccllcncic. !t was
thc sovcrcign parliamcnt ol .6, and it alonc, that had dcclarcd n
gland a lrcc statc. Thc protcctoratc shunncd thc tcrm.
No morc than Politicus docs TheExcellencie providc an unambigu
ous vindication ol thc impcrlcct lrcc statc ol .6. Almost all thc
.. TrueStateoftheCaseoftheCommon.ealth (London, .6), pp. 6.
l
<
!ntroduction
criticisms ol thc Rump that arc visiblc in thc ncwsbook rcappcar in
TheExcellencie. 8ut thc most damaging criticism, which had bccn di
rcctcd at thc Parliamcnts rcluctancc to hold clcctions, had lost much
ol its lorcc as a rcsult ol thc Rumps cxpulsion. ncc rcmovcd lrom
powcr, thc victims ol thc coup committcd thcmsclvcs to thc constant
succcssion ol parliamcnts that Politicus had dcmandcd. Ncdham now
stands with its lormcr mcmbcrs against Cromwclls dcstruction ol par
liamcntary suprcmacy and against thc tyranny with which thc protcc
tor was allcgcd to havc rcplaccd it. Formcr promincnt mcmbcrs ol thc
Commonwcalth rcgimc, John 8radshaw among thcm, protcstcd and
conspircd against Cromwclls rulc. Thcy likcd to rcmind thc protcctor
that his cxpulsion ol thc Long Parliamcnt had brcachcd thc trcason act
passcd by thc Commonwcalth in .6. Politicus had warncd him that in
accumulating powcr hc riskcd thc guilt ol trcason against thc intcrcst
and majcsty ol thc pcoplc. TheExcellencie, by rcpcating that passagc
(p. .ca), conrms his crimc. Anothcr linguistic ccho works to similar
ccct. Undcr thc protcctoratc, mcn ol 8radshaws outlook, standing
on thc principlc ol parliamcntary suprcmacy, wcrc callcd common
wcalthmcn or commonwcalthsmcn. Politicus had urgcd thc nglish
to lcarn to bc truc commonwcalthsmcn. That plca, too, rcappcars in
TheExcellencie (p. .).
Vc cannot say why Ncdham, or his publishcr, dclaycd ninc months
bctwccn rcgistcring The Excellencie and publishing it. !t sccms likcly
that thc book, whcn it wcnt to thc printcr in .66, stood as it had donc,
or much as it had donc, thc prcvious ycar
82
but with onc cxccption.
Thc concluding passagc ol thc tract looks likc a latc addition. !t rcvcrts
lrom thc concluding cditorials ol Politicus to an carlicr onc, ol Novcm
bcr .6., which now rcappcars as a word ol advicc to thc clcctoratc. Thc
dccision to call thc parliamcnt ol .66 was madc at thc cnd ol May. Thc
councils ordcr lor thc issuing ol clcctoral writs was agrccd, as Politicus
inlormcd thc nation, on or around . July.
83
TheExcellencie (publishcd
on or around a Junc) appcarcd as an clcction manilcsto. !ts advicc
a. Thc book carricd an advcrtiscmcnt lor thrcc ol thc publishcrs othcr pro
ductions, all ol thcm carrying thc datc .6. Scc Appcndix A.
. Cromwcll, !ritingsandSpeeches, cd. Abbott, :.6, ..
!ntroduction
<
li
was to clcct commonwcalthmcn. Thcy wcrc activc in thc clcction cam
paign, nonc morc so than Hcnry Ncvillc, who had bccn an ally ol Ncd
ham undcr thc Commonwcalth, and thc quashing ol whosc clcction by
thc protcctoratc bccamc a cause celbre. Cromwclls cxccutivc council
lorbadc all thosc commonwcalthmcn who won clcction in .66 to sit in
thc Parliamcnt, which in .6, gavc lcgislativc sanction to thc protcctor
atc, brought it closcr to thc traditional lorms ol monarchy, and madc
Cromwcll king in all but namc.
84

Around six wccks bclorc thc publication ol TheExcellencie, anothcr
tract hostilc to thc protcctoratc had appcarcd: HealingQuestionPro-
pounded (London, .66) by Sir Hcnry \anc. A hcro ol Milton, \anc
was a lormcr mcmbcr ol thc Long Parliamcnt who had bccn a crucial
ally ol Cromwcll in it, but who had brokcn bittcrly with him in .6.
TheExcellencie carricd an advcrtiscmcnt lor anothcr work by \anc that
was unsympathctic to thc protcctor, The Fetired Mans Meditations,
which Thomas 8rcwstcr had publishcd in .6. !n Novcmbcr .66
thcrc appcarcd thc Oceana ol Jamcs Harrington, to which Harringtons
intimatc lricnd Hcnry Ncvillc rcportcdly contributcd, and which con
lormcd to Ncvillcs own vicws. Oceana, likc Ncdhams cditorials in
Politicus and likc TheExcellencie, has an antiCromwcllian purposc that
is intclligiblc only whcn its wording is sct against its immcdiatc po
litical background.
85
!t sccms that Harrington had draltcd it not long
altcr thc rcgicidc, and that in .66 thc dralt was adaptcd, as thc cdi
torials ol Politicus wcrc in TheExcellencie, to thc circumstanccs ol thc
protcctoratc. Amid a numbcr ol dicrcnccs bctwccn Oceana and The
Excellencie, thc most pronounccd ol thcm arising lrom Harringtons
dislikc ol thc spirit ol political partisanship that Ncdhams propaganda
cspouscd, thcrc is a striking scrics ol parallcls bctwccn thc rcpublican
argumcnts ol thc two mcn.
86
!l Harringtons trcatisc indccd originatcd,
. Roy Shcrwood, Oli.erCrom.ell:KinginllButName (Stroud, U.K.: Sut
ton, .,).
. Vootton, Fepublicanism, pp. ..a6, LP, pp. .c..
6. ! havc cxplaincd thc point in Vootton, Fepublicanism, pp. ...., although
! should havc paid morc attcntion to thc rcscmblanccs bctwccn thc proposals and
argumcnts advanccd by thc two writcrs lor dividing and balancing thc lunctions
lii
<
!ntroduction
likc Ncdhams, undcr thc Rump, wc arc lclt to rcmark on thc lcrtil
ity ol that cra in political thought and rccction, producing as it also
did Hobbcss Le.iathan, thc dcbatc ovcr thc sovcrcignty ol thc sword,
Marvclls Horatian dc, and thc rhctorical triumph ol thc Defensio
publishcd by Milton on bchall ol thc rcgicidc.
!l Ncdham was not thc proloundcst ol thc thinkcrs ol thc Common
wcalth, hc could at lcast havc claimcd, undcr thc protcctoratc, to havc
bccn thc most prophctic ol thcm. Thc rcappcarancc in TheExcellencie
ol thc warnings that Politicus had givcn Cromwcll imparts a quality
ol dramatic irony to thc work. 8ut Ncdham was not contcnt to rcpcat
thosc warnings. 8y dclt adjustmcnts ol wording hc points to thc dil
lcrcncc ol contcxt and ol purposc bctwccn thc cditorials, which wcrc
writtcn to sccurc and cxtcnd rcpublican rulc, and thc book, which was
intcndcd to rcstorc it. Having rcmindcd thc rcadcr, in thc rst scntcncc
ol thc prclacc, that ngland has bccn dcclarcd to bc a lrcc statc,
Ncdham timc and again altcrs thc wording ol Politicus so as to bring thc
tcrm lrcc statc bclorc thc rcadcrs cyc (pp. , , , .c). vcn on oc
casions whcn thc tcrm is rcproduccd lrom Politicus, Ncdham rcdcploys
it so as to undcrlinc Cromwclls dcstruction ol thc rcpublic. Politicus,
in urging thc nglish not to rcadmit thc Stuarts, had adviscd thcm
to kccp closc to thc rulcs ol a lrcc statc, lor thc barring out ol mon
archy, and had commcndcd thc loundcrs ol commonwcalths, such as
n glands rulcrs ol .6, who havc blockcd up thc way against monar
chal tyranny, by dcclaring lor thc libcrty ol thc pcoplc. !n .66, whcn
ngland had, or was gctting, a ncw monarchy (undcr whatcvcr namc),
Ncdham amcndcd his wording and citcd thc rulcs ol a lrcc statc, lor
thc turning out ol monarchy and commcndcd loundcrs ol common
wcalths who shall block up thc way against monarchic tyranny by
dcclaringas Ncdham would havc wantcd thc parliamcnt ol .66 to
dolor thc libcrty ol thc pcoplc (p. a). thcr changcs likcwisc draw
and powcrs ol a scnatc and a popular asscmbly. Notc, too, in Harringtons account
in Oceana ol thc agc whcn thc world was lull ol popular govcrnmcnts (Har
rington, Political!orks, l. , p. .a), thc ccho ol Ncdhams allusion to thc timcs
whcn thc world aboundcd with lrccstatcs (p. , comparc p. ,).
!ntroduction
<
liii
hostilc attcntion to Cromwclls usurpation. !n Politicus it is good com
monwcalth languagc to maintain that a duc and ordcrly succcssion ol
powcr and pcrsons is thc only mcans to prcscrvc lrccdom and avoid
tyranny. !n The Excellencie it was, and is, good commonwcalth lan
guagc to do so (p. a). !n Politicus, thc pcoplc arc now invcstcd in thc
posscssion ol thc cxccllcnt govcrnmcnt ol a lrcc statc: in thc tract,
thcy but thc othcr day wcrc invcstcd in it (p. .). Thc argumcnts ol
Politicus wcrc rcplics to all objccting monarchs and royalists: TheEx-
cellencie, to rcmind rcadcrs that a ncw kind ol kingly powcr had ariscn
in thc Stuarts placc, answcrcd all objccting monarchs and royalists, ol
what namc and titlc socvcr (p. a). Anothcr changc cnablcd Ncdham to
glancc at what hc, and not hc alonc,
87
mockingly callcd thc holy war
which lrom thc cnd ol .6 Cromwcll had bccn ghting against Spain
and which TheExcellencie ascribcs not to thc zcalous antiCatholic mo
tivcs prolcsscd by thc rcgimc but to thc sinistcr principlc ol rcason ol
statc (p. .c). Furthcr altcrations cnablcd Ncdham to usc two tcrms
that thc commonwcalthmcn habitually applicd to Cromwclls rcgimc
altcr his assumption ol thc protcctoratc. First, likc thcm hc alludcs to
thc apostacy ol thosc who support it (p. a). Sccond, likc thc common
wcalthmcn, who rcluscd to call Cromwcll protcctor, hc instcad alludcs
to him as thc gcncral (p. ), thc military titlc which his own ambition
had prolongcd, and by virtuc ol which hc had scizcd powcr in April
.6.
88
Hc docs, howcvcr, rcproducc lrom Politicus his commcndation
ol Romcs tribuncs as thc protcctors ol thc pcoplcbut thc noun is
now italicizcd, a changc that hints at thc unhappy contrast bctwccn thc
Roman past and thc nglish prcscnt (p. .).
89

Vhcn, in ctobcr .6, Ncdham rcgistcrcd The Excellencie, thc
protcctoratcs lortuncs wcrc low. !ts attcmpt to sccurc parliamcntary
,. Patrick Littlc and avid L. Smith, Parliaments and Politics During the
Crom.ellianProtectorate (Cambridgc, U.K.: Cambridgc Univcrsity Prcss, acc,),
p. a,.
. For thc practicc ol making barbcd intcrlincar allusions to Cromwcll as
thc gcncral scc LP, pp. .,.. !t had bcgun bclorc .6 (p. xl), and was uscd in
Lilburncs antiCromwcllian tracts.
. Comparc Ncdhams ingcniously hostilc dcploymcnt ol thc samc noun in
.6. LP, p. .
liv
<
!ntroduction
sanction lor thc !nstrumcnt ol Govcrnmcnt in thc prcvious wintcr had
bccn rcbucd, and it had rcsortcd instcad to thc military rulc ol thc
majorgcncrals. vcr thc summcr ol .6 thcrc sccm to havc bccn dis
cussions within thc rcgimc, pcrhaps born ol dcspcration, ol a proposal
to rcturn to hcrcditary rulc undcr thc Cromwcll lamily, a prospcct that
could havc promptcd or spccdcd thc composition ol The Excellencie.
Latc in thc summcr ncws camc through ol thc humiliating dclcat
ol an ambitious cxpcdition scnt by Cromwcll to attack thc Spanish
cmpirc in thc ncw world. Thc political and scal paralysis that would
inducc thc govcrnmcnt to call thc parliamcnt ol .66 was alrcady ap
parcnt. Pcrhaps Ncdham, as at othcr timcs in his carccr, was prcpar
ing to jump ship. 8ut thcrc is an altcrnativc, or additional, possibility.
Undcr thc Rump his argumcnts, ocnsivc or troubling as thcy must
havc bccn in varying dcgrccs to a high proportion ol thc nations rul
crs, would havc had support or protcction lrom such radical gurcs
as John 8radshaw and Hcnry Martcn. Pcrhaps hc had protcctors, or
cvcn supportcrs, in Vhitchall now. Thc protcctoratc, likc thc Rump
bclorc it, was a dividcd rcgimc. Alongsidc thosc who wantcd to stccr
it toward thc rcsumption ol monarchy, thcrc wcrc mcn, thc military
lcadcrs Charlcs Flcctwood and John csboroughCromwclls son
inlaw and brothcrinlawat thcir lorc, who saw thc protcctoratc as
a mcans to prcscrvc thc nation and thc Puritan causc lrom thc anarchy
into which it had dcsccndcd in .6, but who rcsistcd thc monarchical
trcnd that had lollowcd Cromwclls clcvation. !n opposition to it thcy
wcrc rcady, in thc manncr ol many politicians ol thc cra, to cndorsc
thc publication ol argumcnts boldcr than thcir own positions. Flcct
wood gavc Sir Hcnry \anc cncouragcmcnt to writc HealingQuestion
Propounded. !n .6 csborough had strivcn to protcct a writcr, John
Strcatcr, whosc statcmcnts ol rcpublican principlcs wcrc rcmarkably
closc to Ncdhams.
90
Hc was, howcvcr, morc vulncrablc than Ncdham.
8cing incxibly committcd to his principlcs, hc had nothing to ocr
thc govcrnmcnt in rcturn lor tolcration ol his argumcnts. !n .6 hc got
into troublc lor publishing a discoursc in which thc cxccllcncc ol a
c. LP, pp. ..6, Vootton, Fepublicanism, p. . and n. .
!ntroduction
<
lv
lrcc statc was maintaincd, and thc inconvcnicnccs ol a tyranny or singlc
pcrson wcrc lully dcmonstratcd. Troops wcrc scnt to Strcatcrs housc,
pcrhaps at Thurlocs bchcst, to silcncc him.
91
!n .66 Strcatcr would bc
thc printcr ol Harringtons Oceana.
Flcctwood and csborough, howcvcr troublcd thcy might havc bccn
by Ncdhams main argumcnt, could havc bccn cxpcctcd to wclcomc
ccrtain ol thc adjustmcnts that wcrc madc in TheExcellencie to matc
rial that had appcarcd in Politicus. !n TheExcellencie Ncdham cctingly
and tcntativcly allows lor a possibility that hc had rulcd out in .6.a
and that thc tract ol .66 othcrwisc cxcludcs: thc appointmcnt ol a
king, who would bc choscn by thc pcoplcs rcprcscntativcs, and madc
an o ccr ol trust by thcm (p. .). !n somc mcns cycs, at lcast, that
proposal would havc bccn compatiblc, as thc principlcs laid down on
bchall ol thc protcctoratc in Ncdhams TrueState in .6 would not
havc bccn, with thc sovcrcignty ol Parliamcnt, to which thc king would
bc subordinatc. Thc wording rccalls that ol thc army whcn, bclorc its
march on London in cccmbcr .6, it contcmplatcd thc cnthronc
mcnt ol an clcctcd monarch.
92
Politicus had insistcd that nglands rc
public bc kcpt lrcc lrom mixturc with any othcr lorm ol govcrnmcnt.
That stipulation was omittcd lrom TheExcellencie (p. ..). Pcrhaps thc
rcmindcr in thc prclacc that parliamcnt had lought thc king so that
thc princc as wcll as thc pcoplc might bc govcrncd by law was anothcr
hint that thc unqualicd rcpublicanism dcmandcd by thc main body ol
thc tract was not nonncgotiablc. Support could havc bccn lound within
TheExcellencie lor thc continuation ol Cromwcll in o cc, with rcduccd
powcrs dcncd and dclcgatcd by a sovcrcign parliamcnt.
Not only was it a solution that might havc satiscd Flcctwood and
csborough. !t would havc morc or lcss accordcd with thc goals ol
Prcsbytcrian mcmbcrs ol thc Parliamcnt ol .6 who had bccn ap
pallcd by thc purc rcpublicanism ol thc commonwcalthmcn, and who
had accordingly bccn rcady to hclp kccp thc protcctoratc in bcing, but
who had insistcd that thc dcnition ol thc protcctors powcrs was a
.. John Strcatcr, SecretFeasonsofState (London, .6), p. ., LP, p. .a.
a. Vordcn, Rcpublicanism, Rcgicidc and Rcpublic, pp. aca..
lvi
<
!ntroduction
mattcr lor Parliamcnt alonc. Thc cditorials ol Politicus had rccallcd thc
misconduct ol thosc Mcmbcrs ol Parliamcnt and thcir allics in .6,.
TheExcellencie droppcd thosc accusations (pp. ., ., .,c, .,), which
in any casc now bclongcd to thc past. Ncdham docs nothing to indi
catc any diminution ol his avcrsion to Prcsbytcrian bigotry, but hc docs
omit thc last ol thc cditorials ol Politicus, thc morc inammatory ol thc
two that hc had dircctcd at thc clcrical cstatc, which thc Prcsbytcrians
championcd. !n othcr placcs on thc pcriphcry ol its argumcnt his tract
likcwisc ocrs conccssions, or thc hopc ol thcm, to political groups
distant lrom thc commonwcalthmcn.
!n thcir dcspair and angcr at Cromwclls usurpation, commonwcalth
mcn had tricd to lorm an antiCromwcllian lront, a tactic that would
bc rcpcatcd by Hcnry Ncvillc and allics ol his in thc clcctions ol .66.
93

Thc commonwcalthmcn cvcn appcalcd, as Lcvcllcrs had somctimcs
donc in thc ycars sincc .6, to thosc lcllow victims ol Cromwcllian
or military rulc, thc royalists, whom TheExcellencie also aspircd to win
ovcr. vcn though it rcmaincd hostilc to thc mcmory ol Charlcs !, and
cvcn though it ocrcd royalists, at lcast lor thc timc bcing, no prospcct
ol participation in politics, thc tract took a much soltcr linc against
thc Stuart causc than Politicus had donc. Thc phrasc thc latc tyrant,
uscd ol Charlcs ! in Politicus, bccamc, in .66, thc latc king (pp. ,, 6,,
a, ). !n thc samc ycar Harringtons rcpublican trcatisc Oceana likc
wisc shicldcd Charlcs lrom thc chargc ol tyranny. To Harrington, as
to Ncdham in TheExcellencie, thc tyrant was Cromwcll.
94
Politicus had
vilicd thc odious ... namc ol Stuart, but TheExcellencie rcplaccd it
with that ol Richard !!!, thc usurping king and lormcr lord protcctor,
whosc namc stood, in antiprotcctoral thinking, lor thc usurpcr Crom
wcll.
95
Thc social radicalism ol thc ncwsbook, which had corrcspondcd
to a markcd trcnd ol thc political writing and agitation ol .6.a, but
which would havc cxcrciscd lcss public appcal by .66, was toncd down
in The Excellencie. Criticisms ol thc social opprcssion which Politicus
. Thurloe StatePapers, :a6.
. LP, pp. .c..
. Villiam Prynnc, King Fichard the Third Fe.i.ed (London, .6,), PR
../a, lol. .,, Thc National Archivcs.
!ntroduction
<
lvii
had disccrncd in thc oligarchical rcpublic ol \cnicc wcrc now rcduccd.
Thc tcrm public popular militia givcs way to thc tamcr public mi
litia (p. a). vcn as Ncdham prcparcs, in thc prclacc to The Excel-
lencie, to arguc lor a contcntious and animating political programmc,
hc ocrs thc prospcct that thc nation can bccomc a quict habitation
whcrc nonc might makc thc pcoplc alraid. 8y such tactics docs hc
scck to portray thc rcpublicanism ol Politicus as thc natural crccd not
only ol thc radicals in parliamcnt and army but ol thc broad, csscntially
conscrvativc parliamcntarian causc. To that cnd thc rcpublicanism is
prcscntcd in what, at lcast to outward appcaranccs, is a dilutcd lorm.
Ncvillc and othcr rcpublicans would adopt thc samc tactic in Parlia
mcnt in .6.
96

Thc Rcpublication ol TheExcellencie (.,6,)
Thc rcpublication ol TheExcellencie in .,6, has its contcxt too. 8chind
it thcrc lics a story that gocs back about scvcnty ycars to .6.,cc, a
dccadc or so altcr thc Rcvolution that dcposcd Jamcs !! and brought
Villiam !!! and Mary !! to thc thronc. !n thosc ycars a group ol radi
cal Vhig writcrs and publicists, ol whom thc most activc was thc dcist
John Toland, rcvivcd thc rcpublican argumcnts ol thc Cromwcllian and
Rcstoration cras by publishing or, in most cascs, rcpublishing books
that had advanccd thcm. Vritings by John Milton, Algcrnon Sidncy,
Jamcs Harrington, Hcnry Ncvillc, and dmund Ludlow wcrc brought
or brought back into print.
!t was a bravc vcnturc.
97
Sincc thc Rcstoration thc mcmory ol thc
rcgicidc, and ol thc military and scctarian anarchy that lollowcd it, had
discrcditcd rcpublican argumcnts. !n thc .6cs two rival vicws ol thc
midccntury convulsion cmcrgcd among thc Vhigs. Mainstrcam Vhigs
6. Vootton, Fepublicanism, pp. .a6.
,. ! havc dcscribcd this vcnturc, and thc political sctting and purposcs ol thc
rcpublications, in 8lair Vordcn, FoundheadFeputations:TheEnglishCi.il!ars
and the Passions of Posterity (London: Allcn Lanc, Pcnguin Prcss, acc.) and in
Vhig History and Puritan Politics: Thc MemoirsofEdmundLudlo. Rcvisitcd,
HistoricalFesearch , (acca): ac,.
lviii
<
!ntroduction
wcrc cagcr, in thc lacc ol Tory accusations ol scditious purposc, to dcm
onstratc thcir acction lor thc cstablishcd constitution. Thcy dwcllcd
on thc mcmory not ol .6 but ol thc Rcvolution ol .6, which had
brought thcm to powcr and which had prcscrvcd rathcr than dcstroycd
thc monarchy. To radical Vhigs, by contrast, .6 had bccn a misscd op
portunity to rcasscrt thc principlcs that had brought Charlcs ! to account
and to achicvc thc radical curtailmcnt, possibly cvcn thc climination, ol
thc monarchy. So long as thc postRcvolutionary rcgimc ol Villiam !!!
was ghting lor survival against Francc, which had takcn up thc causc
ol thc cxilcd Stuarts, thc radical casc was only intcrmittcntly advanccd.
Altcr thc Pcacc ol Ryswick in .6, it was boldly articulatcd. Thc Pcacc
handcd an inammatory issuc to rcpublicans. Thcy castigatcd thc dc
tcrmination ol thc Vhig ministry to rctain an army in pcacctimc, a
movc, thcy allcgcd, that rccallcd thc military rulc ol Cromwcll. As in
thc .6cs, it was implicd, so in thc .6cs: a rcgimc that had claimcd to
rcplacc a tyranny had acquircd its own tyrannical propcrtics.
l thc rcpublican writcrs who had had rolcs in thc civil wars and
whosc works wcrc publishcd or rcvivcd at thc cnd ol thc ccntury, onc
namc is conspicuously abscnt: Ncdhams. Thc omission not only con
ncd his tract to obscurity but also rcstrictcd thc impact ol thc cdi
tion ol .,6,. 8y that timc thc rcpublican writings that Toland and his
allics did publish had bccomc wcll known, so much so that it would
bc di cult lor Ncdhams writing to add much to thcm. 8ut il Toland
and his allics ncvcr mcntioncd Ncdhams namc, thcy did makc silcnt
usc ol him. !n .6, onc ol thc principal tracts ol thc standing army
controvcrsy, apparcntly writtcn by Toland in association with Valtcr
Moylc and John Trcnchard, appropriatcd, without acknowlcdgmcnt,
paragraphs in which Ncdham had sung thc praiscs ol citizcn mili
tias, thc rcpublican altcrnativc to standing armics.
98
!n .6 a scparatc
. Comparc nrgument,She.ing,thataStandingrmyisinconsistent.ith
aFreeGo.ernment (London, .6,), pp. ,, with p. c. Ncdhams wording was
altcrcd, but thc dcbt to him is clcar and cxtcnsivc. Scc too thc passagcs that rccall
Ncdhams wording in Moylcs trcatisc ol .6, nEssayupontheConstitutionof
the Foman Go.ernment. Carolinc Robbins, cd., T.o English Fepublican Tracts
(London: Cambridgc Univcrsity Prcss, .6), pp. a, ac.
!ntroduction
<
lix
contribution to thc standing army dcbatc by Toland, his tract TheMi-
litia Feformd, borrowcd bricy lrom thc samc passagc by Ncdham.
99

Thc matcrial on which Toland, Moylc, and Trcnchard drcw had ap
pcarcd both in Politicus and in TheExcellencie, and it is impossiblc to
bc ccrtain lrom which ol thc two sourccs thc passagc was takcn. Thc
likcly answcr is Politicus, a work that had bccn drawn to public attcn
tion in .6a in a biographical account ol Ncdham by thc antiquary
Anthony Voodalthough Voods tcxt docs not namc TheExcellencie
among Ncdhams othcr publications. Vood also mcntions Ncdhams
authorship ol Politicus, but again docs not rclcr to TheExcellencie, in his
bricl lilc ol Milton, in which Ncdham gurcs as a lricnd ol thc poct.
Voods dcscriptions ol Ncdham lodgcd thcmsclvcs in thc public mind.
Thanks to thcm, Politicus would bc much morc widcly known about
than TheExcellencie until thc rcpublication ol thc tract in .,6,.
100
The
Excellencie itscll sccms to havc comc closc to disappcarancc bctwccn
thc Rcstoration and thc rcpublication ol .,6,.
101
Tolands circlc may not
havc bccn awarc ol its cxistcncc. Toland did, howcvcr, rcpublish a work
that had bccn closcly conncctcd to Ncdhams rcpublican writings: The
Grounds and Feasons of Monarchy (.6c) by John Hall, who had bccn
a contributor to Mercurius Politicus. !t was includcd in thc cdition ol
thc works ol Jamcs Harrington publishcd by Toland in .,cc. !n thc
. John Toland, TheMilitiaFeformd (London, .6), p. ,a. Thc intcrcst ol
Tolands circlc in Ncdham is suggcstcd, too, by bookscllcr Richard 8aldwins .6a
rcpublication ol a prcviously anonymous tract, Christianissimus Christianandus
(.6,), with Ncdham attributcd as author. 8aldwin, a ccntral gurc in thc pub
lishing community that produccd thc canonical tcxts ol thc latc .6cs, idcntics
Ncdham as thc author. Thcrc wcrc othcr anonymous cditions: .6. (publishcd as
TheGermanSpie ), .,c., and .,c,. For 8aldwin scc dmund Ludlow, !oycefrom
the!atchTo.er, cd. 8lair Vordcn (London: Royal Historical Socicty, .,), pp.
.., a, n, , and Vordcn, Vhig History and Puritan Politics, pp. a....
.cc. A biwcckly papcr ol political commcntary by J|amcs| rakc was pub
lishcd as MercuriusPoliticus in .,c, and anothcr pcriodical with thc samc titlc,
launchcd by anicl cloc, ran lrom .,.6 to .,ac.
.c.. Copics ol thc .66 cdition vcry occasionally appcar in cightccnthccntury
book catalogs. Vhcn Thomas Hollis prcscntcd a copy ol thc .66 tcxt to Christs
Collcgc Cambridgc in .,6 (H, . cccmbcr .,6), his inscription dcscribcd
it as rarissima, though hc sccms to havc acquircd at lcast onc othcr copy. Scc
LondonChronicle 6 ctobcr .,,a, 8lackburnc, Memoirs, pp. 6, ,,a,.
lx
<
!ntroduction
original vcrsion thc authorship had bccn indicatcd solcly by thc initials
J.H. Pcrhaps Toland, whcn hc dccidcd to rcprint thc tract, supposcd
that Harrington was thc author, or clsc bclicvcd that thc status ol thc
work would bc cnhanccd il it could bc passcd o as his. !l so, hc must
havc withdrawn thc attribution bclorc publication. Thc prclacc to thc
volumc acknowlcdgcs that thc work is not Harringtons but docs not
say what it is doing in an cdition ol Harringtons works.
102

Thc spirit and cncrgy ol Halls tract, and thc vigor and candor ol its
rcpublicanism, would havc appcalcd to Toland. So would thc livclincss
ol Ncdhams prosc. 8ut cvcn il Toland did know ol The Excellencie,
would hc havc considcrcd publishing it: Ncdhams social radicalism,
though it might havc had somc appcal to Toland himscll, would havc
gonc against thc grain ol thc political and social thought ol thc latc
scvcntccnth ccntury, whcn radicals lclt cithcr inclincd or obligcd to
acknowlcdgc thc dcpcndcncc ol libcrty on thc powcr ol magnatcs with
thc wcalth to sustain thc indcpcndcncc ol thc crown.
103
Furthcr and pcr
haps strongcr rcasons against thc rcpublication ol TheExcellencie would
havc bccn supplicd by thc immcdiatc political contcxt in which, and
thc political purposc lor which, Toland workcd. Thc proposal to main
tain thc army in pcacctimc provokcd a rcaction not only among radical
Vhigs but among Torics. Tolands patron Robcrt Harlcy, a statcsman
with a Vhig past and a Tory luturc, saw in thc issuc an opportunity to
crcatc a country alliancc, drawn lrom both partics. !t would bc unitcd
by opposition to thc rcccnt cxpansion ol thc cxccutivc and ol its rc
sourccs ol patronagc, dcvclopmcnts that, it was allcgcd, had wcakcncd
both thc virtuc and thc indcpcndcncc ol Mcmbcrs ol Parliamcnt. Thc
country party would attack not only thc potcntial ol a standing army
to opprcss thc nation but thc accompanying corruption and vcnality ol
.ca. Jamcs Harrington, TheOceanaofJamesHarringtonandhisOther!orks,
cd. John Toland (London, .,cc), p. xxviii. Somc cightccnthccntury rcadcrs,
coming across thc tract in that cdition or in thc oncs that lollowcd it, and missing
thc prclatory disclaimcr, would supposc it to bc Harringtons. !t was somctimcs
attributcd to him in book catalogs, as it was in John Milncr, !irtuetheBasisof
PublickHappiness (London, .,,), p. an.
.c. Vootton, Fepublicanism, pp. .6.
!ntroduction
<
lxi
thc govcrnmcnt and thc court. Toland wantcd to prcscnt his hcrocs ol
thc civil wars not as inccndiary gurcs but as mcnprclcrably landcd
mcnwhosc virtuc and constancy had bccn impcrvious to corruption
by cithcr Charlcs ! or Cromwcll.
Likc Ncdham (and likc Hcnry Ncvillc) bclorc him, Toland dilutcd
a radical mcssagc to broadcn its appcal. Yct, again likc Ncdham (and
Ncvillc), hc did so with thc purposc ol luring modcratc opinion toward
radical solutions. Thc champions ol libcrty in thc civil wars, Toland
invitcs rcadcrs to inlcr, had not bccn rcbrands. Solcmn and rcspon
siblc rccction had convinccd thcm that only by bringing tyranny to
account, or by lundamcntal constitutional changc, could thc lrccdom
ol thc subjcct bc achicvcd or maintaincd. Hc madc thc vicws ol thosc
hcrocs sccm thc natural companion to thcir uprightncss ol charactcr.
8y taking hugc cditorial libcrtics hc translormcd Ludlows pcrsonality
to bring it into linc with country valucs.
104
!t would havc bccn impos
siblc to do thc samc with Ncdham. Thc account ol his lilc that Vood
publishcd in .6a had brought thc vcnal mutations ol this most scdi
tious, notablc and rcviling author to public attcntion. !t is no surprisc
that thc writcrs ol thc tract that vc ycars latcr appropriatcd Ncdhams
argumcnts lor citizcn militias conccalcd thcir sourcc. !n thc lollowing
ycar Tolands laudatory biography ol Milton absorbcd matcrial lrom
thc carlicr livcs ol thc poct by Vood and by Miltons ncphcw dward
Phillips, but omittcd thc rccollcction ol thosc writcrs that Ncdham had
bccn among Miltons lricnds.
105

!n thc cightccnth ccntury thc cditions ol scvcntccnthccntury writ
crs that Toland and his lricnds did bring into printMilton, Sid
ncy, Harrington, Ncvillc, Ludlowwcrc thc dominant works in what
Carolinc Robbins, in hcr scminal book TheEighteenth-CenturyCom-
mon.ealthman hall a ccntury ago, callcd a sacrcd canon ol Rcal
Vhig tcxts.
106
Thcir longtcrm inucncc, cspccially thcir placc in
.c. Vordcn, FoundheadFeputations, chaps. ..
.c. Hclcn arbishirc, cd., EarlyLi.esofMilton (London: Constablc, .a),
pp. xxxviii, , ,.
.c6. Carolinc Robbins, The Eighteenth-Century Common.ealthman (.,
rcpr. Ncw York: Athcncum, .6), pp. .
lxii
<
!ntroduction
thc idcological origins ol thc Amcrican Rcvolution, is now widcly
rccognizcd.
107
8ut by thc midcightccnth ccntury thc impact ol To
lands publications, in ngland at lcast, had bcgun to ladc. Toland had
sought to mcrgc rcpublicanism with hostility to corruption. Undcr thc
rst two Gcorgcs, hostility to corruption intcnsicd, but rcpublican
ism was in rctrcat.
108
Thc rcvival and thc rcncwcd impact ol thc canon
wcrc thc achicvcmcnt ol a sccond scrics ol publications, this onc sprcad
ovcr a longcr pcriod. Two mcn wcrc rcsponsiblc lor it: Richard 8aron
and Thomas Hollis. !t was thcy who achicvcd thc rcpublication ol The
Excellencie in .,6,. Although thcy had thcir allics and sympathizcrs,
thcy can hardly bc said to havc lcd a movcmcnt. Holliss disscmina
tion ol idcas, as Carolinc Robbins rcmarkcd, was a strictly privatc
cntcrprisc.
109
Although hc had many conncctions in thc antiquarian
and booksclling worlds, his allics in thc promotion ol his program
wcrc vcry lcw.
110
Thcrc is somcthing ol thc ccccntric loncr about both
him and 8aron. Thcrc is also a strcak ol ovcr scnsitivity, pcrhaps ol
paranoia. And thcrc is an abscncc ol guilc, a lcaturc that sharply dis
tinguishcs both mcn lrom thcir prcdcccssor in thc cld, Toland. Hol
lis was callcd by Horacc Valpolc as simplc a soul as cvcr cxistcd
111

and by r. Johnson a dull, poor crcaturc as cvcr livcd.
112
Yct by his
own lights his labors on libcrtys bchall had larrcaching rcsults.
.c,. n thc Amcrican sidc thc scminal work was 8crnard 8ailyn, TheIdeo-
logicalOriginsofthemericanFe.olution (Cambridgc, Mass.: Harvard Univcrsity
Prcss, .6,).
.c. Vordcn, FoundheadFeputations, chaps. 6.
.c. Carolinc Robbins, Thc Strcnuous Vhig, Thomas Hollis ol Lincolns
!nn, in bsoluteLiberty:SelectionfromtherticlesandPapersofCarolineFob-
bins, cd. 8arbara Talt (Hamdcn, Conn.: Archon, .a), p. .,. Thc matcrial in
Talts sclcction, particularly this cssay, rcmains thc bcst introduction to Hollis
and his work.
..c. . P. Sainsbury, Disaected Patriots: London Supporters of Fe.olutionary
merica, z,o,8: (Kingston and Montrcal: McGillQuccns Univcrsity Prcss,
.,), p. .a, 8ridgct Hill, TheFepublican!irago:TheLifeandTimesofCatharine
Macaulay,Historian (xlord, U.K.: Clarcndon Prcss, .a), p. .6.
.... 8crnard Knollcnbcrg, Thomas Hollis and Jonathan Mayhcw: Thcir
Corrcspondcncc, .,.,66, Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society 6
(.6): .ca, at p. .c.
..a. V. H. 8ond, ThomasHollisofLincolnsInn:!higandHisBooks (Cam
bridgc, U.K.: Cambridgc Univcrsity Prcss, .c), p. ..
!ntroduction
<
lxiii
Vc know much lcss about 8aron
113
than about Hollis. 8orn at Lccds
and cducatcd at Glasgow, 8aron was an impccunious writcr, plagucd by
ill hcalth and lamily mislortunc, a man ol artlcss and uncompromising
idcalism and ol impctuous and splcnctic tcmpcramcnt. !n his youth hc
was a dcvotcc ol Thomas Gordon, thc author, with John Trcnchard, ol
Catos Letters.
114
!n .,. 8aron bcgan thc rcvival ol thc sacrcd canon
by producing ncw cditions ol thc MemoirsofEdmundLudlo. and thc
Discourses ol Algcrnon Sidncy.
115
His vicws on scvcntccnthccntury
history wcrc notably outspokcn. !n thc Ludlow cdition, which cnablcd
thc rcadcr, cxplaincd 8aron, to admirc thc principlcs on which thosc
mcn actcd, who passcd scntcncc on King Charlcs !,
116
hc includcd thc
spccch which John Cook, whom thc Rump had appointcd to conduct
thc prosccution ol Charlcs !, had planncd to dclivcr at thc trial. !n .,a
8aron cditcd a collcction ol tracts, ThePillarsofPriestcraftandOrtho-
doxyShaken (London, .,a), which includcd a scrmon dclivcrcd in Ncw
ngland two ycars carlicr by Jonathan Mayhcw that had lamously ap
plaudcd Charlcss cxccution. !n ., 8aron produccd a ncw cdition, in
two volumcs, ol Miltons prosc works.
117
!n .,6 hc publishcd a hith
crto unknown sccond cdition, lrom .6c, ol Miltons attack on thc
rcccntly cxccutcd Charlcs !, Eikonoklastes. 8aron announccd his own
principlcs and purposcs in a prclacc, whcrc hc cxplaincd that thc cdi
tion was dcsigncd to strcngthcn and support thc good old causc.
Thc good old causc was thc labcl that scvcntccnthccntury rcgicidcs
and commonwcalthmcn had claimcd lor thcmsclvcs. !t was also thc
... Thc bcst sourccs lor 8aron arc 8lackburnc, pp. 6.6, ,,6, .6, 6,
6.6, ., a, .6, ,a., H, The Protestant Dissenters Maga.ine 6 (.,):
.666, Sylas Ncvillc, The Diary of Sylas Ne.ille z,o,z,88, cd. 8asil Cozcns
Hardy (xlord, U.K.: xlord Univcrsity Prcss, .c), scc, too, Hill, Fepublican
!irago, s.v. 8aron. Thc bricl articlc in thc OxfordDictionaryofNationalBiog-
raphy is not rcliablc.
... John Trcnchard and Thomas Gordon, Catos Letters: Essays on Liberty,
a vols., cd. Ronald Hamowy (!ndianapolis: Libcrty Fund, .).
... Hc, and thc promotion ol thc canon, wcrc indcbtcd to thc cditorial labors ol
thc antiquary Thomas 8irch, whosc cautious politics wcrc dislikcd by 8aron and
by Holliss circlc, but whosc contribution thcy intcrmittcntly acknowlcdgcd.
..6. MemoirsofEdmundLudlo. (London, .,.), p. xii.
..,. The!orksofJohnMilton,Historical,Political,andMiscellaneous, a vols., cd.
Thomas 8irch (London, .,).
lxiv
<
!ntroduction
idcal, announccd 8arons prclacc, which in my youth ! cmbraccd, and
thc principlcs whcrcol ! will asscrt and maintain whilst ! livc.
Hc prcscntcd a copy ol thc publication to my much honourcd and
cstccmcd lricnd, Thomas Hollis.
118
Hollis was born in .,ac and dicd
in .,,, six ycars altcr 8aron (whosc ycar ol birth is unknown). Likc
8aron hc had Yorkshirc conncctions, but his background was othcrwisc
quitc dicrcnt. Hc was rich, 8aron poor. Hollis, though hc livcd in
London, had cstatcs in orsct. Maintaining that thc political corrup
tion ol thc agc ran so dccp as to incapacitatc virtuc at Vcstminstcr, hc
dccidcd not to scck a scat in Parliamcnt. !nstcad hc sought to inu
cncc opinion through thc publication and rcpublication ol works in
thc causc ol libcrty or thc causc ol truth and libcrty. Thus would hc
championin thc phrasc hc highlightcd whcn rcmcmbcring thc mar
tyrdom ol Algcrnon Sidncy, who had bccn cxccutcd lor trcason altcr a
riggcd trial in .6thc L CAUS.
119
Thc canon, and thc valucs
it rcprcscntcd, would bc proloundly indcbtcd to Holliss municcncc.
Hc subsidizcd cxpcnsivc cditions ol canonical works. Hc had handsomc
copics, individually bound and inscribcd, scnt to individuals and librar
ics in 8ritain, in North Amcrica (whcrc thc principal bcncciary was
thc library ol Harvard Collcgc),
120
and on thc uropcan Contincnt,
whcrc thcy rcachcd thc Ncthcrlands,
121
Swcdcn, Francc, Gcrmany,
... 8lackburnc, p. 6a. Anothcr prcscntation copy, givcn by 8aron to a Mr.
Trucman, is in thc 8odlcian Library, xlord: \ct A c. .cc. !t may bc that only a
small numbcr ol copics wcrc printcd, lor distribution to 8arons lricnds: scc thc
ylcal ol thc copy ol thc sccond cdition, ol .,,c, in thc 8odlcian, classmark aa6
c. .a. Hollis was probably rcsponsiblc lor thc sccond cdition and probably also
arrangcd lor thc sccond cdition, in .,6, ol 8arons ThePillarsofPriestcraftand
OrthodoxyShaken, vols. (London, .,6) (H, .. Junc .,6,).
... H, a May .,6, Robbins, Strcnuous Vhig, pp. .,., .6, Sidncy, Dis-
coursesConcerningGo.ernment, cd. Thomas Hollis (London .,6 cd.), p. c. !n
my rclcrcnccs to this cdition ol thc Discourses, pagc numbcrs will bc thosc ol thc
!ntroduction, which is scparatcly paginatcd.
.ac. Carolinc Robbins, Library ol Libcrty, in bsoluteLiberty, pp. ac6a.
Villiam H. 8onds study, FromtheGreatDesireofPromotingLearning:Thomas
HollissGiftstoHar.ardCollegeLibrary (Cambridgc, Mass.: Harvard Univcrsity
Prcss, ac.c), appcarcd altcr this introduction was writtcn.
.a.. Kccs van Stricn, Thomas Hollis and His onation to Lcidcn Univcrsity
Library, .,,c, Quaerendo c (accc): .
!ntroduction
<
lxv
Russia, !taly, and Corsica. 8ooks ol govcrnmcnt, hc cxplaincd, wcrc
what hc dclightcd most to scnd, lor il govcrnmcnt gocs right all gocs
right.
122
Hc arrangcd and nanccd thc publication ol cxccrpts lrom
thc canonical works in thc gazcttcs. Hc had lrcsh cditions ol Ludlow
and Harrington printcd, hc planncd ncw oncs ol Milton and Ncvillc,
and hc tricd to gct thc political works ol Andrcw Marvcll rcpublishcd.
Although Hollis normally lclt thc bulk ol thc cditorial work to othcrs,
thcrc wcrc two signicant cxccptions. !n .,6. hc produccd his own cdi
tion ol Tolands lilc ol Milton, togcthcr with myntor, thc scqucl To
land had publishcd in .6.
123
Thcn, in .,6, camc thc most laborious
and pcrhaps thc most inucntial ol his publishing vcnturcs, his loving
cdition ol Sidncys Discourses, which hc had undcrtakcn, as hc rccordcd
in his diary, without a singlc byc vicw, and ALN lor thc lovc ! bcar
to libcrty and his mcmory and lor thc bcnct ol my countrymcn and
mankind.
124
Thc cditions ol Sidncy and Toland carricd cxtcnsivc an
notations that rcinlorccd thc tcxts with plcas lor libcrty cxtractcd lrom
othcr works, oltcn lrom othcr timcs.
Vhcn 8arons cdition ol Eikonoklastes appcarcd in .,6, his lricnd
ship with Hollis, warm as it cvidcntly was, was ol rcccnt origin.
125
At
lcast by .,, whcn Holliss diary bcgins and wc can lollow its coursc,
thc rclationship had bccomc closc.
126
Thc two mcn would mcct lrc
qucntly and at lcngth, somctimcs at Holliss chambcrs in Lincolns !nn,
somctimcs ncar 8arons homc at 8lackhcath. Thcy lound much com
mon ground in thcir dismay at thc condition ol thc timcsa lavoritc
lamcnt ol Hollis.
127
Thcy wcrc appallcd by thc crowns trcatmcnt ol
.aa. Charlcs V. Akcrs, CalleduntoLiberty:LifeofJonathanMayhe.,z,:c
z,oo (Cambridgc, Mass.: Harvard Univcrsity Prcss, .6), p. ..
.a. John Toland, The Life of John Milton . . . .ith myntor, or, Defense of
MiltonsLife (London, .,6.).
.a. H, . March .,6.
.a. 8lackburnc, p. 6..
.a6. ! am most gratclul to avid Vomcrslcy lor lcnding mc microlms ol
thc diary.
.a,. H, a6 Junc .,6, 6 cccmbcr .,66, . Scptcmbcr .,6, Hollis to Tim
othy Hollis, a Fcbruary .,,., MS ng. ..././., Houghton Library, Harvard
Univcrsity.
lxvi
<
!ntroduction
thc Amcrican colonics, and wcnt out on a limb in thcir ardcnt sup
port lor thc colonists causc.
128
Jonathan Mayhcw, whosc cxplosivc scr
mon ol .,c had bccn rcprintcd by 8aron and invokcd by Hollis,
129

bccamc Holliss principal contact with thc Amcrican movcmcnt ol rc
sistancc.
130
!n thc colonists causc hc lound himscll, as Robbins wrotc,
slowly but incxorably cast in thc ncw rolc ol intcrprctcr to ngland
ol Amcrican scntimcnts.
131
His Amcrican ally Andrcw liot told him
that, wcrc it not lor thc inlormation scnt ovcr by him, wc should bc
quitc ignorant ol what is said cithcr lor us or against us in ngland.
132

Thcrc was much clsc to unitc Hollis and 8aron. 8oth mcn, prcoc
cupicd by thc vcnality ol contcmporary nglish politics, lookcd to thc
abolition ol borough constitucncics as thc solc mcans to cnd it.
133
Thc
political radicalism ol thc two lricnds was partncrcd by a vigorous and
vigilant antipathy, on which a roundcd account ol thcir livcs would
havc much to say, to clcricalism and to ccclcsiastical and doctrinal in
tolcrancc, cvils ol which thcy likcwisc disccrncd a rcvival in thcir own
timc. 8oth mcn prcscntcd thcmsclvcs as asscrtors ol civil and rcligious
libcrty,
134
a phrasc Hollis likcd to inscribc in prcscntation copics ol thc
books hc promotcd. Thcy wcrc dismaycd not mcrcly by thc political
and rcligious tcndcncics ol thc agc but by its moral charactcr and by
thc dcgcncration ol public and privatc virtuc. Thcy wcrc scandalizcd by
thc appcal ol novcls and romanccs to young mcn who prclcrrcd rcading
thcm to thc strcnuous study ol thc tcxts ol libcrty.
135

.a. H, 6 cccmbcr .,66, lor thc ccccntricity ol thcir position scc Sainsbury,
DisaectedPatriots, p. ..
.a. Toland, LifeofJohnMilton, p. a, 8lackburnc, pp. ,, a, ,6, H, a
April .,6, Robbins, Strcnuous Vhig, p. .c.
.c. 8lackburnc, p. ., Akcrs, CalleduntoLiberty, s.v. Hollis.
... Robbins, Strcnuous Vhig, p. .6.
.a. , Scptcmbcr .,6, MS Am. a.F, Houghton Library, Harvard Uni
vcrsity.
.. 8lackburnc, pp. a.aa, H, a May .,,c.
.. 8lackburnc, pp. vi, a,, 66, ,6, ., 6a (comparc pp. ,c, ,,), 8ond, Thomas
Hollis, p. .a., H, a March .,6, a. Junc, Novcmbcr .,66, a August .,6,, a
January, a cccmbcr .,6. Comparc PoliticalFegister, Junc .,6, p. c, and an
othcr publication in which Hollis was involvcd: CollectionofLettersandEssaysin
Fa.ourofPublicLiberty, vols. (London, .,,), titlc pagc and .:a.
.. Milton, Eikonoklastes, cd. 8aron (London, .,6), prclacc, and Holliss an
notations on p. iv ol thc prclacc in thc copy in thc Houghton Library, C,.
!ntroduction
<
lxvii
Thcir closcst bond, howcvcr, was thc hold ol thc scvcntccnth ccn
tury on thcir minds. Thcy sought out scarcc tracts lrom thc pcriod.
Hollis, who also trackcd down civilwar manuscripts, compilcd a
largc collcction ol pamphlcts ol that timc. Hc madc sclcctions lrom
thcm availablc to two historians whosc writings on thc scvcntccnth
ccntury hc did what hc could to assist: Catharinc Macaulay, thc au
thor ol a prodigiously succcsslul HistoryofEngland, and Holliss own
lricnd Villiam Harris, thc biographcr ol Cromwcll and Charlcs !!.
136

Hollis took 8arons cdition ol Eikonoklastes to his hcart. Hc in
scrtcd his own cxtcnsivc annotations bctwccn thc lcavcs ol copics
ol thc work. !n a copy hc scnt to Harvard hc also inscrtcd a copy ol
Charlcs !s dcath warrant, which had bccn printcd by thc Socicty ol
Antiquarics in .,c.
137
Hc dclightcd in thc intcndcd spccch ol John
Cook that 8aron had rcprintcd. Hc hcavily annotatcd Cooks tract
ol .6a, MonarchyNoCreatureofGodsMaking, which vindicatcd, as
Hollis cxultantly rcmarkcd, that lamous piccc ol justicc ol January c
.6||, thc rcgicidc, in which wc havc grcat causc to rcjoicc. Hc
drcw attcntion to othcr vindications ol thc kings cxccution and pub
licizcd thc dcsirc ol thc rcgicidc Thomas Scot, as rccordcd in Lud
lows Memoirs, to havc inscribcd on his tomb thc words Hcrc licth
onc who had a hand and a hcart in thc cxccution ol Charlcs Stuart
latc King ol ngland.
138

Hollis sighcd to rcmcmbcr thc couragc, and thc vigilancc lor libcrty,
that in thc scvcntccnth ccntury had cmboldcncd mcn to bring a tyrant
to account. !t dismaycd him to comparc thosc clcvatcd gurcs with thcir
progcny, thc mcn ol his own timc, who had arrivcd to such a com
lortablc pitch ol inattcntion and inscnsibility, to such a total cxtinction
H,a6,. Zz,6m (hcrcaltcr Houghton Eikonoklastes ), Sidncy, Discourses (.,6
cd.), p. , 8lackburnc, p. ,,.
.6. Hill, Fepublican!irago, cxplorcs thc rclationship ol Hollis and Macaulay.
Mutually admiring lcttcrs bctwccn thcm arc in thc Houghton Library, MS ng.
.../a. Holliss diary providcs inlormation about his communications with, and
admiration lor, both Macaulay and Harris.
.,. Houghton, Eikonoklastes; 8lackburnc, pp. ,6c.
.. Cook, MonarchyNoCreatureofGodsMaking (.6a, C,. H,a6,. Zz6ac,
Houghton Library), csp. p. .., 8lackburnc, pp. ,,, Sidncy, Discourses (.,6
cd.), pp. ., .
lxviii
<
!ntroduction
ol thc public spirit.
139
Not only wcrc lrccdom and virtuc now insul
cicntly valucd, but thc principlcs that had sustaincd thc Stuart tyranny
wcrc rcasscrting thcmsclvcs. Thc ovcrthrow ol thc Vhig asccndancy
altcr thc acccssion ol Gcorgc !!! in .,6c provokcd many comparisons
bctwccn thc kings lavoritc ministcr, thc arl ol 8utc, and thc ukc
ol 8uckingham undcr Charlcs !,
140
many anxictics about thc rcturn
ol thc Laudcantimcs,
141
many lcars that divincright or patriarchal
thcorics ol govcrnmcnt wcrc rcturning. Thc rod ol opprcssion, it was
rcmarkcd, may as wcll bc hcld ovcr |thc pcoplcs| hcad by a Charlcs as
a Gcorgc.
142
Sincc thc Rcstoration, church and law had commandcd
thc annual rcmcmbrancc ol thc blasphcmous cxccution ol Charlcs ! on
c January .6 and thc happy cnthroncmcnt ol Charlcs !! on a May
.66c. Thc commcmorations, which oltcn brought public controvcrsy,
sccmcd to Hollis to bc arousing worrying ncw scntimcnts. !n thc mid
.,6cs, noticing thc grcat singularity and boldncss with which Jaco
bitcs and Papists had comc to cclcbratc cach a May, hc lcarcd that thc
mood would cscapc public control.
143
Hc himscll likcd to draw public
attcntion to thc two annivcrsarics, but in an oppositc spirit: c Janu
ary was lor him a day lor rcvcrcntial mcmory, a May onc lor national
shamc.
144
His vicw ol thc Rcstoration commandcd a widcr potcntial
appcal than his admiration lor thc rcgicidc, lor sincc .6 thc ruling
ordcr had hcsitatcd or dcclincd to dclcnd thc rcign ol Charlcs !!, whcn
corruption, dcgcncracy, and arbitrary tcndcncics in govcrnmcnt wcrc
hcld to havc prcvailcd. Likcwisc thcrc wcrc many rcadcrs who, whilc
thcy might havc bccn horricd to rcmcmbcr thc killing ol Charlcs !,
.. 8lackburnc, p. 6..
.c. 8aron was rcady to dclcnd 8uckinghams assassination by John Fclton
in .6a. Ncvillc, Diary, p. a. A similar cnthusiasm was prolcsscd in ThePolitical
Fegister ( July .,6,, p. .), a pcriodical in which Hollis arrangcd thc publication
ol picccs in lavour ol public libcrty. H, .c April, a May .,6, . May .,,c.
... PoliticalFegister, Scptcmbcr .,6, p. ., May .,,c, p. a,c, Junc .,,c, pp.
ac, aa.
.a. !bid., April .,,c, p. aa6, comparc Ncvillc, Diary, p. a.
.. H, a May .,66, comparc Collection of Letters and Essays in Fa.our,
.:6, aa., a:.c, Sidncy, Discourses (.,6 cd.), p. .c.
.. H, 6 Fcbruary, Junc .,6. For cclcbrations on c January scc, too,
Ncvillc, Diary, pp. c, ., ., c..
!ntroduction
<
lxix
would havc takcn no plcasurc in thc royalist rcsponsc to it, EikonBasi-
like (.6), an advcrtiscmcnt lor thc divinc authority ol kingship that, as
Hollis likcd to rcmcmbcr, John Toland had ccctivcly attackcd.
145
To
land had also cxploitcd thc cmbarrassmcnt within convcntional opinion
at thc mcmory ol thc hidcous cxccutions ol thc rcgicidcs in .66c6a.
Hollis playcd on thc samc scntimcnt by placing on thc titlc pagc ol his
cdition ol Sidncys Discourses thc linc ol Samsongonistes in which Mil
ton had alludcd to thosc unjust tribunals undcr changc ol timcs.
Likc 8arons, Holliss rcpublication ol scvcntccnthccntury writings
was dcsigncd to instruct and animatc thc cightccnth. As his mcmorial
ist Francis 8lackburnc would rccall in .,c, Hollis aimcd to stcm thc
pcrnicious currcnt and apprisc thc mcn ol ngland ol thcir dangcr, by
rclcrring thcm to thosc immortal gcniuscs Milton, Sidncy, Lockc, &c.
lor instruction upon what only solid loundation thc prcscrvation ol
thcir rights and libcrtics dcpcnds. !t ncvcr was morc ncccssary,
addcd 8lackburnc, than it has bccn in thc scvcntccn ycars sincc thc
rcpublication ol Sidncys Discourses in .,6 to lct such mcn as Sydncy
spcak lor thcmsclvcs.
146
Against thc background ol thc Tory rcac
tion ol thc .,6cs, Hollis vicwcd thc prospccts ol his cdition ol Sidncy
with pcssimism.
147
!t had bccn planncd in thc last ycars ol Gcorgc
!!,
148
but it was publishcd, as 8lackburnc would rccall, at that criti
cal pcriod whcn it bcgan to bc visiblc that thc managcmcnt ol our
public aairs was consigncd into thc hands ol mcn known to havc
cntcrtaincd principlcs notoriously unlavourablc to libcrty, principlcs
upon which thosc mcn actcd who sacriccd Sydncy without law or
justicc, to thc tyranny ol a proigatc and liccntious court and minis
try.
149
Torics struck hcavy blows at Sidncys rcputation, and at thosc
.. 8lackburnc, p. a,, comparc H, a July .,6., CollectionofLettersandEs-
says, .:6, a.
.6. 8lackburnc, pp. ., .. Comparc Political Fegister, Novcmbcr .,6,
p. ac.
.,. H, a April .,6.
.. 8lackburnc, p. ,.
.. !bid., pp. .6,, comparc Pctcr Karstcn, Patriot-HeroesinEnglandand
merica (Madison, Visc.: Univcrsity ol Visconsin Prcss, .,), p. .
lxx
<
!ntroduction
ol othcr mcmbcrs ol thc canon, in thc ycars and dccadcs lollowing thc
appcarancc ol Holliss cdition.
150
John Adams, thc luturc prcsidcnt ol
thc Unitcd Statcs, rccordcd in his ThoughtsonGo.ernment in .,,6 that
a man must bc indicrcnt to thc snccrs ol modcrn nglishmcn, to
mcntion in thcir company thc namcs ol Sidncy, Harrington, Lockc,
Milton, Ncdham, Ncvillc, |Gilbcrt| 8urnct, and |8cnjamin| Hoadly.
No small lortitudc is ncccssary to conlcss that onc has rcad thcm.
151

That, howcvcr, dcpcndcd on thc company onc kcpt. Thc Tory rc
vival ol thc .,6cs provokcd its own rcaction, which succorcd Holliss
projccts. Hc was rcady to bravc Tory jibcs. !n .,6 a ncwspapcr ar
ticlc, probably writtcn by him,
152
askcd Mcn ol ngland ... what is
bccomc ol thc noblc spirit ol your anccstors! Vhcrc arc your Pyms,
your Hampdcns, your Ludlows, your Sydncys, and all thc illustrious
spirits ol lortyonc |.6.|! Sucr not thc noblc mcmorials ol thcm
longcr to bc dclaccd by moths and cobwcbs in your librarics. 8ring
thcm lorth to action. . . .
153
!n .,6 hc causcd cxtracts lrom Har
ringtons Oceana to bc printcd in thc gazcttcs so as to bring its cx
citing, just and valuablc idcas into currcnt political dcbatc.
154
8ut it
was thc bclicls and charactcrs ol thc divinc Milton
155
and Algcrnon
Sidncy, thc two scvcntccnthccntury authors whom hc most intcnscly
admircd, that hc, likc 8aron, most zcalously promotcd. All antiquity,
proclaimcd 8arons prclacc to Eikonoklastes, cannot shcw two writcrs
cqual to thcsc. Hollis rcproduccd that statcmcnt in his cdition ol Sid
ncys Discourses and, with it, thc obscrvation in thc samc prclacc that
Many circumstanccs at prcscnt loudly call upon us to cxcrt oursclvcs.
.c. Scc 8lair Vordcn, Thc Commonwcalth Kidncy ol Algcrnon Sidncy,
JournalofBritishStudies a (.): .c, at pp. a, .
... Charlcs S. Hyncman and anicl S. Lutz, cds., mericanPolitical!riting
During the Founding Era, z,ocz8c, a vols. (!ndianapolis: Libcrty Prcss, .),
.:c.
.a. Comparc it with thc injunction by Hollis to Mcn ol Ncw ngland
quotcd in Akcrs, CalleduntoLiberty, p. ..
.. 8lackburnc, p. ..
.. H, Junc .,6, . Fcbruary .,6.
.. 8lackburnc, pp. 6c, . Hollis was cchoing, as many othcrs did, a phrasc ol
thc poct Jamcs Thompson.
!ntroduction
<
lxxi
\cnality and corruption havc wcll nigh cxtinguishcd all principlcs
ol libcrty.
156
Though thc Sidncy cdition was thc product, as Hollis
rccallcd, ol considcrablc cxpcnsc and great and continucd labor,
157

hc rcadily acknowlcdgcd its limitations. !n light ol thcm hc commis
sioncd a rcviscd vcrsion, which was publishcd in .,,a by a ncw cditor
whosc improvcmcnts hc handsomcly acknowlcdgcd.
158

cspitc thcir sharcd commitmcnts, thc lricndship ol Hollis and
8aron withcrcd and dicd. 8y thc autumn ol .,6c 8arons bchavior
to Hollis, as Hollis rcportcd it, was bccoming shamclul and most
strangc, cxtravagant, and ungratclul.
159
Pcrhaps two mcn so rcadily
hurt by disagrccmcnt wcrc bound to lall out. Still, Hollis kncw thc abil
ity and usclulncss ol 8aron, that thorough lricnd to libcrty, and was
anxious not to alicnatc him.
160
8aron lor his part dcpcndcd dcspcratcly
on Holliss largcssc and on paymcnt by him lor cditorial work. So thc
working partncrship survivcd thc lricndship. !n .,6, lollowing Hol
liss rcpublication ol Sidncys Discourses, hc and 8aron workcd closcly
togcthcr on a ncw cdition ol John Lockcs T.oTreatisesofGo.ernment,
which would bc publishcd thc lollowing ycar. Hollis had acquircd, and
8aron prcparcd lor publication, a copy ol thc tcxt that contains manu
script corrcctions in thc hand ol Lockcs amanucnsis Picrrc Costc.
161

n its publication in .,6 Hollis prcscntcd thc tcxt to Christs Col
lcgc Cambridgc, whcrc it would attract modcrn scholarship that has
rcvolutionizcd thc study ol Lockcs political thought.
162
!n .,6 8aron
and Hollis collaboratcd again, now on an cdition ol Lockcs Letterson
.6. Sidncy, Discourses (.,6 cd.), p. .
.,. H, . March .,6, comparc ibid., a, ctobcr .,6., 8lackburnc, p. .6.
.. 8lackburnc, pp. ,.
.. H, ctobcr, . cccmbcr .,6c, comparc .. July, a Scptcmbcr .,6,.
.6c. !bid., a6 ctobcr .,6.
.6.. !bid., a6 ctobcr, Novcmbcr .,6, ., April, a May .,6, John Lockc,
T.oTreatisesofGo.ernment (London, .,6), John Lockc, T.oTreatisesofGo.-
ernment, cd. Pctcr Laslctt (Cambridgc, U.K.: Cambridgc Univcrsity Prcss, .6c),
p. a.
.6a. H, ac April .,6, Lockc, T.oTreatises, cd. Laslctt. Thcrc is anothcr
Hollis prcscntation copy in thc 8odlcian Library, Radclic c.a,.. For othcr dona
tions by Hollis to Christs scc H, , April .,6a, a May .,6.
lxxii
<
!ntroduction
Toleration, which would bc publishcd in .,6. 8aron, having compilcd
thc tcxt, wrotc thc prclacc, which hc and Hollis rcviscd and altcrcd
during long discussions.
163

Thc prcparation ol TheExcellencie lor thc prcss lollowcd thc samc
pattcrn. Vc cannot say whcthcr it was 8aron or Hollis who discovcrcd
thc tract or rst mootcd its rcpublication. 8ut again it was 8aron who
did thc donkcywork. Thc tcxt was rcady by thc closc ol .,66, whcn
its lorthcoming publication was announccd in thc prcss.
164
8aron had
draltcd thc prclacc by . January, thc datc givcn to it in thc publication.
8ut thc ncxt day it was altcrcd and scttlcd in a discussion bctwccn
him and Hollis that lastcd ncarly lour hours. Thcy discusscd it again on
. January, and again thc ncxt day, whcn, rccordcd Hollis, it was altcrcd
in scvcral rcspccts, much ! think lor thc bcttcr, and nally scttlcd lor
thc prcss.
165
As in thc casc ol thc prclacc to thc cdition ol Lockc, thc
rcadcr may wondcr that so bricl a documcnt callcd lor such prolongcd
convcrsation. (Thc prclacc is printcd in appcndix 8.) Thc book was
publishcd on or around . Fcbruary.
166

Though Hollis, who likcd his cxcrtions on libcrtys bchall to bc
anonymous, was happy to scc thc prclacc, and thus thc cdition, carry
8arons namc alonc, hc had his own intcrcst in Ncdham. Hc posscsscd
at lcast somc issucs ol Mercurius Politicus, that cclcbratcd journal,
that rcmarkablc Statc ncwspapcr in lavour ol thc Commonwcalth, as
hc callcd it.
167
Hc transcribcd an cxtract lrom onc issuc ol thc ncws
book (no. 6, a6 Junc July .6.) into a copy ol 8arons cdition ol
Eikonoklastes, as hc did a passagc lrom an issuc ol Ncdhams Mercurius
.6. H, May, a6 Junc, a., c ctobcr, 6, , .c, .6 Novcmbcr .,6.
.6. London Chronicle, c cccmbcr .,66, comparc Lloyds E.ening Post, a
January .,6,, Public d.ertiser, aa, a January .,6,. For Hollis and thc London
Chronicle scc also H, . April .,6.
.6. H, a, ., . January .,6,, comparc .a, . cccmbcr .,66.
.66. LondonChronicle, . Fcbruary .,6,, Publicd.ertiser , ac Fcbruary .,6,.
.6,. Holliss notcs on thc copy ol Ncdhams cdition ol John Scldcns TheDo-
minion of the Seas in thc Houghton Library, C6. H,a6,. Zz6a (hcrcaltcr
Houghton Scldcn), LondonChronicle, 6 ctobcr .,,a. Politicus is dcscribcd as
that cclcbratcd statcpapcr in thc prclacc to thc .,6, cdition ol TheExcellencie,
a phrasc wc can ascribc to Hollis.
!ntroduction
<
lxxiii
Pragmaticus.
168
Holliss intcrcst in Ncdham took othcr dircctions too.
Hc tricd to arrangc thc rcpublication ol a tract ol his ol .6, a plca
to thc Rumps council ol statc to tolcratc thc printing ol disscnting
political opinion.
169
Though writtcn in thc royalist causc, thc pamphlct
sccmcd to Hollis a kindrcd spirit ol Miltons reopagitica. Hollis dc
lightcd to discovcr Ncdhams translation and cdition ol John Scldcns
OftheDominionoftheSeas, which had bccn publishcd in .6a.
170
!n it
hc lound tcstimony to thc asscrtion ol nglands might in thc .6cs,
an achicvcmcnt that again shamcd thc prcscnt, and that inspircd him
to applaud thc naval and lorcign cxploits ol thc Rump,
171
thc govcrn
mcnt undcr which Ncdhams cdition ol Scldcn was compilcd. Hc citcd
Ncdhams dcscription ol that rcgimc as thc most lamous and potcnt
rcpublic this day in thc world.
172

.6. 8lackburnc, pp. ,6c, ,,. At a lcw points thc tcxt ol TheExcellencie ol .,6,,
which is othcrwisc mostly laithlul to thc vcrsion ol .66, cccts slight altcrations
that bring thc wording into linc with thc passagcs ol Politicus lrom which Ncd
ham had rcproduccd it in .66 (pp. .c.). Most ol thcsc changcs corrcct obvious
misprints and would likcly havc bccn madc whcthcr or not 8aron or Hollis had
acccss to thc corrcsponding issucs ol thc ncwsbook. !t is, howcvcr, hard to dccidc
whcthcr that cxplanation can bc cxtcndcd to thc othcr altcrations. \arious runs
and scparatc issucs ol thc ncwsbook survivc. ! owc to Moscs Tanncnbaum thc
inlormation that a run ol Politicus lrom .6c to .6 in thc Cambridgc Univcrsity
Library bclongcd to John Moorc (.66.,.). Thc samc library has a run lrom
August .6. to Scptcmbcr .6a, roughly thc pcriod ol thc scqucncc ol cditorials
rcproduccd in TheExcellencie. Copics ol Politicus travcllcd to Amcrica, whcrc in
., Noah Vcbstcrs BriefHistoryofEpidemicandPestilentialDiseases (Hart
lord, Conn., pp. .c) drcw on what looks to havc bccn a run ol thc ncwsbook
at lcast lrom .6a to .66.
.6. 8lackburnc, pp. a6, , CertainConsiderationstenderedinallhumility,to
anHonorableMemberoftheCouncilofState (London, .6).
.,c. 8lackburnc, p. ,, Sidncy, Discourses (.,6 cd.), p. ., Houghton
Scldcn.
.,.. Sidncy, Discourses (.,6 cd.), pp. .,a..
.,a. !bid., pp. .a.. Hollis likcwisc commcndcd thc lorcign cxploits ol Crom
wcll, whosc spirit in war and diplomacy hc admircd cvcn as hc dcnounccd
what hc thought ol as thc protcctors shocking usurpation. !bid., pp. ,
8lackburnc, pp. a, Houghton Eikonoklastes, pp. vi, vii, Toland, Life of John
Milton, cd. Hollis, p. , H, c Scptcmbcr .,, a cccmbcr .,6. Comparc
PoliticalFegister, Novcmbcr .,6,, p. , LondonChronicle, Junc .,6, p. ., c
Junc .,6, p. 6ac.
lxxiv
<
!ntroduction
!n thc spring ol .,6, Hollis was planning lrcsh cditions ol works
by Milton, Marvcll, and Lockc. Hc hopcd that Miltons prosc works
would appcar in a vcrsion supcrior to 8arons hastily compilcd cdi
tion ol .,, and would bc adorncd, likc Holliss cditions ol Sidncy and
ol Tolands lilc ol Milton, with cxtcnsivc annotations and quotations.
Ncdham would havc bccn onc ol thc authors citcd.
173
Hollis wantcd
8aron to compilc thc tcxts ol thc Marvcll and Milton cditions, but altcr
much discoursc 8aron judgcd himscll not cqual to thc task, lor want
ol anccdotcs, |and| did not sccm inclincd to undcrtakc thc Marvcll
projcct, whilc thc plan lor a ncw cdition ol Miltons prosc works loun
dcrcd altcr a quarrcl, involving both Hollis and 8aron, with thc pro
spcctivc publishcr, Andrcw Millar.
174
!t was Millar who, alonc or with
othcrs, had publishcd thc cightccnthccntury cditions ol 8aron and
Hollisthat is, 8arons cditions ol Ludlow and Milton in thc .,cs,
Holliss cditions ol Milton and Sidncy in thc carly .,6cs, and TheEx-
cellencie in .,6,.
!n January .,6, a ycar altcr thc prcparation ol TheExcellencie lor thc
prcss, 8aron dicd. TheExcellencie sccms to havc bccn his last production.
Hollis, dcprivcd ol his assistancc, was dismaycd by thc dcmisc ol an
old acquaintancc, oncc a lricnd, ol grcat gcnius and inrmitics.
175
Hc
assistcd 8arons distrcsscd lamily and, lrom rcgard to his mcmory, sup
portcd his wilc although, as oltcn inlormcd, a drunkcn, bad husscy.
176

Holliss own labors wcrc bcginning to wilt. !n .,,c hc would rctirc to
his orsct cstatcs,
177
whcrc hc now namcd larms or clds altcr lricnds
ol libcrty, Ncdham among thcm.
178

Thc prclacc ol .,6, conccdcs thc inlcriority ol The Excellencie to thc
incomparablc writings ol Milton, Harrington, Sidncy, and Lockc. !t
.,. 8lackburnc, p. 66.
.,. !bid., pp. 66,.
.,. H, a Fcbruary .66.
.,6. !bid., a January .,6.
.,,. Robbins, Strcnuous Vhig, p. ..
.,. !dcm, Thomas Hollis in his orsctshirc Rctircmcnt, in bsoluteLiberty,
p. a.
!ntroduction
<
lxxv
noncthclcss commcnds thc book as onc ol many lcsscr trcatiscs on
thc samc argumcnt that dcscrvc to bc rcad and prcscrvcd, and it
dcscribcs Ncdham as a man, in thc judgcmcnt ol many, inlcrior only
to Milton. !t looks lorward to thc prospcct ol lurthcr rcpublications
ol sccondrank scvcntccnthccntury works il opportunity should arisc.
Yct no such volumcs appcarcd. !n Holliss publishing activitics TheEx-
cellencie had a low priority. Thc humblc octavo lorm ol thc cdition ol
.,6, distinguishcs it lrom thc handsomc and costly cditions, in lolio
and quarto, ol his othcr rcpublications lrom thc scvcntccnth ccntury.
n only onc subjcct, thc commcndablc practicc ol classical antiquity
in rcvcring thc slaycrs ol tyrants, docs hc cvcr sccm to havc quotcd The
Excellencie in writing ol his own, and cvcn thcn not in print.
179
Sincc
hc rcpublishcd thc book, wc must supposc that hc approvcd thc thrust
ol its argumcnts, or anyway judgcd that thcir rcappcarancc would bc ol
public bcnct. Thc virtucs and historics ol thc classical rcpublics had
supplicd his carlicst lcssons in libcrty.
180
l thc lcsscr scvcntccnth
ccntury books that hc might havc rcpublishcd, it was TheExcellencie,
that innovativc analysis ol thc Roman rcpublic, that hc singlcd out.
Vhy thcn did hc not promotc thc publication morc widcly and morc
boldly:
Pcrhaps his admiration lor thc tract was tcmpcrcd by uncasc. For onc
thing, thcrc wcrc thc bclligcrcncc and candor ol Ncdhams rcpub
licanism. Francis 8lackburnc callcd Richard 8aron a highspiritcd
rcpublican,
181
which hc likcly cnough was. Thc littlc wc know ol 8aron
suggcsts that hc at lcast is unlikcly to havc had any qualms about thc
contcnt ol TheExcellencie. 8ut 8lackburnc was carclul to dclcnd Hol
liss mcmory lrom thc imputation ol rcpublicanism, which had lallcn on
Hollis whcn hc rcpublishcd Sidncys Discourses.
182
Hollis could hardly
havc complaincd ol thc chargc, sincc thc cdition, as wcll as commcnding
.,. 8lackburnc, pp. ,,a,.
.c. Robbins, Library ol Libcrty, p. a.a.
... 8lackburnc, p. 6., and scc Hill, Fepublican!irago, p. .6.
.a. 8lackburnc, pp. iiiiv, ..,., .6, a.c, .
lxxvi
<
!ntroduction
thc cxploits ol thc nglish rcpublic abroad, had dcscribcd Sidncy as
both by inclination and principlc, a zcalous rcpublican and had in
vokcd thc parliamcntary dcclaration that vindicatcd thc abolition ol
monarchy in March .6.
183
Hollis lovcd to rcmcmbcr cxamplcs ol rc
publican virtuc and hcroism and couragc and to publish thc cvidcncc
lor thcm.
8ut thcrc wcrc lincs to bc drawn. Thc spirit ol past rcpublics, cvcn
thcir lorms ol rulc, could bc opcnly admircd across a widc rangc ol
cightccnthccntury opinion, so long as authors did not call lor kinglcss
govcrnmcnt in thc prcscnt day. Ncdhams tract is a polcmical dcmand
lor thc climination ol thc lorms and spirit ol monarchy. Hollis did, it is
truc, lccl ablc to prcss on thc publics attcntion, in words hc took lrom
Toland, thc schcmc ol rcpublican govcrnmcnt that had bccn proposcd
in Harringtons Oceana , which lor practicablcncss, cquality and com
plctcncss was thc most pcrlcct modcl ol a commonwcalth that cvcr
was dclincatcd by ancicnt or modcrn pcn.
184
8ut Harringtons propos
als, which wcrc advanccd without thc aggrcssion that markcd Ncdhams
writing, had lost thcir rcvolutionary sting by thc cightccnth ccntury.
Vritcrs had lcarncd to dctach lrom his nonmonarchical lramcwork thc
principlc ol constitutional balancc that hc had advanccd, and to portray
it as thc guiding prcmisc ol thc postRcvolutionary constitution.
185

Vhcn, bclorc thc civil wars, authors critical ol thc conduct or charac
tcr ol monarchical rulc had appcalcd to Roman cxamplc, thcy had donc
so not in ordcr to proposc a rcpublican altcrnativc, but with onc or both
ol two dicrcnt purposcs: to rcmark on thc opprcssion that lollows
whcn singlc rulc dcgcncratcs into tyranny, or to commcnd thc cxamplcs
ol couragc or probity or prudcncc ol thosc Romans who had challcngcd
that trcnd or had lound honorablc ways ol cnduring it. Undcr thc n
glish rcpublic, Ncdhams candid rcpublicanism had brokcn with that
approach. Vith thc Rcstoration, monarchical assumptions rcturncd. !n
.. Sidncy, Discourses (.,6 cd.), pp. a, .c.., ., but scc also ibid., pp. c..
.. 8lackburnc, p. c6, arbishirc, cd., EarlyLi.esofMilton, p. .,.
.. H. F. Russcll Smith, HarringtonandHis Oceana:StudyofaSe.enteenth-
CenturyUtopiaandItsInuenceinmerica (.., rcpr. Ncw York: ctagon, .,.),
pp. ..
!ntroduction
<
lxxvii
thc latcr scvcntccnth ccntury Algcrnon Sidncy, Hcnry Ncvillc, John
Toland, and othcrs, all drawn in thcir various ways to classical rcpub
lican practicc, lound ways ol combining that admiration with outward
rcspcct lor nglands monarchical constitution. Thcy won morc support
by thcir opposition to tyranny than by thcir rcpublicanism.
186
Thc samc
was still morc truc ol thc cightccnthccntury impact ol thc samc au
thors.
187
Ncdhams standing sucrcd lrom his omission lrom thc canon
crcatcd by Tolands circlc, which had publishcd works that had lollowcd
in Ncdhams wakc. The Excellencie had advanccd too lcw argumcnts
that, by thc timc ol its rcpublication, had not bccomc lamiliar lrom
thosc othcr writings, so that what now chicy distinguishcd thc book
was its unpalatablc rcpublicanism. !n .6, John Toland and his lricnds
had silcntly appropriatcd a passagc lrom Ncdham that borc on thc cvils
ol standing armics and thc virtucs ol citizcn militias. That rcmaincd
a livc issuc in thc latcr .,6cs.
188
Hollis, to whom our traincd bands
arc thc trucst and most propcr strcngth ol a lrcc nation, rcmindcd
rcadcrs ol thc pcrtincncc ol othcr scvcntccnthccntury writings to thc
subjcct.
189
!n onc ol thc two copics ol The Excellencie that hc scnt to
Harvard hc markcd (as wcll as othcr passagcs) Ncdhams praisc ol citi
zcn militias.
190
Yct hc did nothing clsc to cxploit Ncdhams discussion
ol thc topic, which by .,6, had littlc to add to public thinking. !t could
scarccly havc compctcd with thc autobiography ol dmund Ludlow,
.6. Vootton, Fepublicanism, chap. .
.,. Vordcn, FoundheadFeputations, chaps. , 6.
.. Scc, lor cxamplc, PoliticalFegister, May .,6, p. a6, July .,6, pp. 6.,
Ncvillc, Diary, p. .
.. 8lackburnc, pp. 66c, ,, Sidncy, Discourses (.,6 cd.), pp. ., c, Hough
ton Eikonoklastes, p. c, Toland, Life of John Milton (cd. Hollis), p. .c, H,
Junc .,6, .c April .,6, comparc Andrcw liot to Thomas Hollis, a Scp
tcmbcr .,6, MS Am. a.F, Houghton Library. Holliss alcrtncss to thc topic
complicatcd his pcrccption ol thc civil wars, lor his admiration lor thc rcgicidc
was accompanicd by a dislikc ol thc ncw modcl army as a standing lorcc, which
had carricd it out in so unconstitutional a manncr. Houghton Eikonoklastes,
p. |vi|, 8lackburnc, pp. a. Jonathan Mayhcw had thc samc di culty with thc
rcgicidc: scc his DiscourseconcerningUnlimitedSubmissionandNon-Fesistance
totheHigherPo.ers (8oston, .,c), pp. .
.c. C,. Na 66cb, pp. ..., Houghton Library.
lxxviii
<
!ntroduction
which Tolands cditorial cxcrtions had turncd into a vivid warning
against standing armics, and which had a widc and dccp inucncc on
cightccnthccntury thinking on thc subjcct, both through thc circula
tion ol Tolands tcxt and through cxccrpts lrom it in pamphlcts.
191

Hollis consistcntly portraycd himscll as a champion ol thc most
noblc, thc most happy Rcvolution, thc cvcrglorious Rcvolution,
ol .6. Hc thrillcd to rcmcmbcr thc glorious strugglcs that had
obtaincd thc Rcvolution and had produccd thc Act ol Scttlcmcnt
in .,c..
192
Hc was distrcsscd by thc subvcrsion ol Rcvolution prin
ciplcs,
193
which by Gcorgc !!!s rcign, as hc oltcn rcmarkcd in cx
clamatory stylc or punctuation, wcrc waning or ruining last.
194
Not
only had thcy bccn thrcatcncd lrom thc outsct by thc prospcct ol
invasion and rcbcllion and conspiracy in thc Jacobitc and popish
causcs,
195
thcy had bccn undcrmincd by thc corruption ol ministrics
and ol public spirit and by thc unconstitutional aspirations that such
corruption had lostcrcd. vcn so, hc rcmaincd plcdgcd to thc rights
ol thc Housc ol Hanovcr, to thc Protcstant Rcvolution lamily, and
to libcrty and King Gcorgc thc Third. Hc longcd lor Gcorgc to bc
comc a sccond King Allrcd or a patriot king.
196
Holliss pcrccption
ol thc Rcvolution ol .6, it is truc, was not a mainstrcam onc. Likc
Toland bclorc him, hc saw it as a continuation ol thc valiant causc ol
.6. !t was thc radical Vhigs ol thc dccadcs altcr thc ovcrthrow ol
Jamcs !! whosc mcmory hc honorcd: Toland himscll, a man ol grcat
... Vordcn, Foundhead Feputations, s.v. standing armics, Robbins,
Eighteenth-Century Common.ealthman, p. . Scc, too, thc annotations in thc
copy ol thc cdition, sponsorcd by Hollis, ol Ludlows Memoirs ol .,,. in thc
lham collcction ol publications in Cantcrbury Cathcdral Library, and Criti-
calMemoirsoftheTimes, .c Fcbuary .,6, p. .a. This was anothcr pcriodical in
which Hollis involvcd himscll (c.g., H, . April .,6).
.a. H, . Scptcmbcr .,6, Sainsbury, DisaectedPatriots, pp. .
.. H, 6 March .,6.
.. !bid., a Novcmbcr .,6,, . April, , ctobcr, . cccmbcr .,6, a January,
Fcbruary, . April, ac ctobcr .,6, . January, . April .,,c.
.. 8ond, ThomasHollis, p. .
.6. H, a ctobcr .,6c, a ctobcr, Novcmbcr .,6, a Novcmbcr .,6,,
. cccmbcr .,6, March .,6, a May .,,c, comparc Sidncy, Discourses (.,6
cd.), pp. .a.
!ntroduction
<
lxxix
gcnius and lcarning, a staunch asscrtcr ol libcrty,
197
Tolands closc
and inccndiary political ally thc clcrgyman Villiam Stcphcns, whom
Hollis associatcd with thc L VH!G causc,
198
Lord Molcsworth,
to whosc political crccd Hollis was a subscribcr,
199
John Trcnchard,
that magnanimous gcntlcman, thc last grcat nglishman!
200
Thosc
writcrs, hcirs to thc rcpublican thinkcrs ol thc civil wars and thc Rcs
toration, had constitutcd a sccond wavc, cvcn strongcr than thc rst,
ol thc idcological origins ol thc Amcrican Rcvolution.
201
Somc ol
thcm had givcn hints ol purc rcpublicanism, yct thcy had bccn carclul
ncvcr to cmbracc it opcnly, at lcast not without qualication. Thcy had
tcndcd to usc thc tcrm lrcc govcrnmcnt rathcr than lrcc statc and
had rcmcmbcrcd to cquatc lrcc govcrnmcnt with thc constitution ol
thc nglish monarchy.
202
Thcir caution was hcightcncd as thc Tory
rcaction ol thc bcginning ol thc cightccnth ccntury advanccd.
Hollis took thc samc path. Hc was an advcrsary ol tyranny, but not,
as Ncdham had bccn, ol kingship. Vhat hc applaudcd about thc cx
ccution ol Charlcs ! was not that it prcparcd thc way lor rcpublican
govcrnmcnt but that it asscrtcd thc principlc, ol which hc saw Milton
and Sidncy as hcroic cxponcnts, ol thc right or duty ol rcsistancc to
tyrants. Hc likcwisc rcvcrcd thc sixtccnthccntury thinkcrs who had
proclaimcd thc samc tcnct: Christophcr Goodman, John Ponct, Fran
ois Hotman, Hubcrt Languct, and thc mastcrpatriot Gcorgc 8u
chanan.
203
TheExcellencie vindicatcd thc principlc too, but that was not
.,. 8lackburnc, p. a6.
.. H, . Fcbruary .,,c, Sidncy, Discourses (.,6 cd.), p. c.
.. 8lackburnc, p. iii. Comparc 8lackburnc, pp. a6,, 6, Toland, Lifeof
JohnMilton, cd. Hollis, p. a, H, a Scptcmbcr .,6c.
acc. H, a Fcbruary .,6. Anthony Collins was anothcr gurc lrom thc
pcriod who attractcd Hollis. H, a6 Junc .,6, 8lackburnc, p. 66c, Toland, Life
ofJohnMilton, cd. Hollis, p. a. Hcnry 8ooth, Lord clamcrc and arl ol Var
rington, was onc morc radical Vhig admiringly rcmcmbcrcd in Holliss timc.
PoliticalFegister, cccmbcr .,6, pp. a.
ac.. 8ailyn, IdeologicalOrigins, pp. c.
aca. Thus scc nrgument,She.ing, titlc pagc.
ac. Robbins, Library ol Libcrty, pp. aaa6, 8lackburnc, pp. 6, ,c.,
,,., H, a, cccmbcr .,6, January .,6, a Junc .,6, , Junc .,,c, comparc
CollectionofLettersandEssays, .:...6.
lxxx
<
!ntroduction
thc main conccrn ol thc tract, which addcd nothing ol substancc or
cloqucncc to othcr vindications. choing somc carlicr critics ol thc
Stuart monarchy, Hollis insistcd that it was only bccausc Charlcs ! had
dcstroycd thc ancicnt lorm ol thc nglish govcrnmcnt that mcn such
as Milton, who as Hollis says clscwhcrc commcnds it, wcrc drivcn to
rcplacc it.
204
Vhcn Hollis scnt copics ol his publications ol Sidncy and
Milton to Harvard hc was glad to inscribc thcm with dcscriptions ol
himscll as a lovcr ol libcrty, his country and its cxccllcnt constitution,
so nobly rcstorcd at thc happy Rcvolution ol .6.
205
Thc strcak ol an
cicnt constitutionalism disccrniblc in both writcrs may havc sccmcd to
Hollis to lcnd aptncss to thc scntimcnt. Hc inlormcd prospcctivc rcad
crs ol Milton in Amcrica that wc owc thc most noblc, thc most happy
Rcvolution to his principlcs.
206
8ut thc animating thcmc ol Ncdhams
TheExcellencie is thc nccd to rcnouncc thc ancicnt constitution and to
crcatc ancw. Can Hollis, in a copy ol thc tract that hc scnt to Harvard,
havc inscribcd thc tributc hc thcrc pays to thc wondcrlul rcstoration ol
thc constitution in .6
207
without a scnsc ol discordancc:
!n Holliss cycs what propcrly charactcrizcd that constitution was
thc harmony ol thc thrcc cstatcs.
208
Ncdhams apologia lor thc uni
camcral Rump was rcmotc lrom that idcal. Hollis was cqually lar lrom
sharing Ncdhams aggrcssivc populism, which, likc thc bclligcrcncc
ol his rcpublicanism, distinguishcd his writing lrom thc canonical
publications ol .6.,cc. Thcrc wcrc, it is truc, writcrs in thc canon,
highcr in Holliss cstccm, who bclicvcd that constitutions should havc
dcmocratic componcnts. Harrington and Sidncy and Ncvillc wcrc at
thcir lorc. Thcir writing, howcvcr, was morc accommodating toward
aristocratic or gcntlc outlooks and intcrcsts. Thc cightccnth ccntury
lookcd lor gcntility, or anyway lor rcspcct lor it, in political thinkcrs.
ac. 8lackburnc, pp. a. Miltons statc lcttcrs, which Hollis admircd, pro
vidcd support lor that vicw. LP, p. ac.
ac. C,. H,a6,. Zz,6sa (Sidncy), C6. M6a,. ,wa (Milton), Hough
ton Library.
ac6. 8lackburnc, p. .
ac,. C6 Na 66cb, Houghton Library.
ac. Toland, LifeofJohnMilton, cd. Hollis, p. a.
!ntroduction
<
lxxxi
8arons hcro Thomas Gordon, in translating Tacitus, commcndcd thc
Roman historian lor having thc good scnsc and brccding ol a gcntlc
man.
209
Hollis likcd to invokc Jamcs Harringtons obscrvation that
in thc lcadcrship ol a commonwcalth thcrc is somcthing that sccms
to bc pcculiar unto thc gcnius ol a gcntlcman.
210
Ncdham was no
gcntlcman.
Pcrhaps thcrc was a lurthcr qucstion mark in Holliss mind about
TheExcellencie, onc that Toland and his circlc would havc undcrstood.
An approving but lukcwarm rcvicwcr (apparcntly thc only rcvicwcr)
ol thc rcpublication dcclarcd that thc rights ol thc pcoplc arc wcll cx
plaincd and vindicatcd by thc book, but complaincd that thc strongcst
argumcnt ... in lavour ol national lrccdom, is not su cicntly cnlorccd,
which is thc tcndcncy it has to promotc thc happincss in socicty upon
moral principlcs.
211
!n convcntional thinking ol thc latcr cightccnth
ccntury, political thought was morally improving or it was nothing. !l
thcrc is a singlc moral quality lor which thc cightccnth ccntury lookcd
to political hcrocs it was disintcrcstcdncss: an imprcgnablc immunity
to thc claims ol rcward, laction, and corruption. !n accord with thc
spirit ol thc agc, Hollis likcd his hcrocs to bc incxiblc.
212
!t was lor
thcir sturdy and stoical rclusal to compromisc with powcr or corrup
tion that Sidncy and Ludlow won admiration lrom cightccnthccntury
rcadcrs who would ncvcr havc cndorscd thcir rcvolutionary political
dccds. Likc Toland, Hollis dwcllcd as much on thc charactcrs as on thc
opinions ol thc scvcntccnth ccnturys rcpublicans. A lavoritc adjcctivc
ol his was honcst. His own honcst vicws wcrc lorticd by thc cx
amplcs ol honcst Ludlow and honcst Andrcw Marvcll in ngland,
or by honcst Lucan in ancicnt Romc.
213
Sidncy, Milton and honcst
ac. The !orks of Tacitus, a vols., trans. and cd. Thomas Gordon (ublin,
.,aa), .:a,.
a.c. H, Junc .,6 (comparc ibid., . Fcbruary .,6), LondonChronicle, ..,
. Junc .,6, Toland, LifeofJohnMilton, cd. Hollis, p. a.
a... MonthlyFe.ie., January .,6,, p. .
a.a. Vordcn, FoundheadFeputations, cspccially chap. 6, comparc 8lackburnc,
pp. .., ..
a.. 8lackburnc, pp. 66, ., H, Scptcmbcr .,6c, . April, a July .,6., .,
a Fcbruary .,6, Sidncy, Discourses (.,6 cd.), p. .
lxxxii
<
!ntroduction
Ludlow arc my hcrocs, hc told Jonathan Mayhcw in .,6.
214
8y com
missioning cngravings and wax imprcssions hc madc such mcn into
gurcs ol immovablc Roman intcgrity. Thcy bccamc thc modcrn
countcr parts to 8rutus and Cassius, with whosc nobility ol spirit Hol
lis also likcd to associatc his own charactcr.
215
8ut how could hc havc
madc a stoical or incorruptiblc Roman ol thc vcnal Ncdham: Hollis
scarchcd assiduously lor biographical inlormation about Milton and
Sidncy and cagcrly communicatcd it to thc public. 8y contrast thc
prclacc to The Excellencie givcs no account ol Ncdhams lilc and no
scnsc ol his pcrsonality, savc to rcmark dclcnsivcly that Voods skctch
ol his charactcr, which still pursucd Ncdham, was drawn in bittcr
ncss ol wrath and angcr.
216
vcn il paintings or drawings ol Ncdham
had survivcd, would Hollis havc rcproduccd thcm: Francis 8lackburnc,
writing in .,c, judgcd thc impact ol Holliss rcpublication ol TheEx-
cellencie to havc bccn limitcd, and rclatcd its lailurc to thc moral rcputa
tion ol its author. Thc book, hc pronounccd,
is wcll writtcn, and upon sound principlcs, but was attcndcd with
thc common latc ol thc works ol all such writcrs as Ncdham, who
had bccn a sort ol pcriodical hackncy to dicrcnt partics, and
whcn a man has lost his rcputation lor stcadincss and consistcncy,
lct him writc and spcak likc an angcl, hc rcaps no othcr rcputation
lrom his abilitics but that ol bcing a gracclul actor on thc political
stagc, an usclul admonition to somc ol our modcrn rcncgado patri
ots, and othcrs who havc changcd thcir party through disgust and
disappointmcnt.
217

Ncdhams ill rcputation pcrsistcd.
218
!t undcrmincd thc rcpublishcd
vcrsion ol The Excellencie and mockcd Holliss publication ol him.
a.. Knollcnbcrg, Thomas Hollis and Jonathan Mayhcw, p. ..6.
a.. 8ond, ThomasHollis, pp. a, , H, c August .,6, Hollis to Timothy
Hollis, ac May .,,., MS ...../a, Houghton Library, Vordcn, Commonwcalth
Kidncy, p. ..
a.6. Houghton Scldcn, sig. Gav.
a.,. 8lackburnc, p. ,.
a.. Horacc Valpolc, The Yale Edition of Horace !alpoles Correspondence,
vols., cd. V. S. Lcwis ct al. (Ncw Havcn: Yalc Univcrsity Prcss, .,), .6:. An
carlicr condcmnation ol his charactcr is lound in DailyGa.etteer, May .,,.
!ntroduction
<
lxxxiii
Hollis was wont to proclaim sclshncss, or scll, to bc thc undcrlying
cvil ol thc timcs. Vhcn, in .,, somc words lrom Ncdhams prclacc to
his translation ol Scldcn wcrc dclivcrcd as thc !nvocation in a pub
lic conccrt, a rcportcr ol thc cvcnt rcmarkcd that Ncdham had bccn
drivcn by thc abjcct sclshncss ol his principlcs to his changcs ol sidc.
Thc trcachcry ol such miscrcants, addcd thc rcportcr, crcatcs apprc
hcnsions cvcn against dclity, and hindcrs thc dcccivcd lrom trusting
thosc who mcrit truth.
219

Thc Rcccption ol thc Rcpublication
Carolinc Robbins includcd TheExcellencie among thc cightccnth ccn
turys sacrcd canon ol Rcal Vhig writing.
220
Yct how widc was its
rcadcrship: Most ol thc known admircrs ol thc work wcrc pcoplc who
arc known, or arc likcly, to havc bccn introduccd to it by Hollis or
by his lricnds. Ncdham did havc his opcn cnthusiasts in ngland. !n
.,6a, vc ycars bclorc thc publication ol TheExcellencie, Villiam Har
riss biography ol Cromwcll, in which Hollis had had somc sharc,
221

namcd Ncdham alongsidc Milton to illustratc his claim that thc bcst
pcns had bccn sought out and rccommcndcd by thc parliamcnt lor
writing in bchall ol civil and rcligious libcrty. Harris publishcd long
cxccrpts lrom two consccutivc cditorials ol Politicus (nos. , .a
April .6a), thc rst showing that thc original ol all just powcr is in thc
pcoplc, thc sccond attacking thc corrupt division ol a statc into ccclc
siastical and civil.
222
Hc had cvidcntly acquircd thcm lrom Hollis, lor
his tcxt rcpcats crrors that appcar in a transcription ol Holliss own.
223

Harris hailcd Ncdhams rcpudiation ol rcason ol statc as a bcauti
lul piccc ol satirc. !n .,,. anothcr bcncciary ol Holliss assistancc,
a.. Public d.ertiser, ac May .,, comparc Diary or !oodfall s Fegister, .6
May .,a.
aac. Robbins, Eighteenth-CenturyCommon.ealthman, pp. .
aa.. H, a July .,6..
aaa. Villiam Harris, n Historical and Critical ccount of the Life of Oli.er
Crom.ell (.6,a), pp. ac.
aa. 8lackburnc, p. 66c. ! owc this obscrvation to Moscs Tanncnbaum.
lxxxiv
<
!ntroduction
Catharinc Macaulay, concludcd hcr HistoryofEngland, which at that
timc cndcd at thc Rcstoration, with a pacan to thc illustrious champi
ons ol thc public causc during thc civil wars. Shc was glad to obscrvc
that, now that timc and cxpcricncc had abatcd thc violcncc ol lccling
arouscd by thc conict, thc grcatncss ol thc champions had bccomc a
thcmc ol dclight among thc lcw cnlightcncd citizcns. !mmortal quali
tics, shc rulcd, wcrc to bc lound abovc all in Sidncy and Ludlow and
Harrington and Ncvillc, authors whosc works cxccl cvcn thc ancicnt
classics. 8ut shc also had warm words lor Ncdham. Thc lact that hc
was now rcad with plcasurc and applausc, shc proclaimcd in thc last
words ol thc book, was cvidcncc ol thc rccovcrcd scnsc and tastc ol
thc nation. !n thc lollowing ycar anothcr cdition ol hcr History addcd
thc inlormation that hc had thc kccncst pcn that thc agc or any othcr
cvcr produccd. Vith Harris, Macaulay savorcd what shc callcd thc
kccn satirc that accompanicd Ncdhams judicious rccctions.
224

How many pcoplc sharcd Harriss and Macaulays admiration:
thcr cvidcncc ol thc rcading ol The Excellencie in ngland ol thc
latcr cightccnth ccntury is hard to comc by. His populism might bc
cxpcctcd to havc appcalcd to advocatcs ol radical rclorm ol Parliamcnt
and socicty, in whosc writings Sidncy, Harrington, and Milton wcrc
oltcn invokcd.
225
Should not thc radicals havc takcn inspiration lrom
Ncdhams prcdominant unicamcralism, a position that accordcd with
thc hostility ol Tom Painc and his lcllow sympathizcrs to thc principlc
aa. Catharinc Macaulay, TheHistoryofEnglandfromtheccessionofJamesIto
theEle.ationoftheHouseofHano.er, vols. (ublin, .,6,.), :6., vols. (Lon
don, .,6), :, vols. (London, .,6,a), :cn, 6, ,c. (Although Hollis
himscll can sccm a humorlcss gurc, hc cnjoycd satirc whcn it was dcploycd in
libcrtys causc. Hc had Hcnry Ncvillcs vcry scarcc satirical work TheIsleofPines
rcpublishcd in .,6. H, , Scptcmbcr .,6, a Junc .,6.) Harris kncw two othcr
tracts by Ncdham. Harris, nHistoricalandCriticalccountoftheLifeofCharles
theSecond, a vols. (London, .,66), .:,., a,. nc ol thcsc tracts, Interest!ill
NotLie (London, .6), was also citcd by Macaulay (ublin cd., :., London
cd., .,,a, :) and had othcr currcncy in thc cightccnth ccntury. Anothcr work
ol Ncdham, his anonymous vcrsc attack on thc Prcsbytcrians in .66., Short
History of the English Febellion (London, .66.), was rcprintcd in thc Harleian
Miscellany in thc mid.,cs, as wcrc two prosc tracts ol his, also anonymous:
ChristianissimusChristianandus and ThePacquet-Boatd.ice (London, .6,).
aa. Scc, lor cxamplc, Vordcn, Commonwcalth Kidncy, pp. a.
!ntroduction
<
lxxxv
ol constitutional balancc, which thcy intcrprctcd as an aristocratic prc
tcxt lor thwarting popular sovcrcignty: Yct thc only onc ol thc radical
rclormcrs who appcarsalonc or with his immcdiatc allicsto havc
madc cxplicit usc ol Ncdham is John Cartwright. !n .,,, hc citcd Ncd
hams admonitions against aristocrats who contcnd against rcgal powcr
only to appropriatc it lor thcmsclvcs. Hc also (lollowing Villiam Har
ris) cndorscd Ncdhams attack on thc unscrupulous dcploymcnt ol thc
languagc ol rcason ol statc.
226
Hcrc at lcast thc latcr cightccnth ccn
tury could nd an unambiguously cdilying moral scntimcnt in Ncdham.
Fivc ycars latcr Cartwrights Socicty lor Constitutional !nlormation
publishcd a scrics ol snippcts lrom TheExcellencie in support ol popular
lrccdom.
227
!t may bc that Ncdhams argumcnts wcrc also uscd, as thcy
had bccn in .6,, by mcn who prudcntly conccalcd thcir sourcc. Pcrhaps
onc writcr had Ncdham in mind in arguing, in a pcriodical ol Junc .,6,,
vc months altcr thc publication ol TheExcellencie, that nglish poli
tics and socicty wcrc undcrgoing a movcmcnt parallcl to onc cmpha
sizcd by Ncdham in Roman history: a drilt toward aristocracy and thus
toward conditions lrom which a monarchical tyranny might cmcrgc.
228

Four months latcr a writcr in thc samc pcriodical rccallcd, in languagc
that cchocs Ncdhams (p. a), thc banclul ccct ol luxury in ancicnt
Grcccc, which had prcscrvcd its lrccdom so long as virtuc walkcd
hand in hand with libcrty.
229
!n .,,6 wc nd John Vilkcs, in a spccch
in thc Commons on parliamcntary rcprcscntation, ocring a warning
against thc prolongation ol political powcr that is suggcstivcly closc to
onc ol Ncdhams.
230
!n nonc ol thosc cascs, howcvcr, is a dcbt to him
aa6. John Cartwright, The Legislati.e Fights of the Commonalty !indicated
(London, .,,,), pp. ,c,., ,.
aa,. Parkers General d.ertiser and Morning Intelligencer , .. Novcmbcr .,a,
Robbins, Eighteenth-CenturyCommon.ealthman, p. , and n. a.
aa. Political Fegister, Junc .,6,, pp. .6, cl. ibid., January .,6,
pp. ., August .,,c, pp. .c..
aa. !bid., ctobcr .,,c, pp. ac. 8ut Hollis, at lcast, did not nccd lcssons
lrom Ncdham on thc prcscrvation ol Grcck libcrty. Toland, LifeofJohnMilton,
cd. Hollis, p. a.
ac. Comparc John Vilkcs, The Speeches of John !ilkes, vols. (London,
.,,,,), .:, with p. ... Vilkcs maintains that thc lcaving powcr too long in
thc hands ol thc samc pcrsons, by which thc armics ol thc rcpublic bccamc thc
lxxxvi
<
!ntroduction
ccrtain. !t docs not look as il TheExcellencie cxcrtcd any grcat popular
appcal.
231
8y .. Cartwright himscll had movcd on lrom Ncdham,
and was rcady to mock TheExcellencie lor its lailurc to dcmand annual
parliamcntary clcctions.
232

!l thc inucncc ol TheExcellencie in ngland in thc dccadcs altcr its
publication was rcstrictcd, onc Amcrican writcr, who noticcd its ncglcct
in its nativc land, claimcd that it had had a much grcatcr impact abroad.
This was John Adams. Adams claimcd, in statcmcnts madc in distant
rctrospcct, to havc studicd Ncdham in his youth. !n .c, hc rccallcd
that hc had rcad Ncdham long bclorc thc Stamp Act crisisthat
is, somc ycars bclorc Holliss rcpublication ol The Excellencie.
233
!t is
likcly that his mcmory dcccivcd him. !n .,6 hc did includc Ncdhams
namc in a list ol othcr civilwar nglishmcn who arc all said to havc
owcd thcir cmincncc in political knowlcdgc to thc cxpcricncc ol thc
tyrannics ol Jamcs ! and Charlcs !. Thc othcrs wcrc Lord 8rookc, John
Hampdcn, Sir Hcnry \anc, John Scldcn, Milton, Harrington, Ncvillc,
Sidncy, and Lockc. Adamss pronounccmcnt appcarcd in onc ol a scrics
armics ol Sylla, Pompcy, and Cacsar, hclpcd to cnslavc Romc. Ncdhams point
itscll draws on Machiavcllis Discourses, bk. , chap. a, which argucs that thc
continuation ol govcrnmcnts brought Romc into thraldom, and which onc
might thcrclorc supposc to bc Vilkcss sourcc. 8ut Machiavclli citcs thc powcr
only ol Sylla, Marius, and Cacsar, whcrcas Ncdham and Vilkcs add thc namc
ol Pompcy. Hollis, who had a mixcd but gcncrally approving vicw ol Vilkcs,
prcsscd thc virtucs ol Algcrnon Sidncy on him. H, . January .,6, comparc
PoliticalFegister, Junc .,6, p. .a.
a.. vcn thc populist annotations, which prcsumably wcrc not lor public con
sumption, in thc copy in thc 8ritish Library (rcproduccd in ightccnthCcntury
Collcctions nlinc, http://www.galc.ccngagc.com/igitalCollcctions/products/
ccco/indcx.htm) ol John Thclwalls abbrcviatcd vcrsion ol Valtcr Moylcs cssay
on Roman history, Democracy!indicated (Norwich, .,6), do not rclcr to Ncd
ham, cvcn though both Thclwall and thc annotator would havc concurrcd with
much in Ncdhams work. For Moylcs own silcnt dcbt to Ncdham scc p. lviii.
aa. Cartwright, Letter,.c.[toSirFrancisBurdett,z:Decemberz8zJ (London,
..), p. (aa, d. .., 8odlcian Library).
a. John Adams, Diary and utobiography of John dams, vols., cd. L. H.
8uttcrcld (Cambridgc, Mass.: Harvard Univcrsity Prcss, .6.), :, Corrc
spondcncc 8ctwccn John Adams and Mcrcy Varrcn, CollectionsoftheMassa-
chusettsHistoricalSociety (.,): a.
!ntroduction
<
lxxxvii
ol articlcs by him in thc BostonGa.ette which Hollis, who took a kccn
intcrcst in Adams and sharcd Amcrican contacts with him,
234
pub
lishcd in book lorm in .,6.
235
Thcrc is no indication in his statcmcnt,
howcvcr, that Adams has rcad Ncdham. !n .,,6 Adams includcd Ncd
ham in anothcr list ol scvcntccnthccntury nglish namcs, thc oncs at
whom thc snccrs ol nglishmcn wcrc dircctcd. A rcading ol thcm,
hc thcrc claimcd, would convincc any candid mind, that thcrc is no
good govcrnmcnt but what is rcpublican.
236

8ut how considcrcd had Adamss own rcading ol Ncdhams tract
bccn: !t sccms not to havc bccn until .,,, thirtccn ycars altcr Hol
liss dcath, that hc paid closc attcntion to The Excellencie. Hc was
thcn living in London as ambassador lor thc Amcrican rcpublic and
longing to rcturn to his homcland lrom a lilc so usclcss to thc public
and so insipid to myscll, as minc is in uropc.
237
!n January ol that
ycar Thomas 8rand, Holliss hcir, who had lcngthcncd his own namc
to Thomas 8rand Hollis, scnt a copy ol thc cdition ol .,6, to his
own lricnd Adams, to bc dcpositcd among his rcpublican tracts.
238

Adams had rcccntly complctcd thc rst ol thc thrcc volumcs ol his
Defence of the Constitutions of merica. !t appcarcd in Fcbruary .,,.
Thc Defence is a scrics ol hastily writtcn cssays on historical and
political writcrs whom Adams judgcd to bc ol prcscnt political rcl
cvancc. !n thc rst volumc Adams madc no mcntion ol Ncdham, but
a. 8ond, ThomasHollis, pp. .aca., H, a. Junc .,6, and scc Andrcw l
iots lcttcrs to Hollis, MS Am. a.F, Houghton Library.
a. H, , a. Junc, . July .,6, a April .,6, TheTrueSentimentsofmerica
(London, .,6), p. ... Pcrhaps Adams (who did not know Hollis whcn thc ar
ticlcs in thc BostonGa.ette appcarcd) had lcarncd ol Ncdham, dircctly or indi
rcctly, lrom thc quotations lrom Politicus in Villiam Harriss lilc ol Cromwcll
in .,6a. A copy ol Harriss book, annotatcd by Hollis, is in thc Adams National
Park and Muscum.
a6. Hyncman and Lutz, mericanPolitical!riting, .:c.
a,. John R. Howc, Jr., TheChangingPoliticalThoughtofJohndams (Princc
ton: Princcton Univcrsity Prcss, .66), p. .a.
a. Zoltn Haraszti, John dams and the Prophets of Progress (Cambridgc,
Mass.: Harvard Univcrsity Prcss, .a), p. .6a. A lcttcr ol Adams to 8rand Hollis
about thc Cromwcllian timcs is lound in John isncy, MemoirsofThomasBrand-
Hollis (London, .c), pp. a.
lxxxviii
<
!ntroduction
thc rcccipt ol thc copy lrom 8rand Hollis brought him lorcclully back
into his mind. Thc sccond volumc, which had appcarcd by August
.,,, and thc third, which appcarcd in .,, containcd a vcry long
commcntary on TheExcellencie, lar longcr than Ncdhams tcxt itscll,
and lar longcr than thc obscrvations ocrcd by thc Defence on thc
writings ol othcr authors.
TheExcellencie mcritcd so much attcntion, cxplaincd Adams, bccausc
it is a valuablc morscl ol antiquity wcll known in Amcrica, whcrc it has
many partisans, bccausc it contains cvcry scmblancc ol argumcnt which
can possibly bc urgcd in lavour ol thc systcm ol govcrnmcnt that it advo
catcs, bccausc it providcs thc popular idca ol a rcpublic in ngland and
Francc,
239
and bccausc it was a valuablc monumcnt ol thc carly pcriod
in which thc truc principlcs ol libcrty bcgan to bc adoptcd and avowcd
in ngland.
240
Adams vicwcd Ncdham with a dividcd mind. Hc lound
much to applaud in his book, which abounds with scnsc and lcarning and
dcmonstratcd prolound judgcmcnt.
241
Yct hc lound morc, oltcn much
morc, to distrcss him. Vith onc part ol himscll Adams likcd to bclicvc
that conscicncc was always uppcrmost in Ncdhams argumcnts.
242
Yct
hc simultancously doubtcd whcthcr hc was sinccrc or honcst.
243
Hc
chargcd him with spccious or absurd or vcry ridiculous rcasoning,
244

with dcclamatory ourishcs t only lor a lugitivc pamphlct, not lor a
work ol scrious thought,
245
with manipulating thc cvidcncc ol Roman
history to support popular sophisms, and with miscrably pcrvcrt|ing|
his lcarning to answcr a prcscnt purposc.
246
Analyzing Ncdhams tcxt
pagc by pagc, hc concludcs that his systcm is unilormly disprovcd by thc
vcry historical cxamplcs hc citcs on its bchall.
247

a. John Adams, Defence of the Constitutions of Go.ernment of the United
Statesofmerica, vols. (London, .,), :a..
ac. !bid., :cc.
a.. !bid., :cc, .c, comparc :a, .
aa. !bid., :c,.
a. !bid., a:aa, :,a.
a. !bid., :a,c, a,.
a. !bid., :a., a..
a6. !bid., :cc
a,. !bid., :aa, a6,, a,, .c.
!ntroduction
<
lxxxix
Though Adams rclcrrcd to thc Protcus Ncdham and to his
changcs ol sidc,
248
it was not thc inconsistcncics ol Ncdhams carccr
that troublcd him. !t was his argumcnts. For on both sidcs ol thc At
lantic, Adams insistcd, thcrc was a choicc to bc madc. Thc lundamcn
tal principlc ol political hcalth, onc not only taught by history but
disccrniblc in naturc itscll, was thc balancing ol powcrs. !t had bccn at
work in Roman history and was cmbodicd in thc 8ritish constitution,
which modcrn ministrics had bctraycd. !t turncd on thc scparation ol
lcgislativc, cxccutivc, and judicial powcr, and on a division ol thc lcg
islaturc itscll. Thc lundamcntal articlc ol my political crccd, hc dc
clarcd in .,, is that dcspotism, or unlimitcd sovcrcignty, or absolutc
powcr, is thc samc in a majority ol a popular asscmbly, an aristocratic
council, an oligarchical junto, and a singlc cmpcror. qually arbitrary,
crucl, bloody, and in cvcry rcspcct diabolical.
249
!n thc Unitcd Statcs
hc had obscrvcd thc contcntious cstablishmcnt ol unicamcral rulc
in Pcnnsylvania and othcr statcs.
250
His commcntary on Ncdham
contains a scrics ol anxious glanccs, indicativc ol a dccpcning pcs
simism and conscrvatism in Adamss political thinking around this
timc,
251
at thc hazardous cxpcrimcnt ol thc Amcrican constitution
in providing, as Ncdham urgcd nations to do, lor lrcqucnt clcctions
to o cc.
252
Pcrhaps Shayss Rcbcllion in Massachusctts in .,, had
intcnsicd thc horror ol populism that inlorms Adamss rcading ol
Ncdhams book.
253
TheExcellencie, as Adams rcad it, advocatcd purc
dcmocracy. !n charitablc momcnts hc suggcstcd that Ncdham did not
rcally subscribc to thc crudc conccptions hc advanccd on bchall ol
thc pcoplc and that only thc particular circumstanccs in which hc
had writtcn, whcn thc cxilcd Stuart monarch, and most ol thc pccrs,
a. Haraszti, Johndams, p. ac.
a. !bid., p. a6.
ac. Gordon S. Vood, TheCreationofthemericanFepublic,z,,oz,8, (Cha
pcl Hill: Univcrsity ol North Carolina Prcss, .6), pp. .6, ..
a.. Howc, ChangingPoliticalThought, pp. .c., .,c,., .,,.
aa. Adams, Defence, :a, a6, ,.
a. Haraszti, Johndams, p. , John Adams, Thedams-JeersonLetters, cd.
Lcstcr J. Cappon (Chapcl Hill: Univcrsity ol North Carolina Prcss, ., rcpr.
Ncw York: Simon and Schustcr, .,.), p. .66.
xc
<
!ntroduction
sought thc dcstruction ol thc Commonwcalth, had obligcd him to
turn against two ol thc thrcc cstatcs.
254
8ut in Adamss own timc,
hc warncd, thosc conccptions had a dangcrous potcntial. nc by
onc hc sccks to takc apart Ncdhams claims: that thc pcoplc arc thc
bcst kccpcrs ol thcir own libcrty, that popular rulc is thc lorm ol
govcrnmcnt bcst cquippcd to withstand tyranny, dcly laction, and
prcvcnt corruption, that it alonc cnsurcs thc promotion ol mcrit, and
so on.
255

Adamss prcscntation ol Ncdham as a writcr committcd to thc con
ccntration ol all powcr in a singlc asscmbly is compatiblc with most ol
thc contcnt ol TheExcellencie, but not with all ol it. !t docs not squarc
with Ncdhams proposal lor thc crcation ol tribuncs and popular as
scmblics to countcr or rcstrict thc wcight ol thc scnatc. Thcn thcrc
is Ncdhams insistcncc on thc scparation ol cxccutivc and lcgislativc
powcr. !n thc kccping ol thcsc two powcrs distinct, owing in distinct
channcls, hc writcs, consists thc salcty ol thc statc (p. .c). Adams,
introducing his rcadcrs to that passagc, invitcs thcm to pausc hcrc
with astonishmcnt at an argumcnt that, hc allcgcs, contradicts thc
wholc trcnd ol its authors thought.
256
Hc might havc addcd that in
any casc thc cxccutivc and lcgislaturc cnvisagcd in TheExcellencie do
not ow in distinct channcls. Rathcr, thc powcr ol thc cxccutivc is
translcrrcd by thc lcgislaturc and is thus dcrivcd lrom it (p. .c).
Just so did thc Rumps cxccutivc body, thc council ol statc, thc body
to which Ncdham was dircctly answcrablc lor Politicus, rcport to thc
lcgislaturc, thc Parliamcnt, which appointcd it and dcncd its pow
crs. Adams had bccn alarmcd to nd how many ol thc lcadcrs ol thc
Amcrican Rcvolution had had somcthing similar in mind lor thcir
own countrys luturc: thcy had no othcr idca ol any othcr govcrnmcnt
but a contcmptiblc lcgislaturc, in onc asscmbly, with committccs ol
cxccutivc magistratcs....
257

a. Adams, Defence, :a...a.
a. C. 8radlcy Thompson, John dams and the Spirit of Liberty (Lawrcncc:
Univcrsity Prcss ol Kansas, .), pp. .ac.
a6. Adams, Defence, :..
a,. Adams, Diaryandutobiography, :.
!ntroduction
<
xci
Yct it looks as il Ncdhams own thoughts wcrc closcr to thosc ol
Adams than thc Amcrican rcalizcd.
258
As in his suggcstions lor thc
crcation ol tribuncs and rcprcscntativc asscmblics, Ncdham may havc
bccn looking toward constitutional machincry that would havc bccn
incompatiblc with thc undividcd sovcrcignty that was claimcd by thc
Commons, and that hc outwardly cndorscd, in .6. !n .6 thc pas
sagc advocating distinct channcls, which had bccn printcd in Politicus
in .6a, rcappcarcd in True State of the Case of the Common.ealth,
thc tract Ncdham wrotc in vindication ol thc !nstrumcnt ol Govcrn
mcnt. Thc !nstrumcnt cnvisagcd a ncw rclationship bctwccn cxccutivc
and lcgislaturc. Thc two would assist and complcmcnt cach othcr, but
would also bc balanccd against cach othcr. !n TrueState thc wording
ol Politicus, now lcngthcncd and strcngthcncd, was dircctcd against thc
mcmory ol thc Rump, prcciscly on thc ground that thc parliamcnt had
sought to prcscrvc thc placing thc lcgislativc and cxccutivc powcrs in
thc samc pcrsons, a practicc that is a marvcllous inlct ol corruption
and tyranny. Thc Rump, Ncdham now complains, madc provision lor
no manncr ol chcck or balancc to bc rcscrvcd upon thc powcr ol thc
Commons.
259

a. Haraszti, Johndams, p. .6, V. 8. Gwyn, TheMeaningoftheSeparation
ofPo.ers, Tulanc Studics in Political Scicncc, vol. (Ncw rlcans: Tulanc Uni
vcrsity, .6), pp. ..a.. Adamss intcrprctation was distortcd by his conation ol
thc two issucs ol constitutional balancc and thc scparation ol powcrs.
a. TrueStateoftheCaseoftheCommon.ealth (London, .6), p. .c. !t sccms
that Ncdham, a pionccr hcrc as clscwhcrc, may havc introduccd thc languagc ol
constitutional chccks, which in thc cightccnth ccntury would bc so lrcqucnt
and potcnt to political thought. At lcast, it is lair to spcculatc that hc was rcspon
siblc lor two known uscs ol thc tcrm during thc Puritan Rcvolution. Thc tcrm
checks appcarcd in a dcclaration ol thc ncw modcl army in August .6, in which
hc sccms likcly to havc had a hand ( LP, p. .), and in .6, it was uscd in a spccch
by Cromwcll, who dcpcndcd on Ncdham lor thc articulation ol political conccpts
( LP, p. ..). For thosc instanccs and thc carly history ol thc tcrm checks, scc avid
Vootton, Libcrty, Mctaphor, and Mcchanism: Chccks and 8alanccs and thc
rigin ol Modcrn Constitutionalism, in LibertyandmericanExperienceinthe
EighteenthCentury, cd. avid Vomcrslcy (!ndianapolis: Libcrty Fund, acc6), pp.
ac,, cspccially pp. a.6.,, aa., a,. To thosc two uscs wc may add Cromwclls
insistcncc on thc nccd lor a chcck and lor a balancc in his spccch to Parlia
mcnt ol .a Scptcmbcr .6 ( !ritingsandSpeeches, cd. Abbott, :6c) and thc
plcas by his supportcrs in thc Commons, during thc prcvious days, lor a chcck
xcii
<
!ntroduction
!t was as an cncmy ol thc division ol powcrs, not as its lricnd, that
Adams assailcd Ncdham. Vhy did hc assail him at such lcngth:
Adams bccamc obscsscd by thc dangcrs inhcrcnt in thc argumcnts ol
The Excellencie. Thc book had gottcn undcr his skin. Hc disccrncd,
or imagincd, its malign inucncc in placcs whcrc it ncvcr rcachcd. !t
is scarccly an cxaggcration to say that whcncvcr hc cncountcrcd uni
camcralist argumcnts hc blamcd thcm on Ncdham. Vhat hc callcd
thc dcmocratical hurricanc
260
ol thc Frcnch Rcvolution hcightcncd
that tcndcncy. Ncdhams pcrlcct commonwcalth, hc told Thomas Jcl
lcrson in .,6, was sprcading cvcrywhcrc. !t had bccn implcmcntcd in
Francc and Amcrica, was winning support in Holland, and thrcatcncd
to cxtcnd to ngland.
261
Adams unwarrantably disccrncd an allusion to
TheExcellencie in Mary Vollstonccralts nHistoricalandMoral!ie.
of the Origin and Progress of the French Fe.olution (.,).
262
Thc only
particularization Adams cvcr ocrcd ol his claim that TheExcellencie
had many partisans in Amcrica and was wcll known thcrc is to bc
on Parliamcnts authority: Thomas 8urton, DiaryofThomasBurton, vols., cd.
J. T. Rutt (London, .a), .:xxviii, xxii. !n Voottons account thc tcrm wcnt into
abcyancc altcr Ncdhams usc ol it and was rcvivcd at thc cnd ol thc ccntury by
John Trcnchard, Valtcr Moylc, and John Toland, whom Vootton portrays as
kcy gurcs in thc cvolution ol thc languagc. id thosc writcrs, owing an un
acknowlcdgcd dcbt to Ncdham on thc subjcct ol standing armics, also draw on
himthis timc on TrueState hcrc: lscwhcrc, too, Ncdham as an innovator
awaits propcr rccognition. Hc hclpcd to bring to domcstic politics (as distinct
lrom intcrnational rclations, whcrc it had alrcady bccn applicd) thc notion, which
would gathcr a widcning lollowing in thc latcr scvcntccnth ccntury, that thc kcy
to political hcalth and stability is thc idcntication and balancing ol compcting
intcrcst groups ol socicty. J. A. V. Gunn, Politics and the Public Interest in the
Se.enteenthCentury (London: Routlcdgc and K. Paul, .6), Vordcn, Vit in a
Roundhcad, pp. .,.. ! hopc to show clscwhcrc that hc had a pionccring rolc
in thc shaping ol a ncw vocabulary that brought thc causcs ol civil and rcligious
libcrty togcthcr. Morcovcr, his obituary ol his lricnd John 8radshaw in .6 ( LP,
p. ,) was, in its scopc and charactcr, a litcrary dcparturc.
a6c. Howc, ChangingPoliticalThought, p. .,..
a6.. Adams, dams-JeersonLetters, p. a6.
a6a. Mary Vollstonccralt, n Historical and Moral !ie. of the Origin and
Progress of the French Fe.olution (London, .,), p. 6, Haraszti, John dams,
p. a..
!ntroduction
<
xciii
lound in his groundlcss allcgation that 8cnjamin Franklin was thc
wcak disciplc ol Ncdham.
263

How many Amcrican partisans did thc book in lact havc: Thc onc
conspicuous judgmcnt passcd in its lavor was dclivcrcd by thc Ncw ng
land clcrgyman Andrcw liot, Holliss ally in thc publicizing ol thc colo
nists causc. liot wrotc to Hollis in May .,6,, thrcc months altcr thc
publication ol TheExcellencie, to thank him lor a copy ol it: ! was so
particularly plcascd with TheExcellencieofaFreeState. ! wondcr so valu
ablc a pcrlormancc has bccn so long hid. Thc stylc and manncr arc lar
bcyond thc writcrs ol that day, and thc trcatisc justly givcs thc author a
placc among thc most noblc writcrs ol govcrnmcnt. liots singlc rcgrct
was that whcn 8aron, in his prclacc, dcscribcd Ncdham as inlcrior only
to Milton hc had not addcd alongsidc Miltons namc that ol Algcr
non Sidncy, that, as you justly stylc him, Martyr to Civil Libcrty.
264

Anothcr cvidcnt admircr ol Ncdham was Josiah Quincy Jr., who actcd
as counscl lor Adams in thc trial ol Captain Prcston in .,,c. !n pscud
onymous articlcs in thc BostonGa.ette in .,,a, hc uscd Marchamont
Ncdham as onc ol his pscudonyms (anothcr bcing thc Lcvcllcr dward
Scxby). Quincy did not, howcvcr, mcntion TheExcellencie. His intcrcst in
Ncdham may havc dcrivcd not lrom thc tract but lrom MercuriusPoliti-
cus, ol which Quincy kncw at sccond hand. !n his commonplacc book,
somctimc bctwccn .,,c and .,,, hc transcribcd thc inaccuratc copy ol
an issuc ol MercuriusPoliticus that Villiam Harris, who in turn had rc
ccivcd it lrom Hollis, had includcd in his lilc ol Cromwcll.
265
Prcsumably
a6. Haraszti, Johndams, p. ac.
a6. Richard Fothcringham, cd., Lcttcrs lrom Andrcw liot to Thomas Hol
lis, Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, th scr., (.): c. For
liot and Ncdham scc, too, Alicc M. 8aldwin, TheNe.EnglandClergyandthe
merican Fe.olution (urham, N.C.: ukc Univcrsity Prcss, .a), pp. n, ...
liot rcpcatcd thc phrasc about Sidncy (H. Trcvor Colbourn, TheLampofExpe-
rience:!higHistoryandtheIntellectualOriginsofthemericanFe.olution |Chapcl
Hill: Univcrsity ol North Carolina Prcss, .6|, p. 6c).
a6. Josiah Quincy Jr., PortraitofaPatriot:TheMajorPoliticalandLegalPapers
ofJosiahQuincyJunior, cd. anicl R. Coquillcttc and Ncil Longlcy York (8os
ton: Colonial Socicty ol Massachusctts, acc), .:6,c, , .,. ! am indcbtcd to
Moscs Tanncnbaum lor guidancc on liot and Quincy, as on much clsc.
xciv
<
!ntroduction
Harriss book, or clsc Hollis himscll, was Quincys sourcc. TheExcellencie
itscll was rarcly namcd, at lcast in print, by liots and Quincys Amcri
can contcmporarics.
266
vcn in thc rcplics to Adamss Defence thc book is
hardly mcntioncd, though onc pamphlct ol .,6 did takc Ncdhams sidc,
rcplying to Adams that Ncdhams vicws on thc rotation ol powcr pcr
lcctly and calmly accord|cd| with thc spirit and naturc ol thc Unitcd
Statcs and with thc provisions ol its lcdcral constitution.
267

!t may ol coursc bc that, in Amcrica as in ngland, thcrc wcrc
writcrs rcady to usc Ncdhams writing but not to acknowlcdgc thcir
sourcc. Yct any unacknowlcdgcd dcbts arc hard to pin down. Latc cigh
tccnthccntury Amcrican political litcraturc contains various cchocs
ol Ncdhams asscrtions (which thcmsclvcs dcrivcd lrom Machiavclli)
that thc pcoplc arc thc bcst kccpcrs ol thcir own libcrtics.
268
Hc
madc thc claim alongsidc thc statcmcnt that thc pcoplcs libcrtics arc
most salc in thcir own hands (p.ac). Ncdham pcrhaps inucnccd a
scrmon dclivcrcd in 8oston on thc occasion ol thc Commcnccmcnt
ol John Adamss Constitution ol Massachusctts, whcn thc prcachcr,
having praiscd thc immortal writings ol Sidncy and Lockc, notcd
how ccctually thc Constitution makcs thc pcoplc thc kccpcrs ol
thcir own libcrtics, with whom thcy arc ccrtainly salcst.
269
Likcwisc
a66. !t is no surprisc to nd that Ncdham docs not gurc among thc wcll
known authors mcntioncd by onald S. Lutz, Thc Rclativc !nucncc ol uro
pcan Vritcrs on Latc ightccnthCcntury Political Thought, mericanPolitical
ScienceFe.ie. , (.): .,. TheExcellencie was includcd in a vcry long list
ol thc books morc lrcqucntly uscd by undcrgraduatc sophistcrs at Harvard
in a cataloguc ol thc library thcrc in .,,, but thc dcscription is doubtlul: scc
V. H. 8ond and Hugh Amory, cds., ThePrintedCataloguesoftheHar.ardCollege
Library, z,:z,,c (8oston: Colonial Socicty ol Massachusctts, .6), pp. xxxv,
.6, a.
a6,. |Trcnch Coxc|, TheFederalist:containingsomeStricturesuponaPamphlet,
entitled ThePretensionsofThomasJeerson.... (Philadclphia, .,6), pp. aca.
Scc too |Villiam Gri n|, Eumenes (.,), p. .a. !n ngland a rcvicwcr ol thc
third volumc ol Adamss Defence dcscribcd TheExcellencie as an ablc work, but
gavc no indication ol having rcad it. Thc rcvicwcr took it on trust lrom Adams
that thc tract was a lavouritc book in Amcrica. MonthlyFe.ie., ctobcr .,,
pp. a,.
a6. Hcrc as clscwhcrc in this paragraph ! am indcbtcd to Mr. Tanncnbaum.
a6. Samucl Coopcr, Sermon Preached before his Excellency John Hancock
(8oston, .,c), p. a.
!ntroduction
<
xcv
in cccmbcr .,a Jamcs Madison askcd, Vho arc thc bcst kccpcrs
ol thc pcoplcs libcrtics, and answcrcd, thc pcoplc thcmsclvcs, lor
nowhcrc can thc trust ol govcrnmcnt bc so salc as in thcir hands.
270

Yct wc could not bc condcnt in attributing such languagc to Ncd
hams inucncc.
Modcrn tributcs to thc cightccnthccntury impact ol TheExcellen-
cie, and thc allocation to it ol a placc in thc sacrcd canon, sccm to
dcrivc lrom Adamss asscrtions. vcn on thc most gcncrous cstimatc,
thc book commandcd nothing likc thc inucncc, on cithcr sidc ol thc
Atlantic, ol thc writings ol thc gurcs whosc placc in thc canon is
incontcstablc.
271
n thc wholc thc canon, and Holliss promotion ol
it, had considcrably morc succcss in Amcrica than in his nativc land.
!n ngland, whcrc Hollis was accuscd ol misspcnding his lortunc in
paving thc way lor scdition,
272
thc tradition ol rcsistancc to tyranny
that hc championcd was widcly lcarcd and widcly dcridcd. !n Amcrica
it chimcd with an cmcrging political culturc and hclpcd to shapc it.
8ut Ncdhams part in that proccss was lar smallcr than that ol thc
canonical works that Toland had put into circulation. Adams himscll,
who contcndcd so strcnuously against Ncdhams unicamcralism, rcl
ishcd thc argumcnts lor mixcd or balanccd constitutions that hc lound
in Harrington and Sidncy.
273
thcr Amcricans savorcd thcm too. As
in ngland itscll, thc mixcd or balanccd nglish constitutionas
distinct lrom thc modcrn ministrics that abuscd or pcrvcrtcd it
was judgcd to bc pcrlcct.
274
8csidcs, Amcricans, no lcss than ng
lishmcn, likcd to nd high morality and virtuc in political thinkcrs.
Adams, who bclicvcd purc virtuc to bc thc only loundation ol a lrcc
constitution,
275
was cnrapturcd by thc couragc and incorruptibility ol
a,c. NationalGa.ette, ac cccmbcr .,a. Conccivably, too, Ncdhams inu
cncc is prcscnt in thc passagc ol a pamphlct ol .,,6 which maintaincd that thc
pcoplc know bcst thcir own wants and ncccssitics, and thcrclorc arc bcst ablc to
rulc thcmsclvcs (quotcd by 8ailyn, IdeologicalOrigins, p. a).
a,.. A copy ol thc book did makc its way to Monticcllo. Colbourn, Lampof
Experience, p. aac.
a,a. Robbins, Library ol Libcrty, p. ac.
a,. Adams, Defence, .:.a, .6., Haraszti, Johndams, pp. .
a,. 8ailyn, IdeologicalOrigins, p. 6,.
a,. Howc, ChangingPoliticalThought, p. .
xcvi
<
!ntroduction
Sidncy, that martyr to libcrty,
276
thc cxamplc ol whosc couragc in
vindicating armcd rcsistancc was urgcd on him by Hollis or through
his inucncc.
277
Andrcw liot rcmcmbcrcd that it was Sidncy who had
taught him any just scntimcnts ol govcrnmcnt.
278
Jonathan Mayhcw,
anothcr gurc whom Hollis introduccd to Sidncys mcrits,
279
thought
virtuc inscparablc lrom civil libcrty and acknowlcdgcd thc dcbt
ol his own undcrstanding ol civil libcrty to thc tcaching ol Sidncy,
as ol Milton.
280
Pctcr Karstcns study ol Patriot-HeroesinEnglandand
merica illustratcs thc lasting and widcsprcad rcvcrcncc that thc char
actcrs and dccds ol Sidncy, Milton, and John Hampdcn won lor thcir
namcs. Karstcn has no occasion to mcntion Ncdham.
Yct it was not in thc nglishspcaking world that Adams bclicvcd
Ncdhams book to havc had its most pcrnicious ccct. !t was in Francc.
Thc works publishcd by Tolands circlc at thc cnd ol thc scvcntccnth
ccntury had won a lollowing thcrc. Thus thc MemoirsofEdmundLud-
lo. wcrc quickly translatcd into Frcnch, as wcrc Sidncys Discourses,
in an cdition that would bc rcprintcd in .,. Sidncy, Ludlow, Milton,
and Harrington would bc inucntial writcrs or rolc modcls in thc cra
ol thc Rcvolution. !n Francc, and in Francc alonc, can Ncdham claim
an inucncc comparablc to thcirs, albcit hardly an cqual onc. Thc n
glish tcxt ol .,6, was translatcd into Frcnch by thc Chcvalicr don dc
8caumont, a Frcnch diplomat who had arrivcd in ngland in .,6a, and
whosc colorlul and somctimcs scandalous sojourn thcrc, which lastcd
ltccn ycars, may havc involvcd him in dcalings, trcasonous to his own
mastcrs, with opposition politicians.
281
Thc translation was includcd in
a,6. Scc, lor cxamplc, Colbourn, Lamp of Experience, pp. .a, Vordcn,
FoundheadFeputations, p. .,.
a,,. 8ond, Thomas Hollis, pp. .aca., comparc Political Fegister, Junc .,6,,
pp. .6,.
a,. Colbourn, LampofExperience, p. 6c.
a,. Knollcnbcrg, Thomas Hollis and Jonathan Mayhcw, p. .ca.
ac. Jonathan Mayhcw, The Snare Broken (8oston, .,66), p. , Colbourn,
LampofExperience, p. 6.
a.. on would rcturn to ngland in ., and rcmain until his dcath in
..c. For don and Ncdham scc Rachcl Hammcrslcy, FrenchFe.olutionariesand
EnglishFepublicans:TheCordeliersClub,z,,cz,,, (Voodbridgc, U.K.: 8oydcll
Prcss, acc), pp. 6c. For a lullcr cxploration ol thc subjcct, scc Hammcrslcy,
!ntroduction
<
xcvii
.,, in his cightvolumc compilation, Les Loisirs du Che.alier dEon,
a copy ol which Hollis apparcntly scnt to Amcrica.
282
Pcrhaps don
lcarncd ol TheExcellencie through his lricnds, and Holliss associatcs,
John Vilkcs and Catharinc Macaulay. on rcmarkcd on thc bold
ncss ol TheExcellencie, as wcll as its prolundity and solidity.
283
8ut hc
did not dwcll on thc distancc bctwccn its rccommcndations and n
glands cightccnthccntury constitution, which, likc othcr Frcnchmcn
ol thc ccntury, hc prcscntcd as a hcalthy contrast to thc Frcnch onc. Hc
portraycd thc book as a charactcristically nglish work that tcsticd to
thc spirit ol lrccdom in that island ol philosophy and libcrty.
on noticcd how littlc known TheExcellencie was in ngland.
284

His own translation may not havc donc much lor it in Francc. !n .,c
thcrc would bc a sccond translation, whosc author, Thophilc Mandar,
did not know (or anyway did not tcll his rcadcrs) ol dons vcrsion.
285

Mandar, who was rcportcdly onc ol thc incitcrs ol popular insurrcction
in July .,, thcrcaltcr dcvotcd myscll morc than cvcr to thc rcading ol
works that havc contributcd towards cnlightcning mcn on thcir intcr
csts. Thc rst to which ! gavc my attcntion was that ol Nccdham. Thc
author ol TheExcellencie, claimcd Mandar, was rcgardcd by thc nglish
as onc ol thc most daring gcniuscs who had writtcn on thc libcrty
ol thc pcoplc,
286
and his writing cntitlcd him to a rcputation as a
TheEnglishFepublicanTraditionandEighteenth-CenturyFrance:Bet.eenthen-
cientsandtheModerns (Manchcstcr, U.K.: Manchcstcr Univcrsity Prcss, ac.c). My
account ol thc Frcnch rcccption ol TheExcellencie is almost cntircly indcbtcd to hcr
pionccring studics (though ! must not implicatc hcr in my inlcrcnccs lrom thcm).
aa. Robbins, Strcnuous Vhig, p. a.n..
a. Charlcs don dc 8caumont, LesLoisirsduChe.alierdEondeBeaumont,
vols. (Amstcrdam, .,,), :.,. Carolinc Robbinss rclcrcncc to an Amstcr
dam rcprint ol TheExcellencie in .,, ( Eighteenth-CenturyCommon.ealthman,
p. ) has mislcd somc rcadcrs by implying that thcrc was a sccond cdition ol thc
Hollis8aron publication. Shc was prcsumably thinking ol dons publication.
Thc cdition ol .,6, was rcadvcrtiscd in .,,.. Public d.ertiser, .. Scptcmbcr
.,,., scc, too, St.JamessChronicle, August .,6,, and Publicd.ertiser, a c
tobcr .,6.
a. Hammcrslcy, FrenchFe.olutionaries, p. 6c.
a. For Mandars translation scc ibid., chap. a.
a6. !bid., pp. 6, 6.
xcviii
<
!ntroduction
prolound political thinkcr, il onc considcrs thc timc in which hc wrotc.
Mandar, who dcdicatcd his translation to my brothcrs in arms,
287

bccamc an activc mcmbcr ol thc Cordclicrs Club, on which much ol
thc Frcnch intcrcst in nglish rcpublicanism ccntcrcd. Likc don bc
lorc him, Mandar had littlc idca about thc circumstanccs lrom which
The Excellencie had cmcrgcd. At onc point hc suggcsts that this im
mortal work had appcarcd in thc rcign ol Charlcs !!.
288
Littlc il any
thing sccms to havc bccn known in Francc about Ncdhams charactcr
and carccr, thosc obstaclcs to his acccptancc in thc nglishspcaking
world. Mandars translation appcarcd in two volumcs, undcr thc titlc
DelaSou.eraineteduPeuple,etdel excellencedunetatlibre (Paris: La
villcttc, .,c). Pcrhaps in imitation ol Holliss cditions ol Sidncy and
ol Tolands lilc ol Milton, Mandar supplics an apparatus ol cxtcnsivc
commcntary and quotation that rclatcs thc argumcnts ol thc tcxt to
thc conccrns ol all agcs and cspccially ol thc prcscnt onc.
289
Mandar
was particularly cagcr to link Ncdhams rcasoning to that ol Rousscau.
Hc also portraycd Ncdham as a kindrcd spirit ol Sidncy, a writcr who
mcant morc to Mandar than did Ncdham, and whosc Discourses hc
rcvcrcd.
290
ccasionally Mandar adjustcd Ncdhams tcxt. !ts populism,
which alarmcd Adams and may havc inhibitcd admiration among
othcr nglishspcaking rcadcrs, had a rcady appcal to thc Cordclicrs. !t
was hcightcncd by Mandar, whosc translation climinatcd thc hcsitancy
and thc qualications that had accompanicd Ncdhams cndorscmcnt
ol thc principlc ol political cquality. Mandars vcrsion was lavorably
noticcd by thc daily ncwspapcr LeMoniteur, which commandcd a widc
circulation. Thc rcvicwcr wclcomcd Ncdhams ripostcs to thc partisans
ol tyranny and cndorscd Mandars claims lor thc prcscnt rclcvancc ol
thc work and lor its a nity to Rousscau.
291

a,. !bid., p. 6a.
a. !bid., p. ,. Thc prclacc, howcvcr, statcs that thc book was publishcd
undcr thc protcctoratc.
a. cspitc his immcnsc prcjudicc against thc Frcnch, Hollis scnt books
to Francc, though not on thc scalc ol his disscmination ol litcraturc clscwhcrc.
Robbins, Library ol Libcrty, pp. a...
ac. Hammcrslcy, FrenchFe.olutionaries, pp. c..
a.. !bid., pp. a,a,.
!ntroduction
<
xcix
Thcrc is, howcvcr, no sign that Adams kncw ol thc Frcnch transla
tions, which would havc bccn grist to his mill. !t was othcr Frcnch
writings that troublcd him. !n .,, thc politician and cconomist
Annc Robcrt Jacqucs Turgot, whom Adams mct in that ycar, wrotc a
lcttcr to thc nglish rclormcr Richard Pricc, which Pricc publishcd
in his own commcntary on thc Amcrican Rcvolution in .,.
292
Tur
got complaincd that thc Amcrican rcpublic, instcad ol introducing a
purc dcmocracy, had cmulatcd thc nglish principlc ol mixcd gov
crnmcnt. Turgots argumcnt would bc supportcd by AntoincNicolas
dc Condorcct, who in a posthumously publishcd work ol ., cct
ingly commcndcd Ncdham, alongsidc Harrington, as an advocatc ol
rcsistancc to tyranny.
293
That was hardly Ncdhams primc claim to
noticc, and was still lcss Harringtons. Condorcct apparcntly lackcd
rsthand knowlcdgc ol cithcr author. qually thcrc sccms to bc no
indication that Turgot himscll had rcad Ncdham. Adams noncthc
lcss dcclarcd that Turgots idca ol a commonwcalth, in which all
authority is to bc collcctcd in onc ccntrc, and that ccntrc thc nation,
is supposcd |by Adams| to bc prcciscly thc projcct ol Marchamont
Ncdham, and |was| probably dcrivcd lrom TheExcellencie. Adamss
Defence thus bccomcs an attack on thc political schcmc ol Mr. Tur
got and Marchamont Ncdham.
294
Latcr Adams would asscrt, im
plausibly, that thc wholc systcm ol thc Frcnch rcvolutionarics was a
scrvilc imitation ol Ncdhams.
295

!n thc ninctccnth ccntury TheExcellencie had no disccrniblc rcputa
tion in Francc, Amcrica, or ngland. Ncdhams lricndship with Milton
did kccp his namc alivc. !n his HistoryoftheCommon.ealth (.aa), thc
rcpublican Villiam Godwin, struck by thc lricndship, considcrcd Ncd
ham too cxtraordinary a man ... not to makc it propcr that wc should
aa. Paul Rahc, FepublicsncientandModern:ClassicalFepublicanismandthe
merican Fe.olution (Chapcl Hill: Univcrsity ol North Carolina Prcss, .a),
p. a.
a. JcanAntoincNicolas dc Caritat, Marquis dc Condorcct, Outlinesofan
Historical!ie.oftheProgressoftheHumanMind (London, .,), p. ac..
a. Adams, Defence, a:., a6, Thompson, Johndams, pp. .ac.
a. Haraszti, Johndams, p. ac.
c
<
!ntroduction
pausc lor a momcnt to cntcr his history, though Godwin, within whosc
radicalism an cightccnthccntury countryparty philosophy livcd on,
296

did wondcr that so austcrc and sublimc a poct should havc choscn as a
closc companion a gurc so unrcprcscntativc ol what Goodwin judgcd
to havc bccn an agc ol principlc in ngland. Likc so many bclorc him,
Godwin was morc drawn to Milton, Ludlow, and Sidncy, mcn, hc
rccallcd, lar bcyond thc imputation ol intcrcstcd vicws.
297
8y God
wins timc, howcvcr, scvcntccnthccntury rcpublicanism, and appcals to
Roman rcpublican cxamplc, had a dcclining prcstigc among radicals,
not lcast bccausc ol a growing rcadincss, as thc !ndustrial Rcvolution
advanccd, to cquatc Roman with aristocratic morality, and ol grow
ing indignation at thc Roman practicc ol slavcry.
298
Among mainstrcam
opinion, \ictorian ccnsoriousncss was no lricndlicr to Ncdham than
Hanovcrian countryparty scntimcnt had bccn. Thosc grcat \ictorian
historians avid Masson and S. R. Gardincr wcrc lcd to Ncdham by
Miltons involvcmcnt in thc production ol MercuriusPoliticus, but Mas
son could not warm to thc dull drollcry, scurrility, and ribaldry ol
thc cditorials,
299
whilc Gardincr lamcntcd not only thc scurrility but
thc wcarisomc monotony ol Ncdhams prosc.
300
!t was lclt to Gar
dincrs disciplc C. H. Firth in .c to rccognizc in Ncdham not only
a6. Vordcn, FoundheadFeputations, s.v. Godwin.
a,. Villiam Godwin, HistoryoftheCommon.ealthofEngland, vols. (Lon
don, .aa), a:a, ., :,. !n . bricl cxccrpts lrom issucs ol Mercurius
Politicus publishcd around thc timc ol livcr Cromwclls dcath wcrc rcprintcd,
without cxplanation, in a curious publication, TheCommon.ealthMercury.
a. Vordcn, FoundheadFeputations, p. a. Thc authority ol Roman history
on nglish political thinking at largc was challcngcd by two othcr dcvclopmcnts:
a condcncc that thc modcrn world, and modcrn ngland, wcrc at lcast as wcll
cquippcd as thc inhabitants ol classical antiquity to discovcr thc rulcs ol political
prudcncc, and a growing cmphasis on thc turbulcncc and instability ol thc classi
cal rcpublics. !bid., p. .6., and scc PoliticalFegister, a Fcbruary .,6, pp. .,.
a. avid Masson, The Life of John Milton, , vols. (London: Macmillan,
.), :.
cc. S. R. Gardincr, HistoryoftheCommon.ealthandProtectorate,zo,,zooc,
vols. (..c, rcpr. Ncw York: AMS, .6), .:a, a:..
!ntroduction
<
ci
a journalist ol grcat ability and vcrsatility but a writcr, in his political
tracts ol .6c6, ol scrious works.
301
Yct no onc lollowcd Firths lcad.
Rcccnt intcrcst in Ncdham ariscs lrom dcvclopmcnts in thc pro
lcssional study ol thc history ol political thought, whosc practitioncrs
havc bccomc rcadicr both to cxtcnd thcir cnquirics bcyond thc morc
lamous writcrs and to rclatc historical idcas to political contcxts such
as that lrom which Ncdhams writings cmcrgcd. Thc rcdiscovcry ol
Ncdham is indcbtcd to Pcrcz Zagorin, who bricy discusscd his politi
cal idcas in .,
302
and to thc cdition ol TheCaseoftheCommon.ealth
produccd by Philip Knachcl in .6. Thc principal stimulus has bccn
thc work ol J. G. A. Pocock, who in ., pointcd to Ncdhams rolc in
thc cmcrgcncc ol nglish rcpublican thinking in thc .6cs, a dcvclop
mcnt that Pocock in turn placcd within a long movcmcnt ol rcpubli
can idcas lrom thc !talian Rcnaissancc to thc Amcrican Rcvolution.
303

vcn whcn wc havc acknowlcdgcd thc shallowncss and slippcrincss
c.. C. H. Firth, TheLastYearsoftheProtectorate, a vols. (London: Longmans,
Grccn, .c), .:.6. Firth sccms to havc bccn thc rst to noticc thc disparitics
bctwccn thc cditorials and thc corrcsponding passagcs ol TheExcellencie, though
hc apparcntly did not cxplorc thcm. Firth c. .,, 8odlcian Library pamphlcts.
ca. Pcrcz Zagorin, History of Political Thought in the English Fe.olution
(London: Routlcdgc and Paul, .), chap. .c.
c. J. G. A. Pocock, TheMachia.ellianMoment:FlorentinePoliticalThought
and the merican Fepublican Tradition (Princcton: Princcton Univcrsity Prcss,
.,), pp. a, c. Ncdhams obscrvations about militias and standing armics,
which wcrc sclcctcd lor covcrt polcmical usc in thc latc scvcntccnth ccntury,
havc attractcd modcrn attcntion too. Pocock was cspccially intcrcstcd in Ncd
hams cspousal ol what Pocock took to bc Machiavcllis idcal ol thc armcd and
militant pcoplc and ol thc .i.ereci.ileepopolare that dcrivcd lrom thc clas
sical idcal ol thc armcd citizcn. Paul Rahc, howcvcr, maintains that Machiavclli
ncvcr contcndcd that armsbcaring should dcpcnd on citizcnship or viccvcrsa
and portrays Ncdham himscll as thc rst modcrn political thcorist to insist, as
|Aristotlc and| thc ancicnts had donc, on that cquation ( gainst Throne and
ltar |Ncw York: Cambridgc Univcrsity Prcss, acc|, pp. ac). Ncdham is a
substantial gurc in Rahcs book. Hc gurcs promincntly too in Jonathan Scott,
Common.ealth Principles: Fepublican !riting of the English Fe.olution (Cam
bridgc, U.K.: Cambridgc Univcrsity Prcss, acc).
that can charactcrizc Ncdhams writing, and cvcn whcn wc havc rcc
ognizcd thc cxaggcrations in thc claims that havc bccn madc lor his
posthumous rcadcrship, hc rcmains a critical gurc in nglish political
thought. His assault on ancicnt constitutionalism, and his advocacy ol
an !talianatc rcpublican altcrnativc to it, opcncd a door through which
Harrington and Sidncy and thcir rcpublican or Vhig succcssors, in
ngland and Amcrica, would pass. !n thc story that lcads lrom Machi
avclli to thc rcvolutionary thinking ol thc latcr cightccnth ccntury, thc
cditorials that Ncdham rcpublishcd in The Excellencie of a Free-State
arc a dccisivc momcnt.
304
cii
<
!ntroduction
o. As this volumc gocs to prcss ! can add that thc utch Patriot movc
mcnt ol thc latc cightccnth ccntury produccd two nativclanguagc vcrsions ol
TheExcellencie. !n thc rst, De!oortreykheid.aneen!ryenStaat (Amstcrdam,
+8), thc portion to bc lound on pp. 86 bclow is rcproduccd, without any
indication ol thc origins or authorship ol thc work. Thc publication was dcdi
catcd to Gcorgc Vashington. Tcn ycars latcr Thophilc Mandars Frcnch trans
lation was convcrtcd into utch as DeOppermagtdes!olks,ofde!oortrefelijkheid
.an eenen !rijen Staat (Amstcrdam, +). T hcrc is now a modcrn cdition ol
Mandar's translation: Marchamont Ncdham, DelaSou.eraineteduPeuple,etde
lExcellenceduntatLibre, cd. Raymondc Monnicr (ComitedesTra.auxHisto-
riques et Scientiques, Paris, :o+o). ! am most gratclul to Rachcl Hammcrslcy,
Vygcr \clcma, and Arthur Vcinstcijn lor thcir hclp in thcsc mattcrs.
ciii
xvbn~: ~xb ni s
ci~ssic~i souvcvs
<
c. nc passagc (pp. a) carrics thc tcndcncy to cxtrcmcs. !n it Ncdham,
dcnying that rcpublican rulc lcads to lcvclling, claims that Spartan and Roman
history show that thc truc Lcvcllcrs arc kings. His manipulation ol cvidcncc at
that point was accountcd wit and burlcsquc by John Adams ( Defence, :6)
and has bccn indcpcndcntly charactcrizcd by a modcrn authority as truly con
tortcd, ncarly comical (ric Nclson, TheGreekTraditioninFepublicanThought
|Cambridgc, U.K.: Cambridgc Univcrsity Prcss, acc|, p. a).
Ncdhams argumcnt procccds by thc invocation and accumulation ol
historical cxamplcs. Hc docs not dcploy or citc thcm in a lastidious
spirit. His historical illustrations, somctimcs cvidcntly takcn lrom
mcmory, arc lrcqucntly charactcrizcd by libcral paraphrasc or loosc
quotation or mislcading abbrcviation. Thc writcrs to whosc authority
hc appcals would havc bccn surpriscd by somc ol thc uscs to which,
through cithcr ovcrcagcrncss or dclibcratc distortion, hc puts thcm.
305

8ccausc ol his habits ol imprccision, thc idcntication ol his sourccs
lor particular statcmcnts can, as Philip Knachcl rcmarkcd in thc prclacc
to his admirablc cdition ol Ncdhams TheCaseoftheCommon.ealthof
England,Stated, bc a di cult and occasionally impossiblc task.
Thc samc habits prccludc condcnt asscssmcnts ol thc cxtcnt ol his
rcading. Hc uscd thc convcntional rangc ol historics by classical writ
crs, but did hc go lurthcr: His litcrary associatc 8ulstrodc Vhitclockc,
civ
<
Ncdham and His Classical Sourccs
in passagcs on Roman history that draw cxtcnsivcly on Ncdhams
writings (p. xlvn,.), cmploycd Rcnaissancc commcntarics by Carolus
Sigonius, Pcdro Mcxia, Johanncs Rosinus, and Jcan 8odin. !t sccms
impossiblc to say whcthcr Ncdham did thc samc. Hc may, but may
not, havc uscd such compcndia as Sir Robcrt allingtons phorismes
Ci.illandMilitarie (London, .6.), which convcnicntly rcproduccd, in
nglish, cxtracts lrom Franccsco Guicciardini. Ncdham was not abovc
appropriating nglish translations ol classical historians, but docs not
sccm to havc bccn gcncrally dcpcndcnt on thcm.
!n most cascs Ncdham turns to historians ol antiquity mcrcly lor
historical cxamplcs to support his own thcsis. Thcrc arc, howcvcr, thrcc
prccmincnt classical writcrs to whom his dcbt gocs lurthcr, and whosc
political philosophics can bc said to inlorm thc cditorials: Aristotlc,
Ciccro, and Livy. ntcrprising as his usc ol thcm is, hc ncvcr quitc in
tcgratcs thc varying pcrspcctivcs with which thcy supply him. To Aris
totlcs Politics hc owcs not only gcncral dcbtsto its historical contcnt
and to accounts ol thc charactcristics and tcndcncics ol thc various
lorms ol govcrnmcntbut insights into thc mcans by which govcrn
mcnts, cspccially ncw oncs, maintain powcr. Hc nds cvidcncc ol thc
importancc ol a public militia ( Politics !\...., p. ) and ol cducating
young pcoplc in thc principlcs ol govcrnmcnt (\., p. a) to thc prcs
crvation ol a lrcc statc. !n thc carlicr part ol TheExcellencie Ncdham
makcs usc ol Ciccros DeOciis to arguc that a lrcc statc is thc lorm
ol govcrnmcnt bcst suitcd to human naturc. Latcr hc turns to thc samc
work to dcmonstratc Ciccros own hostility to tyranny and prclcrcncc
lor a rcpublic.
Ncdhams usc ol Livys bUrbeCondita, which in thc carlicr stagcs ol
TheExcellencie is largcly rcstrictcd to thc dcpiction ol cxcmplary rcpub
lican gurcs, grows much morc cxtcnsivc ncarly hallway through, whcn
it bccomcs thc basis ol Ncdhams analysis ol thc survival ol kingly
powcr in scnatorial or consular hands. Livys own vicws arc subtly,
and somctimcs not so subtly, translormcd. Rclcrcnccs by thc Roman
historian to spccic abuscs ol govcrnmcnt arc prcscntcd as gcncral
condcmnations ol thc systcm ol rulc. His cquivocal prcscntation ol thc
cccmviri (!!!..) is turncd by Ncdham into an uncquivocally hostilc
Ncdham and His Classical Sourccs
<
cv
onc (p. .). A vicw ol kingly powcr ascribcd by Livy to onc ol his char
actcrs (!X...6) is implicitly attributcd to Livy himscll (p. ). To a
largc cxtcnt Ncdhams rcading ol Livy is shapcd by Machiavclli, whosc
inucncc on Ncdham has alrcady bccn dcscribcd. TheExcellencie could
almost bc dcscribcd as discourscs on Machiavcllis DiscoursesonLi.y.
cvii
:nv :vx: ~xb :nv xo:vs
<
c6. ccasionally, indistinct print lcavcs a lcttcr or punctuation mark unccr
tain, and in thcsc cascs ! havc madc an cducatcd gucss as to Ncdhams intcnt.
Thc tcxt rcproduccd in this volumc is that ol .66.
306
Thc spclling
ol thc original is rctaincd (whcrcas in my introduction ! havc mod
crnizcd thc spclling ol quotations, though not ol titlcs ol books).
xccpt in rcproducing propcr namcs ! havc corrcctcd obvious mis
prints, which arc listcd in Appcndix A. ! havc not rcproduccd thc
occasional gaps to bc lound bctwccn paragraphs, somc ol which
sccm to havc bccn inadvcrtcnt. Thc pagc numbcrs in thc tcxt that
arc rcproduccd within squarc brackcts arc thosc ol thc .66 cdi
tion, cxccpt that ! havc supplicd thc pagc numbcrs ol thc prclacc.
! havc silcntly corrcctcd scvcn crrors ol pagc numbcring, though ! havc
lclt thc pagination as it is whcn thc tcxt lcaps lrom p. .6 to p. .. Thc
brackctcd hcadings, lor cxamplc, |MP ,., .6 ct. .6.|, point to thc
corrcsponding issucs ol MercuriusPoliticus.
Vhcrc italicizcd words arc lollowcd in E by punctuation in roman,
thc punctuation is hcrc italicizcd. Also, in paragraphs that lollow
brcaks in thc tcxt, thc indcntation ol thc opcning linc in E has bccn
cviii
<
Thc Tcxt and thc Notcs
climinatcd. Thc lormat ol thc hcadings ol thc scctions or chaptcrs ol
E has bccn standardizcd and modcrnizcd as wcll.
Thc lootnotcs arc cxplanatory. Rclcrcnccs to classical tcxts arc to thc
Locb Classical Library cditions. Thc cndnotcs, which can bc lound in
Appcndix C, rccord dicrcnccs bctwccn The Excellencie and thc cor
rcsponding cditorials ol MercuriusPoliticus.
307

c,. thcr guidcs to Ncdhams rcproduction ol matcrial lrom Politicus may bc
lound in J. Milton Frcnch, Milton, Nccdham, and MercuriusPoliticus , Studiesin
Philology a (.6): a6a, and rncst A. 8cllcr, Milton and MercuriusPoliticus ,
HuntingtonLibraryQuarterly (.a): ,,.
TheExcellencie
ofaFree-State
Thc
XCL LNC!
ov~
FrccStatc:
ov,
ThcRightCoxs:i:u:iox
ov~
Commonwcalth.
wnvvvix
Allbjcctionsarcanswcrcd,and
thcbcstwaytosccurcthcPcoplcs
L!8RT!S,discovcrcd:
wi:n
SomeErrorsofGo.ernment,
~xb
FulesofPolicie.
Publishedbya!ell-.ishertoPosterity.
LNN, PrintcdlorThomasBre.ster,atthcthrcc
8iblcsnccrthcVcstcndol Pauls..66.

TothcRcadcr .

JamcsHowcll,SomSoberInspectionsmadeintotheCariageandConsultsofthe
late-LongParliament(London,.6).Thcpassagcsolthcbookcitcdorquotcdin
Ncdhamsprclaccarconpp..ac,aa,.,a.
Takingnoticeoflate.ith.hatimpudence,and(themoreisthepity)con-
dence,theEnemiesofthisCommon.ealthintheirpublick!ritingsand
Discourseslabourtounderminethedear-boughtLibertiesandFreedomsof
thePeople,intheirdeclaredInterestofaFree-State;Ithoughtithightime,
bycounter-.orkingthem,tocrushtheCockatriceintheEgg,thatsoitmight
ne.ergro.tobeaBirdofprey:inorderthereto,Iha.epublishedthisfollo.-
ingDiscoursetothe!orld;thatsotheEyesofthePeoplebeingopened,they
maysee.hetherthosehighandrantingDiscoursesofpersonalPrerogati.e
andunboundedMonarchy,(especiallyOnelatelypublishedbyMr.Howcl,

thatstrutsabroad.ithabra.enFace)oradueand|ii|orderlysuccessionof
theSupremeuthorityinthehandsofthePeoplesFepresentati.es,.illbest
securetheLibertiesandFreedomsofthePeoplefromtheIncroachmentsand
UsurpationsofTyranny,andans.erthetrueEndsofthelate!ars.
ThisTreatiseisnotintendedforaparticularns.ertoMr.Howclssaid
Book,butyetmayob.iatethatpartthereof.hichhecalls,SomcRccxcs
upon Govcrnmcnt: for his main design is not so much, (though that be
part)toaspersethelongParliament,(andsothroughtheirsidesto.ound
Inspections.
6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
all their Friends and dherents) as to lay a Foundation for absoluteTyr-
anny,uponanunboundedMonarchy:andinorderthereunto,head.iseshis
HighnesstolayasideParliaments,(oratbest,tomakethemCyphers)andto
go.erntheNation\i&Armis:notoutofanyHonourorrespecthebears
tohisPerson,buttobringthcold!ntcrcstandFamilyintomorccrcdit
andcstccmwiththcPcoplc.
HisPrinciplesandPrecedents,theyarepurelyhiso.n:forIamcondent,
thatthemostconsideratepartofthosethatdidengageforthelateKing,are
so far from |iii| o.ning his Tenets, that they .ould rather lay aside the
FamilyandInterestoftheStuarts ,anddeclareforaFree-State,thanindure
tobeyokedandensla.edbysuchanabsoluteTyrannyashepleadsfor.My
reasonisthis:becausemostoftheNobilityandGentryofthisNationha.e
fairEstatesoftheiro.n,free,.ithoutanydependenceupontheCro.n;and
they.ouldbeasun.illingtorenderuptheirEstatesandPosteritiesinthe
pa.oftheLion,astheCommonersthemsel.es.
HisPrecedentsareasfalseashisPrinciplesarebad:forproofhereof,take
one(andthatamainone)forall:hesaith,ThatuntilthcRcignolHenry
thcrst,thcCommonsol EnglandwcrcnotcallcdtothcParliamcntat
all,orhadsomuchasaConscntinthcmakingolLaws.
To pro.e that this is false, there is extant an old Latine Copy speaking
ofaParliamentintheFeignofKingthclrcd,.hichtellethus,thatinit
.ere Univcrsi nglorum ptimatcs Ethelredi Rcgis dicto: & convo
cata Plcbis multitudinc collcctac Rcgis dicto: !rit of Summons for
all the Lords, and for choice |iv| of the Commons: a full and clear Parlia-
ment.Myuthorsaith,ThcproolsolParliamcnts,in Canutestimc,arc
so many, and so lull, that thcy tirc us altogcthcr. His remarkable Let-
ter from Romc, recorded by the Monk of Malmsbury, runs thus:To thc
Arch8ishops, 8ishops, .c. Primatibus & toti Gcnti nglorum, tam
Nobilibus,quamPlcbcis.Hovcdcn isfullinthisalso;Cujus( Edmundi)
postmortcm,Rcx Canutusomncspiscopos,uccs,nccnon&Princi
pcs,cunctosqucptimatcsGcntis ngliae,Lundoniaecongrcgrarijussit.
clearsummonsofParliament:andthe.erynameofParliamentisfound
(saith my uthor) in his time, in the old Book of dmunds8ury. Rcx
Canutus, Anno Rcgni . cunctos Rcgni sui Praclatos, Proccrcsquc, ac
Magnatcs, ad suum convocans Parliamcntum. nd that it .as a full
Parliament,.emaybelie.efromthepersons.endethere,attheCharter
Howel saith
William the
Conqueror
rst brought
the word
Parlament.
TothcRcadcr
<
,
to that Monastery; conrmed by Hardicanutc, but granted by Canutc, in
suoPublicoParliamcnto,pracsistcntibuspcrsonalitcrincodcmArchi
piscopis,piscopis,Suragancis,ucibus,Comi|v|tibus,Abbatibus,
cumquamplurimisgrcgariisMilitibus( Knightsofshiresitseems)&cum
Populimultitudinccopiosa( otherCommonsalso)mnibustumcodcm
Parliamcnto pcrsonalitcr cxistcntibus. dward the Confessor refers the
repairingofVcstminstcrtotheParliament:atlength,cumtotiusRcgni
lcctionc,( theyarehiso.n.ords)hesetsuponthedecayedMinstcr.
Buttheythat.ouldkno.moreoftheCustomsandConstitutionsofthis
Nation,letthemrepairtothoselarge!olumes,thataresofrequentinprint
uponthatSubject;especiallythatexcellentPiece,ThcRightsolthcKing
dom. Thismaysucetopro.ethattheCommons.erecalledtoParlia-
mentlongbeforeHcnrytherst.
I belie.e none .ill be oended .ith this follo.ing Discourse, but those
that are Enemies to publick .elfare: let such be oended still: it is not for
theirsakesthatIpublishthisensuingTreatise;butforyoursakes,thatha.e
been noble Patriots, fello.-Souldiers; and Suerers for the Liberties and
FreedomsofyourCountry,thatPosterityinafter-agesmayha.esomething
tosayandshe.to(ifGodshallpermitany)|vi| succeedingTyrants,.here-
foretheirFatherssacricedtheirli.es,andallthat.asdeartothem:It.as
nottodestroyMagistracy,buttoregulateit;nortoconfoundPropriety,but
toinlargeit:thatthePrinceas.ellasthePeoplemightbego.ernedbyLa.;
thatJusticemightbeimpartiallydistributed.ithoutrespectofpersons;that
nglandmightbecomeaquietHabitationfortheLionandtheLambtolie
do.nandfeedtogether;and,thatnonemightmakethepeopleafraid:it.as
forthesethingstheyfoughtanddied;andthatnotaspri.atepersonsnei-
ther,butbythepublickcommandandconductoftheSupremePo.erofthe
Nation, viz. the peoples Fepresentati.es in Parliament: and nothing .ill
satiseforalltheBloodandTreasurethathathbeenspiltandspent,make
nglandagloriousCommon.ealth,andstopthemouthsofallgainsayers;
butadueandorderlysuccessionoftheSupremeuthorityinthehandsofthe
PeoplesFepresentati.es.
Mr. Howel
would have
his Highness
lay a Sesment
for the
repairing of
Pauls without
consent of
Parliament.

JohnSadlcr,FightsoftheKingdom(London,.6).

St. Pauls Cathcdral, which had bccn rcstorcd undcr Charlcs !, had lallcn
intoscriousdisrcpairundcrPuritanrulc.

An!ntroductiontothc
Followingiscoursc.

Ciccro,DeOciis,!...
|MP,.,.6ct..6.|

1
VhcnthcScnatorsol Fome,inthcirpublikcccrccsandrations,
bcgantocomplywithandcourtthcPcoplc,callingthcmLordsofthe
.orld;howcasicamattcrwasitthcnlor Gracchustopcrswadcthcmto
unLordthcScnatc:!nlikcmanncr,whcn thenswasquittcdolKings,
thcPowcrwasnosooncrdcclarcdtobcinthcPcoplc,butimmcdiatcly
thcytookit,andmadc|a|surcolitinthcirownhands,bythcadvicc
olSolon,thatcxccllcntLawgivcr:lor,as Cicerosaith,Thcrcisanatural
dcsircolPowcrandSovcrcigntyincvcryman:sothatilanyhavconcc
anopportunitytoscizc,thcyscldomncglcctit,andilthcyarctolditis
thcirduc,thcyvcnturclilcandalltoattainit.

!l a Pcoplc oncc conccivc thcy ought to bc lrcc, this conccption is

immcdiatclyputinpracticc,andthcylrccthcmsclvcs.Thcirrstcarcis
toscc,thatthcirLaws,thcirRights,thcircputics,thcirccrs,and
allthcircpcndcnts,bcsctlcdinastatcollrccdom.Thisbccomslikc
thcApplcolthccyc,thclcastgrain,atomc,ortouch,willgricvcit:itis
ancspouscdvirgin,thcyarccxtrcmcjcalousovcrit.
!ntroductiontoFollowingiscoursc
<

Thus strangcly acctcd wcrc thc Roman pcoplc, that il any onc
among thcm (though nccr so dcscrving) wcrc lound to aspirc, thcy
prcscntlylctchdhimdown,asthcydidthcgallantMaeliusandMan-
lius;yca,thcir
2
jcalousicwassogrcat,thatthcyobscrv||cdcvcrymans
looks, his vcry nods, his garb, and his gait, whcthcr hc walkcd, con
vcrscd, and livcd as a lricnd ol Frccdom among his ncighbours.Thc
supcrcilious cyc, thc lolty brow, and thc grand paw wcrc accountcd
Monstcrs, and no Charactcr
3
ol Frccdom, so that it was thc spccial
carcolthcwiscrPatriots,tokccpthcmsclvcsinadcmurcandhumblc
posturc,lorthcavoidingolsuspicion.Hcnccitwas,thatCollatinus,onc
ol thcir Frccdoms Foundcrs, and ol thc rst Consuls, living in somc
morcStatcthanordinary,andkccpingattoogrcatadistancclromthc
pcoplc,soontaughtthcmtolorgcthislormcrmcrits:insomuch,that
thcynotonclyturncdhimoutolhisConsulship,butquitcoutolthc
City into 8anishmcnt. 8ut his Collcaguc Brutus, and that wisc Man
!aleriusPublicola,bytakingacontrarycoursc,prcscrvcdthcmsclvcsand
thcirrcputation.For,thconcsacriccdhisChildrcn,thosclivingMon
umcntsolhisHousc,tomakcthcvulgaramcndsloraninju||ry:thc
othcrcourtcdthcmwiththcTitlcolMajcsty,laidthcFasccs,thcn
signsolAuthorityatthcirFcct,xtallappcalsatthcirTribunals,and
lcvcllcdthcloltyVallsolhisownstatclyHousc,lorlcarthcyshould
mistakcitloraCastlc.ThusalsodidMeneniusgrippa,Camillus,and
othcrcmincntMcninthatpopularStatc:sothatbythcsc
4
mcansthcy
madcthcmsclvcsthcarlingsolthcpcoplc,whilstmanyothcrsola
morcGrandcchumor,soonlostthcir!ntcrcstandRcputation.
Thusyouscc,that
5
whcnaPcoplcsRightisonccdcclarcdtothcm,
itisalmostimpossiblctokccpit,ortakcitlromthcm.

6
!tispity,thatthcpcoplcol England,bcingbornaslrccasanypcoplc
inthcVorld,shouldbcolsuchasupplchumorandinclination,tobow
undcr thc ignoblc prcssurcs ol an ArbitraryTyranny, and so unapt to
lcarnwhattrucFrccdomis.!tisanincstimablcJcwcl,olmorcworththan
yourstatcs,oryourLivcs:itconsistsnotinaLiccnsctodowhat||you
list,butinthcsclcwparticulars:First,inhavingwholcsomcLawssutcd
tocvcryMansstatcandcondition.Sccondly,inaducandcasiccoursc
oladministration,astoLawandJusticc,thatthcRcmcdicsolvilmay
.c
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
bc chcap and spccdy.Thirdly, in a powcr ol altcring Govcrnmcnt and
Govcrnoursuponoccasion.Fourthly,inanunintcrruptcdcourscolsuc
ccssivcParliamcnts,orAsscmblicsolthcPcoplc.Filthly,inalrcclcc
tionolMcmbcrstositincvcryParliamcnt,whcnRulcsollcctionarc
oncccstablishcd.8ycnjoyingthcsconcly,apcoplcarcsaidtocnjoythcir
Rights,andtobctruclystatcdinaconditionolsalctyandFrccdom.
|MP,,acct..6.|
NowilLibcrtyisthcmostprcciousJcwclundcrthcSun,thcnwhcn
7

itisonccinposscssion,itrcquircsmorcthananordinaryartandin
dustrytoprcscrvcit.8utthcgrcatqucstionis,Vhichisthcsalcstway:
whcthcrbycommittingolitintothchandsolastandingPowcr,orby
placingthcGuardianshipinthc|6|handsolthcPcoplc,inaconstant
succcssion ol thcir suprcmc Asscmblys. Thc bcst way to dctcrminc
this,isbyobscrvationoutolRomanc
8
Storics,whcrcbyitplainlyap
pcars,thatpcoplcncvcrhadanyrcalLibcrty,tillthcywcrcposscssdol
thc powcr ol calling and dissolving thc Suprcmc Asscmblics, chang
ingGovcrnmcnts,cnactingandrcpcalingLaws,togcthcrwithapowcr
olchusinganddcputingwhomthcyplcascdtothiswork,asoltcnas
thcy should judgc cxpcdicnt, lor thcir own wcllbcing, and thc good
olthcPublikc.ThispowcrissaidtobcthcrstbornolthatPcoplcs
Frccdom: and many a shrcwd t, many a pang and throw thc Com
monwcalthhad,bclorcitcouldbcbroughtlorthinthcworld:which
(Gracchus told thcm) was a sorc aiction lrom thc gods, that thcy
shouldsucrsomuchlorthcignoranccorncgligcnccolthcirAnccs
tors,whowhcnthcydravcoutKings,lorgattodrivcoutthcMystcrics
and inconvcnicnccs ol Kingly powcr, which wcrc all rcscrvcd within
thc|,|hands
9
olthcScnatc.8ythismcansthcpoorpcoplcmissingthc
rstopportunityolsctlingthcirlrccdom,soonlostitagain:thcy
10
wcrc
toldthcywcrcaFrccstatc,andwhy:bccausc(lorsooth)thcyhadno
King,thcyhadatlcngthncvcra Tarquintotroublcthcm:butwhatwas
thattothcpurposc,aslongasthcyhada Caius,andanppiusClaudius,
Plutarch,LifeofTiberiusGracchus,X\.6.
!ntroductiontoFollowingiscoursc
<
..
andthcrcstolthatgang,whoinlcctcdthcScnatorswitha
11
humour
olKingingitlromgcncrationtogcncration:Alas,whcnthc Fomans
wcrcatthispass,thcywcrcjustsuchanothcrFrccstatcaswasthatol
Sparta,inthcdaysolyorc,whcrcthcyhadaScnatctoo,topulldown
thc pridc ol Kings, but thc pcoplc wcrc lclt dcstitutc ol powcr and
mcanstopulldownthcpridcolthcScnatc,bywhichmcansindccd
thcy
12
bccamclrcctodowhatthcylist,whilstthcpcoplcwcrcconncd
within straitcr bounds
13
than cvcr. Such anothcr Frccstatc in thcsc
daicsisthatol !enice,whcrcthcpcoplcarclrcclromthcominionol
thcirPrincc||orukc,butlittlcbcttcrthanslavcs
14
undcrthcpowcr
olthcirScnatc:butnowinthcCommonwcalthol thensthccascwas
larothcrwisc,whcrcitwasthccarcolSolon,thatlamousLawgivcr,
toplaccboththccxcrcisc&intcrcstolSuprcmacyinthchandsolthc
pcoplc, so that nothing ol a publick intcrcst
15
could bc imposcd, but
whatpasscdcurrantbyvcrtucolthcirconscntandAuthority:hcinsti
tutcdthatlamousCouncil
16
callcdthcreopagus,lorthcmanagingol
Statctransactions:butlcltthcpowcrolLcgislation,orlawmaking,in
asucccssivccourscolthcpcoplcsAsscmblics,sothatavoidingKingly
Tyrannyonthconcsidc,andScnaticalincroachmcntsonthcothcr,hc
iscclcbratcdbyallPostcrity,asthcmanthathathlcltthconclyPatcrn
olaFrccstatctlorallthcworldtolollow.
|MP,a,.6act..6.|
!tisalsotobcobscrvcd,whcn
17
Kingswcrcdrivcnoutol Fome,though
thcy wcrc dcclarcd and callcd a Frccstatc, yct it was a long timc crc
thcy could bc lrcc indccd, in || rcgard
18
Brutus chcatcd thcm with
a mccr shadow and prctcncc ol libcrty: hc had indccd an Ambition
high cnough, and opportunity lair cnough to havc scizcd thc Crown
intohisownhands,butthcrcwcrcmanyconsidcrationsthatdctcrrd
himlromit,lorhcwcllpcrccivcdhowodiousthcnamcolKingwas
grown: 8csidcs, had hc sought to !nthronc himscll, mcn would havc
judgcditwasnotlovctohisCountrymadchimtakcupArms
19
,but
dcsircolominion,norcouldhclorgct,thatscrcnc
20
privacyistobc
prclcrrd bclorc Ha.ardous Royalty: For what hopc could hc havc to
.a
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
kccp thc Scat long, who by his own cxamplc had taught thc pcoplc
both thcThcory and practicc ol opposingTyranny: !t was ncccssary
thcrclorc that hc should think ol somc othcr coursc morc plausiblc,
whcrcbytoworkchisowncnds,andyctprcscrvcthclovcolthcpcoplc,
whonothavingbccnuscdtolibcrty,didvcrylittlcundcrstandit,and
thcrclorcwcrcthcmorccasilyguldout|.c|olthcsubstancc,andmadc
contcntwiththcshadow.
Forthccarryingonthiscsign,allthcprojcctingGrandccsjoyncd
patcs togcthcr, whcrcin, as onc obscrvcs, Fegnum quidem nomen, sed
nonFegiapotestasFomfuitexpulsa:ThoughthcNamcolKingwcrc
cxplodcdwithalacrity,yctthcKinglypowcrwasrctaincdwithallArt
andsubtilty,andsharcdundcranothcrnotionamongthcmsclvcs,who
wcrcthcgrcatoncsolthcCity.ForallAuthoritywasconndwithin
thcwallsolastandingScnatc,outolwhich,twoConsulswcrcchoscn
yccrly,&sobyturnsthcydubdoncanothcrwithancwkindcolRc
gality:thcpcoplcbcingnogaincrsatallbythisaltcrationolGovcrn
mcnt,savconcly,that(likcAsscs)thcywcrcsadlcdwithncwPanicrs
olSlavcry.
8utwhatlollowcd:ThcScnatchavinggotallpowcrintothcirown
hands,inashorttimcdcgcncratcdlromthcirrst\irtucand!nstitu
tion, to thc practicc
21
ol Avaricc, |..| Riot, and Luxury, whcrcby thc
lovcolthcirCountrywaschangcdintoaStudyolAmbitionandFac
tion:sothatthcylcllintodivisionsamongthcmsclvcs,aswcllasop
prcssionsovcrthcpcoplc,bywhichdivisions,somclcadingGrandccs,
morcpotcntthanthcirFcllows,tookoccasiontowipcthcirNoscs,and
toassumcthcPowcrintothcirownhands,tothcnumbcroltcnpcr
sons.ThisFormolGovcrnmcntwasknownbythcNamcolthcDe-
cem.irate;whcrcinthcscncwUsurpcrs,joyningForccstogcthcr,madc
thcmsclvcsrichwiththcspoilcsolthcpcoplc,notcaringbywhatun
lawlulmcansthcypurchascdcithcrProtorPlcasurc,tillthatgrowing
cvcrydaymorcinsupportablc,thcywcrcinthccndbylorcccashicrcd
olthcirTyranny.
8utwhatthcn:Thcpcoplcbcingcshdwiththis\ictory,andcall
ing to mindc how gallantly thcir Anccstors had in likc manncr ban
ishcdKings,bcganatlasttoknowthcirownstrcngth,andstomackd
How the
Romans
obtained their
Rights and
Priviledges
!ntroductiontoFollowingiscoursc
<
.
it cx|.a|cccdingly, that thcmsclvcs, on whosc shouldcrs thc lramc
ol Statc was supportcd, (and lor whosc sakcs all Statcs arc loundcd)
shouldbcsomuchvassalizcdatthcwillolothcrs,thatthcywhowcrc
Lordsabroad,shouldbcSlavcsathomc:sothatthcyrcsolvcdtobcrid
dcnnolongcrundcrlairshcwsolLibcrty.ThcyraiscdaTumultundcr
thcconductolthcirTribunc Canuteius
22
,norcouldthcybyanypcrswa
sion
23
bc induccd to lay down Arms, till thcy wcrc put in posscssion
ol thcir Rights and Privilcdgcs.Thcy wcrc madc capablc ol ccs
ol thc Govcrnmcnt,
24
cvcn to thc ictatorship, had ccrs ol thcir
own, callcdTribuncs, who wcrc hcld sacrcd and inviolablc, as Protec-
tors

olthcCommons,andrctaincdapowcrolmcctingandactingwith
allFrccdominthcirgrcatAsscmblics.Now,andncvcrtillnow,could
thcy bc callcd a Frcc Statc, and Commonwcalth, though long bclorc
dcclarcd so: lor thc way bcing opcn to all without cxccption, vcrtuc,
lcarning,andgoodPartsmadcasspccdy|.|aLaddcrtoclimbcunto
Honours,asNobilityol8irth,andaGoodManasmuchrcspcctcdasa
Grcat,whichwasararclclicityolthcTimcs,nottobccxpcctcdagain,
butuponthcdawningolanothcrgoldcnAgc.
Thc main bscrvation thcn arising out ol this iscoursc, is this:
ThatnotonclythcNamcolKing,butthcThingKing(whcthcrinthc
handsoloncorolmany)waspluckduprootandbranch,bclorccvcr
thc Romans could attain to a lull stablishmcnt in thcir Rights and
Frccdoms.
|MP,c,act..6.|
Nowwhcn Fomewasthusdcclarcd
25
AFrccStatc,thcncxtworkwas
tocstablishthcirFrccdominsomcsurc&ccrtainway:&inordcrto
this,thcrstbusincssthcypitchdupon,was,notonclytoingagcthc
pcoplcbyanathagainstthcrcturnolTarquinsFamilytothcKing
dom,butalsoagainstthcadmissionolanysuchccrasaKing,lor
cvcr,bccauscthoscbravcmcn,whogloricdthcmsclvcsinlayingthc
Goodness
preferred
before
Greatness.
What they
did to
preserve
their
Freedom.
Livy,bUrbeCondita,!\..6.

ThiswordisnotitalicizcdinPoliticus.
.
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
loundationolaCommonwcalth,wcllkncw,thatin|.|ashortRcvo
lution, othcrs ol a lcss publick Spirit would arisc in thcir placcs, and
gapc again altcr a Kingdom. And thcrclorc it was thc spccial
26
carc
ol thosc worthy Patriots, to imprint such Principlcs in mcns mindcs,
as might actuatc thcm with an irrcconcilablc cnmity to thc lormcr
Powcr: insomuch, that thc vcry Namc ol King bccamc odious to thc
Roman Pcoplc, yca, and thcy wcrc so zcalous hcrcin, that in proccss
ol timc, whcn Caesar took occasion by Civil iscords to assumc thc
SovcraigntyintohissinglcHands,hcdurstnotcntcrtainitundcrthc
latal
27
NamcolKing,butclothcdhimscllwiththcmorcplausiblcstilc
olmpcror
28
,whichncvcrthclcsscouldnotsccurchimlromthc
29
latal
stabthatwasgivcnhimby Brutusinrcvcngc,onthcbchallolthcpco
plc.urNcighboursol Hollandtraccdthiscxamplcatthchccls,whcn
upon rccovcry ol thcir Frccdom lrom Spain, thcy bindc
30
thcmsclvcs
byanathtoabjurcthcGovcrnmcnt,notonclyolKingPhilip,butol
allKingslorcvcr.
|.|Kingsbcingcashicrcdoutol Fome,thcnthcRightolLibcrty,
togcthcr with thc Govcrnmcnt, was rctaincd within thc hands and
boundsolthcPatricianorScnatorianrdcrolNobility,thcpcoplc
notbcingadmittcdintoanysharc,tillpartlybyMutinics,andpartly
by !mportunitics
31
, thcy compclld thc Scnatc to grant thcm an !n
tcrcst in ccs ol Statc, and in thc Lcgislativc Powcr, which wcrc
circumscribcdbclorcwithinthcboundsolthcScnatc.Hcnccarosc
thoscccrscallcdTribuncs,andthoscConvcntionscallcdAsscm
blicsolthcPcoplc,whichwcrcas8ridlcstorcstrainthcPowcrand
Ambition ol thc Scnatc, or Nobility. 8clorc thc crcction ol thosc,
whilstallwasinthchandsolthcScnatc,thcNationwasaccountcd
Frcc,bccauscnotsubjcctcdtothcwillolanysinglcpcrson:8utal
tcrwards thcy wcrc Frcc indccd, whcn no Laws could bc imposcd
uponthcm,withoutaconscntrsthadinthcPcoplcsAsscmblics:so
Oaths in those
days were not
like an old
Almanack.
No Laws
imposed,
but with
the Peoples
Consent
in their
Assemblies.
NcdhamsncwsbookhadwarmlysupportcdthcRumpsdivisivcdccisionol
.6ctoimposconalladultmalcsanngagcmcnt,whichrcad:!dodcclarc
andpromisc,that!willbctrucandlaithlultothcCommonwcaltholngland,
asitisnowcstablishcd,withoutaKingorHouscolLords.LP,pp.,..
!ntroductiontoFollowingiscoursc
<
.
that thc Govcrnmcnt in thc cnd |.6| camc to bc sctlcd in an cqual
mixturcolboth!ntcrcsts,PatricianandPopular,undcrwhichForm,
thcyattaincdtothchcightolallthcirGloryandGrcatncss.!nthis
FormolFrccStatc,wcnowsccthc\cnctian,whcrcthcPatricianis
prcdominant,andthcPcoplcalittlctoomuchkcptundcr.Thcsamc
FormisimbraccdalsobyourNcighboursthcUnitcdProvinccs,but
thcbcstpartolthcir!ntcrcstlicsdcpositcdinthchandsolthcpcoplc.
Fomekcptupthcir
32
ScnatcasthcirstandingCounccl,lorthcman
aging ol Statcaairs, which rcquirc Visdom and xpcricncc: but
aslormakingolLaws,andthcmainActsolSuprcmacy,thcywcrc
rcscrvd to thc Grand Asscmblics, so that thc Pcoplc
33
gavc Rulcs
whcrcbytogovcrn,andthcsccrctsolGovcrnmcntwcrcintrustcdin
thchandsolthcScnatc.AndthisCommonwcalthcvcr
34
thrivdbcst,
whcn thc Pcoplc had most Powcr, and uscd most Modcration: and
thoughthcymadcuscolitnowandthcntoyoutintocx|.,|trava
gantcourscs,yctthcywcrcnolastingts,likcthoscdistcmpcrsthat
brakcoutthroughthcAmbitionolthcScnators.8csidcs,wccannot
buttakcnoticc,aslongasthcPopular!ntcrcstcontinucdrcgular,and
morcprcdominantthanthcothcr,solongthcPcoplcwcrcsccurcol
thcirLibcrtics:whichcnjoymcnt,wasagoodAllayandRccompcncc,
lormanyharshinconvcnicnccsthatbrakcoutwhcnthcywcrcunruly
and irrcgular
35
: Vhcrcas, whcn thc Scnatc altcrwards wormd thc
PcoplcoutolPowcr,asthatdcsignwcntonbydcgrccs,soFomelost
hcrLibcrty,thcScnatcdominccringovcrthcPcoplc,andparticular
Factions ovcr thc Scnatc, till thosc Factions tcaring onc anothcr to
picccs, at lcngth hc that was hcad ol thc paramount surviving Fac
tion,bynamc Caesar,tookoccasiontousurpovcrall,swallowingup
thc Rights and Libcrtics ol thc Romans, in thc Gulph ol a singlc
Tyranny.
|MP6,.aScp..6.|
!twas
36
aNoblcsaying,(though Machia.el s)Nothethatplacetha.er-
tuous Go.ernment in his o.n hands, or family; but he that establisheth a
free and lasting |.| Form, for the Peoples constant security, is most to be
The Romans
lose their
Rights and
Liberties.
.6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
commended.Vhosocvcrhaththisoportunity,mayimprovchisactions
toagrcatcrhcightolglory,thancvcrlollowcdthclamcolanyambi
tious!dolthathathgraspdaMonarchy:lor,as Catosaithin Plutarch,
E.enthegreatestKings,orTyrants,arefarinferiourtothosethatareemi-
nentinFree-StatesandCommon.ealths:NorwcrcthoscmightyMon
archsolold,tobccomparcdwith Epimanondas
37
,Pericles,Themistocles,
Marcus Curius, milcar, Fabius, and Scipio, and othcr cxccllcnt Cap
tainsinFrccStatcs,whichpurchascdthcmsclvcsalamc,indclcnccol
thcirLibcrtics.

AndthoughthcvcrynamcolLibcrtywas
38
loratimc
grown odious, or ridiculous among us, having bccn
39
long a strangcr
in thcsc and othcr parts, yct in Ancicnt timc, Nations wcrc wont to
rcckonthcmsclvcssomuchthcmorcNoblc,asthcywcrclrcclromthc
Rcgalyokc:whichwasthccauscwhythcnthcrcwcrcsomanyFrcc
Statcsinallpartsolthcworld.
40

NorisitonclyamccrGallantryolspiritthatcxcitcsmcntothclovc
ol|.|Frccdom,butcxpcricnccassurcsittobcthcmostcommodious
andprotablcwayolGovcrnmcnt,conducingcvcrywaytothccnlarg
ing a pcoplc
41
in Vcalth and ominion. It is incredible to be spoken,
(saith Salust) ho. exceedingly the Fomane Common.ealth increased in
ashorttime,aftertheyhadobtainedLiberty.And Guicciardine
42
arms,
ThatFree-StatesmustneedsbemorepleasingtoGodthananyotherForm,
because in them more regard is to be had to the common good, more care
for the impartial distribution of Justice, and the mindes of men are more
enamed thereby to the lo.e of Glory and !ertue, and become much more
.ealousinthelo.eofFeligion,thaninanyotherGo.ernment.hatsoe.er.

!tiswondcrlultoconsidcr,howmightilythcAthcnianswcrcaug
mcntcdinalcwycars,bothinVcalthandPowcr,altcrthcyhadlrccd
thcmsclvcslromthcTyrannyol Pistratus
43
:butthcRomansarrivcdto
suchahcight,aswasbcyondallimaginationaltcrthccxpulsionolthcir
The Romans
ourished
most when
they were a
Free-State.
Machiavclli, Discourses, !... (cl. Knachcl, p. ..). Ncdham uscs dward
acrcsstranslation,whichwaspublishcdin.66asMachia.el sDiscoursesupon
theFirstDecadeofT.Li.ius.

Plutarch,LifeofMarcusCatotheElder,\!!!.,.

Sallust, Bellum Catilinae, \!!., Franccsco Guicciardini, Historiarum sui

Temporis(8ascl,.66),X.a,Knachcl,pp...6.,.
!ntroductiontoFollowingiscoursc
<
.,
Kings,andKinglyGovcrnmcnt.Nor
44
dothcscthingshappcnwithout
spccialrcason,itbcingusual
45
|ac|inFrccStatcstobcmorctcndcrol
thc Publick in all thcir ccrccs, than ol particular !ntcrcsts: whcrcas
thccascisothcrwiscinaMonarchy,bccauscinthisFormthcPrinccs
plcasurcwcighs
46
downallConsidcrationsolthcCommongood.And
hcnccitis,thataNationhathnosooncrlostitsLibcrty,andstoopd
undcrthcyokcolasinglcTyrant,butitimmcdiatclyloscthitslormcr
lustrc, thc 8ody lls with ill humors, and may swcll in Titlcs,
47
but
cannotthrivccithcrinPowcrorRichcs,accordingtothatproportion
whichitlormcrlycnjoycd,bccauscallncwAcquisitionsarcappropri
atcd as thc Princcs pcculiar, and in no wisc conducc to thc casc and
bcnctolthcPublick.
|MP,,.acFcb..6.|
!twasthcpridcolFichardNe.ilthcgrcatarlol!ar.ick,andhc
rcckoncditthcgrcatcstolcarthlyglorics,tobccallcd,(asindccdhc
was)aKingmakcr,inthathcmadcandunmadcKingsathisplca
surc
48
: lor wc rcad in our Chroniclcs, how that hc rst pulld down
thc Housc ol Lancaster, and brought King Henry thc sixth lrom a
CrowntoaPrison,scttingupthcTitlc|a.|olthcHouscol York,in
thcpcrsonolKing Ed.ardthclourth:altcrwards,hcdcposcd
49
this
Ed.ard,dravchimoutolEngland,andrcstorcdthcsamcHenryto
thc Crown, whom hc had bclorc dcprcssd. 8ut thc grcat Qucry is,
Vhcrclorc,andhowthiswasdonc:ncwouldhavcthought,thcrc
had bccn no hopc ol rcconciliation bctwixt him and thc Housc ol
Lancaster,havingsohighlydisobligcdthcm,incastingdownandim
prisoning thc pcrson ol Henry. 8ut yct it is vcry obscrvablc ol this
man, !ar.ick, bcing
50
on a suddcn discontcntcd with thc changc
that
51
hchadmadc,bccauschcmisscdolthosccndswhichhcaimcd
at,inbringingitabout,andpcrccivcdothcrpcrsons(whomhccon
ccivcdhisinlcriours),topartakcolthcintcrcstandlavourolEd.ard;
thcrclorc, out ol an cmulous impaticncc ol Spirit, hc prcscntly cast
abouttoundoallthatbclorchchaddonc,hcsupprcstthcncwGov
crnmcnt,toadvancc
52
thcold.
.
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
FromwhichpicccolStory,wcmayvcrywcllconcludc,
53
howunsalc
itisinancwaltcration,totrustanymanwith|aa|toogrcatasharcol
Govcrnmcnt,orplaccolTrust,lorsuch
54
pcrsonsstandcvcrrcady(likc
that!ar.ick)uponanyoccasionoldiscontcnt,orolscrvingthcirown
!ntcrcsts, to bctray and altcr thc Govcrnmcnt, cspccially il thcy havc
!ar.icksmainGuard,thatis,ilthcycan(ashcdid)bringthcPrincc
whomthcylormcrlydisobligcd,tocomcinuponthcirowntcrms,and
upon such conditions as may bridlc him, and sccurc thc Powcr so in
thcirownHands,thatwhilsthcKingitonclyinTitlc,thcmsclvcsmay
bcKingsdefacto,andlcavcthciroldFricndsinthclurch,oryccldthcm
up at Mcrcy, (as !ar.ick did) to gratic thcTyrant
55
, and thcir own
Tyrannicalambition.
How much thcrclorc doth it conccrn cvcry Commonwcalth
56
, in
suchacasc,tosccandbcwarc,that !ar.icksGhostbcnotconjurdup
again,toactaPartinsomcncwTragcdic!
Thccarlstragcdicisrclatcd,anditsvividncssurgcdonthcrcadcr,inthc
sixtccnthccnturycompilation,whichrctaincditslamcinthcscvcntccnth,The
MirrorforMagistrates.Lily8.Campbcll,cd.,TheMirrorforMagistrates(Cam
bridgc,U.K.:CambridgcUnivcrsityPrcss,.),pp.ac.
.
ThcRightConstitutionola
Commonwcalth.

|a|
|MP,,,aca,Nov..6.|
ThcRomanshavingjustlyandnoblylrccdthcmsclvcslromthcTyr
anny ol Kings, and bcing in timc brought to undcrstand that thc
intcrcst ol Frccdom consists in a duc and ordcrly Succcssion ol thc
Suprcmc Asscmblics, thcy thcn madc it thcir carc, by all good ways
and mcans, to lortic thc Commonwcalth, and cstablish it in a lrcc
cnjoymcntolthat!ntcrcst,asthconclybartothcrcturnolKings,and
thcir main sccurity against thc subtil mining ol Kingly humours and
usurpations. Thc publickc Fostra, or Pulpits, soundcd out thc com
mcndationsolFrccdom,thcir|a| ugurs,orProphcts,lound Freedom
writtcninthccntrailsol8casts,andcollcctcditlromthcightolthc
auspiciousbird
57
,thcSundaringaglc,sprcadinghcrwingsaloltovcr
thc Capitol: thc common pcoplc also, in thcir common
58
discourscs,
brcathcdnothingbutFrccdom,anduscdthclrcqucntmcntionolit,as
aCharmagainstthcrcturnolTyranny.
59

Norwasitwithoutrcason,thatthisbravcandactivcpcoplcwcrcso
studiously dcvotcd to thc prcscrvation ol thcir Frccdom, whcn thcy
had oncc attaincd it, considcring how casic and cxccllcnt it is abovc
allothcrFormsolGovcrnmcnt,ilitbckcptwithinducboundsand
ac
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
ordcr.!tisanundcniablcRulc, ThatthePeople(thatis,suchasshallbc
succcssivclychoscntorcprcscntthcPcoplc)arethebestKeepersoftheir
o.nLiberties;andthatlorthcsclollowingRcasons.
First,bccauscthcyncvcrthinkolusurping
60
ovcrothcrmcnsRights,
butmindc
61
whichwaytoprcscrvcthcirown.Vhcrcas,thccascislar
othcrwiscamongKingsandGrandccs,asallNa|a|tionsinthcworld
havc lclt to somc purposc: lor thcy naturally movc within thc circlc
ol domination, as in thcir propcr Ccntrc, and count it no lcss Sccu
ritythanVisdomandPolicy,tobravcitovcrthcPcoplc.Thus Sueto-
niustcllsus,how Caesar,Crassus,andanothcr, Societateminiere,nequid
agereturinFepub.quoddisplicuissetullietribus:Madeabargainbet.een
themsel.es, that nothing should be done in the Common.ealth that dis-
pleasedeitherofthemthree.SuchanothcrTriumviratcolGrandccswas
thatolugustus,Lepidus,andntonie,whoagrccdtosharcthcworld
bctwccnthcmsclvcs,andtraccdthcsamcpathsasthcothcrdid,tothc
top ol worldlyTyranny, ovcr thc ruincs ol thcir Countrics Libcrtics:
thcy savd and dcstroyd, dcprcssd and advancd whom thcy plcascd,
with a wct Fingcr.

8ut whilst thc Govcrnmcnt rcmaincd untouchd

inthcpcoplcsHands,cvcryparticularmanlivcdsalc,(cxccptthcAm
bitious) and no man could bc undonc, unlcss a truc and satislactory
rcasonwcrcrcndcrcdtothcworldlorhisdcstruction.
|a6|Sccondly,thcPcoplcarcbcstKccpcrsolthcirownLibcrty,bc
causcitiscvcrthcPcoplcscarctoscc,thatAuthoritybcsoconstitutcd,
thatitshallbcrathcraburthcnthanbcncttothoscthatundcrtakc
it,andbcqualicdwithsuchslcndcradvantagcsolprotorplcasurc,
that mcn shall rcap littlc by thc cnjoymcnt.Thc happy conscqucncc
whcrcol is this, that nonc but honcst, gcncrous, and publick Spirits,
will thcn dcsirc to bc in Authority, and that oncly lor thc Common
good.Hcnccitwas,thatinthc!nlancyolthcRomancLibcrty,thcrc
was no canvasing ol \oiccs, but singlc and plainhcartcd mcn wcrc
callcd,intrcatcd,andinamanncrlorccdwithimportunitytothcHclm
The people
the best
Keepers of
their own
Liberties.
.Reason,
because the
people never
think of
usurping
over other
mens Rights
The peoples
care is, that
publick
Authority be
constituted for
publick ends.
Suctonius,LifeofJuliusCaesar,X!X.a.AnothcrwasPompcy.

asilyorlightly,withouthcsitation(OxfordEnglishDictionary,s.v.ngcr).
RightConstitutionolaCommonwcalth
<
a.
olGovcrnmcnt,inrcgardolthatgrcattroublcandpainsthatlollowcd
thc imploymcnt.Thus Cincinnatus was lctchd out ol thc Ficld lrom
his Plow, and placcd (much against his will) in thc sublimc ignity
olictator:sothcnoblc Camillus,andFabius,andCurius,wcrc,with
muchadoc,drawnlromthcrccrcationolGardcning,tothctroublcol
Govcrning: and thc Consulyccr |a,| bcing ovcr, thcy rcturncd with
muchgladncssagaintothcirprivatccmploymcnt.
62
|MP,,a,Nov.cc..6.|
AthirdRcasonwhythcPcoplcinthcirSuprcmcAsscmblicssucccs
sivclychoscn,arcthcbcstKccpcrsolthcirLibcrty,is,
63
bccauscasmo
tionin8odicsnatural,sosucccssionincivil,isthcgrandprcvcntivcol
corruption.ThcTrutholthiswillappcarvcryclcarly,ilwcwcighthc
cccts ol cvcry standing Authority lrom rst to last in thc Romanc
Statc:lorwhilstthcywcrcgovcrncdbyacontinucdPowcrinoncand
thcsamcHands,thcPcoplcwcrccvcrindangcrollosingthcirLib
crty: somctimcs in dangcr ol bcing swallowcd up by Kingly aspircrs,
witncssthcdcsignolMaelius,Manlius,andothcrs,somctimcsindan
gcrolasurpriscbyaGrandccCabinctorJunta
64
,whobycontracting
a particular !ntcrcst, distinct lrom that which thcy had in common
with thc pcoplc, so ordcrcd thc mattcr in timc, that partly by thcir
ownstrcngth,andpartlybyadvantagc
65
olPowcr,tograticandcurb
whomthcyplcascd,andtowindinothcrCouncils
66
|a|andparticsto
thcirown,thcystillbroughtthclcsscrintosuchsubjcction,thatinthc
cndthcywcrclorccdallcithcrtoycildtothcplcasurcolthcGrandccs,
or bc brokcn by thcm. 8y thcsc practiccs, thcy produccd that upstart
Tyrannyolthc Decem.iri,whcntcnmcnmadcashilttocnslavcthc
Scnatc,aswcllasthcpcoplc.Lastly,bycontinuingpowcrtoolongin
thchandsolparticularpcrsons,thcywcrcswallowdup
67
bytwoTri
umviratcsolmpcrorsbyturns,whoncvcrlcltpcckingatoncanothcr,
tillJuliusand ugustus,havingbcatcnallCompctitorsoutolthcFicld,
subjcctcdalltothcwillolasinglcmpcrour.!lthiswcrcsoamongthc
Romans,howhappythcnisanyNation,andhowmuchoughtthcyto
joyinthcVisdomandJusticcolthcirTrustccs,whcrcccrtainLimits
Succession
in power is
the grand
preventive of
Corruption.
aa
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
and8oundsarcxcdtothcPowcrsinbcing,byadcclarcdsucccssion
olthcsuprcmcAuthorityinthchandsolthcPcoplc!
68

|MP,,..cc..6.|

69
AlourthRcasonis,bccauscasucccssionolsuprcmcPowcrsdothnot
onclykccpthcmlromcorruption,butitkillsthatgrandCankcrworm
olaCom|a|monwcalth,towit,Faction:lor,asFactionisanadhcr
ing to, and a promoting ol an !ntcrcst, that is distinct lrom thc truc
anddcclarcd!ntcrcstolStatc:soitisamattcrolncccssity,thatthosc
thatdrivciton,musthavctimctoimprovcthcirslightsandprojccts,
indisguisingthcirdcsigns,drawingin!nstrumcntsandPartics,andin
wormingoutolthciroppositcs.Thcccctingolallthis,rcquircssomc
lcngtholtimc:thcrclorcthconlyprcvcntion
70
isaducsucccssionand
rcvolutionolAuthorityinthcHandsolthcPcoplc.
Thatthisismosttruc,appcarsnotonclybyRcason,butbyxamplc:
ilwcobscrvcthcscvcralturnsolFactioninthcRomancGovcrnmcnt.
VhatmadcthcirKingssobold,astoincroachandtyrannizcovcrthc
Pcoplc,butthcvcrysamccoursc
71
thathcightncdourKingshcrctolorc
inEngland,towit,acontinuationolPowcrinthcirownPcrsonsand
Familics:Thcn, altcr thc Romans bccamc a Commonwcalth, was it
not lor thc samc Rcason, that thc Scnatc lcll into such hcats
72
and
tsa|c|mongthcmsclvcs:idnot ppiusClaudiusandhisJunta,by
thcsamcmcans,Lordit
73
ovcrthcScnatc:Vhcnccwasit,that Sylla
andMariuscauscdsomanyproscriptions,crucltics,andcombustions
inFome,butbyancxtraordinarycontinuationolPowcrinthcmsclvcs:
Howcamcittopasslikcwisc,that JuliusCaesaraspircd,andinthccnd
attaincdthcmpirc:and,thatthcPcoplcol FomequitclostthcirLib
crty,wasitnotbythcsamcmcans:For,hadnotthcScnatcandPcoplc
solongprotractcdthcPowcr
74
ol Pompeyand Caesar;had Pompeyhad
lcsscommandin sia,andCaesarlcssin Gallia,Fomemighthavcstood
muchlongcrinthcposscssionolhcrLibcrty.
Altcrthcdcathol Caesar,itwasprobablccnough,thcymightthcn
havc rccovcrcd thcir Libcrty, but that thcy ran again into thc samc
rror,asbclorc:lorbyacontinuationolPowcrinthchandsol Octa-
.ius, Lepidus, and ntonie, thc Commonwcalth camc to bc rcnt and
A succession
of Supreme
Power kills
that Canker-
worm of a
Common-
wealth, to
wit, Faction.
RightConstitutionolaCommonwcalth
<
a
dividcd into thrcc scvcral Factions, two ol which bcing worn out by
cach othcr, oncly Octa.ius rc|.|maincd, who considcring, that thc
TitlcolpcrpctualictatorwasthcruincolhisFathcr Julius,contin
ucdthcGovcrnmcntonclylorascttimc,andprocurcdittobcsctlcd
uponhimscllbutlortcnyccrs.8utwhatwasthcccctolthiscontinu
ationolPowcr:vcnthis,Thatasthclormcrprotractingshadbccn
75

thcoccasionsolFaction,sothisproduccdaTyranny:lor,atthccndol
cvcrytcnyccrs,hcwantcdnoprctcncctorcncwalcascolthcGovcrn
mcnt,andbythismcanssoplaycdhisCards,thatatlcngth
76
hccasily
anduttcrlycxtinguishcdthcsmallrcmainsolthcRomanFrccdom.
Thcbscrvationthcnarisinglromhcncc,isthis,thatthconclyway
lorapcoplctoprcscrvcthcmsclvcsinthccnjoymcntolthcirFrccdom,
andtoavoidthosclatalinconvcnicnccsolFactionandTyranny,is,to
maintainaducandordcrlysucccssionolPowcrandPcrsons.Thiswas,
andis,goodCommonwcalths
77
Languagc,andwithoutthisRulc,itis
impossiblcanyNationshouldlongsubsistinaStatcolFrccdom.So
thatthcVisdom,thcPicty,|a|thcJusticc,andthcsclldcnialolthosc
Govcrnours in FrccStatcs, is worthy ol all honour and admiration,
whohavc,orshallatanytimcaswillinglyrcsignthcirTrusts,ascvcr
thcytookthcmup,andhavcsolardcnicdthcmsclvcs,astoprcxLim
itsand8oundstothcirownAuthority.ThiswasitthatmadcBrutus
solamousinthcbcginningolthcRomancCommonwcalth.
78
Forthis
alsoitwas,thatHistoryhathlcltsorcvcrcndarcmcmbranccolScipio,
Camillus,and !irginus
79
;asdid Catolikcwiscol Pompey:whilstthctcn
Grandcc Usurpcrs, with Sylla, and Caesar, and thc Namcs ol othcrs
thatpractiscdthccontrary,arclcltasodiousuponthcRomanRccord,
asthcNamcol Fichardthcthird
80
,willbcinourmodcrnChroniclc,
toallPostcrity.
|MP,(c),...cc..6.|
AlthRcasontoprovcthcLilcolLibcrtylicsinsucccssionolPowcrs
andPcrsons,is,bccauscitisthconclyRcmcdy
81
againstScllsccking,
withallthcpowcrlulTcmptationsandCharmsolscllintcrcst:lorthc
attainingolparticularcnds,rcquircslcngtholtimc,aswcllasthccrcat
ingandpromoting||olaFaction:boththcscdcsignsmustliclong
A succession
of Powers &
Persons is the
onely remedy
against self-
seeking.
a
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
inlcrmcntation,orclscthcycanncvcrgainthcbclovcdopportunityto
bringmattcrstopcrlcction.ThcTrutholthisappcarslikcwiscinthc
StoryolthcRomancStatc:lor,aslongasallAuthoritywasconncd
within thc Valls ol a standing Scnatc, thcy bcing morc studious ol
thcirown,thanthccommongood,inashorttimcthcCommonwcalth
wasturncdaltogcthcrintoaprivatc,insomuch,thatthcpcoplcbccamc
not oncly incapablc ol any Honour and Authority, but wcllnigh rc
duccdtoatbcggcry.Hcnccitwas,thatsomanyQuarrclsandCom
bustionsarosconcaltcranothcr:lor,thcGrcatncshavingmadcusc
olthcirtimc,indrawingalltothcmsclvcs,thcPcoplcwcrclorcdtolivc
uponborrowing,andwhcnthcycouldborrownolongcr,thcylcllintoa
gcncralMutiny,andlorsookthcCity:norcouldthcybcpacicdtillall
Accountswcrcquittcd,andthcn,withmuchadoc,thcywcrcwrought
uponwiththcloqucnccol Meneniusgrippa,withhiscxccllcntFablc
ol a Mutiny in a || natural 8ody, among thc Mcmbcrs against thc
8clly.
Thus,asthcrst!nsurrcctionwasoccasioncdbythcUsuryandx
actionsolthcGrcatncs,whobythcirlongcontinuanccinPowcr,had
drawnalluntothcmsclvcs:sothcsccondwasoccasioncdbythcLordli
ncss ol thosc tcn Pcrsons, who bcing clcctcd to do Justicc, according
tothcLaws,madcuscolthcirtimc,onclytoconrmthcirPowcr,and
Grcatcn thcmsclvcs, by rcplcnishing thcir own Cocrs, ingrossing ol
ccs,andprclcrringthcirownKindrcdandAllianccs:andatlcngth,
improvcdScll!ntcrcstsohigh,thatthcydominccrcd,likcabsolutcTy
rants, advancing and dcprcssing whom thcy plcascd, without rcspcct
olMcritor!nsucicncy,\iccor\crtuc,sothathavingsccurcdallin
thcirownHands,thcyovcrrulcd
82
thcirFcllowScnatorsatplcasurc,
aswcllasthcPcoplc.
83

Many morc instanccs ol Altcrtimcs might bc givcn, but thcsc

arc sucicnt whcrcupon to ground this bscrvation
84
, That as thc
rstFoundcrsolthcRoman||Libcrtydidwcllindrivingoutthcir
Livy,bUrbeCondita,!!.a.ThclablcwaswcllknowninthcRcnaissancc
and was lamously told in Sir Philip Sidncys n pology for Poetry and in thc
opcningsccncolShakcspcarcsCoriolanus.
RightConstitutionolaCommonwcalth
<
a
Kings, so on thc othcr sidc, thcy did vcry ill in sctling a standing
Authority within thcmsclvcs: lor, by this mcans, lying opcn to thc
TcmptationsolHonourandProt,(whicharcSailstoobiglorany
humancbulk)thcywcrcimmcdiatclyswallowcdupolScll
85
,andtak
ing thcir risc lrom thc opportunity ol a continucd Powcr, madc usc
ol thc Publick oncly to advancc thcir Privatc, whcrcby thcy put thc
Commonwcalth
86
into lrcqucnt amcs ol discontcnt and scdition,
whichmightallhavcbccnprcvcntcd,couldthcyhavcdcnicdthcm
sclvcsatrst,andsctlcdthcStatcFrccindccd,(asthcyoughttohavc
donc)byplacinganordcrlysucccssionolsuprcmc
87
Authorityinthc
HandsolthcPcoplc.
88

|MP.,.acc..6.|
A sixth Rcason, why a FrccStatc is much morc cxccllcnt than a
GovcrnmcntbyGrandccsorKings,and,thatthcPcoplcarcthcbcst
KccpcrsolthcirownLibcrtics,is,
89
bccausc,asthccndolallGovcrn
mcntis(oroughttobc)thcgoodandcascolthcPcoplc,inasccurc
cnjoymcntolthcirRights,without|6|Prcssurcandpprcssion:so
qucstionlcssthcPcoplc,whoarcmostscnsiblcolthcirown8urthcns,
bcingonccputintoacapacityandFrccdomolActing,arcthcmost
likcly to providc Rcmcdics lor thcir own Rclicl, thcy oncly know
whcrcthcshoocwrings, whatGricvanccsarcmosthcavy,andwhat
luturcFcnccsthcystandinnccdol,toshcltcrthcmlromthcinjurious
AssaultsolthoscPowcrsthatarcabovcthcm:andthcrclorcitisbut
Rcason,thcyshouldsccthatnoncbcintcrcstcdinthcsuprcmcAu
thority,butPcrsonsolthcirownclcction,andsuchasmustinashort
timcrcturnagainintothcsamcconditionwiththcmsclvcs,torcapthc
samc8cnctor8urthcn,bythcLawscnactcd,thatbclallsthcrcstol
thcPcoplc.ThcnthcissucolsuchaConstitutionmustnccdsbcthis,
ThatnoLoadshallbclaiduponany,butwhatiscommontoall,and
that always by common conscnt, not to scrvc thc Lusts ol any, but
onclytosupplythcNcccssiticsolthcirCountry.
The end of all
Government,
being the
good & ease
of the people,
they best
know where
the shooe
pinches.
Provcrbial.
a6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
8ut whcn it happcns, that a suprcmc Powcr long continucs in thc
Hands ol |,| any Pcrson or Pcrsons, thcy, by grcatncss ol placc,
bcing scatcd abovc thc middlc Rcgion ol thc Pcoplc, sit sccurc lrom
all windcs and wcathcrs, and lrom thosc storms ol violcncc that nip
andtcrricthcinlcriourpartolthcVorld:whcrcas,ilbyasucccssivc
Rcvolution ol Authority, thcy camc to bc dcgradcd ol thcir arthly
Godhcads,andrcturnintothcsamcconditionwithothcrMortals,thcy
mustnccdsbcthcmorcscnsiblcandtcndcrolwhatshallbclaidupon
thcm.ThcstrongcstbligationthatcanbclaiduponanyManinpub
lickMattcrs,is,Tosccthathcingagcinnothingbutwhatmustcithcr
ocnsivclyorbcncciallyrccctuponhimscll:loras,ilanybcncvcrso
goodaPatriot,yctilhispowcrbcprolongcd,hcwillndcithardto
kccpSclllromcrccpinginuponhim,andpromptinghimtosomcx
travagancicslorhisownprivatc8cnct,so,onthcothcrsidc,ilhcbc
shortlytorcturntoaconditioncommonwiththcrcstolhis8rcthrcn,
scll!ntcrcst
90
bindcshimtodonothingbutwhatisJustandqual,hc
himscllbcingtorcapthc||goodorcvilolwhatisdonc,aswcllas
thcmcancstolthcpcoplc.
ThiswithoutcontrovcrsicmustnccdsbcthcmostNoblc,thcmost
Just,andthcmostcxccllcntwayolGovcrnmcntinFrccStatcs,with
out which, it is obvious to common scnsc, no Nation can long con
tinuc in a statc ol Frccdom: as appcars likcwisc by xamplc out ol
thc Romanc Story. For what morc noblc Patriots wcrc thcrc cvcr in
thc Vorld, than thc Romanc Scnators wcrc, whilst thcy wcrc kcpt
undcrbythcirKings,andlcltthcsamc8urthcnsolthcirlury,asdid
thc rcst ol thc pcoplc: but altcrwards bcing lrccd lrom thc Kingly
yokc, and having sccurcd all powcr within thc hands ol thcmsclvcs
andthcirpostcrity,thcyatlcngthlcllintothcsamcAbsurditicsthat
hadbccnbclorccommittcdbythcirKings,sothatthisncwyokcbc
camcmorcintolcrablcthanthclormcr.Norcouldthcpcoplcndcany
Rcmcdy,untill
91
thcyprocurcdthatncccssaryccolthcTribuncs,
whobcinginvcstcdwithatcmporaryAuthoritybythcpcoplcslcc
tion,rcmaincdthcmorcscnsiblc||olthcircondition,andwcrcas
ModcratorsbctwccnthcPowcrolthcGrcatncs,andthcRightsol
thcPcoplc.
RightConstitutionolaCommonwcalth
<
a,
Vhat morc cxccllcnt Patriot could thcrc bc than Manlius, till hc
bccamccorruptcdbyTimcandPowcr:VhomorcNoblc,andCour
tcous,andVcllacctcdtothccommongood,thanwas ppiusClau-
dius
92
at rst: but altcrwards, having obtaincd a Continuation ol thc
Govcrnmcnt in his own hands, hc soon lost his primitivc !nnoccncy
and!ntcgrity,anddcvotcdhimsclltoallthcPracticcsolanAbsolutc
Tyrant.
93
Many othcrs might bc rcckond up. And thcrclorc, hcncc it
was,That whcn thc Scnatc (lor somc Rcasons) thought to continuc
LuciusQuintiusinthcConsulshiplongcrthanthcusualtimc,thatgal
lantManuttcrlyrcluscdit, andchoscrathcrtodcnyhimscll,thanthat
a Prcccdcnt so prcjudicial to thc Romanc Frccdom should bc madc
lorhissakc,byaPrcrogativc
94
olAuthorityinhishands,bcyondthc
ordinaryCustomc.
95

|MPa,acc..6..Jan..6a|
AscvcnthRcasonwhyapcoplcqualicdwithaducandordcrlysuc
ccssionolthcirSuprcmcAsscmblics,arcthc|c|bcstkccpcrsolthcir
own Libcrtics, is, 8ccausc
96
, as in othcr Forms, thosc pcrsons oncly
havcacccsstoGovcrnmcnt,whoarcapttoscrvcthclustandwillolthc
Princc,orclscarcparticsor
97
complicrswithsomcpowcrlulFaction:
so in this Form ol Govcrnmcnt by thc Pcoplc, thc door ol ignity
standsopcntoall(withoutcxccption)thatasccndthithcrbythcstcps
olVorthand\crtuc:thcconsidcrationwhcrcolhaththisnoblcccct
inFrccStatcs,Thatitcdgcsmcnsspiritswithanactivccmulation,and
raiscththcmtoaloltypitcholdcsigncandaction.
ThctrutholthisisvcryobscrvablcinthcRomancStatc
98
:lor,during
thc\assalagcolthatPcoplcundcrKings,wcrcadnotolanynotablc
xploits,butndcthcmconncdwithinanarrowcompass,opprcssd
at homc, and cvcr and anon rcady to bc swallowcd up by thcir cn
cmics.AltcrthisGovcrnmcntolKingswasabolishcd,youknowthat
olGrandccsinastandingScnatcwasncxtcrcctcd,undcrwhichForm,
thcymadcshilttocnlargcthcirboundsalittlc:butthcmostthcycould
In this
Government
the door
of Dignity
stands open
to all that
ascend thither
by the steps
of Worth and
Vertue.
Livy,bUrbeCondita,!!!.a..
a
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
thcndo,|.|wasonlytosccurcthcmsclvcslromthcattcmptsolthc
banishcd Tarquins, and thosc pctty ncighbours that cnvicd thc small
incrcasc ol thcir ominion. 8ut at lcngth, whcn thc Statc was madc
lrccindccd,andthcPcoplcadmittcdintoasharcandintcrcstinthc
Govcrnmcnt, as wcll as thc Grcat ncs, thcn it was, and ncvcr till
thcn, that thcir thoughts and powcr bcgan to cxcccd thc bounds ol
Italy,andaspirctowardsthatprodigiousmpirc.For,whilcthcroad
olPrclcrmcntlayplaintocvcryman,nopublikcworkwasdonc,nor
anyConqucstmadc,butcvcrymanthoughthcdidandconqucrcdall
lor himscll, as long as hc rcmaincd valiant and vcrtuous: it was not
Alliancc,norFricndship,norFaction,norRichcs,thatcouldadvancc
mcn,butKnowlcdgc,\alour,andvcrtuousPovcrty,wasprclcrrcdabovc
thcmall.
Forthcconrmationwhcrcol,wcndcinthcsamcStory,howthat
many
99
olthcirbravcPatriotsandConqucrorswcrcmcnolthcmcan
cstFortunc,andolsorarcatcmpcrolspirit,thatthcylittlccarcdto
improvcthcm,orcnrich|a|thcmsclvcsbythcirpublikccmploymcnt:
so that whcn thcy dicd, thcy wcrc lain to bc buricd at thc publikc
chargc.Vcndc Cincinnatus,amanolmcanlortunc,lctchdlromthc
Plough,tothcdignityolaictator:lorhchad
100
nomorcthanlour
acrcsolland,whichhctillcdwithhisownhands.Yctsoit
101
happcncd,
thatwhcnthcRomanConsulwithhiswholcArmywasingrcatpcril,
bcing circumvcntcd and straitncd by thc Equuns
102
, and thc City ol
Fomeitscllinatrcmblingcondition
103
,thcn,withoncconscnt,thcy
pitchdupon Cincinnatus,asthcttcstmanlorthcirdclivcrancc:and
hc bchavcd himscll so wcll
104
, with so much magnanimity, intcgrity,
andwisdom,thathcrclicvcdthcConsul,routcdanduttcrlysubducd
thcncmy,andgavcasitwcrcancwlilctohisCountricsLibcrtics:
which work bcing ovcr, hc with all willingncss quittcd his Authority,
andrcturncdtothcconditionolapainlulprivatclilc.
This xamplc might sccm strangc, but that wc know it was ordi
nary in that Statc, till it grcw corrupt again: lor, wc rcad also, how
LuciusTarquin,(notol||thcTyrantslamily)amanolmcanlortunc,
yctolgrcatworth,waschoscnGcncralolthcHorsc,anddrawntoit
outolthcCountry,inwhichplacchcsurpasscdallthcRomancyouth
RightConstitutionolaCommonwcalth
<
a
lorgallantbchaviour.SuchanothcrplainCountrylcllowwasttilius
Fegulus,thcscourgcol Carthageinhistimc,olwhommanycmincnt
pointsol8ravcrywcrc
105
rccordcd:aswcrcalsomostolthoscHcroick
spiritsthatsuccccdcd,downtothctimcsol LuciusPaulus
106
Emilius,by
whoscConqucsts,thcrstcharmsandinchantmcntsolLuxurywcrc
brought out ol sia to Fome, and thcrc thcy soon swallowcd up thc
rcmaindcrsolprimitivcintcgrityandsimplicity.Andyctitisvcryob
scrvablcalso,thatsomucholthcancicntscvcritywasrcmainingstill
cvcninthctimcolthisPaulus,thclamousGcncral,thataSilvcrdish,
thatwaspartolthcSpoil,bcinggivcntoasoninlawolhis,whohad
loughtstoutlyinthatwar,itwasthoughtagrcatrcward,andobscrvcd
bythcHistorian, tobcthcrstpicccolplatcthatcvcrwassccninthc
Family.
||This bscrvation thcn ariscs lrom this iscoursc ,
107
That as
FomencvcrthrivcdtillitwassctlcdinaFrccdomolthcPcoplc,sothat
Frccdomwasprcscrvcd,
108
andthat
109
!ntcrcstbcstadvanccd,whcnall
PlaccsolHonourandTrustwcrccxposcdtomcnolMcrit,without
distinction,whichhappincsscouldncvcrbcobtaincd,until
110
thcpco
plcwcrcinstatcdinacapacityolprclcrringwhomthcythoughtworthy,
byaFrccdomolclcctingmcnsucccssivclyintothcirSuprcmcccs
and Asscmblics. So long as this Customc continucd, and Mcrit took
placc,thcpcoplcmadcshilt
111
tokccpandcncrcascthcirLibcrtics:but
whcnitlayncglcctcd,andthcstrcamolPrclcrmcntbcgantorunalong
withthclavourandplcasurcolparticularpowcrlulmcn,thcn\iccand
ComplianccmakingwaylorAdvanccmcnt,thcpcoplccouldkccpthcir
Libcrticsnolongcr,butboththcirLibcrticsandthcmsclvcswcrcmadc
thcpriccolcvcrymansAmbitionandLuxury.
|MP,.Jan..6a|
Thc cighth Rcason, why thc Pcoplc in thcir Asscmblics arc thc bcst
Kccpcrs||olthcirLibcrty,is,
112
bccauscitisthcyonclythatarccon
ccrncdinthcpointolLibcrty:lor,whcrcasinothcrFormsthcmain
The People
are the best
Keepers of
their Liberty,
because they
only are
concerned in
the point of
Liberty.
Plutarch,LifeofemeliusPaulus,XX\!!!.....
c
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
!ntcrcstandConccrnmcntbotholKingsandGrandccs,licscithcrin
kccpingthcPcoplcinuttcrignoranccwhatLibcrtyis,orclscinallow
ing and plcasing thcm oncly with thc namc and shadow ol Libcrty
instcadolthcsubstancc:soinFrccStatcsthcPcoplcbcingscnsiblc
ol thcir past condition in lormcr timcs
113
, undcr thc Powcr ol Grcat
ncs, and comparing it with thc possibilitics and cnjoymcnts ol thc
prcscnt, bccomc immcdiatcly instructcd, that thcir main !ntcrcst and
Conccrnmcnt consists in Libcrty, and arc taught by common scnsc,
thatthconclywaytosccurcitlromthcrcacholGrcatncs,is,toplacc
itinthcPcoplcsHands,adorncdwithallthcPrcrogativcsandRights
olSuprcmacy.ThcTrutholitis,thc!ntcrcstolFrccdomisa\irgin
that cvcry onc sccks to dcowcr, and likc a \irgin, it must bc kcpt
lrom
114
anyothcrForm,orclsc(sogrcatisthcLustolmankindcaltcr
dominion) thcrc lollows a rapc upon thc |6| rst opportunity.This
bcingconsidcrcd,itwillcasilybcgrantcd,ThatLibcrtymustnccdslic
morcsccurcinthcPcoplcsthaninanyothcrshands,bccauscthcyarc
most conccrncd in it: and thc carclul cycing ol this Conccrnmcnt, is
thatwhichmakcsthcmbothjcalousandzcalous,sothatnothingwill
satisc,butthckccpingolaconstantGuardagainstthcAttcmptsand
!ncroachmcntsolanypowcrlulorcraltyUndcrmincrs.
Hcnccitis,thatthc
115
PcoplchavingoncctastcdthcSwcctsolFrcc
dom,arc
116
socxtrcamlyacctcdwithit,thatilthcydiscovcr,ordobut
suspcctthclcastcsigntoincroach
117
uponit,thcycountitaCrimc
ncvcrtobclorgivcnloranyconsidcrationwhatsocvcr.Thusitwasin
thcRomancStatc,whcrconcgavcuphisChildrcn,anothcrhis8rothcr
todcath,torcvcngcanAttcmptagainstcommonLibcrty:divcrsalso
sacriccdthcirLivcs,toprcscrvcit,andsomcthcirbcstFricnds,tovin
dicatcit,uponbarcsuspicion,asinthcCascsolMaelius,andManlius,
andothcrs,altcrmanilcstviola|,|tion,asinthcCascol Caesar.
Norwasitthusonclyin Fome;butwcndcalsoasnotablcinstanccs
olrcvcngcinthcFrccPcoplcol Greece,uponthcsamcoccasion.8ut
thcmostnotablcolall,isthatwhichhappcncdinthc!slandol Corcyra,
duringthcwarol Peloponnesus:whcrcthcPcoplchavingbccnrookdol
LibcrtybythcslightsandpowcrolthcGrandccs,andaltcrwardsby
thcassistanccolthcFrccstatcs
118
olthensrccovcringitagain,took
RightConstitutionolaCommonwcalth
<
.
occasion thcrcupon to clap up all thc Grandccs, & chopd o tcn ol
thcirHcadsatonctimc,inpartolsatislactionlorthc!njury:butyct
thiswouldnotscrvcthcturn,lor,somcdclaybcingmadcincxccut
ing ol thc rcst, thc Pcoplc grcw so inragcd, that thcy ran, and pulld
downthcvcryValls,andburicdthcminthcruincsandrubbisholthc
Prison.
VcsccitalsointhcFrccStatcol Florence,whcrc Cosmusthcrst
FoundcrolthcTuscanTyranny,havingmadcshipwrackolthcirLibcrty,
andscizcdallintohisownHands,thoughhccnslavcdthcir8odics,yct
hccouldnot||subducthcirHcarts,norwcarthcirpastLibcrtyout
olMcmory,loruponthcrstopportunity,thcysoughtrcvcngc,anda
rccovcry,lorcinghimtoylorthcsalctyolhisLilc:andthoughaltcr
wardshcmadcwaylorhisRcturnandRccstablishmcntbyTrcachcry,
yctnowaltcrsolongatimc,thcoldFrccdomislrcsh
119
inmcmory,and
wouldshcwitscllagainuponalavourablcoccasion.
8utolallModcrn!nstanccs,thcmoststrangcisthatolthcLandol
Holstein; which bcing dcprivcd ol Libcrty, and about scvcnty yccrs
120

sincc madc a utchy, and an Appcndix to thc Crown ol Denmark;

though thc !nhabitants bc but a 8oorish, poor, silly Gcncration, yct
stillthcyrctainascnscol!ndignationatthclossolthcirLibcrty,and
bcinggivcntodrink,thcusualComplcmcntinthcmidstolthcirCups,
isthis, Hereis
121
ahealthtotheremembranceofourLiberty.
ThusyousccwhatanimprcssionthclovcolFrccdommakcsinthc
mindsolthcpcoplc:sothat
122
itwillbccasilyconcludcd,Thcymust
bc thc bcst || Kccpcrs ol thcir own Libcrtics, bcing morc tcndcr
and morc conccrncd in thcir sccurity, than any powcrlul prctcndcrs
whatsocvcr.
|MP,.Jan..6a|
ThcninthRcasontojusticaFrccStatc,is,
123
bccauscinFrccStatcs
thcPcoplcarclcssLuxurious,thanKingsorGrandccsusctobc.Now,
thisismostccrtain,thatwhcrcLuxurytakcsplacc,thcrcisasnaturala
tcndcncytoTyranny,asthcrcislromthcCausctothccct:lor,you
knowthcNaturcolLuxurylicsaltogcthcrinxccss.!tisaUnivcrsal
The
Government
of a Free
State is less
Luxurious,
than Kings
or Grandees
a
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
cpravation ol Manncrs, without Rcason, without Modcration, it is
thcCanincappctitcolacorruptVillandPhantsic,whichnothingcan
satisc,butincvcryAction,incvcry!magination,iticsbcyondthc
8oundsolHoncsty,
124
Just,andGood,intoallxtrcmity:sothatitwill
casilybcgrantcd,ThatFormolGovcrnmcntmustnccdsbcthcmost
cxccllcnt,andthcPcoplcsLibcrtymostsccurcd,
125
whcrcGovcrnours
arclcastcxposcdtothcbaitsandsnarcsolLuxury.
Thccvidcnccolthismaybcmadcout,notonclybyRcason,butby
x|c|amplcsold
126
andncw.Andrst,byRcason,itiscvidcnt,That
thcPcoplcmustnccdsbclcssluxuriousthanKingsorthcGrcatncs,
bccausc thcy arc boundcd within a morc lowly pitch ol csirc and
!magination:givcthcmbutpanem.circenses;8rcad,Sportandasc,
andthcyarcabundantlysatiscd.8csidcs,thcPcoplchavclcssmcans
and opportunitics lor Luxury, than thosc pompous standing powcrs,
whcthcrinthchandsoloncormany:sothatwcrcthcyncvcrsomuch
inclincdto\iccor\anity,yctthcyarcnotablctorunontothcsamc
mcasurcolxccssandRiot.Sccondly,asitappcarsthcyarclcssLuxu
rious,so,lorthisCauscalso,itisclccr,Thcy(thatis,thcirsucccssivc
Rcprcscntativcs)mustbcthcbcstGovcrnours,notoncly,bccauscthc
currcnt ol succcssion kccps thcm thc lcss corrupt and prcsumptious,
butalso,bccausc,bcingthcmorclrcclromluxuriousCourscs,thcyarc
likcwisc lrcc lrom thosc opprcssivc
127
and injurious Practiccs, which
KingsandGrandccsarcmostcommonlylcdandlorccd
128
unto,tohold
up thc port and splcndor ol thcirTy|.|ranny, and to satisc thosc
natural appctitcs ol Covctousncss, Pridc, Ambition and stcntation,
whicharcthcpcrpctualAttcndantsolGrcatncs,andLuxury.Thus
muchlorRcason.
Now,lorxamplc,wcmightproduccaCloudol!nstanccs,toshcw,
ThatFrccStatcs,orthcPcoplcduclyqualicdwiththcSuprcmcAu
thority,arclcssdcvotcdtoLuxury,thanthcGrandccorKinglyPowcrs:
butwcshallgivcyouonclyalcw.
ThcrstthatcomcsinourwayisthcStatcol thens,which,whilst
it rcmaincd lrcc in thc Pcoplcs Hands, was adorncd with such Gov
crnours as gavc thcmsclvcs up to a scrious, abstcmious, scvcrc coursc
olLilc,sothatwhilstTcmpcranccandLibcrtywalkcdhandinhand,
RightConstitutionolaCommonwcalth
<

thcy improvcd thc points ol \alour and Prudcncc so high, that in a
shorttimcthcybccamcthconclyArbitratorsolallAairsinGreece.
8ut bcing at thc hcight, thcn (altcr thc common latc ol all worldly
Powcrs) thcy bcgan to dcclinc, lor, (contrary to thc Rulcs ol a Frcc
Statc)pcrmittingsomcmcntogrcatcnthcmsclvcs,by|a|continuing
long in Powcr and Authority, thcy soon lost thcir purc Principlcs ol
Scvcrity and Libcrtic: lor, upstartcd
129
thosc thirty Grandccs, (com
monly callcd thcTyrants) who having usurpcd a standing Authority
unto thcmsclvcs, prcscntly quittcd thc old isciplinc and Frccdom,
gavc up thcmsclvcs rst to Charms ol Luxury, and altcrwards to all
thc practiccs ol an absolutcTyranny. Such also was thc condition ol
thatStatc,whcnatanothcrtimc(asinthcdaycsol Pistratus
130
)itwas
usurpdinthchandsolasinglcTyrant.
FromthenslctuspasstoFome,whcrcwcndcitinthcdaycsol
Tarquin,dissolvcdintocbauchcry.UponthcchangcolGovcrnmcnt,
thcirmanncrswcrcsomcwhatmcndcd,aswcrcthcGovcrnoursinthc
Scnatc:butthatbcingastandingPowcr,soongrcwcorrupt,andrst
lctinLuxury,thcnTyranny,tillthcpcoplcbcingintcrcstcdinthcGov
crnmcnt, cstablishcd a good isciplinc and Frccdom both togcthcr,
whichwasuphcldwithallScvcrity,tillthctcnGrandccscamcin||
playaltcr,whosc
131
cposition,Libcrty,andSobrictybcgantobrcath
again, till thc daycs ol Sylla, Marius, and othcr
132
Grandccs that lol
lowcddownto Caesar,inwhosctimcLuxuryandTyrannygrcwtosuch
ahcight,thatunlcssitwcrcinthcLilcandConvcrsationolCato,thcrc
wasnotsomuchasoncspark,thatcouldbcrakcdoutolthcashcs,ol
thcoldRomanisciplincandFrccdom,sothatolallthcVorld,oncly
CatorcmaincdasaMonumcntolthatTcmpcrancc,\irtucandFrcc
dom,whichourishcdundcrthcGovcrnmcntolthcPcoplc.
133

mittingmanyothcrxamplcs,ourConclusionupon
134
thcscPar
ticularsshallbcthis,ThatsinccthcGrandccorKinglyPowcrs,arccvcr
morcluxurious,thanthcpopulararc,orcanbc:andsinccLuxurycvcr
bringsonTyranny,asthconclybancolLibcrty,ccrtainlythcRights
andPrivilcdgcsolthcPcoplc,placcdandprovidcdlor,inaducandor
dcrlysucccssionolthcirSuprcmcAsscmblics,mustnccdsrcmainmorc
sccurcinthcirownHands,thaninanyothcrswhatsocvcr.
135

<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
|MP,.aaJan..6a|
||AtcnthRcason,toprovcthccxccllcncyolaFrccStatcorGov
crnmcnt by thc Pcoplc, abovc any othcr Form ol Govcrnmcnt, is,
136

bccausc undcr this Govcrnmcnt, thc Pcoplc arc cvcr inducd with a
morcmagnanimous,activc,andnoblctcmpcrolSpirit,thanundcrthc
Grandcurolanystandingpowcrwhatsocvcr.Andthisariscslromthat
apprchcnsionwhichcvcryparticularManhatholhisownimmcdiatc
sharcinthcpublick!ntcrcst,aswcllasolthatsccuritywhichhcpos
scsscs
137
inthccnjoymcntolhisprivatcFortunc,lrcclromthcrcach
ol any Arbitrary Powcr. Hcncc it is, that whcnsocvcr any good suc
ccssorhappincssbctidcsthcPublick,cvcryonccountsithisown:il
thcCommonwcalthconqucr,thrivcinominion,VcalthorHonour,
hcrcckonsalldonclorhimscll,ilhcsccs
138
istributionsolHonour,
highccs,orgrcatRcwards,to\aliant,\crtuous,or
139
LcarncdPcr
sons,hccstccmsthcmashisown,aslongashchathadoorlcltopcn
tosuccccdinthcsamcigniticsandnjoymcnts,ilhccanattainunto
thcsamcmcasurcolcscrt.||Thisitis
140
whichmakcsmcnaspirc
untogrcatActions,whcnthcRcwarddcpcndsnotuponthcVilland
PlcasurcolparticularPcrsons,asitdothundcrallstandingPowcrs,but
isconlcrrcduponMcn(withoutanyconsidcrationol8irthor Fortunc)
accordingtomcrit,asitcvcris,andoughttobcinFrccStatcs,thatarc
rightlyconstitutcd.
ThcTrutholthiswillappcarmuchmorccvidcnt,ilyclistalittlcto
takc a vicw ol thc condition ol Pcoplc, undcr various Forms ol Gov
crnmcnt: lor, thc Romancs ol old, whilc undcr Kings, (as you hcard
bclorc)rcmaincd
141
avcryinconsidcrablcPcoplc,cithcrinominion or
Rcputation, and could ncvcr inlargc thcir Command vcry lar bcyond
thcValls ol thcir City. Altcrwards, bcing rcduccd unto that standing
powcrolthcScnatc,thcybcgantothrivcalittlcbcttcr,&,loralittlc
timc:yctallthcy
142
coulddo,wasonlytostrugglcthatlorasubsistcncc
amongbadNcighbours.8utatlcngth,whcnthcPcoplcbcgantoknow,
claim, and posscss thcir Libcrtics in bcing govcrnd |6| by a succcs
sionolthcirSuprcmcccrsandAsscmblics,thcnitwas,andncvcr
tillthcn,thatthcylaidthcFoundation,andbuiltthcStructurcolthat
In a Free-
State, the
People are
ever more
magnanimous
and valiant.
RightConstitutionolaCommonwcalth
<

wondrous mpirc that ovcrshadowcd thc wholcVorld
143
. And trucly
thc lounding ol it must nccds bc morc
144
wondcrlul, and a grcat Ar
gumcntolancxtraordinaryCouragcandMagnanimity,whcrcwiththc
Pcoplcwasinducdin
145
RccovcryolLibcrty,bccauscthcirrstCon
qucstswcrclaidinthcruincolmightyNations,andsuchaswcrccvcry
jotaslrccasthcmsclvcs:whichmadcthcdiculticssomuchthcmorc,
by how much thc morc lrcc (and conscqucntly, thc morc couragious)
thcy wcrc, against whom thcy madc opposition: lor as in thosc daycs
thcVorldaboundcdwithFrccStatcs,morcthananyothcrForm,asall
ovcr Italy,Gallia,Spain,and frica,&c.sospccially
146
inItaly,whcrcthc
Tuscans,thcSamnites,andothcrmulatorsandCompctitorsolthcRo
mancFrccdom, approvcdthcmsclvcsmagnanimousclcndcrsolthcir
Libcrty against Fome, that thcy cndurcd Vars so
147
ma|,|ny yccrs
withutmostcxtrcmity,bclorccvcrthcycould|bc|broughttobowundcr
thc Romanc Yokc
148
. This magnanimous Statc ol Frccdom, was thc
causcalsowhy Charthage
149
wascnablcdsolong,notonlytoopposc,but
oltcn
150
tohazardthcRomancFortunc,andusurpthcLaurcl.!tbrought
Hannibalwithinvicw,andthc GaulswithinthcVallsolthcCity,toa
bcsicgingolthcCapitol,toshcw,thatthcirFrccdomhadgivcnthcm
thc couragc to rob hcr ol hcr Maidcnhcad, who altcrwards bccamc
MistrissolthcwholcVorld.8utwhatscrvcsallthislor,but
151
onclyto
shcw,ThatasnothingbutaStatcolFrccdomcouldhavccnablcdthosc
Nations with a Couragc sucicnt so long to withstand thc Romanc
Powcr:soFomehcrscllalsowasbcholdcntothisStatcolFrccdom,lor
thosc Sons ol Couragc which brought thc Nccks ol hcr SistcrStatcs
andNationsundcrhcrGirdlc:Anditisobscrvablcalsoinaltcrtimcs,
whcnTyrannytookplaccagainst
152
Libcrty,thcRomanssoonlostthcir
ancicntCouragcandMagnanimity,rstundcrusurpingictators,thcn
||undcrmpcrors,andinthccnd,thcmpircitscll.
153

Now, as on thc onc sidc, wc lccl

154
a loss ol Couragc and Magna
nimity,lollow
155
thclossolFrccdom:so,onthcothcrsidc,thcPcoplc
!n The Case of the Common.ealth, whcrc this passagc also appcars, Ncd
hamcitcsMach.lib.acap.a,anaccuratcrclcrcncctoMachiavcllisDiscourses
(Knachcl,p...6).
6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
cvcr grow magnanimous and couragious
156
upon a Rccovcry, witncss
atprcscnt,thcvaliantS.isses,thc Hollanders,andnotlongsincc,our
own Nation, whcn dcclarcd a FrccStatc, and a Rccstablishmcnt ol
ourFrccdominthchandsolthcPcoplcprocurcd,(thoughnotsccurcd)
whatnoblccsignswcrcundcrtakcnandprosccutcdwithsucccss:Thc
Considcration
157
whcrcol,mustnccdsmakchighlylorthcHonourol
allGovcrnoursinFrccStatcs,whohavcbccn,orshallbcinstrumcntal
inrcdccmingandsctting
158
anyPcoplcinalulncssolFrccdom,thatis,
inaducandordcrlysucccssionolthcirsuprcmcAsscmblics.
|MP6,aaaJan..6a|
Thc clcvcnth Rcason is
159
, bccausc in this Form no ctcrminations
bcingcarricd,butbyconscntolthcPcoplc,thcrclorcthcymustnccds
rcmainsccurcoutolthcrcacholTyranny,and||lrcclromthcAr
bitrary isposition ol any commanding Powcr. !n this Casc, as thc
PcoplcknowwhatLawsthcyarctoobcy,andwhatPcnalticsthcyarc
toundcrgo,incascolTransgrcssion,sohavingthcirsharcandintcrcst
inthcmakingolLaws,withthcPcnalticsanncxcd,thcybccomcthc
morc incxcusablc il thcy ocnd, and thc morc willingly submit unto
punishmcnt whcn thcy sucr lor any ocncc. Now thc casc is usu
allylarothcrwisc,undcrallstandingPowcrs:lor,whcnGovcrnmcntis
managcdinthchandsolaparticularPcrson,orcontinucdinthchands
olaccrtainnumbcrolGrcatMcn,thcPcoplcthcnhavcnoLawsbut
whatKingsandGrcatMcnplcasctogivc:Nordothcyknowhowto
walkbythoscLaws,orhowtoundcrstandthcm,bccauscthcscnscis
oltcntimcs lclt at unccrtainty, and it is rcckoncd a grcat Mystcry ol
Statc in thosc Forms ol Govcrnmcnt,That no Laws shall bc ol any
scnscorlorcc,butasthcGrcatncsplcasctocxpoundthcm:soas
160

bythismcans,thcPcoplcmanytimcsarclcltasitwcrcwith|6c|out
Law
161
,bccauscthcybcarnoothcrconstructionandmcaning,butwhat
sutcs with particular mcns !ntcrcsts and Phantsics, not with Right
Rcason,orthcPublikcLibcrty.
For thc prool ol this undcr Kingly Govcrnmcnt, wc might run all
thcworldovcr,butourownNationaords
162
!nstanccscnoughinthc
No determi-
nations are
carried but
by consent of
the People.
RightConstitutionolaCommonwcalth
<
,
PracticcsolallourKings:yctthisvilncvcrcamctosuchahcight,as
itdidinthcRaignolHenrythcscvcnth,whobyusurpingaPrcroga
tivcolcxpoundingthcLawsaltcrhisownplcasurc,madcthcmrathcr
Snarcs, than !nstrumcnts ol Rclicl, (likc a grand Catchpolc) to pill,
poll,andgcldthcPurscsolthcPcoplc,ashisSon Harrydidaltcrhim,
to dcprivc many Gallant Mcn both ol thcir Livcs and Fortuncs. For,
thcJudgcsbcingrcputcdthcraclcsolthcLaw,andthcpowcrolcrc
atingJudgcsbcingusurpdbyKings,thcyhadacarccvcrtocrcatcsuch,
aswouldmakcthcLawsspcakinFavourolthcm,uponanyoccasion.
ThcTruthwhcrcolhathabundantlyappcarcdinthcdaycsolthclatc
King
163
,andhisFathcr James,whosc|6.|usualLanguagcwasthis: s
longasIha.epo.erofmaking.hatJudgesandBishopsIplease,Iamsure
toha.enoLa.norGospelbut.hatshallpleaseme.
164

This vcry providing

165
lor this !nconvcnicncc, was thc grcat Com
mcndation ol Lycurgus his !nstitution in Sparta; who, though hc cut
out thc Lacedemonian Commonwcalth
166
altcr thc Grandcc lashion,
conrmingthcSuprcmacywithinthcVallsolthcScnatc
167
,(lorthcir
KingwasbutaCyphcr)ycthcsoordcrcdthcmattcr,thathctookaway
thcGrandcur,thatasthcirKingwasollittlcmorcvalucthananyonc
olthcScnators,sothcScnatcwasrcstraincdbyLaws,walkingin
168
thc
samccvcnpaccolsubjcctionwiththcPcoplc,havingvcrylcwccs
olignityorProtallowcd,whichmightmakcthcmswcllwithStatc
and Ambition, but wcrc prcscribcd also thc samc Rulcs ol Frugality,
Plainncss, and Modcration, as wcrc thc Common Pcoplc: by which
mcans immodcratc lusts and dcsircs bcing prcvcntcd in thc Grcat
ncs, thcy wcrc thc lcss inclincd to Pridc and pprcssion, and no
grcatprotorplcasurc|6a|bcingtobcgottcnbyAuthority ,vcrylcw
dcsircdit,andsuchaswcrcinit,satclrcclromnvic,bywhichmcans
thcyavoidcdthatodiumandcmulationwhich
169
uscstoragcbctwixt
thcGrcatncsandthcPcoplcinthatFormolGovcrnmcnt.
8utnowthccascislarothcrwiscinthcCommonwcalthol !enice,
whcrcthcPcoplcbcingcxcludcdlromallintcrcstinGovcrnmcnt,thc
powcrolmakingandcxccutingolLaws,andbcaringolccs,with
allothcr!mmunitics,licsonclyinthchandsolastandingScnatc,and
thcir Kindrcd, which thcy call thc Patrocian, or Noblc rdcr. Thcir

<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
ukc,orPrincc,isindccdrcstraincd,andmadcjustsuchanothcr
ccraswcrcthc LacedemonianKings,dicringlromthcrcstolthcScn
atc,onclyinaCorncrolhisCap,bcsidcsalittlcoutwardCcrcmony
and Splcndor: but thc Scnators thcmsclvcs havc Libcrty at random,
Arbitrarily to ramblc, and do what thcy plcasc with thc pcoplc: who
cxccpting thc City it scll, arc so cxtrcamly opprcssd in all thcirTcr
ritorics,livingbyno|6|Law,butthcArbitraryictatcsolthcScnatc,
that it sccms rathcr a Junta, than a Commonwcalth
170
, and thc Sub
jcctstakcsolittlccontcntinit,thatsccingmorctobccnjoycdundcr
thcTurk,thcythatarchis8ordcrcrstakcallopportuniticstorcvolt
171
,
andsubmitrathcrtothcmcrcyolaPaganTyranny.Vhichdisposition
il you considcr, togcthcr with thc littlc Couragc in thcir Subjccts, by
rcasonthcyprcssthcmsohard,andhowthatthcyarclorccd,lorthis
causc,torclicuponForrainMcrccnaricsinallwarlikcxpcditions,you
mightwondcrhowthisStatchathhcldupsolong,butthatwcknow
thc!ntcrcstolChristcndom,bcingconccrncdinhcrSccurity,shchath
bccnchicysupportcdbythcSupplicsandArmsolothcrs.
ThcrclorcourConclusion
172
shallbcthis,ThatsinccKings,andall
standingPowcrs,arcsoinclinablctoactaccordingtothcirownVills
and !ntcrcsts, in making, cxpounding, and cxccuting ol Laws to thc
prcjudicc ol thc Pcoplcs Libcrty and Sccurity: and sccing thc oncly
waytoprcvcntArbitra|6|rincss,is,ThatnoLawsorominations
173

whatsocvcrshouldbcmadc,butbythcPcoplcsConscntandlcction:
thcrclorcitmustolncccssitybcgrantcd,thatthcPcoplcarcthcbcst
KccpcrsolthcirownLibcrtics,bcingsctlcdinaducandordcrlysuc
ccssionolthcirsuprcmcAsscmblics.
|MP,,aJan.Fcb..6a|

174
AtwcllthRcasonis,bccauscthisFormismostsutablctothcNaturc
andRcasonolMankindc:lor,asCicerosaith
175
,ManisanobleCrea-
ture,born.ithectionstorule,ratherthanobey;therebeingine.eryman
a natural appetite or desire of Principality. And thcrclorc thc Rcason
A Free-State
is most sutable
to the Nature
and Reason of
mankinde.
PcrhapsalurthcrrclcrcncctoCiccro,DeOciis,!...
RightConstitutionolaCommonwcalth
<

why
176
onc man is contcnt to submit to thc Govcrnmcnt ol anothcr,
is,notbccauschcconccivcshimsclltohavclcssrightthananothcrto
govcrn,butcithcrbccauschcndcshimsclllcssablc,orclscbccausc
hc judgcth it will bc morc convcnicnt lor himscll, and that commu
nitywhcrcolhcisaMcmbcr,ilhcsubmits
177
untoanothcrsGovcrn
mcnt. Nemini
178
purere .ult animus a natur bene informatus, nisi, &c.
saith thc samc Cicero: that is to say, in honcst nglish, minde .ell
in-|6|structed by the light of Nature, .ill pay obedience unto none, but
such as command, direct, or go.ern, for its good and benet. From both
which passagcs and cxprcssions ol that raclc ol Humanc wisdom,
thcscthrcc!nlcrcnccsdonaturallyarisc:First,thatbythclightolNa
turcpcoplcarctaughttobcthcirownCarvcrsandContrivcrs,inthc
lramingolthatGovcrnmcntundcrwhichthcymcantolivc.Sccondly,
thatnoncarctoprcsidcinGovcrnmcnt,orsitatthcHclm,butsuchas
shallbcjudgcdt,andchoscnbythcPcoplc.Thirdly,thatthcPcoplc
arcthconclypropcrJudgcsolthcconvcnicnccorinconvcnicnccola
Govcrnmcnt whcn it is crcctcd, and ol thc bchaviour ol Govcrnours
altcrthcyarcchoscn:whichthrcccductions
179
appcartobcnomorc,
butanxplanationolthismostcxccllcntMaximc,Thatthcriginal
andFountainolalljustPowcrandGovcrnmcntisinthcPcoplc.
Thisbcingso,thataFrccStatcGovcrnmcntbythcPcoplc,thatis,
bythcirsucccssivcRcprcscntativcs,orsuprcmcAsscmblics,duclycho
scn,ismostna|66|tural,andonclysutablctothcRcasonolmankindc:
thcnitlollows,thatthcothcrlorms,whcthcritbcolastandingPowcr
in thc Hands ol a particular pcrson, as a King, or ol a sct numbcr ol
Grcatncs,asinaScnatc,arcbcsidcsthcictatcs
180
olNaturc,bcing
mccr articial dcviccs ol Grcat Mcn, squarcd out oncly to scrvc thc
ndsand!ntcrcstsolAvaricc,PridcandAmbitionolalcw,toavas
salizing ol thc Community.ThcTruth whcrcol appcars so much thc
morc,ilwcconsidcr,Thata
181
ConscntandlrcclcctionolthcPcoplc,
whichisthcmostnaturalVayandFormolgovcrning,hathnorcalcl
lcctinthcothcrForms,butiscithcrsupplantcdbyCraltandCustomc,
or swallowcd up by a pcrnicious prctcncc ol Right (in onc or many)
!bid.,!..
c
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
togovcrn,onclybyvcrtucolanHcrcditarysucccssion.Nowccrtainly,
wcrcthcrcnoothcrArgumcnttoprovcthccxccllcncyolGovcrnmcnt
bythcPcoplc, .c.bcyondthcothcrForms,yctthisoncmightsucc,
ThatinthcPcoplcsForm,mcnhavcLibcrtytomakcuscolthatRca
sonandUndcrstandingGodhathgivcn|6,|thcm,inchusingolGov
crnours,andprovidinglorthcirownsalctyin
182
Govcrnmcnt:butinthc
othcrFormsolastanding
183
Powcr,allAuthoritybcingcntailcdtoccr
tainPcrsonsandFamilics,inacourscolinhcritancc,mcnarcalwaycs
dcprivcd ol thc usc ol thcir Rcason about choicc ol Govcrnours, and
lorccd to rcccivc thcm blindcly, and at all advcnturc
184
: which coursc
bcing so dcstructivc to thc Rcason, common !ntcrcst, and Majcsty ol
thatNoblcCrcaturc,callcdMan,thathcshouldnotinamattcrolso
highconscqucnccasGovcrnmcnt,(whcrcinthcgoodandsalctyolall
isconccrncd)havcaFrccdomolChoiccandJudgcmcnt,mustnccdsbc
thcmostirrationalandbrutishPrinciplcinthcVorld,andtonclyto
bchisscdoutolthcVorld,togcthcrwithallFormsolstandingPowcr
(whcthcrinKings,orothcrs)whichhavcscrvcdlornoothcrcnd,but
translorm
185
Mcn into 8casts, and morticd mankindc with miscry
throughallGcncrations.
Thc Truth ol this is cvidcnt all thc Vorld ovcr, rst, by sad x
amplcsol|6|Monarchy:lor,thcKinglylormhavingbccnrctaincd
inacourscol!nhcritancc,mcnbcinglorccdtotakcwhatcomcsncxt
loraGovcrnour,whcthcritbcMalcorFcmalc,awiscManoraFool,
Goodor8ad,sothatthcmajorpartolHcrcditaryPrinccs,havcbccn
TyrannousandVickcdbyNaturc,ormadcsobyducationandp
portunity:thcPcoplchavcbccnlorthcmostpartbandcd
186
toandlro,
withthcirLivcsandFortuncs,atthcVillandPlcasurcolsomconc
singlcunworthyFcllow,whousuallyassumcsthcgrcatcrcondcnccin
hisunrightcousdcaling,bccauschcknowsthcPcoplcarcticdinthat
Formtohimandhis,thoughhcpracticcallthc!njusticcinthcVorld.
ThiswasitthatbroughtonTyrannyin Fome,rstundcrthcirKings,
altcrwardsundcrmpcrors:loritistobcobscrvcdoutolthc
187
Story,
that all thosc mpcrors which rulcd by right ol !nhcritancc, provcd
most ol thcm no bcttcr than savagc 8casts, and all ol thcm Vickcd
cxccpt Titus.Tis truc indccd,That a Nation may havc somc rcspitc
RightConstitutionolaCommonwcalth
<
.
and rccruit now and thcn, by thc\cr|6|tuc and\alour ol a singlc
Princc,yctthisisvcryrarc,andwhcnitdothhappcn,itusuallylasts
188

nolongcrthanlorhisLilc,bccauschisSonorSucccssor(lorthcmost
part)provcsmorcwcakorvitious,thanhimscllwas\irtuous,asyou
maysccinthcscvcralListsolKingsthroughout GreatBritain,France,
Spain, and all thc Vorld. 8ut this is not all thc !nconvcnicncc, that
Hcrcditary Princcs havc bccn and arc lor thc most part Vickcd in
thcirownPcrsons:lor,asgrcat!nconvcnicnccshappcnbythcirbcing
litigious
189
in thcirTitlcs, witncss thc bloody disputcs bctwccn
190
thc
Princcs ol thc 8lood in France, as also in England, bctwccn thc two
Houscs ol Yorke and Lancaster; to which many morc might bc rcck
oncdoutolallothcrKingdoms,whichmiscrics,thcpcoplcmighthavc
avoidcd,hadthcynotbccnticdtooncparticularLincolSucccssion.
Thcrclorc,ilanyKinglyFormbctolcrablc,itmustbcthatwhichisby
lcction,choscnbythcPcoplcsRcprcscntativcs,andmadcan ccr
olTrustbythcm,towhomthcyarctobcaccountablc.And|,c|hcrcin,
as Kings arc oncly tolcrablc upon this account, as lcctivc, so thcsc
lcctivcKings
191
arcasintolcrablcuponanothcraccount,bccauscthcir
prcscntGrcatncssgivcsthcmopportunitycvcrtopractiscsuchslights,
that in a short timc, thc Govcrnmcnt that
192
thcy rcccivcd oncly lor
thcirownLivcs,willbccomccntailcduponthcirFamilics,whcrcbythc
Pcoplcslcctionwillbcmadcolnoccctlurthcr,than
193
lorFashion,
to mock thc poor Pcoplc, and adorn thcTriumphs ol an aspiring
194

Tyranny, as it hath bccn sccn in thc lcctivc Kingdoms ol Bohemia,

Poland,Hungaria
195
,and S.eden;whcrcthcFormsollcctionwcrc,
andarcstillrctaincd,butthcPowcrswallowcdup,andthcKingdoms
madcHcrcditary,notonlyinS.eden,bythcArticcol Gusta.usEri-
cus; but also in Poland, and thc mpirc, whcrc thc pcoplcs right ol
clcction was soon catcn out by thc cunning ol thc two Familics ol
Casimira
196
and ustria.
nc list Ncdham will havc had in mind is that ol Scottish kings in The
GroundsandFeasonsofMonarchy(n.p.,.6c)byhislitcrarypartncrJohnHall,
anothcr, lrom thc samc ycar, that ol nglish kings in Hcnry Parkcr, TheTrue
Portraiture of the Kings of England (London, .6c, rcprintcd in Scott, Somers
Tracts,6:,,.c).
a
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
Lctthisscrvctomanilcst,
197
thataGovcrnmcntbyalrcclcction
andConscntolthcPcoplc,sctlcdinaducand|,.|ordcrlysucccssion
olthcirsuprcmcAsscmblics,ismorcconsonanttothclightolNaturc
andRcason,andconscqucntlymuchmorccxccllcntthananyHcrcdi
tary standing Powcr
198
whatsocvcr.To takc o all misconstructions,
whcnwcmcntion thePeople,obscrvcallalong,thatwcdonotmcanthc
conluscdpromiscuous8odyolthcPcoplc,noranypartolthcpcoplc
whohavclorlcitcdthcirRightsbyclinqucncy,Ncutrality,orApos
tacy,.c.inrclation
199
tothcdividcdstatcolanyNation,lorthcyarc
nottobcrcckondwithinthcListsolthcPcoplc
200
.
|MP,.aFcb..6a|
ThcthirtccnthRcason,toprovcthccxccllcncyolaFrccStatcabovc
anyothcrForm,is,
201
bccauscinFrccStatcsthcrcarclcwcropportu
niticsolpprcssionandTyranny,thaninthcothcrForms.Andthis
appcars,inthatitiscvcrthccarcolFrccCommonwcalths
202
,lorthc
mostpart,toprcscrvc,notanquality,(whichwcrcirrationalandodi
ous)butanquabilityolConditionamongallthcMcmbcrs,sothat
no particular Man or Mcn shall bc pcrmittcd to grow ovcrgrcat in
Powcr,noranyRankolMcnbcal|,a|lowcdabovcthcordinaryStan
dard,toassumcuntothcmsclvcsthcStatcandTitlcolNobility.
Thc bscrvation ol thc lormcr, sccurcs thc Pcoplcs Libcrty lrom
thcrcacholthcirownccrs,suchasbcingcntrustcdwiththcAl
lairsolhighTrustand!mploymcnt,cithcrinCampcandCouncil ,
203

might pcrhaps takc occasion thcrcby to aspirc bcyond Rcason, il not

rcstraincdandprcvcntcd.
Thcbscrvationolthclatcr
204
,sccurcsthcPcoplclromthcprcs
surcsandAmbitionolsuchpcttyTyrants,aswouldusurpandclaim
a Prcrogativc, Powcr, and Grcatncss abovc othcrs, by 8irth and
!nhcritancc.Thcsc arc a sort ol Mcn not to bc cndurcd in any wcll
ordcrcd Commonwcalth, lor thcy alwaycs bcar a Natural and !mpla
cablcHatctowardsthcPcoplc,makingitthcir!ntcrcsttodcprivcthcm
olthcirLibcrty,sothatilatanytimcithappcn,thatanygrcatManor
Mcnwhatsocvcr,arrivctosomuchPowcrandCondcncc,astothink
In this
Government
there are fewer
opportunities
of Oppression
and Tyranny,
then under any
other Form.
RightConstitutionolaCommonwcalth
<

ol usurping, or to bc in a Condition |,| to bc tcmptcd thcrcunto,
thcsc arc thc rst that will sct thcm on, minglc !ntcrcsts with thcm,
andbccomcthcprimc!nstrumcntsinhcavingthcmupintothcScat
olTyranny.
For thc clcaring ol thcscTruths, and rst, to manilcst thc !ncon
vcnicncc ol pcrmitting any pcrsons to bc
205
ovcrgrcat in any Statc,
and that FrccStatcs that
206
havc not avoidcd it, havc soon lost thcir
Libcrty,wcshallproduccaFilcolxamplcs.!nGreecewcndc,that
thcFrccStatcol thenslostitsLibcrtyuponthataccountoncc,whcn
thcy sucrcd ccrtain ol thc Scnators to ovcrtop thc rcst in powcr,
whichoccasioncdthatmultiplicdTyranny,madclamousbythcnamc
ol thc thirtyTyrants: at anothcr timc, whcn by thc samc rror thcy
wcrcconstraincd,throughthcpowcrol Pistratus
207
,tostoopuntohis
singlcTyranny.
Upon this scorc also, thc pcoplc ol Syracusa had thc samc mislor
tuncundcrthcTyrantHiero,ashadthcyol Sicilyundcr Dyonisiusand
gathocles.
|,| !n Fome also thc casc is
208
thc samc too: lor during thc timc
thatLibcrtywasincludcdwithinthcScnatc,thcygavcboth Maelius
& Manlius an opportunity to aspirc, by pcrmitting thcm a growth
oltoomuchGrcatncss:butbygoodlortunccscapingthcirclutchcs,
thcyaltcrwardslcllasloolishlyintothchandsoltcnolthcirFcllow
Scnators, callcd thc Decem.iri, in giving thcm so much powcr as
tcmptcd thcm untoTyranny. Altcrwards, whcn thc pcoplc scucd,
and madc a shilt to rccovcr thcir Libcrty out ol thc hands ol thc
Scnatc,thcycommittcdthcsamcrrortoo,bypcrmittingol
209
thcir
Scrvantstogrowovcrgrcat,suchas Sylla,whobypowcrtyrannizcd
andmadchimscllictatorlorvcyccrs,as Caesaraltcrwardssctlcd
thcictatorshipuponhimsclllorcvcr:andaltcr Caesarsdcath,thcy
might havc rccovcrcd thcir Libcrty again, il thcy had takcn carc (as
thcy might casily havc donc) to prcvcnt thc growing Grcatncss ol
ugustus,whogainingpowcrrst,bythccourtcsic&goodwillolthc
ScnatcandPcoplc,madcuscolittocstablishhimscllinaTyranny,
which|,|couldncvcraltcrbccxtinguishcd,butinthcruincolthc
Romanmpircitscll.

<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
Thus also thc FrccStatc ol Florence loolishly ruincd it scll by thc
grcatningol Cosmus;rst,pcrmittinghimtoingrossthcPowcr,which
gavchimopportunitytobcatyrant,&thcnasloolishlylorcinghimto
dcclarchimscllaTyrant,byanunscasonablcdcmandolthcpowcrback
outolhishands.ManymorcinstanccsmightbclctchdoutolMilan,
S.it.erland, and othcr placcs: but wc havc onc nccrcr homc, and ol
alatcrdatc,inHolland;whcrcby,pcrmittingthcFamilyolOrangeto
grcatcn a littlc morc than bcsccmcd a Mcmbcr ol a FrccStatc, thcy
wcrcinscnsiblyrcduccdtothclastcast,torunthchazzardolthcloss
olthcirLibcrty.
Thcrclorc onc primc Principlc ol Statc, is,
210
To kccp any man,
thoughhchavcdcscrvcdncvcrsowcllbygoodsucccssorscrvicc,lrom
bcingtoogrcatorpopular:itisanotablcmcans(andsocstccmcdbyall
FrccStatcs)tokccpandprcscrvcaCommonwcalthlrom
211
thcRapcs
olUsurpation.
212

|MP.,a6Fcb.Mar..6a|
A lourtccnth Rcason, (and though |,6| thc last, yct not thc lcast) to
provcaFrccStatcorGovcrnmcntbythcPcoplc,sctlcdinaducand
ordcrly succcssion ol thcir suprcmc Asscmblics, is much morc cxccl
lcnt than any othcr Form, is,
213
bccausc in this Form, all Powcrs arc
accountablclormisdcmcanorsinGovcrnmcnt,inrcgardolthcnimblc
RcturnsandPcriodsolthcPcoplcslcction:bywhichmcans,hcthat
crcwhilcwasaGovcrnour,bcingrcduccdtothcconditionolaSub
jcct,licsopcntothclorccolthcLaws,andmaywithcascbcbrought
topunishmcntlorhisocncc,sothataltcrthcobscrvationolsucha
coursc,othcrswhichsuccccd,willbccomcthclcssdaringtoocnd,or
toabuscthcirTrustinAuthority,toanopprcssionolthcPcoplc.Such
acourscasthis,cutsthcvcrythroatolallTyranny,anddothnotoncly
root it up whcn at lull growth, but crushcth
214
thc Cockatricc in thc
gg,dcstroysitinthcSccd,inthcprincipal,
215
andinthcvcrypossi
biliticsolitsbcinglorcvcraltcr.AndasthcsalctyolthcPcoplc,isthc
SovcraignandSuprcmcLaw,soancsta|,,|blishmcntolthisNaturc,
isanimprcgnablc8ulwarkolthcPcoplcssalcty,bccauscwithoutit,no
In this form
all Powers are
accountable
for misde-
meanours in
Government.
RightConstitutionolaCommonwcalth
<

ccrtain 8cnct can bc obtaincd by thc ordinary Laws, which il thcy
shouldbcdispcnscdbyuncontrolablc,unaccountablcPcrsonsinPowcr,
shall ncvcr bc intcrprctcd, but in thcir own scnsc, nor cxccutcd, but
altcrthcirownVillsandPlcasurc.
Now,thisismostccrtain,ThatasinthcGovcrnmcntolthcPcoplc,
thcsucccssivcRcvolutionolAuthoritybythcirconscnt,hathcvcrbccn
thconcly8ankagainst!nundationsolArbitraryPowcrandTyranny,
soonthcothcrsidc,itisassurc,ThatallstandingPowcrshavcandcvcr
doassumcuntothcmsclvcsanArbitraryxcrciscolthcirowndictatcs
atplcasurc,andmakcitthcironcly!ntcrcsttoscttlcthcmsclvcsinan
unaccountablcstatcolominion
216
:sothat,thoughthcycommitall
thc injusticc in thcVorld, thcir customc hath bccn still to pcrswadc
mcn,partlybystrongprctcnccolArgumcnt,andpartlybylorcc,that
thcymaydowhatthcylist,andthat|,|thcyarcnotboundtogivcan
accountolthcirActionstoany,buttoGod
217
himscll.Thisoctrinc
olTyrannyhathtakcnthcdccpcrRootinmcnsmindcs,bccauscthc
grcatcst
218
partwascvcrinclincdtoadorcthcGoldcn!dololTyranny
incvcryForm:bywhich
219
mcansthcrabblcolmankindcbcingprcju
dicatcdinthisparticular,andhavingplacdthcircorrupthumourorin
tcrcstinbasclawning,andthclavourolprcscntGrcatncs,Thcrclorc
il any rcsolutc Spirit happcn to broach and maintain truc Principlcs
olFrccdom,ordoatanytimcarisctosomuchcouragc,astopcrlorm
a noblc Act ol Justicc, in callingTyrants to an account, prcscntly hc
drawsallthccnmityandluryolthcVorldabouthim.8utinCom
monwcalths it is and ought to bc othcrwisc, lor, in thc Monumcnts
ol thc Grccian and Romanc Frccdom, wc ndc, thosc Nations wcrc
wonttohcapallthcHonoursthcycouldinvcnt,bypublickRcwards,
ConsccrationolStatucs,andCrowns
220
olLaurcl,uponsuchworthy
Patriots:andasiloncarthallwcrctoolittlc,thcyinrolldthcm|,|in
hcavcnamongthc
221
citics.AndallthisthcydidoutolaNoblcscnsc
olCommonwcalintcrcst,
222
knowingthatthclilcolLibcrtyconsists
inastricthand,andzcalagainstTyrantsandTyranny,andbykccping
pcrsonsinpowcrlromallthcoccasionsolit:whichcannotbcbcttcr
donc,than(accordingtothccustomolallStatcsthatarcrcallylrcc)
bylcavingthcmliablctoaccount:whichhappincsswasncvcrsccnyct
6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
undcrthcsun,byanyLaworCustomcstablishcd,savconclyinthosc
Statcs,whcrcallmcnarcbroughttotastcolSubjcctionaswcllasRulc,
andthcGovcrnmcntsctlcdbyaducsucccssionolAuthority,bycon
scntolthcPcoplc.
!nS.it.erlandthcpcoplcarclrccindccd,
223
bccauscallccrsand
Govcrnours in thc Cantons, arc qucstionablc by thc Pcoplc in thcir
succcssivcAsscmblics.
Thc!nlcrcncclromthclorcgoingparticulars,iscasic,Thatsincc
FrccdomistobcprcscrvcdnoothcrwayinaCommonwcalth,butby
kccpingccrsandGovcrnoursinanaccountablcstatc,andsinccit
appcarsnostanding|c|Powcrscanncvcrbccallcdtoanaccount
224

without much diculty, or involving a Nation in 8lood or Miscry.

AndsinccarcvolutionolGovcrnmcntinthcPcoplcshands,hathcvcr
bccnthconclymcanstomakcGovcrnoursaccountablc,andprcvcnt
thcinconvcnicnccsolTyranny,istraction,andMiscry,thcrclorclor
this, and thosc othcr rcasons lorcgoing
225
, wc may concludc,That a
FrccStatc,orGovcrnmcntbythcPcoplc,sctlcdinaducandordcrly
succcssion ol thcir suprcmc Asscmblics, is lar morc cxccllcnt cvcry
way,thananyothcrFormwhatsocvcr.
226

,
AllbjcctionsAgainst
thcGovcrnmcntolthcPcoplc,
Answcrcd.

|.|
|MPa,..Mar..6a|
Considcring,Thatintimcspast,thcPcoplcolthisNationwcrcbrcdup
andinstructcdinthcbrutishPrinciplcsolMonarchy,bywhichmcans
thcyhavcbccnthcmorcavcrsclromcntcrtainingNotionsolamorc
noblcForm:andrcmcmbring,thatnotlongsinccwcwcrcputintoa
bcttcrcoursc,uponthcdcclarcd!ntcrcstolaFrccStatc,orCommon
wcalth,!conccivcdnothingcouldmorchighlytcndtothcpropagation
ol that good !ntcrcst, and thc Ho|a|nour ol its Foundcrs, than to
manilcstthc!nconvcnicnccsandillConscqucnccsolthcothcrForms,
andsotorootupthcirPrinciplcs,thatthcgoodPcoplc
227
,whobut thc
othcrdaywcrcinvcstcd
228
inthcposscssionolamorccxccllcntway,may
(inordcrtothcirrccstablishmcnt)undcrstandwhat Commonwcalth
Principlcsarcand
229
thcrcbybccomcthcmorcrcsolutctodclcndthcm
against thc common ncmy, lcarn to bc truc Commonwcalths mcn,
andzcalousagainstMonarchick!ntcrcst,inallitsappcaranccsandin
croachmcnts whatsocvcr.To this cnd wc havc sct down our Position,
ThataFrccStatc,orGovcrnmcntbythcPcoplc,sctlcdinaducand

<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
ordcrly succcssion ol thcir suprcmc Asscmblics, is thc most cxccllcnt
FormolGovcrnmcnt,which(!humblyconccivc)hathbccnsucicntly
provcd,bothbyRcasonandxamplc:butbccauscmanyprctcnccsol
bjcction arc in bcing, and such as by many arc takcn lor grantcd,
thcrclorc it lalls in ol coursc, that wc may rclutc thcm: which bcing
doncwiththcsamccvidcnccolRcasonand||xamplc,!doubtnot
but it will stop all thc Mouths, not oncly ol !gnorancc, but cvcn ol
MaliccandFlattcry,whichhavcprcsumcdtoprophancthatpurcway
olaFrccStatc,orGovcrnmcntbythcPcoplc.
That bjcction ol Royalists, and othcrs, which wc shall rst takc
noticcol,isthis, ThattheerectingofsuchaGo.ernment.ouldbetoseton
Le.ellingandConfusion.
Foranswcr,!lwctakcLcvcllinginthccommonusagcandapplication
olthctcrminthcscdays,itisolanodioussignication,asilitlcvclld
allmcninpointolstatcs,madcallthingscommontoall,dcstroycd
propricty,introduccdacommunityolcnjoymcntsamongmcn,which
isaScandallastncdbythccunningolthccommonncmyuponthis
kindcolGovcrnmcnt,whichthcyhatcabovcallothcrs,bccausc,wcrc
thcPcoplconccputinposscssionolthcirLibcrty,andmadcscnsiblc
olthcgrcat8cnctsthcymayrcapbyitsinjoymcnt,thchopcsolall
thcRoyalSticklcrswouldbcuttcrlycxtinct,inrcgarditwouldbcthc
likclicstmcans||toprcvcntarcturnolthc!ntcrcstolMonarchy:
lornoPcrsonorParticsscckingorscttingupaprivatc!ntcrcstolthcir
own, distinct lrom thc Publick, it will stop thc Mouths ol all Gain
saycrs.8ut
230
thcTruthis,ThiswayolFrccStatc,orGovcrnmcntby
thcPcoplcinthcirsucccssivcAsscmblics,issolarlromintroducinga
community,thatitisthconclyprcscrvativcolProprictyincvcrypar
ticular:thcRcasonswhcrcolarcplain:lor,asonthconcsidc,itisnot
inRcasontobcimagincd,thatsochoicca8ody,asthcRcprcscntativc
olaNation,shouldagrcctodcstroyoncanothcrinthcirscvcralRights
and!ntcrcsts:onthc
231
othcrsidc,allctcrminationsbcingcarricdin
thisFormbycommonConscnt,cvcryMansparticular!ntcrcstmust
nccdsbclairlyprovidcdlor,againstthcArbitrarydispositionoloth
crs,thcrclorc,whatcvcriscontrarytothis,islcvcllingindccd,bccausc
itplaccthcvcryMansRightundcrthcVillolanothcr,andisnolcss
A Free state
the only
preservative
against
Levelling and
confusion of
propriety.
bjcctionsAnswcrcd
<

thanTyranny,whichscatingitscllinanunlimitcduncontrollablcPrc
rogativcovcrothcrswithoutthcir||Conscnt,bccomcsthcvcrybanc
ol propricty, and howcvcr disquictcd, or in what Form socvcr it ap
pcars,isindccdthcvcry!ntcrcstolMonarchy.
Now that a FrccStatc, or succcssivc Govcrnmcnt ol thc Pcoplc,
.c.isthconclyprcscrvativcolPropricty,appcarsby!nstanccsallthc
Vorldovcr,yctwcshallcitcbutalcw.
UndcrMonarchs,wcshallndccvcr,ThatthcSubjcctshadnoth
ing that thcy could call thcir own, ncithcr Livcs, nor Fortuncs, nor
Vivcs,noranythingclscthatthcMonarchplcascdtocommand,bc
causcthcpoorpcoplckncwnorcmcdyagainstthclcvcllingVillolan
unboundcdSovcraignity,asmaybcsccninthcRccordsolallNations
thathavcstoopdundcrthatwrctchcdForm:whcrcolwchavcalsovcry
sadxamplcsin France,andothcrKingdoms,atthisvcryday,whcrc
thcPcoplchavcnothingolPropricty,butalldcpcndsuponthcRoyal
Plcasurc, as it did ol latc hcrc in England. Morcovcr, it is vcry ob
scrvablc,ThatinKingdomswhcrcthcPcoplchavccnjoycdanything
ol Libcrty and Propricty, thcy havc bccn |6| such Kingdoms oncly,
whcrcthclramcolGovcrnmcnthathbccnsowclltcmpcrcd,asthat
thcbcstsharcolithathbccnrctaincdinthcPcoplcsHands,andby
howmuchthcgrcatcrinucnccthcPcoplchavchadthcrcin,somuch
thc morc surc and ccrtain thcy havc bccn, in thc cnjoymcnt ol thcir
Propricty.
232

Topassbymanyothcr!nstanccs,considcrhowrmthcragonians
wcrcinthcirLibcrticsandPropcrtics,solongasthcyhcldthcirhold
ovcrthcirKingsinthcirsuprcmcAsscmblics,andnosooncrhad Philip
thcscconddcprivcdthcmolthcirsharcinthcGovcrnmcnt,butthcm
sclvcsandthcirpropcrtics
233
bccamcaprcy(andhavcbccncvcrsincc)
tothcVillandPlcasurcolthcirKings.
Thclikcalsomaybcsaidol France
234
,whcrc,aslongasthcPcoplcs
!ntcrcstborcswayinthcirsuprcmcAsscmblics,thcy
235
couldcallthcir
LivcsandFortuncsthcirown,andnolongcr:lor,allthathavcsuccccdcd
sincc Le.is thc clcvcnth, lollowcd his lcvclling pattcrn so lar, that in
short timc thcy dcstroycd thc Pcoplcs Propcrty, and bccamc thc |,|
grcatcstLcvcllcrsinChristcndom.Vcwcrcalmostatthcsamcpass
236

c
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
hcrcin England:lor,aslongasthcPcoplcs!ntcrcstwasprcscrvcdby
lrcqucntandsucccssivcParliamcnts,solongwcwcrcinsomcmcasurc
sccurcolourPropcrtics:butasKingsbcgantowormthcPcoplcoutol
thcirsharcinGovcrnmcnt,bydiscontinuingolParliamcnts,Sothcy
carricd on thcir lcvclling dcsign, to thc dcstroying ol our Propcrtics,
andhadbythismcansbroughtitsohigh,thatthcraclcsolthcLaw
andGospclspakcitoutwithagoodlcvcllingGracc,Thatall.asthe
Kings,andthat.ehadnothing.emightcallouro.n.
Thus you scc how much Lcvclling, and littlc ol Propricty
237
, thc
pcoplc havc had ccrtain undcr Monarchs, and il any at all, by what
mcansanduponwhattcrmsthcyhavchadit.Norhathitbccnthus
oncly undcr Kings, but wc ndc, thc Pcoplc havc cvcr had as littlc
ol Propcrty
238
sccurc, undcr all othcr Forms ol standing Powcrs
239
,
which havc produccd as crrant Lcvcllcrs in this particular, as any ol
thcMonarchics.!nthc||FrccStatcol thens,aslongasthcPcoplc
kcpt lrcc indccd, in an cnjoymcnt ol thcir succcssivc Asscmblics, so
longthcywcrcsccurcinthcirPropcrtics
240
,andnolongcr.For,tosay
nothingolthcirKings,whoscHistoryisvcryobscurc,wcndc,altcr
thcywcrclaidsidc,thcycrcctcdanothcrFormolstandingPowcr,ina
singlcPcrson,callcd,aGovcrnour,lorLilc,whowasalsoaccountablc
lormisdcmcanours:butyctaTryalbcingmadcolnincolthcm,thc
Pcoplc saw so littlc sccurity by thcm, that thcy pitchd upon anothcr
standing Form ol ccimal Govcrnmcnt
241
, and bcing opprcssd by
thcmtoo,thcywcrccashicrd.Thclikcmiscricsthcytastcdundcrthc
standing powcr ol Thirty, which wcrc a sort ol Lcvcllcrs morc rank
thanallthcrcst,whoputtodcath,banishcd,pilld,andpolldwhom
thcyplcascd,withoutCauscorxccption,sothatthcpoorpcoplchav
ingbccntormcntcdundcrallthcFormsolstandingPowcr,wcrcinthc
cndlorccd(asthcir
242
lastrcmcdy)totakcSanctuaryundcrthcForm
ola||FrccStatc,inthcirsucccssivcAsscmblics.
Andthoughitmaybcobjcctcd,Thataltcrwardsthcylcllintomany
divisions and miscrics, cvcn in that Form: yct whocvcr obscrvcs thc
Story,shallndc,itwasnotthclaultolthcGovcrnmcnt,butolthcm
sclvcs, in swcrving lrom thc Rulcs ol a FrccStatc, by pcrmitting thc
continuanccolPowcrinparticularhands,whohavinganopportunity
bjcctionsAnswcrcd
<
.
thcrcbytocrcatcParticsolthcirownamongthcPcoplc,didlorthcir
owncnds,invciglc,ingagc,andintanglcthcminpopularTumultsand
ivisions.ThiswasthctrucRcasonolthcirMiscarriagcs
243
.Andilcvcr
anyGovcrnmcntolthcPcoplcdidmiscarry,itwasuponthataccount
244
.
Thusalsothc Lacedemonians,altcrthcyhadlorsomcyccrstrycdthc
Govcrnmcnt ol onc King, thcn ol two Kings at oncc ol two distinct
Familics,altcrwardscamcinthc Ephori,asSupcrviscrsolthcirKings:
altcr (! say) thcy had trycd
245
thcmsclvcs through all thc Forms ol a
standingPowcr,andloundthcmalltobcLcvcllcrsolthcPcoplcs|c|
!ntcrcstandPropcrty
246
,thcnncccssitytaughtthcmtoscckshcltcrin
aFrccStatc,undcrwhichthcylivcdhappily,tillbyalorcmcntioncd
247

rrorolthc thenians,thcywcrcdrawnintoParticsbypowcrlulPcr
sons,andsomadcthc!nstrumcntsolivisionamongthcmsclvcs,lor
thcbringingolncwLcvcllcrsintoplay,suchaswcrcManchanidasand
Nabis,whosuccccdcdcachothcrinaTyranny.
!n old Fome, altcr thc standing Form ol Kings was cxtinct, and a
ncwonccstablishcd,thcpcoplcloundaslittlcolsalctyandpropcrty
as cvcr: lor, thc standing Scnatc, and thc Decem.iri, provcd as grcat
Lcvcllcrs,asKings:sothatthcywcrclorccdtoscttlcthcGovcrnmcnt
olthcPcoplcbyaducandordcrly
248
succcssionolthcirsuprcmcAs
scmblics.Thcnthcybcganagaintorccovcrthcirpropcrtic
249
,inhav
ingsomcwhatthcymightcallthcirown,andthcyhappilycnjoycdit,
till,asbythcsamcrrorolthcLacedemoniansandthenians,swcrv
inglromthcRulcsolaFrccStatc,lcngthningolpowcrinparticular
hands,thcywcrcdrawnanddi|.|vidcdintoPartics,toscrvcthclusts
ol such powcrlul mcn as by cralt bccamc thcir Lcadcrs: so that by
this mcans (through thcir own dclault) thcy wcrc dcprivcd ol thcir
Libcrtylongbclorcthcdaycsol!mpcrialTyranny.Thus Cinna,Sylla,
Marius,andthcrcstolthatsuccccdingGang,downto Caesar,uscdthc
Pcoplcslavour,toobtainacontinuationolpowcrinthcirownhands,
andthcnhavingsadlcdthcpcoplcwithancwstandingFormolthcir
own, thcy immcdiatcly rootcd up thc Pcoplcs Libcrty and Propcrty,
by Arbitrary Scntcnccs ol dcath, Proscriptions, Fincs, and Consca
tions:whichstrain
250
ollcvclling,(morcintolcrablcthanthclormcr)
wasmaintaincdbythcsamcArtsolcvillishPolicydowntoCaesar;
a
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
whostrikinginaFavouritc
251
olthcPcoplc,andmakinguscolthcir
Acctionstolcngthcnpowcrinhisownhands:atlcngth,bythisr
rour ol thc pcoplc, gaincd opportunity to introducc a ncw lcvclling
Formolstandingpowcrinhimscll,toanuttcrandirrccovcrablcruinc
olthcRomancLibcrtyandpropcrty
252
.
|a|!n Florencethcyhavcbccninthcsamccascthcrc,undcrcvcry
Formolstandingpowcr.!twasso,whcnthcGrcatncsrulcd:itwas
soundcrGoderino,itwassoundcr Sa.anarolathcMonk.Vhcnthcy
oncc bcgan to lcngthcn powcr by thc pcoplcs Favour, thcy prcscntly
lclltolcvcllinganddominccring,asdidCosmusaltcrwards,thatcralty
Foundcrolthcprcscntukcdom.
Upon thc samc tcrms, thc Rcpublick ol Pisa lost thcmsclvcs, and
bccamcthcprcyolscvcralUsurpations.
Mantua was oncc a FrccCity ol thc mpirc, but ncglccting thcir
succcssivc Asscmblics, and pcrmitting thc Grcat ncs, and most
Vcalthy,tolormastandingpowcrinthcmsclvcs:thcpcoplcwcrcso
vcxcdwiththcm,thatonc Passerimogcttingpowcrinhisownhands,
andthcnlcngthcningitbyArticc,turndLcvcllcrtoo,subjcctingall
tohisownwill,sothatthcpoorpcoplc,toridthcirhandsolhim,wcrc
lorccdtopitchuponanothcr,asbad,andtranslatcthcirpowcrintoa
pcttyukcdom,inthchandsolthcFamilyol Gon.aga.
|| Vc may lrom hcncc salcly concludc
253
against all objccting
MonarchsandRoyalists,olwhatnamcandTitlcsocvcr,that
254
aFrcc
StatcorCommonwcalthbythcpcoplcinthcirsucccssivcAsscmblics
issolarlromlcvcllingordcstroyingpropcrtic
255
,thatinallagcsithath
bccn thc oncly prcscrvativc ol Libcrty and propcrty, and thc oncly
rcmcdyagainstthcLcvcllingsandUsurpationsolstandingpowcrs:lor,
itisclccr,ThatKings
256
andallstandingpowcrsarcthcLcvcllcrs.
|MP,...Mar..6a|

257
AsccondbjcctioninthcMouthsolmany,isthis, Thattheerecting
ofsuchaForminthePeopleshands,.eretheready.aytocauseconfusion
Prcsumably Sodcrino. Yct thc spclling was rcproduccd lrom Politicus and
wasrctaincdinthcrcpublicationol.,6,.
bjcctionsAnswcrcd
<

inGo.ernment;.henallpersons(.ithoutdistinction)areallo.edaright
tochuseandbechosenmembersofthesupremessemblies.
258

Foranswcrtothis,know,wcmustconsidcraCommonwcalth
259
in
atwololdcondition:cithcrinitssctlcdstatc,whcnlullystablishcdand
loundcd,andwhcnallmcnwcrc
260
supposcdFricndstoitscstablish
mcnt, or clsc whcn it is ncwly lounding or loundcd, and that in thc
closcolacivilVar,uponthcruincol||alormcrGovcrnmcnt,and
thoscthatstoodlorit,inwhichcascitcvcrhathagrcatpartywithinit
scll,thatarccncmicstoitscstablishmcnt.
Astothcrst,towit,aCommonwcalthinitssctlcdandcomposcd
statc,whcnallmcnwithinitarcprcsumcdtobcitsFricnds,qucstion
lcss, a right to chusc and to bc choscn
261
, is thcn to bc allowcd thc
pcoplc,(withoutdistinction)inasgrcatalatitudc,asmaystandwith
rightRcasonandConvcnicncc,lormanagingamattcrolsohighCon
scqucnccasthcirSuprcmcAsscmblics,whcrcinsomcwhatmustbclclt
tohumancPrudcncc,andthcrclorcthatlatitudcbcingtobcadmittcd
morcorlcss,accordingtothcNaturc,Circumstanccs,andNcccssitics
olanyNation,isnothcrctobcdctcrmincd.
8utastoaCommonwcalthundcrthcsccondconsidcration,whcnitis
lounding,orncwlyloundcd,inthccloscolaCivilVar,uponthcruincol
alormcrGovcrnmcnt,!nthiscasc,(!say)tomakcnodistinctionbctwixt
mcn, but to allow thc conqucrcd part ol thc pcoplc an cqual right to
chuscandto||bcchoscn,.c.wcrcnotoncly
262
totakcawayallpro
portioninpolicy,butthcrcadywaytodcstroythcCommonwcalth,and
byapromiscuousmixturcoloppositc!ntcrcsts,toturnallintoconlusion.
Now,thatthcncmicsolLibcrty,bcingsubducduponthccloscol
aCivilVar,arcnottobcallowcdsharcrsinthcRightsolthcpcoplc,
is cvidcnt, lor divcrs Rcasons: not oncly bccausc such an allowancc
would bc a mcans to givc thcm opportunity to sow thc sccds ol ncw
8royls and ivisions, and bring a ncw hazard upon thc Libcrtics ol
thcPcoplc,(whicharcRcasonsdcrivcdlromConvcnicncc):butthcrc
isamorcspccialArgumcntlromthccquityolthcthing,accordingto
thcLawandCustomolNations,ThatsuchashavccommcnccdVar,
toscrvcthcLustsolTyrantsagainstthcPcoplcs!ntcrcst,shouldnot
bc rcccivcd
263
any longcr a part ol thc pcoplc, but may bc handlcd as
slavcswhcnsubducd,ilthcirSubducrsplcascsotouscthcm,bccausc
A Free state
gives no cause
of confusion.

<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
bythcirTrcasonsagainstthcMajcstyolthcpcoplc,(whichthcyought
tohavc|6|maintaincd)thcyhavcmadclorlciturcolallthcirRights
andPrivilcdgcs,asMcmbcrsolthcPcoplc,andthcrclorcilithappcns
in this casc at any timc, That any !mmunitics, Propcrtics or njoy
mcntsbcindulgcduntothcm,thcymustnottakcthcmasthcirownby
Right,butas8oonsbcstowcduponthcmbythcpcoplcscourtcsic.
ThcoldCommonwcaltholGreecewas
264
vcryscvcrcinthisparticu
lar:lor,asthcywcrcwonttohcapupallHonoursthcycouldvcnt,upon
suchasdidorsucrcdanythinglorthcmaintcnanccolthcirLibcrty,
so, on thc othcr sidc thcy punishcd thc Undcrmincrs ol it, or thosc
thatanywaycsappcarcdagainstit,withutmostcxtrcmity,pcrsccuting
thcmwithForlciturcs,botholLilcandFortunc,andilthcycscapcd
withLilc,thcyusuallybccamcslavcs:andmanytimcsthcypcrsccutcd
thcm,bcingdcad,branding
265
thcirMcmoricswithantcrnalMarkol
!nlamy.
!nold Fomethcydcaltmorcmildlywiththcgrcatcstpartolthoscthat
hadsidcdwiththc Tarquinsaltcrthcirxpulsion:butyctthcywcrcnot
rcstorcd|,|toallthcirlormcrPrivilcdgcs.!nproccssoltimc,asoltas
anyconspircdagainstthcPcoplcs!ntcrcst,inthcirsucccssivcAsscmblics,
altcr thcy had oncc gottcn thcm, thcmsclvcs wcrc banishcd, and thcir
statcsconscatcd,notcxccptingmanyolthcScnators,aswcllasoth
crs,andmadclorcvcrincapablcolanyTrustinthcCommonwcalth
266
.
Altcrwards, thcy took thc samc coursc with as many ol Catilines
FcllowTraytorsandConspirators,aswcrcworthyanything,andhad
nodoubtsucicntlypaidCaesarsAbcttorsinthcsamcCoin,butthat
hcworcoutalloppositcswithhisprospcrousTrcason.ThusMillain
267
,
andthcrcstolthoscStatcs,whcnthcywcrclrcc,asalsothc S.issesand
Hollanders,inthc!nlancyolthc Hel.etianand BelgickFrccdoms,who
tookthcsamccourscwithallthoscunnaturalParicidcsandApostatcs,
thatocrcdrsttostranglcthcirLibcrtyinthc8irth,oraltcrwardsin
thcCradlc,bysccrctConspiracy,oropcnviolcncc.Noroughtthisto
sccmstrangc,sinccilarightolConqucstmaybcuscdovcraForain,
who oncly is to bc accountcd || a lair, cncmy: much morc against
such,asagainstthclightolNaturc,shallcngagcthcmsclvcsinsoloul
practiccs,astcndtoruincthcLibcrtyolthcirNativcCountry.
bjcctionsAnswcrcd
<

SccingthcrclorcthatthcpcoplcinthcirGovcrnmcnt,uponalloc
casionsolCivilVaragainstthcirLibcrtics,havcbccnmostzcalousin
vindicatingthoscAttcmptsuponthchcadsolthcConspirators:sccing
also, that upon thc closc ol a Civil Var, thcy havc a Right, and not
oncly a Right, but usually a vcry grcat Rcsolution to kccp out thosc
ncmicsolLibcrty,whomthcyconqucr,lromaparticipationolany
RightinGovcrnmcnt:thcrclorcinthiscascalso,aswcllasthclormcr,
wcmayconcludc,ThatthcyinthcirsucccssivcAsscmblics,arcsolar
lromlcvcllingthc!ntcrcstolGovcrnmcntintoallhands,withoutdis
tinction,thatthcirprincipalcarciscvcrtoprcscrvcitinthcirown,to
prcvcntthcrcturnolncwVars,old!ntcrcsts,andConlusion.
|MP,.aMar..6a|

268
8utthcrcisathirdbjcctionagainstit,drawnlromaprctcnding
269
inconvcnicncc ol such a succcssion, al||lcdging, That the manage-
ment of State-airs requires Judgement and Experience; .hich is not to
beexpectedfromne.Memberscommingintothosessembliesupone.ery
election.
Now,bccauscthcvcryLilcolLibcrtylicsinasucccssionolPowcrs
andPcrsons,thcrclorcitismcct!shouldbcsomcwhatprccisc&punc
tualbywayolanswcrtothisparticular.bscrvcthcn,thatinGovcrn
mcnttwothingsarctobcconsidcrcd: ctaImperii,andrcanaImperii:
thatis,ctsofState,and SecretsofState.8yActsolStatc,wcmcanthc
Laws and rdinanccs ol thc Lcgislativc Powcr: thcsc arc thc things
thathavcmostinucnccuponaCommonwcalth
270
,toitsillorwcll
bcing, and arc thc oncly Rcmcdics lor such bad Customcs, !nconvc
nicnccs,and!ncroachmcntsasaictandgricvcit.Vhcrclorc,mattcrs
olgricvanccbcingmattcrsolcommonscnsc,andsucharcobviousto
thcpcoplc,whobcstknowwhcrcthcshoocpinchcs
271
thcm,ccrtainly,
thcrcisnonccdolanygrcatskillorjudgcmcntinpassingorapplying
aLawlorRcmcdy
272
,whichisthc|.cc|propcrworkolthcpcoplcin
thcirsuprcmcAsscmblics,andsuch,ascvcryordinaryUndcrstanding
isinstructcdinbythcLightolNaturc:sothat,astothis,thcrccanbc
nodangcrbyinstitutinganordcrlysucccssionolthcpcoplc.
Aairs of
State as well
managed
under a Free-
State as under
any Form.
6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
8utaslorthoscthingscallcdrcanaImperii,SccrctsolStatc,orthc
cxccutivcpartolGovcrnmcnt,duringthc!ntcrvalsolthcirSuprcmc
Asscmblics,thcscthingsbcingolaNaturcrcmotclromordinaryap
prchcnsions,andsuchasncccssarilyrcquircprudcncc,timc,andcxpc
ricncc,totmcnlormanagcmcnt:MuchinRcasonmaybcsaid,and
mustbcgrantcd,lorthccontinuationolsuchTrustsinthcsamchands,
asrclatctomattcrolCounscl
273
,orAdministrationolJusticc,morcor
lcss, according to thcir good or illbchaviour. A prudcntial continua
tion ol thcsc, may (without qucstion) and ought to bc allowcd upon
discrction,bccausc,ilthcydoamiss,thcyarccasilyaccountablctothc
pcoplcsAsscmblics.8utnowthccascisothcrwisc,astothcscSuprcmc
Asscmblics,whcrcalcw,casic,|.c.|ncccssarythings,suchascommon
scnsc and rcason instruct mcn in, arc thc ttcst things lor thcm to
applythcmsclvcsunto:andthcrcthcPcoplcsTrustccsarctocontinuc,
olright,nolongcrthanmccrNcccssityrcquircs,lorthcirownrcdrcss
andsalcty,whichbcingprovidcdlor,thcyarctorcturnintoacondition
olSubjcctionandbcdicncc,withthcrcstolthcpcoplc,tosuchLaws
and Govcrnmcnt as thcmsclvcs havc crcctcd: by which mcans alonc,
thcywillbcablctoknowwhcthcrthcyhavcdoncwcllorill,whcnthcy
lcclthcccctsolwhatthcyhavcdonc.thcrwisc,ilanythinghappcn
tobcdoncamiss,whatwaycanthcrcbclorrcmcdy:sinccnoAppcal
istobchadlromthcSuprcmc8odyolthcPcoplc,cxccptaduccoursc
olSucccssionbcprcscrvcdlromhandtohand,bythcPcoplcschoicc,
andothcrpcrsonsthcrcuponadmittcd(uponthcsamctcrms)intothc
samcAuthority.
This is thc truth, as wc havc madc manilcst both by Rcason and
xamplc:thcrclorcwcshalladdcalittlctoourlormcriscoursc
274
,by
wayol!llustration.
|.ca|!n thens,whcngovcrndbythcPcoplc,wcndc,itwasthcir
coursc to uphold constant rcturns and pcriods ol Succcssion in thcir
SuprcmcAsscmblics,lorrcmcdyolGricvanccs,andthcyhadastand
ingCouncil
275
,callcdthcreopagus,towhomallthcirSccrctsolStatc
wcrccommittcd,togcthcrwiththcadministrationolGovcrnmcntdur
ing thc !ntcrvals ol thosc Asscmblics, at whosc rcturn thcy wcrc ac
countablc,andwarilycontinucd,orcxcludcd,asthcPcoplcloundcausc.
bjcctionsAnswcrcd
<
,
!n Sparta thcy had thc likc, as also in Fome, altcr thc Pcoplc had
oncc got thcir succcssivc Asscmblics, whcrcin thcy passcd Laws lor
Govcrnmcnt:andnotknowinghowtobcridolthcirhcrcditaryScn
atc, thcy pcrmittcd thcm and thcir lamilics to continuc a standing
Council
276
,butyctcontrollablcby,andaccountablctothcirAsscmblics,
whosccludcdandbanishcdmanyolthcmlorthcirmisdcmcanours:so
thatbythismcansthcpcoplchadanopportunitytomakcuscolthcir
Visdom,andcurbthcirAmbition.
!n Florence (whcn lrcc) thc Govcrn|.c|mcnt was altcr thc samc
Modc.
277

!nHollandalso,and S.it.erland,thcyhavcthcirSuprcmcAsscm
blics lrcqucnt by lcction, with cxcccding bcnct, but no prcjudicc
to Aairs: lor thc lrcqucncic ol thosc succcssivc Mcctings, prcscrvcs
thcirLibcrty,andprovidcsLaws,thcxccutionwhcrcoliscommittcd
toothcrs,andaairsolStatctoaCouncil
278
olthcirownchoicc,ac
countablctothcmsclvcs:whcrcthcirStatcconccrnmcntsvcryscldom
miscarry,bccauscthcyplaccanddisplaccthcirCounscllors
279
withcx
traordinarycarcandcaution.
8y thcsc particulars, you may pcrccivc thc vanity ol thc alorcsaid
bjcction,andhowslcndcraprctcnccitisagainstthatcxccllcntcoursc
olSucccssivcAsscmblics,sinccaairsolStatcarcaswclldisposcd(or
rathcrbcttcr)undcrthisForm,thananyothcr.
|MP,aMar..Apr..6a|
A lourth bjcction commonly uscd against thc Constitution ol a
FrccStatc,orGovcrnmcntbythcPcoplcinthcirsucccssivcAsscm
blics,isthis: ThatsuchaGo.ernmentbringsgreatDamagetothe|.c|
Publike,bytheirfrequentDiscontents,Di.isions,andTumults,thatarise
.ithinit.
For answcr to this, it is rcquisitc that wc takc noticc ol thosc c
casionswhicharcthccommoncauscsolsuchhumoursinthisForm:
whichbcingonccknown,itwillcasilyappcarwhcnccthosc!nconvc
nicnccsdoarisc,andnotlromanydclaultinthcnaturcolthcGovcrn
mcnt:thcyarccommonlythcscthrcc.
Discontents &
Tumults, no
natural eects
of a Free-State.

<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
First,whcnanyolthcirlcllowCitizcns,orMcmbcrsolthcCom
monwcal,shallarrogatcanythingolPowcrandPrivilcdgcuntothcm
sclvcs,orthcirFamilics,whcrcbytoGrandizcorgrcatcnthcmsclvcs,
bcyondthcordinarysizcandstandard
280
olthcPcoplc.Vcndcthis
tobcmosttruc,bythccourscolaairsinthcRomancStatc,asthcy
arcrccordcdbyLi.y;whoplainlyshcws,thatuponthccxpulsionolthc
Tarquins,thoughthcscnatcintroduccdancwGovcrnmcnt,yctthcir
rctaining thc powcr ol thc old within thc hands ol thcmsclvcs and
thcir Familics, was thc occasion ol all thosc al|.c|tcriscontcnts
andTumultsthataroscamongthcPcoplc.For,had Brutusmadcthcm
lrcc,whcnhcdcclarcdthcmso,orhadthcScnatcalittlcaltcr,lol
lowcdthcadviccandcxamplcol Publicola,andsomcothcrsashon
cstashc,alloccasionoliscontcnthadbccntakcnaway:butwhcn
thc Pcoplc saw thc Scnators scatcd in a lolty posturc ovcr
281
thcm,
whcn thcy lclt thc wcight ol that Statc and ignity prcssing upon
shouldcrsthatwcrcpromiscdtobcatcasc,andlrcc,whcnthcylound
thcmsclvcs cxcmptcd lrom thc cnjoymcnt ol thc samc common
Privilcdgcs,cxcludcdlromallccs,orAllianccwiththcScnators,
thcirpurscscmpticdolMoncy,thcirbcllicsolMcat,andthcirhcarts
ol Hopc: thcn it was, that thcy bcgan to grumblc and mutiny, and
ncvcr until thcy got a powcr to bridlc thc Grcat oncs, by an happic
succcssionolthcirSuprcmcAsscmblics.
282

A sccond ccasion ol thc pcoplcs bcing inclincd to iscontcnt

andTumult,undcrthcirFrccFormolGovcrnmcnt,appcarsinStory
tobcthis:Vhcnthcy|.c6|lcltthcmsclvcsnotlairlydcaltwithal,by
suchasbccamcthcirLcadcrsandGcncrals.Thus
283
inSyracusa,Dio-
nysiuscloathinghimscllwithaprctcnccolthcpcoplcsLibcrtics
284
,
and bcing by that mcans madc thcir Gcncral
285
, and thcn making
usc ol that powcr to othcr cnds than was prctcndcd, bccamc thc
Firc8rand ol that Statc, and put thc pcoplc all into Flamcs, lor
thccxpulsionolhim,whohadmadcaForlciturcolallhisglorious
prctcnccs.

Livy,bUrbeCondita,!!..

PcrhapsarclcrcncctoPlutarch,LifeofDion,XL!\.
bjcctionsAnswcrcd
<

ThusinSpartathcpcoplcwcrcpcaccablccnoughundcrthcirown
Govcrnmcnt,tillthcyloundthcmsclvcsovcrrcachcd,andthcircrcdu
lityabuscdbysuchasthcytrustcd,whoscdcsignswcrclaidinthcdark,
lor thc convcrting ol Libcrty into Tyranny, undcr Manchanidas and
Nabis.!nold Fome,undcrthcpcoplcsGovcrnmcnt,itistruc,itwasa
sadsightoltcntimcstosccthcpcoplcswarmingintumults,thcirshops
shutup,andalltradinggivcnovcrthroughoutthcCity,andsomtimcs
thcCitylorsakcnandlcltcmpty.
8ut hcrc, as also in thens, thc ccasion was
286
thc samc: lor, as
thcpcoplc|.c,|naturallylovcPcaccandasc,sondingthcmsclvcs
oltcnoutwittcdandabuscdbythcslightsandlcarsolthcScnatc,thcy
prcscntly(asitisthcirNaturcuponsuchccasions)grcwoutolallpa
ticncc.Thccascwasthcsamcalso,whcnanyoncolthcirScnators,or
olthcmsclvcs,arrivcdtoanyhcight
287
olpowcrbyinsinuatingintothc
pcoplcslavour,uponspcciousandpopularprctcnccs,andthcnmadca
lorlciturcolthoscprctcnccs,bytakingacontrarycoursc.ThusSyllaol
thcScnatorianordcr,and MariusolthcPlcbcian,bothgotpowcrinto
thcir hands, upon prctcncc ol thc pcoplcs good, (as many othcrs did
bclorcandaltcr,notonclyinFome,butinothcrFrccStatcsalso)but
288

lorlciting thcir prctcnccs by taking Arbitrary courscs, thcy wcrc thc

solcCauscsolallthoscTumultsandSlaughtcrsamongthcRomancs,
thcinlamywhcrcolhathmostinjuriouslybccncastuponthcpcoplcs
Govcrnmcnt,bythcprolancpcnsolsuchashavcbccnboldinPcnsion
orRclationinthcCourtsolPrinccs.
ThusCaesaralsohimscll,strikingasa|.c|Favoritcolthcpcoplc
uponlairprctcnccs,andlorlcitingthcm,whcninpowcr,wasthconcly
causc ol all thosc succccding Civil 8roylcs andTragcdics among thc
pcoplc.
AthirdccasionolthcPcoplcsbcinginclincdtoiscontcntand
TumultinaFrccStatc,isthis,whcnthcyarcscnsiblcolpprcssion.
For,!sayagain,Thcpcoplcarcnaturallyolapcaccablctcmpcr,mind
ingnothing,butalrccnjoymcnt:butilonccthcyndcthcmsclvcs
circumvcntcd,mislcd,orsqucczcdbysuchasthcyhavcintrustcd,thcn
thcyswclllikcthcSca,andovcrrunthc8oundsolJustandHoncst,
ruiningallbclorcthcm.
6c
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
!naword,thcrcisnotoncprcccdcntolTumultsorScditioncanbc
citcdoutolallStorics
289
,bythcncmicsolFrccdom,againstthcpco
plcs Govcrnmcnt, but it will appcar likcwisc thcrcby, that thc pcoplc
wcrcnotinlault,butcithcrdrawnin,orprovokcdthcrcto,bythcCralt
or!njusticcolsuchlairPrctcndcrsashavchadbycndsolthcirown,
andbydcsignsuponthcpublickLibcrty.
|.c|Ncvcrthclcss,admitthatthcpcoplcwcrctumultuousinthcir
own Naturc, yct thosc Tumults (whcn thcy happcn) arc morc casily
to bc bornc, than thcsc !nconvcnicnccs that arisc lrom thc Tyranny
olMonarchsand
290
Grcatncs:lorpopularTumultshavcthcscthrcc
Qualitics:
First, Thc !njury ol thcm ncvcr cxtcnds lurthcr than somc lcw
Pcrsons, and thosc (lor thc most part) guilty cnough, as wcrc thc
thirtyGrandccsinthens,thcTcninFome,andthoscothcrStatc
Mountcbanks,thatsucrcdlorthcirPracticcsbythcPcoplcsFury.
Sccondly,ThoscTumultsarcnotlasting,but(likcts)quicklyovcr:
lor,anloqucntration,orPcrswasion,(aswcsccinthcxamplcol
Meneniusgrippa)orthcRcputationolsomcgravcorhoncstMan,(as
inthcxamplcol!irginus
291
,andaltcrwardsolCato)dothvcrycasily
rcduccandpacicthcm.
Thirdly,ThccndingolthoscTumults,thoughthcyhavcruincdsomc
particulars,yctitappcarsthcyhavc|..c|usuallyturncdtothcgoodol
thcPublick:lorwcscc,thatbothin thensand Fome,thcGrcatncs
wcrcbythismcanskcptinawclrom!njusticc,thcSpiritsolthcpcoplc
wcrc kcpt warm with high thoughts ol thcmsclvcs and thcir Libcrty
(whichturncdmuchtothcinlargcmcntolthcirmpirc.)
Andlastly,8ythismcansthcycamcoalwaycswithgoodLawslor
thcirprot,(asinthccascolthcLawoltwclvcTablcs,broughtlrom
thens to Fome) or clsc with an Augmcntation ol thcir !mmunitics,
and Privilcdgcs (as in thc casc ol procuring thc Tribuncs, and thcir
ThcLawolthcTwclvcTablcslormcdthcbasisolthcRomanRcpublican
constitution.AccordingtoLivy,bUrbeCondita,!!!.a,duringthcprcpara
tionolthclawsca.cn.c.,thccccmviratcscntancmbassytoAthcnsinordcr
tostudythcSolonianConstitution.
bjcctionsAnswcrcd
<
6.
SuprcmcAsscmblics)andaltcrwardsinthclrcqucntconrmationol
thcmagainstthc!ncroachmcntsolthcNoblcs.
NowthccascislarothcrwiscundcrthcstandingpowcrolthcGrcat
ncs,thcy,inthcirCounscls,Projccts,andcsigns,arclastandtcna
cious, so that thc vils undcr thosc Forms arc morc rcmcdilcss. 8c
sidcs,thcyrcachtothcwholc8odyolaCommonwcal:andsothcvils
arcmorcUnivcrsal.Andlastly,thoscTumults,Quarrcls,and!nconvc
nicnccs|...|thatarisclromamongthcm,ncvcrtcndnorcnd,butto
thclarthcropprcssionandsupprcssionolthcpcoplcinthcir!ntcrcst
andPropricty.
For conclusion thcn: by thcsc particulars you may plainly scc thc
vanity ol this bjcction aboutTumults, how lar thcy arc lrom bcing
natural cccts ol thc Pcoplcs Govcrnmcnt, insomuch, as by thc Rc
cords ol History, it appcars rathcr that thcy havc bccn thc ncccssary
conscqucnccs
292
ol such Tricks and Chcats ol Grcat Mcn, as in thc
daycsolyorchavcbccnputuponthcpcoplc.
|MP6,.Apr..6a|
AlthbjcctionagainstthcFormolaFrccStatc
293
,orGovcrnmcnt
bythcpcoplcinthcirsucccssivcAsscmblics,andwhichwcndcmost
inthcMouthsolRoyalistsandParasitcs,isthis,Thatlittlesecurityisto
behadthereinforthemore.ealthyandpo.erfulsortofmen,inregardof
thatLiberty.hichthepeopleassumeuntothemsel.es,toaccuseorcalumni-
ate.homtheypleaseuponanyoccasion.
Foranswcrtothis,know,Thatcalumniation(whichsignicsambi
tious|..a|slandcringolmcn,bywhispcrings,rcports,orlalscaccusa
tions) was ncvcr allowcd or approvcd in this Form ol Govcrnmcnt.
Tis truc indccd, that such xtravagancics thcrc havc bccn (morc or
lcss)inallFormswhatsocvcr,butinthis,lcssthanany:itbcingmost
inuscundcrstandingPowcrsolGrcatoncs,whomakcitthcirgrand
nginctorcmovcorruincallpcrsonsthatstandinthcwayolthcm
andthcirdcsigncs:Andlorthispurposc,ithathcvcrbccnthcircom
mon custom to havc !nstrumcnts rcady at hand, as wc scc in all thc
StoricsolKingsandGrandccslromtimctotimc,yca,andby ristotle
Calumniation
less used
under the
peoples
Government,
than under
any other
Form.
6a
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
himscll,togcthcrwiththcwholctrainolCommcntators,itisparticu
larly markd out inter agitia Dominationis, to bc onc ol thc pcculiar
cnormiticsthatattcnd
294
thcLordlyintcrcstolominion
295
.
Thc Romanc Statc, altcr it grcw corrupt, is a sucicnt !nstancc,
whcrcwcndc,thatnotonclythctcnGrandccs,butallthatsuccccdcd
thcminthatdominccringhumourovcrthcPcoplc,cvcrkcptaRctinuc
wcll stockd with |..| Calumniators and !nlormcrs, (such as wc call
KnightsofthePost)tosnapthoscthatinanywiscappcarcdlorthcPco
plcsLibcrtics.Thiswasthcirconstanttradc,asitwasaltcrwardsalso
olthcirmpcrours.8utallthcwhilcthatthcPcoplckcptthcirpowcr
cntirc in thc Suprcmc Asscmblics, wc rcad not ol its bcing brought
intoanyconstantpracticc.Somctimcsindccd,thoscgrcatCommand
crs that had donc thcm many cmincnt Scrviccs, wcrc, by rcason ol
somc altcractions, callcd to an account
296
, and having, by an ingros
mcntolPowcr,rcndcrdthcmsclvcssuspcctcd,andburthcnsomctothc
Commonwcalth,wcrccommandcdtorctirc,(aswcrcboththcScipios.)
AndinthcStoricsolthc thenianCommonwcalth,wcndc,that
bythcirloltyandunwarycarriagc,thcystirrdupthcPcoplcslcarand
jcalousic so lar, as to qucstion and scnd divcrs ol thcm into 8anish
mcnt,notwithstandingallthcirlormcrmcrits,aswcrcadollcibiades,
Themistocles,andothcrs:whcrcas,ilthcRulcsolaFrccStatchadbccn
punctuallyobscrvcd,byprc|..|scrvingadiscrcctrcvolutionolPow
crs, and an cquability, or modcratc statc ol particular pcrsons, thcrc
had bccn no occasion ol !ncroachmcnt on thc onc part, or ol Fcar
on thc othcr, nor could thc prying Royalist havc had thc lcast prc
tcnccorshadowol!nvcctivcagainstthcPcoplcsGovcrnmcntinthis
particular
297
.
ThusmucholCalumniation,whichislcsslrcqucntundcrthcPco
plcsForm,thananyothcr.
Now as to thc point ol Accusing, or libcrty ol Accusation by thc
Pcoplc, bclorc thcir Suprcmc Asscmblics, it is a thing so csscntially
ncccssary lor thc prcscrvation ol a Commonwcalth, that thcrc is no
possibility ol having pcrsons kcpt accountablc without it, and, by
Aristotlc,Politics,\....
bjcctionsAnswcrcd
<
6
conscqucncc,nosccurityolLilcandstatc,LibcrtyandPropcrty.And
olwhatcxccllcntuscthisis,lorthcpublikcbcnctolanyStatc,ap
pcarsinthcsctwoparticulars.
First,itis
298
apparcnt,thatthcrcasonwhcrclorcKings,andallothcr
standingPowcrs,havcprcsumcdtoabuscthcPcoplc,is,bccauscthcir
continuation|..|olAuthorityhavingbccnamcanstostatc
299
thcm
inaconditionol!mpunity,thcPcoplccithcrdurstnot,orcouldnot
assumc a libcrty ol Accusation, and so havc lingcrd without rcmcdy,
whilstGrcatMcnhavcprocccdcdwithoutcontroltoanAugmcntation
olthcirmiscry:whcrcasilajustLibcrtyolAccusationbckcptinurc,
andGrcatPcrsonsbythismcanslic
300
liablctoqucstioning,thcCom
monwcalth
301
mustnccdsbcthcmorcsccurc,bccauscnoncthcnwill
darc to intrcnch, or attcmpt ought, against thcir Libcrty, and in casc
anydo,thcymaywithmuchcascbcsupprcssd.Allwhichamounts,in
ccct,toalullconrmationolthismostcxccllcntMaximc,rccordcdin
Policic: MaximinterestFepub.Libertatis,utliberpossisCi.emaliquem
accusare:!tmost
302
highlyconccrnsthcFrccdomolaCommonwcalth,
thatthcPcoplchavclibcrtyolaccusinganypcrsonswhatsocvcr.
Sccondly, it appcars, this Libcrty is most ncccssary, bccausc, as it
hathbccnthconclyRcmcdyagainstthc!njusticcolgrcatandpow
crlul pcrsons, so it |..6| hath bccn thc oncly mcans to cxtinguish
thosc mulations, Jcalousics, and Suspicions, which usually abound
withluryinmcnsmindcs,whcnthcysccsuchpcrsonsscatcdsolar
abovc,thatthcyarcnotablctorcachthcm,orbringthcm(asitbc
comcsallcarthlyPowcrs)
303
toanaccountolthciractions:olwhich
LibcrtywhcnthcPcoplchavcsccnthcmsclvcsdcprivcdintimcpast,
it is sad to considcr how thcy havc own out into such absurd and
cxtraordinary courscs, in hopc ol Rcmcdy, as havc causcd not oncly
istraction,butmanytimcsuttcrRuinctothcPublikc.Mostolthosc
Tumults
304
in old Fome, wcrc occasioncd lor want ol this libcrty in
ordinary, as thosc that happcncd undcr thc Decem.iri: so that thc
Pcoplc,nothavinglrccdomtoaccuscandqucstionthcirJusticc,wcrc
cnamcdtocommitsuddcnutragcs,tobcrcvcngcduponthcm.8ut
whcnthcyhadonccobtaincdpowcrtoaccuscorqucstionanyman,
byassistanccolthcirTribuncs,thcnwcmcctwithnoncolthoschcats
6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
andtsamongthcm,butthcyrclcrrdthcmsclvcsovcr
305
,withmuch
contcnt, to |..,| thc ordinary coursc ol procccding. A prcgnant !n
stanccwhcrcol,wchavcinthcCascolCoriolanus;whohavingdonc
somc injury to thc pcoplc, thcy nding him bclricndcd and uphcld
bythcGrcatoncs,rcsolvcdtobcrcvcngcduponhimwiththcirown
hands,andhadtornhiminpicccsashccamcoutolthcScnatc,but
thatthcTribuncsimmcdiatclystcpdin,andnotonclypromiscd,but
appointcd thcm a day ol Hcaring against him, and so all was calm
again,andquict:whcrcas,ilthisordinarycourscolRcmcdy,incalling
himtoaccount,hadnotbccnallowd,andhcbccndcstroydinaMu
tiny,aworldolsadConscqucnccsmusthavcbclallcnthcCommon
wcalth
306
, by rcason ol thosc normitics and Rcvcngcs that would
havcriscn,uponthcruincolsoconsidcrablcapcrson.
!nthcStoricsol Florencealso,wcrcadolonc !alesius,whogrcatning
himscllintolittlclcssthanthcposturcolaPrinccinthatRcpublikc,
hcsoconrmdhimscll,thatthcpcoplcnotbcingablctorcgulatchis
cxtravagancics by any ordinary procccdings, thcy |..| bctook thcm
sclvcs to that unhappic rcmcdy ol Arms, and it cost thc bcst blood
and livcs in that Statc, bclorc thcy could bring him down: involving
thcm in a world ol Miscrics, which might havc bccn avoidcd, had
thcytakcncarctoprcscrvcthciroldLibcrtyolAccusationandQucs
tion,andbcingablctotakcacourscwithhiminanordinarywayol
progrcss
307
.
ThusalsointhcsamcStatc,Soderino,amanolthcsamcsizc,intcr
cst,andhumour,whcnthcPcoplcsawthatthcyhadlostthcirLibcrty,
inbcingunablctoqucstionhim,ranlikcmadmcnuponaRcmcdyas
bad as thc iscasc, and callcd in thc Spaniard to supprcss him
308
: so
that turncd almost to thc ruinc ol thc Statc, which might havc bccn
prcvcntcd, could thcy havc rcprcssd him by thc ordinary way ol Ac
cusationandQucstion
309
.
From thcsc
310
Prcmiscs, thcn, lct us concludc, That sccing thc
crookcd way ol Calumniation is lcss uscd undcr thc Pcoplcs Form
ol Govcrnmcnt, than any othcr: and sincc thc rctaining ol a Rcgular
Machiavclli,Discourses,!.,.
bjcctionsAnswcrcd
<
6
coursc,loradmittinganddcci|..|dingolallComplaintsandCon
trovcrsics by way ol Accusation, is ol absolutc ncccssity to thc salcty
andwcllbcingolaCommonwcalth
311
,Thcrclorcthisbjcctionisol
as littlc wcight as thc rcst, so as in any wisc to diminish thc ignity
andRcputationolaFrccStatc,orGovcrnmcntbythcPcoplcinthcir
succcssivcAsscmblics.
|MP,,.Apr..6a|
AsixthbjcctionagainstthcFormolaFrccStatc,orGovcrnmcntby
thcPcoplc,isallcadgcdbymany,tothisccct: ThatPeoplebynatureare
factious,inconstant,andungrateful.
Foranswcr,rst,astothcpointolbcingFactious,wchavcalrcady
shcwn,thatthisGovcrnmcnt,statcdinasucccssionolitsSuprcmc
Asscmblics, is thc oncly prcvcntivc ol Faction, bccausc, in crcating
a Faction, thcrc is a ncccssity, that thosc which cndcavour it, must
havc oportunity to improvc thcir slights and projccts, in disguising
thcir csigncs, drawing in !nstrumcnts and Partics, and in worm
ing out ppositcs: thc cccting ol all which, rcquircs somc lcngth
ol timc, which |.ac| cannot bc had, and conscqucntly, no Faction
lormd,whcnGovcrnmcntisnotxcdinparticularpcrsons,butman
agcdbyducsucccssionandrcvolutionolAuthorityinthchandsol
thcPcoplc.
8csidcs,itistobcconsidcrcd,thatthcPcoplcarcncvcrthcrstor
principalinFaction:thcyarcncvcrthcauthorsandcontrivcrsolit,but
cvcrthcparticsthatarcdrawnintoSidingsbythcinucnccolstanding
Powcrs,toscrvcthcirintcrcstsanddcsigncs.
Thus Sylla and Marius, Pompey and Caesar, continuing powcr in
thcirownhands
312
,clcltthcRomancmpircatscvcraltimcsintoscv
cral Partics: as altcrwards it was clclt into thrcc by thcTriumviratc,
whcrcin thc pcoplc had no hand, bcing (as thcy arc alwaycs) purcly
passivc,andpassionatclydividcd,accordingasthcywcrcwroughtupon
bythcsubtil!nsinuationsolthcprimcnginccrsolcachFaction.
ThusItalywasdividcdintoGuelphandGibelline;andFrancetornin
twobythctwoFamilicsol OrleanceandBurgundi:also,bythcGuisians
Faction,
inconstancy,
and ingrati-
tude, no
natural eects
of the peoples
Government.
66
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
and thcir |.a.| Conlcdcratcs, whcrcin
313
thc pcoplc had no lurthcr
314

hand,thanasthcywcrcactcdbythcpcrswasionsandprctcnccsoltwo
powcrlulpartics.
Thc casc also was thc samc in
315
England, in timcs past, whcn thc
GrandccGamc
316
wasinactionbctwccn
317
thctwoFamilicsol Yorke
andLancaster.Sothatitisclcarcnough,Thcpcoplcinthcirownnaturc
arcnotinclincdtobcFactious,norarcthcycvcringagcdthatway,lar
thcrthanasthcirNaturcisabuscd,anddrawninbypowcrlulpcrsons.
Thc sccond particular ol this bjcction, is !nconstancy, which
holds truc indccd in thcm that arc dcbauchcd, and in thc corruptcd
StatcolaCommonwcalth,whcndcgcncratcdlromitspurcPrinciplcs,
as wc ndc in that ol thens, Fome, Florence, and othcrs: but yct in
Fome you may scc as prcgnant instanccs ol that pcoplcs constancy,
asolanyothcrsortolmcnwhatsocvcr:lor,thcycontinucdconstant
irrcconcilablcncmicstoallTyrannyingcncral,and
318
Kinglypowcr
inparticular.
!n likc manncr, whcn thcy had oncc |.aa| gottcn thcir succcssivc
Asscmblics, thcy rcmaincd so rm & sti to uphold thcm, that thc
succccdingTyrants could not in a long timc, nor without cxtraordi
narycunningandcautiondcprivcthcmolthatonclyvidcnccolthcir
Libcrty.
Morcovcr,itisobscrvablcolthispcoplc,Thatinmakingthcirlcc
tionsthcycouldncvcrbcpcrswadcdtochuscaknown!nlamous,\i
tious, or unworthy Fcllow, so that thcy scldom or ncvcr crrcd in thc
choicc ol thcir Tribuncs and othcr ccrs. And as in thc lraming
ol Laws, thcir aim was cvcr at thc gcncral Good, it bcing thcir own
!ntcrcst,quatenusthcpcoplc,sothcirconstancyinthcconscrvationol
thosc Laws was most rcmarkablc: lor, notwithstanding all thc cralty
cviccsandFctchcsolthcNoblcs,thcpcoplccouldncvcrbcwoodto
aconscntolabrogatinganyoncLaw,tillbythcaltcrationolTimc,Al
lairs,andothcrCircumstanccs,itdidplainlyappcarinconvcnicnt.
8ut thc casc hath cvcr bccn othcrwisc undcr Kings and all stand
ingPowcrs,|.a|whousuallyranintoallthccxtrcamsol!nconstancy,
uponcvcryncwProjcct,pcttyHumour,andccasion,thatsccmcd
319

lavourablc lor cccting ol thcir bydcsigns. And in ordcr hcrcunto,

bjcctionsAnswcrcd
<
6,
Storicswillinlormyou,ThatithathbccnthcirCustomc,toshiltPrin
ciplcscvcryMoon,andcashicrallaths,Protcstations,Promiscs,and
ngagcmcnts,andblotoutthcMcmoryolthcmwithawctFingcr.
ThiswasvcryrcmarkablcinthclatcKing
320
,whoscinconstancyin
thiskindc,wasbcyondcomparc,whonosooncrhadpasscdanyProm
iscs,madc\owsandProtcstations,xd
321
AppcalsinthcHighCourt
olHcavcn,inthcbchallolHimscllandhisFamily,butprcscntlyhc
lorlcitcdall,andcancclldthcmbyhisActions.
322

Astothcthirdpoint,ol!ngratitudc,itismuchchargcduponthis
Form ol Govcrnmcnt, bccausc wc rcad both in thens and Fome, ol
divcrs unhandsomc Rcturns madc to somc worthy Pcrsons that had
donc high scrviccs lor thosc Commonwcalths, as lcibiades,Themis-
tocles, Phocion, Miltiades, Furius, |.a| Camillus, Coriolanus, and both
thc Scipios;thccausc
323
olwhoscmislortuncsisdcscribcdbyPlutarch
andLi.y,tobcthcirownloltyandunwarycarriagc,Having(saythcy)
by an ingrossmcnt ol powcr, rcndrcd thcmsclvcs suspcctcd, and bur
thcnsomc to thc Commonwcalth, and thcrcby stirrcd up thc pcoplcs
lcar&jcalousic:whcrcasilthcyhadkcptthcmsclvcswithinthcRulcs
olaFrccStatc,bypcrmitting
324
adisccctRcvolutionolpowcrinpar
ticularhands,thcrchadbccnnooccasionolincroachmcntonthconc
part, nor ol lcar on thc othcr. l all
325
, thc Scipios indccd wcrc most
to bc piticd, bccausc thcir only
326
lault sccms to bc too much powcr
and grcatncss, (which indccd is thc grcatcst lault that Mcmbcrs ol a
Commonwcalth can bc guilty ol, il scriously considcrcd,) insomuch,
that bcing grown lormidablc to thcir FcllowScnators, thcy wcrc by
thcm rcmovcd: and so it appcars to havc bccn thc act ol thc Noblcs,
(uponthcirownscorcand!ntcrcst)andnotolthcpcoplc.8utaslor
Camillusand Coriolanus,thcysucicntlydcscrvcdwhatsocvcr
327
bclcl
|.a|thcm,bccauscthcymadcuscolthcpowcrandrcputation
328
thcy
had gottcn by thcir lormcr mcrits, oncly to malignc and cxcrcisc an
implacablchatctowardsthcpcoplcs!ntcrcst.Ncvcrthclcss,thcpcoplc
rcstorcdCamillusagaintohisstatcandHonour,altcrsomclittlctimc
ol8anishmcnt.
And though this accidcnt in a FrccStatc hath bccn objcctcd by
many, as a grcat dccct, yct othcrs again do highly commcnd thc
6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
humour:For(saythcy)itisnotonclyagoodsignolaCommonwcalths
bcinginpurcandpcrlccthcalth,whcnthcpcoplcarcthusactivc,zcal
ous,andjcalousinthcbchallolthcirLibcrtics
329
,thatwillpcrmitno
such growth ol powcr as may cndangcr it, but it is also a convcnicnt
mcanstocurbthcAmbitionolitsCitizcns,andmakcthcmcontain
withinducbounds,whcnthcysccthcrcisnoprcsumingaltcr!nlargc
mcnts,andAcccssionsolPowcrsandGrcatncss
330
,withoutincurring
thcdangcrandindignationolthcpcoplc.
ThusmucholthcRcasonwhythc|.a6|pcoplcmanytimcscasto
pcrsonsthathavcdoncthcmcmincntscrviccs:yctonthcothcrsidc,
thcywcrcsolarlrom!ngratitudc,thatthcyhavcalwaycs
331
bccncxccs
sivcinthcirRcwardsandHonours,tosuchmcnasdcscrvcdanyway
olthcPublikc,whilstthcyconlormcdthcmsclvcstoRulcs,andkcptin
aposturcsuitingtoLibcrty
332
.VitncssthcirConsccrationolStatucs,
!nccnsc, Sacriccs, and Crowns ol Laurcl, inrolling such mcn in thc
numbcrolthcircitics.
Thcrclorcthccrimcol!ngratitudccannotinanypcculiarmanncr
bclastncduponthcPcoplc:butilwcconsultthcStoricsolallstanding
Powcrs,wcmayproduccinnumcrablctcstimonicsolthcir!ngratitudc
toward such as havc donc thcm thc grcatcst scrvicc, ill rccompcncc
bcingaMystcryolStatcpractiscdbyallKingsandGrandccs,who(as
Tacitus tclls us) cvcr count thcmsclvcs disobligcd, by thc bravcst ac
tionsolthcirsubjccts.
Uponthisaccount, lexanderhatcd ntipaterand Parmenio,andput
thclattcrtodcath.Thusthcmpcrour!e-|.a,|spasiancashicrcdand
ruincdthcmcritoriousntonies
333
.Thusalsowas lphonsuslbuquer-
quescrvcdbyhisMastcrthcKingol Portugal;and Consal.usthcGrcat,
byFerdinandol ragon:aswasalsothat StanleyolthcHouscol Derby,
whosctthcCrownuponKing Henrythcscvcnthshcad.Thus Syllathc
RomancGrandccdcstroycdhischoiccst!nstrumcntsthathclpdhim
intothcSaddlc,asugustusscrvcdhislricnd Cicero,andcxposcdhim
tothcmaliccandmurthcrol nthonie.
Machiavclli,Discourses,!.a,indiscussingthcingratitudcolprinccs,quotcs
Tacitus,History,!\.tothatccct.
bjcctionsAnswcrcd
<
6
!nnumcrablc arc thc xamplcs ol this kindc, which cvidcncc, that
such unworthy dcalings arc thc ccct
334
ol all standing Powcrs, and
thcrclorcmorcpropcrlytobcobjcctcdagainstthcm,thanagainstthc
GovcrnmcntolthcPcoplc.

335
Thushavinganswcrcdall,orthcmainbjcctions,broughtbythc
advcrsaricsolaFrccStatc,bclorcwcprocccdtothcrroursolGov
crnmcnt,andRulcsolPolicic,itwillnotbcamiss,butvcryconvcnicnt,
tosaysomc|.a|thingolthatwhichindccdisthcvcryFoundationol
allthcrcst,towit,ThattheOriginalofallJustPo.erandGo.ernmentis
inthePEOPLE.
,c
ThcriginalolAllJustPowcr
!sinthcPcoplc.

|.a|
|MP,.aaApr..6a|

336
ThoscMcnthatdcnythisPosition,arclaintorunupashighas Noah
and dam, to gain a prctcncc lor thcir pinion: allcdging,That thc
primitivcorrstGovcrnmcntsolthcVorldwcrcnotinstitutcdbythc
conscntandclcctionolthoscthatwcrcgovcrncd,butbyanabsolutc
Authorityinvcstcdinthcpcrsonsgovcrning. Thusthcysayourrst
Parcnt rulcd, by a plcnary Powcr and Authority in himscll oncly, as
didalsothcPatriarchsbclorcandaltcrthcFloodtoo,lorsomctimc,
bccomingPrinccsbyvcrtucolapatcrnalrightovcrallthcFamilicsol
thcir own Gcncration and xtraction: so that thc Fathcrs, by rcason
olthcircxtraordinarylongLivcs,andthcmultiplicityolVivcs,hap
pcncd to |.c| bc Lords ol Kingdoms or Principalitics ol thcir own
bcgctting.
NcdhamstargctisSirRobcrtFilmcr,thcthcoristolpatriarchalmonarchy,
whoscThenarchyofaLimitedorMixedMonarchyhadbccnpublishcdin.6
inLondon.
ThcriginalolAllJustPowcr
<
,.
AndsosomcdcrivingthcPcdigrccorGovcrnmcntolthisPatcrnal
RightolSovcraignty,wouldbyallmcansconcludc,ThattheOriginalof
Go.ernment,neither.asnoroughttobeinthePeople.
For answcr to this, considcr, That Magistracy or Govcrnmcnt is
to bc considcrcd, as Natural, or as Political: Naturally hc was a truc
publickMagistratcorFathcrolhisCountry,whointhoscPatriarchal
timcsrulcdovcrhisownChildrcnandthcircsccndants.ThisForm
olGovcrnmcntwasonlytcmporary,andtookancndnotlongaltcrthc
Flood,whcn Nimrodchangcdit,andbylorcccombiningnumbcrsol
distinctFamilicsintoonc8ody,andsubjcctingthcmtohisownRcgi
mcnt,did,byanArbitraryPowcr,scatcdinhisownVillandSword,
constrain thcm to submit unto what Laws and Conditions himscll
plcascdtoimposcon
337
thcm.
ThusthcPatcrnalFormbccamcchangcdintoaTyrannical.Ncithcr
olthcschad(!conlcss)thcirriginal|..|inorlromthcPcoplc,nor
hathcithcrolthcmanyrclationtothatGovcrnmcntwhichwcintcnd
inourPosition.
8ut sccondly, Thcrc is a Govcrnmcnt Political, not groundcd in
Naturc,noruponPatcrnalRightbyNaturalGcncration,butloundcd
upon thc lrcc lcction, Conscnt or mutual Compact ol mcn cntring
intoalormolcivilsocicty.ThisisthcGovcrnmcntwcnowspcakol,it
havingbccninrcqucstinmostagcs,andstillis:whcrcasthcothcrwas
longsinccoutoldatc,bcinguscdonclyinthcrstagcolthcVorld,as
propcronclylorthattimc.
Sothattoprcvcntallbjcctionsolthisnaturc,whcnwcspcakhcrc
olGovcrnmcnt,wcmcanonclythcPolitical,whichisbyConscntor
Compact, whosc original wc shall provc to bc in thc pcoplc. As lor
thc Govcrnmcnt ol thc Israelites, rst undcr Moses, thcn Joshua and
thcJudgcs,ThcScripturcplainlyshcws,thatthcywcrccxtraordinary
Govcrnours, bcing ol Gods immcdiatc institution, who raiscd thcm
upbyhisSpirit,andimposcdthcmuponthatpcoplc,whoscpcculiar
happincssitwasin|.a|cascsolthisnaturc,tohavcsoinlalliblcand
surcadircction,sothatthcirGovcrnmcntwasaThcocracic,(assomc
havccallcdit)havingGodhimscllloritsonclyriginal:andthcrclorc
,a
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
no wondcr wc havc in that timc & Nation, so lcw visiblc lootstcps
ol thc pcoplcs lcction, or ol an institution by Compact. 8ut yct wc
ndcaltcrthcJudgcs,whcnthispcoplcrcjcctcdthismorcimmcdiatc
wayolGovcrnmcntbyGod,(asthcLordtold Samuel,Theyha.enot
rejected thee, but me) and dcsircd a Govcrnmcnt altcr thc manncr ol
othcrNations,thcnGodsccmstolorbcarthcuscolhisPrcrogativc,
andlcavcthcmtoancxcrciscolthcirownnaturalRightsandLibcr
tics,tomakcchoiccolancwGovcrnmcntandGovcrnourbysuragc
andcompact.
ThcGovcrnmcntthcyaimcdat,wasKingly:Godhimscllwasdis
plcascdatit,andsowasSamueltoo,who,inhopctocontinucthcold
Form,andtolrightthcmlromthcncw,tcllsthcm,whatMonstcrsin
GovcrnmcntKingswouldprovc,byassuminguntothcmsclvcsanArbi
traryPowcr,(notthataKingmight|.|lawlullyandbyrightdowhat
Samuel dcscribcs, but
338
oncly to shcw how lar Kings would prcsumc
to abusc thcir powcr, which no doubt Samuel lorcsaw, not oncly by
Rcason,butbythcSpiritolProphccic.)Ncvcrthclcssthcpcoplcwould
havcaKing,saythcy, Nay,butthereshallbeaKingo.erus:whcrcupon,
saith God to Samuel, Hearken to their .oice.

Vhcrc wc
339
plainly scc,
rst,GodgivcsthcmlcavctouscthcirownnaturalRights
340
,inmak
ingchoiccolthcirownForm
341
olGovcrnmcnt,butthcnindccd,lor
thcchoiccolthcirGovcrnor,thcrcwasoncthingcxtraordinary,inthat
Godappointcdthcmonc,hcvouchsangstillinancxtraordinaryand
immcdiatcmanncrtobcthcirircctorandProtcctor:butyct,though
Godwasplcascdtonominatcthcpcrson,hclcltthcconrmationand
raticationolthcKingshipuntothcpcoplc,toshcw,thatnaturallythc
right ol all was in thcm, howcvcr thc cxcrcisc ol it wcrc supcrscdcd
at that timc, by his ivinc plcasurc, as to thc point ol nomination:
lor,thatthcpcoplcmightundcrstanditwasthcirRight,Samuelcalls
thcm|.|alltoMi.peh,asilthcmattcrwcrcalltobcdoncancwon
thcirpart,andthcrcbylot,thcyatlcngthmadcchoiccolSaul,andso
immcdiatcly by proclaiming him with shouts and acclamations: and
!Samucl:,.

!Samucl:6,.
thcnhavinghadproololhisvalouragainstthc morites,thcymcctat
Gilgal,andproclaimhimKingonccagain,toshcwthat(naturally)thc
validity ol thc Kingship dcpcndcd wholly upon thc pcoplcs conscnt
andconrmation.Andsoyousccthcrstandmostcmincntcvidcncc
ol thc institution ol Political Govcrnmcnt in Scripturc doth notori
ouslydcmonstratc,thatitsoriginalisinorlromthcpcoplc,andthcrc
lorc!shallwavcanylurthcrinstanccsincascsolthclikcnaturcoutol
Scripturc,whicharcnotalcw.nclylctitbcrcmcmbrcd,that Peterin
hisrstpistlc,callsallGovcrnmcntthcrdinanccolman,(inthc
riginal, thecreationofman,aCrcaturcolamansmaking)toshcw,that
inallitslormsitdcpcndsonclyuponthcwill&plcasurcolthcpcoplc.
Vc might insist larthcr to cvincc thc Truth ol this by strcngth
olRcason,butlctthisscrvctoasscrtthcrightolthc|.|thing,and
aslorthcrcst,cvcrymanwillcasilybclicvcitvcryconsonanttorcason,
ilhcrccctuponthcmattcrollact,andconsidcr,thatithathbccnthc
unanimouspracticcolallthcNationsolthcVorld,toasscrtthcirown
RightsollcctionandConscnt(asoltcnasthcyhadopportunity)in
thcvariousturnsolinstitutionandaltcrationolGovcrnmcnt.!nItaly
ol old thcy had most FrccStatcs, and lcw Princcs, now all Princcs,
and no FrccStatcs. Naples, altcr many Rcvolutions, is undcr Spain,
FomeundcraPopc,andundcrhimoncScnator,instcadolthoscmany
thatwcrcwonttobc,!eniceandGenoahavcScnatorsandukcs,but
thcukcsarcolsmallpowcr, Florence,Ferrara,Mantua,Parma,and
Sa.oy,havcnoScnators,butukcsonly,andthcyabsolutc, Burgundy,
Lorain, Gascoin, and Britany, had oncc Kings, thcn ukcs, but now
arcincorporatcdintoFrance:soallthcPrincipaliticsolGermanythat
nowarc,wcrconccimbodicdinonccntircRcgimcnt: Castile,ragon,
Portugal, & Barcelona, wcrc oncc distinct Kingdoms, but now unitcd
all to Spain, savc Portugal, which lcll o thc othcr |.6| day, France
wasrstoncKingdomundcr Pharamond,altcrwardspartcdintolour
Kingdoms,andatlastbccomconcagain: EnglandconsistcdolFrcc
Statcs till thc Fomans yokcd it, altcrwards it was dividcd into scvcn
!Pctcra:...
ThcriginalolAllJustPowcr
<
,
,
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
Kingdoms,andinthccnditbccamconcagain.Thusyouscchowthc
world is subjcct to shiltings ol Govcrnmcnt: and though it bc most
truc,thatthcpowcrolthcSwordhathbccnmostprcvalcntinmanyol
thcscchangcs,yctsomcolthcmhavcbccnchicymanagcd,(asthcy
ought) by thc pcoplcs Conscnt, and cvcn in thosc whcrc thc Sword
hathmadcway,thcpcoplcsconscnthathcvcrbccndrawnandtakcn
inaltcrwards,lorcorroborationolTitlc,ithavingbccnthccustomol
allUsurpcrs,tomakcthcirinvcstiturcsappcarasjustasthcycould,by
gcttingthcCommuniticsConscnt expostfacto,andcntringintosomc
compactwiththcm,lorthcbcttcrcstablishingthcmsclvcswithashcw
ollcgality:whichactolallTyrantsandUsurpcrs,isamanilcst(though
tacitc) conlcssion ol thcirs, That dc jurc the original of all Po.er and
Go.ernment,isandoughttobeinthepeople.
,
rroursolGovcrnmcnt,
AndRulcsolPolicic.

|.|
|MP,aaaApr..6a|
Havingprovcd
342
thatthcriginallolalljustPowcrandGovcrnmcnt
isinthcPcoplc,andthatthcGovcrnmcntolthcPcoplc,inaducand
ordcrly succcssion ol thcir suprcam Asscmblics, is much morc cxccl
lcnt than any othcr Form, ! supposc it lalls in ol coursc, in thc ncxt
placc, to notc, and obscrvc thosc common rrors in Policic, whcrcin
mostCountricsolthcVorld,(cspcciallythatpartolitcallcdChris
tcndomc)havcbccnlongintanglcd,thatwhcnthcmystcryolTyrannic
isundrcsst,andstriptolallitsgaudyRobcs,andgayAppcaran|.6|
ccs,itmaybchisstoutolthcCivillpartolMankindintothccompany
olthcmorcbarbarousandbrutishNations.
ThcrstrrourthatwcshallobscrvcinanticntChristianPolicic,
andwhichhathindccdbccnamainloundationolTyranny,isthatcor
ruptivisionolaStatc,intocclcsiasticalandCivil,Alaultwhcrcol
our latcst Rcncrs ol Political iscoursc, arc as guilty in thcirVrit
ings, as any othcrs: 8ut that thcrc is thc lcast lootstcp, in thc Scrip
turc,lorChristianstolollowsuchaivisionolStatc,ortoallowola
NationalwayolChurching,whichisthcRootolthativision,could
ncvcryctbcprovcdbyany,andthccontraryisvcryclcarlromthcdrilt
One Errour in
Government,
is a corrupt
division of
a State into
Ecclesiastical
and civil.
,6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
andscopcolthcGospcl.Vcrcad,indccd,olthcCommonwcalthol
Israel
343
bcing thus dividcd, and that it was donc according to Rulcs
andConstitutionsolGodsownappointmcnt,itbcingGodswaythcn,
whcnhcwasplcascd,tomakcchoiccolthatpcoplconcly,outolallthc
Vorld,tobchisownpcculiar,andsoxcdhisChurchthcrcinaNa
tionallForm:Thcn,itwasconncdandrcstraincdto|.,|thatparticu
larNation,cxcludingallothcrs.8utilanymanwillarguclromhcncc,
thatitislawlullloranyNationnowundcrthcGospcltolollowthis
pattcrn,thcnitbchovcshim,..toprovc,thatGodintcndcdthcJcwish
GovcrnmcntasapattcrnlorustolollowundcrthcGospcl.Andilany
manwillprctcndtothis,thcninthcsccondplacc,itwillconccrnhim
toprovc,thatwcarctolollowitincvcryparticular,oronclyinsomc
particulars.That wc arc to lollow it in cvcry onc, no sobcr man did
cvcryctarm:Andilthcywillhavcustolollowitinsomcparticulars,
rclinquishingthcrcst,thcnitconccrnshimtoproduccsomcRulcor
CommandoutolScripturc,plainlypointingoutwhatpartsolitwcarc
toimbracc,andwhatnot,orclschcwillncvcrbcablctomakcitappcar,
thatthcFormolthcCommonwcaltholIsraelwascvcrintcndcd,cithcr
inthcwholc,orinpart,asaPattcrnlorChristianstolollowundcrthc
Gospcl.8utncvcrwasanysuchRulcallcadgcdyctoutolScripturcby
thoscthatprctcndtoaNationallChurch.
344

Andthcrclorc,ilwcscriouslyrccct|.|uponthccsignolGod,
inscnding
345
ChristintothcVorld,wcshallnditwastosctancndto
thatPompousAdministrationolthcJcwishForm,thatashisChurch
andPcoplcwcrclormcrlyconncdwithinthcNarrowPalcolapar
ticularNation,sonowthcPalcshouldbcbrokcndown,andallNations
takcnintothcChurch:NotallNationsinalump,noranywholcNa
tions,orNational8odicstobclormcdintoChurchcs,lorhisChurch
or Pcoplc, now undcr thc Gospcl, arc not to bc a 8ody Political, but
SpiritualandMystical:Notapromiscuousconlusionolpcrsons,takcn
inatadvcnturc,butanordcrlycollcction,apickingandchusingolsuch
asarccallcdandsancticd,andnot
346
acompanyolmcnlorccdin,by
CommandsandConstitutions,olVorldlyPowcrsandPrudcncc,but
olsuchasarcbroughtinbythcPowcrandcacyol ChristsVord
andSpirit:lorhchimscllhathsaid,MyKingdomeisnotofthis!orld;it
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
,,
isnotfromhence,&c.
347
Andthcrclorc,thathandwhichhithcrtohath
prcsumcd, in most Nations, to crcct a Powcr, callcd cclcsiastick, in
cquipagcwiththcCivil,tobcarsway,andbind|.|mcnsConscicnccs
to rctain
348
Notions, ordaincd lor rthodox, upon civill pcnaltics,
undcr colour ol prudcncc, good ordcr, disciplinc, prcvcnting ol Hcr
csic,advancingolChristsKingdomc,andtothiscnd,hathtwistcdthc
SpiritualPowcr(asthcycallit)withthcVorldlyandsccularintcrcst
olStatc:This(!say)hathbccnthcvcryrighthandolAntichrist,op
posingChristinhisway:VhoscKingdom,Govcrnmcnt,Govcrnours,
ccrs,andRulcrs,Laws,rdinanccs,andStatutcs,bcingnotolthis
Vorld, (! mcan, jure humano,) dcpcnd
349
not upon thc hclps and dc
viccsolVorldlywisdom.
Uponthisscorcandprctcncc,thc!nlantMystcryol!niquitybcgan
toworkinthcvcryCradlcolChristianity.
Altcrwardsitgrcwupbythcindulgcnccol Constantine,andothcr
Christian mpcrours, whom though God uscd in many good things
lor thc supprcssion ol gross Hcathcn !dolatry, yct (by Gods pcrmis
sion)thcywcrccarrycdaway,andthcircycssolardazlcd,throughthc
gloriousprctcnccsolthcPrclatcsand8ishops,thatthcycould|.c|not
sccthcoldScrpcntinancwFormwraptupinaMystcry,lor,Satan
hadancwGamcnowtoplay,whichhcmanagcdthus:First,hclcda
grcatpartolthcVorldawaywithdangcrousrrours,thcrcbytond
an occasion lor thc Prclatcs, to carry on thc mystcry ol thcir Prolcs
sion,andso,undcrprctcnccolsupprcssingthoscdangcrouscrrorsthcy
casilyscrucdthcmsclvcsintothcCivilPowcr:andlorcontinuingolit
thcsurcrinthcirownhands,thcymadcboldtobaptizcwholcNations
withthcnamcolChristian,thatthcymight(undcrthcsamcprctcncc)
gainasharcolPowcrandAuthoritywiththcMagistratcincvcryNa
tion,whichthcysoonccctcd.
Thc !nlant, bcing thus nurst, grcw up in a short timc to a pcrlcct
man,thcmanolsin(ilthcPopcbcthcman,whichisyctcontrovcrtcd
by somc:) lor, thc Prclatcs having gottcn thc powcr in thcir hands,
bcgan thcn to quarrcl, who should bc thc grcatcst among thcm. At
John.:6.
,
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
lcngthhcolFomeborcawaythc8cll,andsothcncxtstcpwas,that,
lromNationalChurchcsthcyprocccdtohavcaMothcr|..|Church
olallNations.Alairprogrcssandpitch,indccd,lromasmallbcgin
ning:andnowbcingup,thcydccdallwith8cll,8ook,andCandlc,
cxcommunicating and dcposing Kings and mpcrours, and binding
mcnsConscicnccsstill,undcrthcrstspcciousprctcnccolsupprcssing
Hcrcsic,tobclicvconclyinthcirArbitraryictatcs,Traditions,andr
rours,whicharcthcgrcatcst8lasphcmics,rrours,andHcrcsics,that
cvcrwcrcinthcVorld.Nowthcywcrcup,sccwhatadothcrcwasto
gct any part ol thcm down again. Vhat a Quartcr and Commotion
thcrc was in Germany, whcn Luther rst brakc thc !cc: And thc likc
hcrc in England, whcn our rst Rclormcrs bcgan thcir Vork:Thcsc
mcn,inpart,didwcll,buthavingbanishcdthcPopcsactualTyranny,
thcylcltthcSccd,andPrinciplcolit,stillbchind,whichwas,aStatc
cclcsiasticalunitcdwiththcCivil,lor,thc8ishopstwistcdthcirown
intcrcstagainwiththatolthcCrown,uponaProtcstantAccompt,and
byvcrtucolthat,pcrsccutcdthoscthcycallcdPuritans,lornotbcingas
rthodox(thcysaid)asthcmsclvcs.
|.a|Toconcludc,ilitbcconsidcrcd
350
,thatmostolthcCivilVars,
and 8roilcs, throughout Europe, havc bccn occasioncd, by pcrmitting
thcscttlcmcntolClcrgy!ntcrcst,withthcSccular,inNationalFormcs,
andChurchcs,itwilldoubtlcssbcundcrstood,thatthcivisionola
Statc into cclcsiastical and Civil, must
351
nccds bc onc ol thc main
rrorsin
352
ChristianPolicy.
|MP.cc,aApr.6May.6a|
A sccond rror which
353
wc shall notc, and which is vcry lrcqucnt
undcrallFormcsolGovcrnmcnt,isthis,thatcarchathnotbccntakcn
atalltimcs,anduponalloccasionsolAltcration,toprcvcntthcpas
sagc ol Tyranny out ol onc Form into anothcr, in all thc Nations ol
thcVorld: lor, it is most clcar, by obscrving thc Aairs and Actions
olpastAgcs,andNations,thatthcintcrcstolabsolutcMonarchy,and
its!nconvcnicncics,havcbccnvisiblcandlatalundcrthcothcrForms
(whcrcthcyhavcnotbccnprcvcntcd)andgivcnusanundcniablcprool
The not
preventing
the passage
of Tyranny,
out of one
Form into
another, is a
main Error
of Policie.
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
,
olthisMaximcbyxpcricnccinallTimcs,Thatthc!ntcrcstolMon
archymayrcsidcinthchandsolmany,aswcllasolasinglcpcrson.
Thc!ntcrcstolabsolutcMonarchy,|.|wcconccivctobcanun
limitcd,uncontrolablc,unaccountablcstationolPowcrandAuthority
in thc hands ol a particular pcrson, who govcrns oncly according to
thcictatcsolhisownVillandPlcasurc.Andthoughithatholtcn
bindisguiscdbySophistcrsinPolicy,soasithathlostitsownnamc,
byshiltingFormcs,yctrcally,andccctually,thcthinginitscllhath
bindiscovcrcdundcrthcarticialcovcrsolcvcryForm,inthcvarious
RcvolutionsolGovcrnmcnt:SothatnothingmorcconccrnsaPcoplc
cstablishcd in a statc ol Frccdom, than to bc instructcd in things ol
thisNaturc,thatthcmcansolitsprcscrvationbcingundcrstood,and
thc subtil slcight ol old Projcctors brought into opcn vicw, thcy may
bccomcthcmorczcaloustopromotcthconc,andprcvcntthcothcr,il
anyoldgamcshouldhappcntobcplaidovcrancw,byanysuccccding
Gcncration.
!tisvcryobscrvablcin thens,thatwhcnthcyhadlaidasidcthcir
King,thcKinglypowcrwasrctaincdstillinallthcaltcrturnsolGov
crnmcnt:lorthcirccimalGovcrnours,andthcirThirty(commonly
callcdthc|.|Tyrants)wcrcbutamultiplicdMonarchy,thcMonar
chal!ntcrcstbcinghcldupashighascvcr,inkccpingthccxcrciscol
thcSuprcmacyoutolthcpcoplcshands,andscatingthcmsclvcsinan
unaccountablc statc ol Powcr and Authority, which was somcwhat a
worsccondition,thanthc
354
pcoplcwcrcinbclorc,lorthcirKingshad
Supcrvisors,andthcrcwcrcalsoScnatickAsscmblics,thatdidrcstrain
andcorrcctthcm:butthcncwGovcrnorshavingnonc,ranintoallthc
hcatsandts,andwildcxtravagancics,olanunboundcdPrcrogativc:
by which mcans, Ncccssity and xtrcmity opcning thc pcoplcs ycs,
thcy,atlcngth,sawallthc!nconvcnicncicsolKingshipwraptupinncw
Forms, and rathcr incrcascd, than diminishcd, so that (as thc oncly
Rcmcdy),thcydislodgcdthcPowcroutolthoschands,puttingitinto
thcirown,andplacingitinaconstantordcrlyRcvolutionolpcrsons
lcctivcbythcCommunity.Andnowbcingatthislairpass,oncwould
havcthoughtthcrcwasnoshcltcrloraMonarchal
355
!ntcrcst,undcra
popularFormtoo.8utalas,thcyloundthccontrary,lor,thcpcoplcnot
c
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
|.| kccping a strict Vatch ovcr thcmsclvcs, according to thc Rulcs
olaFrccStatc,butbcingwonbyspcciousprctcnccs,anddcludcdby
crcatcd Ncccssitics, to intrust thc managcmcnt ol Aairs into somc
particularhands,suchanoccasionwasgivcnthcrcbytothoscmcnto
lramcparticsolthcirown,thatbythismcans,thcyinashorttimcbc
camcablctostanduponthcirownlcgs,anddowhatthcylistwithout
thcpcoplcsconscnt:andinthccnd,notonclydiscontinucd,bututtcrly
cxtirpatcdthcirsucccssivcAsscmblics.
!n Fome also, thc Casc was thc samc undcr cvcry Altcration, and
all occasioncd, by thc cralty contrivanccs ol Grandising Partics, and
thcpcoplcsownlacilityandncgligcncc,insucringthcmsclvcstobc
dcludcd:lor,withthcTarquins,(asitisobscrvcdby Li.y,andothcrs)
oncly thc namc King was cxpcllcd, but not thc thing, thc Powcr &
!ntcrcstolKingshipwasstillrctaincdinthcScnatc,andingrosscdby
thcConsuls:For,bcsidcsthcRapcol Lucrece,amongthcothcrlaults
objcctcdagainst Tarquin,thiswasmostconsidcrablc,Thathchad|.6|
actcd all things, altcr his own hcad, and discontinucd Consultations
withthcScnatc,whichwasthcvcryhcightolArbitraryPowcr.8utyct
assoonasthcScnatcwasinthcsaddlc,thcylorgatwhatwaschargcdby
thcmsclvcsupon Tarquin,andranintothcsamcrrour,bycstablishing
anArbitrary,Hcrcditary,unaccountablcPowcrinthcmsclvcs,andthcir
Postcrity, not admitting thc pcoplc (whosc intcrcst and libcrty thcy
hadplcadcd,)intoanysharcinConsultation,orGovcrnmcnt,asthcy
ought to havc donc, by a prcscnt crccting ol thcir succcssivc Asscm
blics:sothatyousccthcsamcKingly!ntcrcst,whichwasinoncbclorc,
rcsidcdthcninthchandsolmany.Norisitmybscrvationoncly,but
pointcdoutby Li.y,inhissccond8ook,asinmanyothcrplaccs, Cum
Patribus,nonConsules,sedCarnices,&c.Vhcn(saithhc)thcScna
tors strovc to crcatc, not Consuls, but xccutioncrs, andTormcntors,
tovcx&tcarthcpcoplc,&c. Andinanothcrplaccolthcsamc8ook,
Consules, immoderat, innitaq; potestate, omnes metus legum, &c. Thc
Consuls,havinganimmodcratcandunlimitcdPowcr,turn|.,|cdthc
Livy,bUrbeCondita,!!.6..
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
.
tcrror ol Laws and punishmcnts oncly upon thc pcoplc, thcmsclvcs
(inthcmcanwhilc)bcingaccountablctononcbuttothcmsclvcs,and
thcirConlcdcratcsinthcScnatc.
ThcnthcConsularGovcrnmcntbcingcashicrcd,camconthcDe-
cem.iri.CumConsulariImperioacFegio,sinepro.ocatione,(saithmyAu
thor)bcinginvcstcdwithaConsularandKinglyPowcr,withoutappcal
toanyothcr.

And in his third 8ook hc saith, Decem Fegum species erat, it was a
FormoltcnKings,

thcmiscricsolthcpcoplcbcingincrcascdtcntimcs
morcthcnthcywcrcundcrKings,andConsuls:Forrcmcdythcrclorc,
thctcnwcrccashicrcdalso,andConsulsbcingrcstorcd,itwasthought
tlorthcbridlingolthcirPowcr,torcvivcalsothcictatorship(which
was aTcmporary Kingship, uscd oncly now and thcn upon occasion
ol Ncccssity) and also thosc cputics ol thc pcoplc callcdTribuncs,
whichoncwouldhavcthoughthadbinsucicnt8arsagainstMonar
chick!ntcrcst,cspcciallybcingassistcdbythcpcoplcssucccssivc|.|
Asscmblics.8utyctlorallthis,thcpcoplcwcrcchcatcdthroughthcir
ownncglcct,andbcstowingtoomuchcondcnccandtrustuponsuch
asthcythoughtthcirlricnds:ForwhcnthcyswcrvcdlromthcRulcs
ol a Free-State, by lcngthning thc ictatorship in any hand, thcn
Monarchick-Intereststcptinthcrc,asitdidundcr Sylla,Caesar,andoth
crs,longbclorcitrcturncdtoadcclarcdMonarchalForm,andwhcn
thcylcngthncdCommandsinthcirArmics,thcnitcrcptinthcrc,asit
didundcrthcalorcnamcdpcrsons,aswcllasMarius,Cinna,andothcrs
also,andcvcnPompeyhimscll,notlorgcttingalsothcpranksolthctwo
Trium.irales,whoallmadcashiltundcrcvcryForm,bcingsomctimcs
callcd Consuls, somctimcs ictators, and somctimcsTribuncs ol thc
pcoplc,tooutactallthcFlagitiousnormiticsolanabsolutcMonar
chy.
356
!tisalsocvidcnt
357
inthcStoryol Florence,thatthatCommon
wcalth,cvcnwhcnitsccmcdmostlrcc,couldncvcrquitcshakcothc
!bid.,!!!...

!bid.,!!!...

!bid.,!!!.6..
a
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
!ntcrcstolMonarchy:lor,itwascvcrthcbusincssoloncUpstart,or
othcr,cithcrinthcScnatc,oramongthcPcoplc,tomakc|.|wayto
thcirownambitiousnds,andhoistthcmsclvcsintoaKinglyposturc
throughthcPcoplcslavour,aswcmaysccinthcActionsol Sa.ana-
rolathcMonk, Soderino,andthcMedices,whoscFamilydid(aswcscc
atthisday)xitscllatlcngthinthcStatcolanabsolutcMonarchy,
undcr thcTitlc ol a ukcdom. Nor can it bc lorgottcn, how much
olMonarchy(ollatc)crcptintothcUnitcdProvinccs.
Now thc Usc that is to bc madc ol this iscoursc, is this,
358
that
sincc it is clcar, thc !ntcrcst ol Monarchy may rcsidc in a Consul, as
wcllasinaKing,inaictator,aswcllasinaConsul,inthchands
359

olmany,aswcllasolasinglcpcrson,andthatitsCustomhathbinto
lurkundcrcvcryForm,inthcvariousturncsolGovcrnmcnt,thcrclorc
as it conccrns cvcry pcoplc in a Statc ol Frccdomc, to kccp closc to
thcRulcsolaFree-State,lorthcturning
360
outolMonarchy(whcthcr
simplc,orcompound,bothnamcandthing,inoncormany)bywhich
mcansonclythcywillbcinablcdtoavoidthissccondrrorinPolicy,
sothcyoughtcvcrtohavcaRcvcrcntandNoblcrc|.6c|spcctolsuch
Foundcrs ol Free-States, and Common-.ealths, as shall block up thc
wayagainstMonarchickTyranny,bydcclaringlorthcLibcrtyolthc
Pcoplc,asitconsistsinaducandordcrlysucccssionolAuthority,in
thcirsuprcamAsscmblics.
|MP.c.,6.May.6a|
A third rrour in Policy, which ought cspccially noticc to bc takcn
ol
361
,andprcvcntcdinaFree-State,hathbinakccpingolthcpcoplc
ignorantolthoscwaysandmcansthatarccsscntiallyncccssarylorthc
prcscrvationolthcirLibcrty,lor,implicitcFaith,andblindbcdicncc,
hathhithcrtopasscdcurrant,andbccncquallyprcsscdandpractiscdby
Grandccs,bothSpirituallandTcmporal,uponthcPcoplc,sothatthcy
havcinallNationssharcdthcAuthority
362
bctwccnthcm.Andthough
manyquarrclshavcriscnintimcspastbctwccnKings,andthcirClcrgy,
touching thcir scvcral Jurisdictions, yct thc mystcrics ol omination
havc bccn still kcpt undcr lock and kcy: so that thcir Prcrogativc
A keeping
the people in
ignorance of
the essential
wayes and
meanes that
are necessary
for the peoples
Liberty, is
an Error in a
Free-State.
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<

rcmaincdcntirccvcrabovcthcrcachandknowlcdgcolthcPcoplc:by
which mcans, Monarchs and othcr standing Powcrs, havc sccn thcir
own!ntcrcst
363
providcd|.6.|lor,aswcllasinthcPopcsinthismystc
riousMaximc, Ignorance
364
istheMotherofDe.otion.
8utthcscthingsoughtnottobcso,amongapcoplcthathavcdc
clarcdthcmsclvcsaFree-State:
365
For,thcyshouldnotonclyknowwhat
Freedome is, and havc it rcprcscntcd in all its livcly and lovcly Fca
turcs,thatthcymaygrowzcalousandjcalousovcrit,but,thatitmay
bcaZcalaccordingtoknowlcdgcandgoodpurposc:itiswithoutall
qucstion,mostncccssary,thatthcybcmadcacquaintcd,andthroughly
instructcd in thc Mcancs and Rulcs ol its prcscrvation, against thc
Adultcrous Vilcs and Rapcs ol any projccting Sophistcrs that may
arischcrcaltcr.
And doubtlcss, this cndcavour ol minc, in laying down thc Rulcs
olprcscrvingaFree-State,willappcarsomuchthcmorcncccssary,il
wcconsidcr,thatallthc!nconvcnicncicsthatinTimcshavchappcncd
undcr this Form, to imbroyl, or ruinc it, havc procccdcd (as wc havc
lormcrlyprovcd)cithcrlromthcpcoplcsncglcct,orrathcrignorancc
olthoscMcancsandRulcsthatshouldbccommittcd|.6a|untothcm,
bothlorPracticc,andbscrvation:havingthcrclorcmadcbriclCol
lcctionsoutolthcMonumcntsolthiskindolLcarning,!shallhcrc
inscrtthcm,thatthcPcoplcolcvcryCommonwcalth
366
,whichmcan
toprcscrvcthcirFrccdom,maybcinlormcdhowtostccrthcircoursc,
accordingtosuchRulcsashavcbinputinpracticchcrctolorcby,divcrs
Nations.
First,ithathbinaCustom,notonlytobrccdupallthcyoungFry
inPrinciplcsolislikcandnmityagainstKinglyGovcrnmcnt,but
alsotocauscallthatwcrccapablcolswcaring,tocntcrintoanathol
Abjuration,toabjurcatolcrationolKings,andKinglyPowcr,intimc
tocomc.
ThusBrutusboundthc FomansbyanathagainstKings, Thatthey
shouldne.ersueranymanagaintoreign
367
atFome.
It hath bin
one Rule in all
Free States,
to abjure a
toleration
of Kings,
and Kingly
Government.
Livy,bUrbeCondita,!!....c.

<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
Thus thc Hollanders prcscrvcd thcmsclvcs also, cntcring into an
atholAbjuration, notonclyagainstKing Philip,andhisFamily,but
allKingslorcvcr.
And Brutus,tomakcsurcwork,didnotonclydothis,butdividcd
thc|.6|RoyalRcvcnucsamongthcPcoplc,whichwasagoodwayto
makcthcmrcsolutctoxtrcmity,knowing,ThatilcvcranyKingcamc
inplayagain,HcwouldtakcallawayagainbyvcrtucolhisPrcrogativc
andCrown:Hcbrakcalsoallthc!magcsandStatucsolthcTarquins,
and hc lcvclld
368
thcir houscs with thc ground, that thcy might not
rcmainasTcmptationstoanyambitiousSpirits.Suitablctothispolicy,
wasthatolHenrythcth,whowhcnhcdisposcdolthcRcvcnucsol
Abbics,dcmolishcdalsothc8uilding,saying,DestroytheNests,andthe
Fookes.illnerereturnagain.Vhich,qucstionlcss,wasamostsurcway,
bothinhim,andBrutus,tobcimitatcd,orncglcctcd,asthcrcmaybc
occasion. 8ut thcy thought, in a casc ol this Naturc, that thc convc
nicnccinkccpingthcm,couldnotcountcrvailthcdangcr.
Sccondly,!thathbinusualnottosucrparticularpcrsonstoGran
disc,orgrcatcnthcmsclvcsmorcthanordinary,lorthat,bythc Fomans,
wascallcd,aectatioFegni,anaspiringtoKingship:Vhichbcingob
scrvcdin MaeliusandManlius,twonoblc Fo-|.6|mans,thathaddc
scrvcd highly ol thc Statc, yct thcir
369
pastmcrits & scrviccs, could
notcxcmptthcmlromthcjustangcrolthcPcoplc,whomadcthcm
xamplcstoPostcrity:Yca,thcNamcolthclattcr,(thoughLi.ycals
himanincomparablcman,hadhcnotlivcdinaFree-State,)

wascvcr
altcrdisowncdbyhiswholcFamily,thatlamousFamilyolthc Manlii;
andboththcNamcandMcmoryolHim,andolhisConsulship,was
rascdoutolallpublikcRccords,byccrccolthcScnatc.
370

Thc not kccping closc to this Rulc, had ol latc likc to havc cost
thc Lowcountrics, thc loss ol thcir Libcrty
371
, lor thcVcalth ol thc
HouscolOrange,grownuptocxccss,andpcrmittingthclastmanto
match into a Kingly Family, put othcr thoughts and dcsigns into his
hcad,thanbcsccmcdamcmbcrola Free-State;which,hadhcnotbccn
It hath bin
a Rule in all
Free-States,
not to suer
particular
persons to
Grandise
more then
ordinary.
!nthcycar...

Livy,bUrbeCondita,\!.ac...
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<

prcvcntcd,bythcProvidcnccolGod,andadarknight,might
372
inall
probability,havcrcduccdthcmundcrthcYoakolKinglyPowcr.
Thirdly, spccial carc hath bccn takcn, non Diurnare Imperia, not
topcrmitaContinuationolCommand|.6|andAuthority
373
,inthc
handsolparticularpcrsons,orlamilics.Thispointwchavcbccnvcry
largcin:Thc
374
Romanshadanotablccarchcrcin,tillthcygrcwcorrupt.
Li.y,inhislourth8ook,saith,Libertatismagnacustodiaest,simagna
Imperiaessenonsinas,.temporismodusimponatur:!tisagrandprcscr
vativcolLibcrty,ilyoudonotpcrmitgrcatPowcrsandCommandsto
continuclong,andilsobcyoulimit,inpointoltimc.

Tothispurposc,
thcyhadaLaw,callcdthcEmilian
375
La.,torestrainthem;aswcnd
in thc Ninth 8ook, whcrc hc brings in a Noblc Roman, saying thus:
HocquidemFegnosimileest;Andthis,
376
indccd,islikcaKingship.That
!aloncshouldbcarthisgrcatccolthcCcnsorship, Triennium .
sex menses, thrcc ycars and six moncths, contrary to thc Emilian
377

La..

!nhisthird8ookalso,hcspcaksolit,asolamonstrousbusi
ncss,Thatthc Ides
378
olMaywcrccomc(whichwasthctimcolthcir
ycarschoicc)andyctnoncwlcctionappointcd: Id-.erFegnumhaud
dubi .idere, deploratur in perspetuum libertas. !t without doubt sccms
noothcrthanaKingdom,andLibcrtyisuttcr|.66|lylostlorcvcr.

!t
wasTrcasonloranymantoholdthathighccolthcictatorship
inhisownhand,bcyondsixmoncths.Hcthatwouldsccnotablcstu
tothispurposc,lcthimrcad Ciceroespistlcs
379
totticus,conccrning
Caesar.
]]
Thccarcolthatpcoplc,inthisparticular,appcarcdalso,that
thcywouldnotpcrmitanymantobcarthcsamccctwicctogcthcr.
A third Rule
in policy, not
to permit a
continuation
of Command
and Power
in the hands
of particular
person[s] and
families.
Villiam !! ol rangc, brothcrinlaw and ally ol thc cxilcd Charlcs !!
olngland.NcdhamrclcrstothcattcmptcdmilitaryscizurcolAmstcrdamby
VilliamssupportcrsinJuly.6c.Villiamdicdinctobcrolthcsamcycar.

Livy,bUrbeCondita,!\.a..Ncdhamloosclyparaphrascs.Thcwordsas
cribcdbyLivytoMamcrcusAcmiliuswcrc:Se,quodintramurosagendumesset,
libertatipopuliFomaniconsulturum;maximamautemeiuscustodiamessesimagna
imperiadiuturnanonessentettemporismodusimponereturquibusiurisimponinon
posset.

!bid.,!X...6.

!bid.,!!!...a.
]]
Ciccro,Letterstotticus,X...,.a,.6.
6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
Thiswasobscrvcdlikcwisc(asristotletcllsus)inallthcFree-States
olGreece.
Andin FomewcndCincinnatus,oncolthcbravcRomancGcncr
als, making a Spccch unto thc Pcoplc, to pcrswadc thcm, to lct him
laydownhisCommand.Nowthctimcwascomc,thoughthcncmy
was
380
almostatthcirGatcs,andncvcrmorcnccd,thanatthattimc,
olhisvalourandprudcncc,asthcpcoplctoldhim:butnopcrswasion
would scrvc thc turn, rcsign hc would, tclling thcm, There .ould be
more danger to the State, in prolonging his Po.er, than from the Enemy,
sinceitmightpro.eaPresidentmostpernicioustotheFomaneFreedome.
SuchanothcrSpccchwasmadcbyM.Fu-|.6,| tiliusCensorinus,tothc
Pcoplc,whcnthcylorccdhimtoundcrgothcccolCcnsortwicc
togcthcr,contrarytothcintcntandpracticcolthcirAnccstors,ycthc
acccptcdit:but(as Plutarchtcllsus)uponthiscondition, ThataLa.
might pass against theTitle in that, and other Ocers, least it should be
dra.nintoPresidentintimetocome.

ThusthcPcoplcdcaltalsowith
thcirownTribuncs,thcLawbcing, Thatnoneofthemshouldbecontin-
uedt.oyearstogether.SotcndcrwcrcthcRomans,inthisparticular,as
oncprincipalRulcandMcans,lorthcprcscrvationolthcirLibcrty.
381

|MP.ca,.acMay.6a|
AlourthRulc,
382
nottolcttwooloncFamilytobcarccsolHigh
Trustatonctimc,nortopcrmitaContinuationolgrcatPowcrsinany
onc
383
Family.Thclormcr,usuallybringsonthclattcr:Andilthclattcr
bcprcvcntcd,thcrcisthclcssdangcrinthclormcr:buthowcvcr,both
arc to bc avoidcd: Thc rcason is cvidcnt,
384
bccausc a pcrmission ol
thcm,givcsaparticularFamilyanopportunity,tobringthcirownpri
vatc!ntcrcstintocompctition,withthatolthcPubliquc:lromwhcncc
prcscntly cnsucs |.6| this grand inconvcnicncc in Statc, thc Aairs
ol thc Commonwcalth
385
will bc madc subscrvicnt to thc cnds ol a
Not to let two
of one Family
bear O ces
of Trust at
one time.
Thisispcrhapsaconationoltwopassagcsolbk..colionysiusolHali
carnassus,Fomanntiquities:X.a.a,X.a,.a.

Plutarch,LifeofCaiusMarcusCoriolanus,!..a.
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
,
lcwpcrsons,noCornshallbcmcasurcd,butinthcirbushcl,norany
Matcrials bc allowcd lor thc Publick Vork, unlcss thcy squarc wcll
withthcbuildingolaprivatc!ntcrcst,orFamily.Thisthcrclorc,wasa
principalpointolStatcamongthc
386
Romans, Neduo.elpluresexuna
familiamagnosMagistratusgeranteodemtempore;Lctnottwoormorc
oloncFamily,bcargrcatccsatthcsamctimc.Andalittlcaltcrit
lollows,NemagnaImperiaabunfamilipraescribantur,Lctnotgrcat
Commandsbcprcscribcd,orcontinucd,byoncFamily.
ThatlittlclibcrtywhichwaslclttothcRomans,altcrthatlatalstab
givcnto CaesarinthcScnatchousc,mighthavcbccnprcscrvcd,had
thcyprcvcntcdhisKinsmanOcta.iuslromsuccccdinghiminthcpos
scssionolancxtraordinaryPowcr.Thcccctingwhcrcolwas Ciceroes
work,and,indccd,hisprincipalcrrour:ashcoltcnaltcrwardsacknowl
cdgcd, whichmayscrvctoshcw,Thatthe.isestmanmaybesometimes
mistaken
387
:Forhcbrought|.6|thcothcrintoplay,whcrcas
388
hadhc
quittcdhissplccn,andconsultcdhisbrain,hcmustqucstionlcsshavc
sccn,thatasidingwith nthonyhadbccnmorcconvcnicnt,thcnwith
thcothcr,whobcingonccadmittcdintoPowcr,soondrcwthcPartics,
and!ntcrcstsolhisUnclc Julius,tobccomchisown,andwithawct
ngcr,notonclycastohislricnd Cicero,butcontrivcdthcruincol
thcRcpublick,andHim,bothtogcthcr.
ThcFlorentineFamilyolthc Medices,whoholdanabsolutcCom
mandatthisday,madcthcmsclvcs,bycontinuingPowcrinthcirhands,
inashorttimcsoconsidcrablc,thatthcydurstopcnlybiddcanccto
Publick
389
Libcrty,whichmighthavccontinucdmuchlongcr,hadnot
Casinus
390
bccnsocasilyadmittcdtosuccccdhisCousin lexander.
!t is obscrvablc also, ol thc samc Family, that onc ol thcm bcing
Popc,thcythcnhatchcdcsignsuponscvcralpartsolItaly,notdoubt
ingbutto
391
carrythcmbylavourolthcPopcthcirKinsman:buthc
dyingbclorcthcirndswcrcccctcd,thcythcnmadcaPartyinthc
Conclavc,lorthc|.,c|crcatingol JuliandeMedicis,whowas8rothcr
to thc lormcr Popc, and had likc to havc carricd it, till Pompeius Co-
lumba
392
stood up, and shcwcd thcm how dangcrous and prcjudicial
Plutarch,LifeofCicero,XL\!...

<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
itmustolncccssityprovc,tothcLibcrticsol Italy,thatthcPopcdom
should bc continucd in onc housc, in thc hands ol two brothcrs onc
altcranothcr.
VhatcctsthccontinuationolPowcr,inthcFamilyol Orange,
hathhadinthc UnitedPro.inces,iscvcrymansobscrvation,andthat
Nationsucicntlylclt,longbclorcthcProjcctcamctomaturity,inthis
lastmansdaycs,andhadhclcltasonolsucicntycarsbchindhim,to
havcstcptimmcdiatlyintohisplacc, pcrhapsthccsignmighthavc
goncon:butccrtainlythatPcoplchavcwisclyimprovcdthciropportu
nity,(thcCockatriccbcingnotcchd)inrcducing
393
thatFamilyintoa
tcmpcrmorcsuitablctoaStatcand!ntcrcstolLibcrty.
Vhat madc thc anticnt Roman Scnatc, in a short timc, so intol
lcrablctothatPcoplc,butbccauscthcycarrycdallbyFamilics,asthc
Scnatcol|.,.| !enicedothnowatthisday:whcrc,ilthcConstitution
wcrcothcrwisc,thcpcoplcwouldthcn(pcrhaps)bcmuchmorcscn
siblcwhatitistobcina StateofFreedom.
Filthly,!thathbinusualinFree-States,toholdupthcMajcstyand
Authority ol thcir Suragcs, or\otcs intirc, in thcir Scnators, or su
prcam Asscmblics: lor il this wcrc not lookd to, and sccurcd lrom
controlc,orinucnccolanyothcrPowcr,thcn ctumeratdelibertate,
LibcrtyandAuthoritybccamclostlorcvcr.SolongasthcRomanpco
plckcptupthcircrcditandAuthority,assacrcd,inthcirTribuncs,and
SuprcamAsscmblics,solongthcycontinucdrcallylrcc:butwhcnby
thcirownncglcct,thcygavc Sylla,andhisParty,inthcScnatc,anop
portunityolpowcrtocurbthcm,thcnthcirSuragcs(oncccstccmcd
as sacrcd) wcrc trodcn undcr loot, lor immcdiatcly altcr, thcy camc
to dcbatc and act but by courtcsic, thc Authority lclt bcing by Sylla,
altcrthccxpirationolhisictatorship,inthchandsolthcstanding
Scnatc,sothatitcouldncvcraltcrbcrcgaincdbythcPcoplc.Nordid
thcScnatcthcmsclvcskccpit|.,a|longinthcirownhands:lorwhcn
Caesar marchcd to Fome, hc dcprivcd thcm also ol thc Authority ol
thcirSuragcs,onclyinalormalwaymadcuscolthcm,andsoundcra
The Majesty
and Authority
of the
Surages,
or votes of
the Supream
Assembly to
be kept intire.
Villiam!!sson,Villiam!!!,wasbornalcwdaysaltcrthclathcrsdcath.Thc
acccssionolaninlantgravclywcakcncdthcrangcintcrcstinthcNcthcrlands.
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<

shadowollcgality,hcassumcdthatpowcrunto
394
himscll,whichthcy
durstnotdcnyhim.
395

Just in thc samc manncr dcalt Cosmus with thc Flerentine Senate:
hcmadcuscolthcirSuragcs,buthchadsoplaidhisCardsbclorc
hand,thatthcydurstnotbutyicldtohisAmbition.Soalso Tiberius,
whcn hc cndcavorcd to scttlc himscll, rst brought thc Suragcs ol
thcScnatcathisowncvotion,thatthcydurstnotbutconscnttohis
stablishmcnt,andthcnsoordcrcdthcmattcr,thathcmightsccmto
donothing,notonlywithoutthcirconscnt,buttobclorccdtoacccpt
thcmpircbythcirintrcaty:sothatyouscc,thcrcwasanmpirc,in
cct,longbclorcitwasdcclarcdinFormality.
Fromhcncc,thcrclorc,wcmayclcarlydcduccthcncccssityolthis
RulcinaFree-State,lromthcpracticcoltimcspast,thatnoStatccan
prclcr
396
itsFrccdom,butbymaintainingthclrcc|.,|Suragcolthc
Pcoplcinlullvigour,untaintcdwiththcinucncc,ormixturc,olany
CommandingPowcr.
397

|MP.c,aca,May.6a|

398
A sixth Rulc in Practicc hath bccn this, to scc, that thc pcoplc bc
continuallytraincdupinthcxcrciscolArms,andthcMilitialodgcd
onclyinthcPcoplcshands,orthatpartolthcm,whicharcmostrmto
thc!ntcrcstolLibcrty,thatsothcPowcrmayrcstlullyinthcisposi
tion ol thcir Suprcam Asscmblics. Thc happy conscqucncc whcrcol,
wascvcrtothispurposc:
That nothing could at any timc bc imposcd upon thc pcoplc, but
bythcirconscnt
399
,thatis,bythcconscntolthcmsclvcs,orolsuchas
wcrc by thcm intrustcd: this was a Rulc most strictly practiscd in all
thc Free-Statesol Greece:For,as ristotletcllsus,inhislourth8ookol
Politicks,thcycvcrhadspccialcarc
400
toplaccthcUscandxcrciscol
Armsinthcpcoplc:bccausc(saythcy)thcCommonwcalthisthcirs
whohcld
401
thcArms.
The people
are to be
continually
trained up in
the exercise of
Armes, and
the Militia
lodged in the
hands of those
that are rm
to the Interest
of the Nation.
Aristotlc,Politics,!\.....
c
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
ThcSword,andSovcraignty,cvcrwalkhandinhandtogcthcr.Thc
Romans wcrc vcry curious in this particular, altcr thcy had gaincd a
plcnary |.,| posscssion ol Libcrty in thcirTribuncs, and succcssivc
Asscmblics, Fome it scll, and thcTcrritorics about it, was traincd up
pcrpctuallyinArms,andthcwholcCommonwcal,bythismcansbc
camc onc lormal Militia, a gcncrall xcrcisc ol thc bcst part ol thc
pcoplcinthcuscolArms,wasthconcly8ulwarkolthcirLibcrty:This
wasrcckoncdthcsurcstwaytoprcscrvcitbothathomc,andabroad:
thcMajcstyolthcPcoplcbcingsccurcdthcrcby,aswcllagainstomc
stickArontslromanyolthcirownCitizcns,asagainstthclorraign
!nvasionsolbadNcighbors.
ThcirArmswcrcncvcrlodgcdinthchandsolany,butsuchashadan
!ntcrcstinthcPublick,suchaswcrcactcdbythat!ntcrcst,notdrawn
onlybyPay,suchasthoughtthcmsclvcswcllpaid,inrcpclling!nvad
crs,thatthcymightwithFreedomercturntothcirAairs:For,thctruth
is,solongas FomeactcdbythcpurcPrinciplcsola Free-State,ituscd
noArmstodclcnditscll,but,suchaswccall,sucicntmcn,such,as
lorthcmostpartwcrcmcnolstatc,MastcrsolFamilics,thattook
Arms(onlyuponoccasion) pro|.,| ris.Focis,lorthcirVivcs,thcir
Childrcn,andthcirCountrcy.!nthoscdaysthcrcwasnodicrcncc,in
ordcr,bctwccnthcCitizcn,thcHusbandman,andthcSouldicr:lor,hc
thatwasaCitizcn,or\illagcrycstcrday,bccamcaSouldicrthcncxt,
ilthc PublickLibertyrcquircdit,andthatbcingsccurcd,byrcpclling
ol!nvadcrs,both ForreignandDomestick,immcdiatlythcSouldicrbc
camcCitizcnagain:sothatthcrstandbcstbravcRomanGcncrals,
andSouldicrs,camclromthcPlough,andrcturncdthithcrwhcnthc
Vorkwasovcr.
ThiswasthcusualcoursccvcnbclorcthcyhadgaincdthcirTribuncs
andAsscmblics,thatis,inthc!nlancyolthcScnatc,immcdiatclyaltcr
thc xpulsion ol thcir Kings: lor, thcn cvcn in thc Senatick ssembly,
thcrcwcrcsomcSparksolLibcrtyinbcing,andthcytookthiscoursc
tomaintainit.
ThcTarquinsbcingdrivcnout,buthavingaPartylcltstillwithin,
thatattcmptcdtomakcscvcral
402
!nvasions,withcondcncctocarryall
bclorcthcm:andyctinthc!ntcrvalls,wcndnotanylormolsouldicry,
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
.
only |.,6| thc Militia was lodgcd and cxcrciscd in thc hands ol that
Party,whichwasrmtothcInterestofFreedom,whouponalloccasions,
drcwlorthataNodolthcSenate,withlittlcchargctothcPublick,and
sorcscucdthcmsclvcsoutolthcClawcsolKinglyTyranny.
Nordowcndinaltcrtimcs,thatthcypcrmittcdacpositionol
thc Arms ol thc Commonwcalth
403
in any othcr way, till that thcir
mpircincrcasing,ncccssityconstraincdthcmtocrcctacontinucdsti
pcndary Souldicry (abroad in lorrcign parts) cithcr lor thc holding,
orwinningolProvinccs.ThcnLuxuryincrcasingwithominion,thc
strictRulcandisciplincol Freedomewassoonquittcd,Forccswcrc
kcptupathomc,(butwhatthcconscqucnccswcrc,storicswilltcllyou)
aswcllasinthcProvinccsabroad.
Thc Ambition ol Cinna, thc horidTyranny ol Sylla, thc insolcncc
olMarius,andthcscllcndsoldivcrsothcrLcadcrs,bothbclorc,and
altcrthcm,llcdallItalywithTragcdics,andthcVorldwithwondcr:
so that in thc cnd, thc Pcoplc
404
sccing what miscry |.,,| thcy had
broughtonthcmsclvcs,bykccpingthcirArmicswithinthcbowclsol
Italy,passcdaLawtoprcvcntit,andtocmploythcmabroad,orata
convcnicntdistancc:thcLawwas,ThatifanyGeneralmarchedo.erthe
Fi.erofFubicon
405
,heshouldbedeclaredapublikeEnemy.
And in thc passagc ol that Rivcr, this lollowing !nscription was
crcctcd,toputthcmcnolArmsinmindolthcirduty:Imperator,si.e
miles,si.eTyrannusarmatusquisquis,sistito.exillumarmaq;deponito,nec
citrahuncmnemtrajicitio:
406
Gcncral,orSouldicr,orTyrantinArms,
whosocvcrthoubc,stand,quitthyStandard,andlayasidcthyArms,or
clsccrossnotthisRivcr.
Forthiscauscitwas,thatwhcn Caesarhadprcsumcdoncctomarch
ovcrthisRivcr,hcconccivcdhimscllsolaringagcd,thatthcrcwasno
Rctrcat,noGamcncxt,buthavcatall,advanccth
407
toFomeitscll,into
aposscssionolthcmpirc.
8ythismcansitwas,thcCommonwcalth
408
havinglostitsArms,
lostitsclltoo,thcPowcrbcingrcduccdbothccctuallyandlormally
Thisinscription,nowkcptinthcarchacologicalmuscumatCcscna,isgcn
crallyrcgardcdasamcdicvalorRcnaissancclorgcry.
a
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
intothc|.,|handsolasinglcPcrson,andhiscpcndants,who,cvcr
altcr,kcptthcArmcsoutolthchandsolthcPcoplc.
ThcnlollowcdthccrcctingolaPraetorianBand,instcadola Publick
Militia
409
, hc bcing lollowcd hcrcin by ugustus, and thc rcst ol his
Succcssors,imitatcdollattcrtimcsbythcGrandScignor,by Cosmus
thcrstgrcatukcolTuscany;bythc Musco.ite,thc Fussian,thc Tar-
tar, and thc French, who by that mcans arc all Absolutc, and it was
stronglycndcavorcdhcrctooin EnglandbythclatcKing
410
,whorst
attcmptcditbyacsignolintroducingForrcigncrs,.i..thcGerman
Horse, and altcrwards by corrupting ol thc Nativcs, as whcn hc la
bourcdthcArmyinthcNorth,inthcirrcturntoricthcParliamcnt,
ncglcctcdTrain8ands,andatlcngth,cwouthimscllintoopcnArms
againstthcNation.
Sothatyouscc,thcwayol FreedomehathbintolodgcthcArmsola
CommonVcal,inthchandsolthatpartolthcPcoplc,whicharcrm
toitsstablishmcnt.
411

|MP.c,a,MayJunc.6a|
Scvcnthly,thatChildrcn
412
shouldbc|.,|cducatcdandinstructcdin
thcPrinciplcsolFreedom.ristotlespcaksplainlytothispurposc,say
ing,ThattheinstitutionofYouth,shouldbeaccommodatedtothatForm
ofGo.ernment,under.hichtheyli.e;forasmuch,asitmakesexceedingly
forpreser.ationofthepresentGo.ernment,.hatsoe.eritbe.ThcRca
son ol it appcars in this, bccausc all thc Tincturcs and !mprcssion
that mcn rcccivc in thcir Youth, thcy rctain in thc lull Agc, though
ncvcrsobad,unlcssthcyhappcn(whichisvcryrarc)toqucllthccor
ruptPrinciplcsolducationbyanxccllcncyolRcason,andsound
Judgmcnt.
Andlorconrmationolthis,wcmightcitcthcvariousTcstimonics
olPlutarch,Isocrates,withmanymorc,bothPhilosophcrs,rators,and
othcrs,thathavctrcatcdolthisparticular,touchingthcducationol
Childrcn,asitrclatcscithcrtoomcstick,orCivilGovcrnmcnt:8ut
Children
educated and
instructed in
the Principles
of Freedom.
Aristotlc,Politics,\..Ncdhamparaphrascslooscly.
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<

wc shall takc it lor grantcd, without morc ado, supposing nonc will
dcny,olwhatccctitis,inallthcConccrnmcntsolMankind,cithcr
inConvcrsation,orinAction.
ThcncccssityolthisPoint,appcars|.c|lromhcncc,aswcllasthc
Rcason,ThatilcarcbcnottakcntotcmpcrthcYoutholaCommon
Vcalth,withPrinciplcsandHumourssuitablctothatForm,nosurc
scttlcmcnt, or pcacc, can cvcr bc cxpcctcd: lor Schools, Acadcmics,
withallothcrSccdplots,andScminaricsolYouth,willothcrwiscbc
butsomanyNurscricsolRcbcllion,publikcncmics,andunnatural
Monstcrs that will tcar thc bowcls ol thcir MothcrCountrcy: And
this Ncglcct, il it lollow an altcration ol Govcrnmcnt, altcr a Civil
Var, is so much thc morc dangcrous, bccausc, as long as Youngstcrs
arcnuzlcd
413
upinthcoldVaysandRudimcnts,bythcoldillacctcd
Pacdagogucs,thcrcwillcvcrbcahankcringaltcrthcldGovcrnmcnt,
whichmustcvcrbcinalairprobabilityolrcturn,whcnncwGcncra
tions shall bc catcchiscd into oldTcncts and Acctions, contrary to
thc stablishmcnt ol a Free-State:That bcing takcn lor thc dcclarcd
!ntcrcstolthisNation.Thcrclorc,thcconscqucnccolsuchNcglcctis
clcarly this,That thc nmity will bc immortal, a Scttlcmcnt impos
siblc:thcrcmustbcapcrpctualispositiontoCivil|..|Var,instcad
olCivilSocicty.
414

Uponthisaccount
415
itwas,thatin Plutarchand Isocrates,wcndso
manygoodTcstimonicsolthcgrcatcarcthatwashadamongstallthc
Free-StatesolGreeceinthisparticular,whichtycdupthcirPacdagogucs
andTcachcrs,toccrtainRulcs,andsclcctcdccrtainAuthorstobcrcad
oncly,asClassical,lorthc!nstitutionolthcirYouth:And,thatitwasso
inthcdaysol JuliusCaesar,cvcninthatbarbarousCountryol Gallia,
appcarcsby CaesarsownCommcntarics,whotclls,howthatitwasthc
mainccolthosclamousmcnamongstthcmcallcd Druides
416
,to
brccdupthcirYouthnotonclyinRcligion,butalsotoinstructthcmin
thcNaturcolaCommonwcalth
417
,andmouldthcmwithPrinciplcs,
answcrablctothcGovcrnmcnt
418
.
Cacsar, Gallic!ars,\!... Cacsar docs not say that thc ruids instructcd
thcirpupilsinmattcrsolgovcrnmcnt.

<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
!lwcrccctuponthctwoGrandTurnsolStatcin Fome,thcrst,
lrom a Monarchy to a Free-State; and thcn lrom a Free-State, to a
Monarchyagain,thcyministcrmattcrolnotablcbscrvationinthis
particular.
!nthcrst,wcndhowdicultitwaslorthcRomanstoprcscrvc
thcir|.a| Freedomwhcnthcyhadgottcnit,bccauscmostolthcYouth
had bin cducatcd in Monarchical Principlcs, and such
419
Tutors wcrc
cvcr inclining that way upon thc lcast opportunity: so that thc sons
cvcnol Brutushimscll,(whowasthcFoundcrolthcirLibcrty)quittcd
thatnaturalacctionwhichthcyowcduntothcirFathcr,andCoun
trcy,andbcingswaydbythcMonarchickPrinciplcsolcorruptdu
cation,drcwinagrcatpartolthcRomanYouth,(likcthcmsclvcs,)to
joyn with thcm in a csign lor thc bringing back ol thc Tarquins to
thcKingdom.
!t is vcry obscrvablc also, what a do that Commonwcalth
420
had
toscttlc,solongasanyolthcoldstockolducationwcrcliving,bc
causcthosccorruptpointsolisciplincandGovcrnmcnt,whcrcwith
thcywcrcscasoncdwhcnyoung,couldnotbcwornoutwithAgc,but
hurricdmanyolthcmalongwiththcstormolcvcry!nsurrcctionand
!nvasionolthcpublikcncmy.
nthcothcrsidc,inthcTurnolaFree-State,toa Monarchyagain,wc
sccwithwhatdiculty Caesarmct,insctlinghisownominationovcr
aPco|.|plcthathadbccncducatcdina Free-State,andinPrinciplcs
olFreedom;insomuch,thatinthccnditcosthimhislilc,bcingstabdlor
hisUsurpationbyacombinationolsomcolthcScnators,andthcFact
applaudcdnotonclybythcPcoplc,butbyCicero,andallthcRoman
Vritcrs,andothcrsthathadbccnbrcdupundcrthcFormol Freedom.
Andaltcrwards,whcn ugustustookuponhimthc!nhcritanccand
Titlc,olhisUnclc Caesar,hcdidit, lentopede,vcryslowlyandwarily,
lorlcarolconjuringupthcsamcspiritinthcpcoplc,thathadown
intorcvcngcagainsthisUnclc,lorhisRapcuponthcirLibcrty.
And it is Notcd by Tacitus, that among thc othcr advantagcs that
ugustus had lor his stablishmcnt, thcrc was this: That hc ncvcr
Forcxamplc,DeOciis,!!.,.
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<

dcclarcdhimscll,till,altcrmanydclaycsandshilts,lorthccontinuation
olPowcrinhisownhands,hcgotinscnsiblyintothcThronc,whcn
thcoldmcnwcrcmostolthcmdcad,andthcyoungGcncrationgrown
up,havingbccnprcttywcllcducatcdandinurcdtohisLordlyomi
nation.Thcwordsol|.| Tacitusarcthcsc:All(saithhc)wasquict
inthcCity,thcoldnamcsolthcMagistratcsrcmaincdunchangcd,thc
youngmcnwcrcallbornaltcrugustushisvictoryat ctium:andthc
grcatcst part ol thc old mcn, during thc Civil Vars, whcn thc Free-
Statewasimbroilcdandusurpt(inccct,thoughrctaincdstillinnamc
by powcrlul and ambitious pcrsons) so that whcn hc assumcd and
owncdthcmpirc,thcrcwasnotoncmanLiving,thathadsomuchas
sccnthcancicntFormolGovcrnmcntolaFree-State
421
,whichindccd
lacilitatcd his csign vcry much, thc Gcncration thcn Living, bcing
byhisArticcandPowcr,brcduptohisownMonarchy!ntcrcstand
cvotion.
Vc might bc largcr, but this is cnough, to shcw ol what consc
qucncc thc carclul ducation ol Youth, is, in thc Constitution
422
ol
Govcrnmcnt:andthcrclorc,withoutdoubt,itisonccsscntialpointto
bc obscrvcd in thc stablishmcnt ol a Free-State, that all waycs and
mcancsbcuscdlorthcirscasoningandinstructioninthcprinciplcsol
Freedom.
|MP.c,.cJunc.6a|

423
Thc ighth Rulc, is, that which morc |.| cspccially rclatcs unto
thcPcoplcthcmsclvcsinpointolbchaviour, .i..Thatbcingonccpos
scsscdolLibcrty,thcyoughttouscitwithmodcration,lcstitturnto
liccntiousncss,which,asitisaTyrannyitscll,sointhccnditusually
occasionsthccorruptionandconvcrsionolaFrccStatc,intoMonar
chical
424
Tyranny:Andthcrclorc(bywayolprcvcntion)itisncccssary
tosctdownalcwCautions.
First,ThatinaFrccStatc,itisabovcallthingsncccssarytoavoidCivil
isscntion, and to rcmcmbcr this,That thc uttcrmost Rcmcdy is not
Cautions for
the people to
observe.
NcdhamparaphrascsapassagclromTacitus,nnals,!..
6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
tobcuscduponcvcryistcmpcrorclaultolthoscthatshallbcin
trustcdwiththcPcoplcsPowcrandAuthority:lor,ilonc!nconvcnicncc
happcninGovcrnmcnt,thccorrcction,orcuringolitbyviolcncc,intro
duccthathousand:AndloramantothinkCivilVar,orthcSword,isa
waytobcordinarilyuscdlorthcrccovcryolasickStatc,itwcrcasgrcat
amadncss,astogivcstrongVatcrsinahighFcavcr:orasilhcshould
lcthimscllbloodinthcHcart,tocurcthcakingolhisHcad.
Andthcrclorc,sccingthatnormityolTumult,isscntion,andSc
diti|.6|on, is thc main that hath bccn objcctcd byTyrants, & thcir
Crcaturcs, against thc Pcoplcs Govcrnmcnt, thc oncly xpcdicnt to
conlutcitis,ThatthoscPcoplc,thatarc,orshallbcsctlcd,inaStatc
olFrccdom,do
425
(uponalloccasions)givcthcmthcLic,byadiscrcct
andmodcratcbchaviourinallthcirprocccdings,andaducrcvcrcnccol
suchasthcyhavconccclcctcd,andmadcthcirSupcriors.
Andasthisismostrcquisitconthconcsidc,soonthcothcrsidc,il
thcrcbcjust(butthcymustbcsurcitbcjust
426
)causctouscsharpand
quickRcmcdics,lorthcCurcolaCommonwcalth,
427
thcn(sccingall
MajcstyandAuthorityisrcallyandlundamcntallyinthcpcoplc,and
butMinistcriallyinthcirTrustccs,orRcprcscntativcs)itconccrnsthc
pcoplcbyallmcanstoscctothcCurc.
Andthatis,inaword,insuchcascsoncly,asappcartobcmanilcst
intrcnchmcnts(cithcrindcsign,orinbcing)bymcnolPowcr,upon
thcFundamcntals,orsscntials,olthcirLibcrty,withoutwhich,Lib
crtycannotconsist.
Vhat thosc sscntials arc, may bc |.,| collcctcd out ol thc past
discoursc,thcscnsc
428
olallshallbcillustratcdbyoncinstancc.
!t is that lamous Contcntion which lastcd lor thrcc hundrcd ycars
inFomebctwixtthcScnatcandthcPcoplc,aboutthcdividingolsuch
Landsaswcrcconqucrcdandtakcnlromthcncmy.
Thc Scnators, thcy sharing thc lands amongst thcmsclvcs, allowcd
littlc,ornonc,untothcpcoplc,whichgavcsuchiscontcnts,thatthc
pcoplc madc a Law to curb thcm, cnacting,That no Scnator should
posscssabovcccAcrcsolLand.
ThcScnatorscrycd,itwasagainstthcirLibcrty,thustobcabridgcd
bythcpcoplc:Andthcpcoplccrycd,itwasinconsistcntwithLibcrty,
The People
are not to use
the utmost
remedy in all
cases of male
administration.
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
,
that thc Scnators should thus grcatcn thcmsclvs by an ingrosmcnt
ol wcalth and powcr into thcir own hands. Li.y saith,

Thc pcoplc
inthis,saidright,andthcScnatorsdidwrong:butthatthcybothdid
ill,inmakingitagroundolCivilisscntion,lor,inproccssoltimc,
whcn thc Gracchi, who wcrc supposcd grcat Patrons ol Libcrty, took
upon thcm to sidc with thc pcoplc, |.| thcy did, instcad ol nding
out somc modcratc waycs and xpcdicnts to rcducc thc Scnators to
Rcason, procccd with such hcat and violcncc, that thc Scnatc bcing
jcalousolthcirownsalcty,wcrclorccdtochuscSyllalorthcirGcncral:
which bcing obscrvcd by thc pcoplc, thcy also raiscd an Army, and
madc Marius thcir Gcncral: so that hcrc you scc it camc to a down
rightCivilVar.
Thcoccasion,indccd,wasgivcnbythcScnators,(lor,thcrcwasno
rcasonthcyshouldGrandiscthcmsclvcsinsogrossamanncrasthcy
did)butyctthcoccasionoughtnottohavcbinsotakcn,andprosccutcd
with such violcncc as it was by thc Pcoplc: lor sccing morc tcmpcr
atcwaycshadbccnpractiscdbythcirAnccstors,andmighthavcbccn
loundoutagain,tocurbthcAmbitionolthcirNobilityinthcScnatc:
Thcrclorc,thcPcoplcought,rst,tohavctrycdthoscwaycsagain,and
havc uscd all othcr mcans to havc brought things about, rathcr than
byamisguidcdhcatandviolcncctorushintoArms,whichasitisthc
mostdcspcratcRcmcdy,soitoughtncvcrtobcuscd,butwhcnall|.|
othcr courscs havc bccn tricd in vain, and whcn thc Publick Libcrty
is rcally conccrncd by an immincnt angcr, or invinciblc Ncccssity:
For,thisQuarrcl,whichqucstionlcssmighthavcbccncomposcd,was,
throughindiscrction,madcthcgroundolsobloudyaCivilwar,that
whatthroughFincs,8anishmcnt,inhumancCrucltics,actcdonboth
sidcs,clcatsinthcopcnFicld,andMassacrcswithinthcCity,itcost
Nclson,GreekTradition,pp.a,obscrvcsthatLivysaidnosuchthing
aboutthcLicinianlaw(thcsubjcctolthclamousContcntion).Nclsonsug
gcsts that Ncdham may havc bccn misrcmcmbcring anothcr passagc ol Livy
(b Urbe Condita, !\..) or rccalling Sallust, Bellum Iugurthinum, xxii |xlii:|.
Altcrnativcly,oradditionally,NcdhamsaccountmaybcarsomcdcbttoFlorus,
EpitomeofFomanHistory,!.,and!!..,aworkthatisitscllbascduponportions
olLivysworkthatarcnotcxtant.

<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
thcbcst8loudandstatcsolthcNobilityandCommons,andinthc
cnd,itcostthcmalsothcirLibcrty.
Foritisworthyobscrvation,thatoutolthcRootolthisCivilwar,
sprang that Noblc onc
429
, which was managcd bctwccn Pompey and
Caesar,andwhichwillscrvctoillustratcthcothcrpartolourdiscoursc,
in shcwing,Vhcn it is that thc pcoplc may makc usc ol thc utmost,
rcmcdy, that is
430
, in casc ol an intrcnchmcnt, manilcstly dcsigncd,
& actcd upon thc Publick Libcrty. For Caesar having givcn manilcst
causc ol Suspition to thc Senat & pcoplc, by his acting amongst his
Soldicrs
431
, and thcn by a downright march with thcm ovcr Fubi-
con towards Fome, (which was |.c| trcason by thc Law) this was a
plainusurpation,anddrcwaninvinciblcncccssity,uponthcpcoplc,and
Senate
432
,toarmlormthcirLibcrty,andcommcnccaCivilwarundcr
thcconductol Pompey;sothatthislastwarwasncccssaryasthcothcr
wasnccdlcssc,ilthcycouldhavckcptwithinthcboundsolprudcncc,
andmodcration.
Vc havc a vcry notablc
433
instancc also in our own Nation, which
mayscrvcloraJustcxamplctoallthcworldinpointolbchaviour.
434

!l wc run ovcr thc Cataloguc ol thc latc Kings

435
dclaults in govcrn
mcnt, wc nd cxtraordinary paticncc in thc pcoplc, notwithstanding
his cxtraordinary incroachmcnts lrom timc to timc. !t wcrc nccdlcss
torcckonupthcscvcralMonopolics,!mpositions,andothcropprcs
sionsolthcPcoplc,bothinsoulandbody,whicharcmadcpublickand
knowntoallthcVorld,togcthcrwiththathighcstolallPracticcs,not
onclyindissolvingParliamcntsabruptly,butprolcsscdlydcsigningthc
ruincolParliamcnts,indcprivingthcPcoplcolthcirducSucccssion.
Yctnotwithstandingallthis,thatdcspcratcRcmcdyolthcSwordwas
lor|..|born,untillinvinciblcNcccssitydidputitintothcirhands,lor
thcprcscrvationolthcmsclvcs,withthcirRightsandLibcrtics.
436

Andsobythcscxamplcs,anypcoplcinaStatcolFrccdom,may
bc sucicntly instructcd how to dcmcan thcmsclvcs, lor thc avoid
ing ol Liccntiousncss, Tumult, and Civil isscntion, which arc thc
principal !nconvcnicnccs chargcd by Royalists, upon FrccStatcs and
Commonwcalths:
437
lromhcncc,also,maybcobscrvcdallthcncccs
sarypointsolprudcncc,andlorbcarancc,whichoughttotakcplaccin
In What
Case the
Romans used
the utmost
remedy
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<

rcspcct ol Supcriors, till it shall cvidcntly appcar unto a pcoplc, that
thereisaDesignonfoottosurpri.eandsei.etheirLiberties.
438

|MP.c6,.c.,Junc.6a|

439
AsccondCaution,is,inrclationtothcirlcctivcPowcr,thatinall
lcctionsolMagistratcs,thcyhavcancspcciallycuponthcPublick,
in making choicc ol such pcrsons oncly, as havc appcarcd most cmi
ncnt,andactivc,inthcstablishmcntand
440
LovcolFrccdom.
!nsuchhandsthcGuardianshipolLibcrtymaybcsalcly
441
placcd,
bccauscsuchmcnhavcmadcthcPublick!ntc|.a|rcst,andthcirown,
all onc, and thcrclorc will ncithcr bctray, nor dcscrt it, in prospcrity
oradvcrsity,whcrcasmcnolanothcrqualicationandtcmpcr,ilthcy
gct into Authority, carc not to scrvc thc Publick any lurthcr
442
, than
thcpublikcscrvcsthcm,andwilldrawoandon
443
asthcyndthcir
pportunity: Yca, and takc this lor a ccrtain Rulc, that il any pcr
son bc admittcd into Powcr, that lovcs not thc Commonwcalth
444
,
abovc all othcr considcrations, such a man is (as wc say) cvcry mans
moncy,anyStatcMarchantmayhavchimloraFactor:andlorgood
considcration,hcwilloltcnmakcRcturnsuponthcPublikc!ntcrcst,
havcastockgoingincvcryParty,andwithmcnolcvcrypinion,and
(il occasion scrvc) truck with thc Commonncmy, and Common
wcalth
445
,bothtogcthcr.
8ut that you may scc, ! do not spcak without book, it is ristotles
opinion,aswcllasminc,whosaith,inthcrst
446
olhisPoliticks,bcing
thustranslatcd,PernegligentiammutaturstatusFeipublicae,cumadPo-
testatesassumunturilliquipraesentemstatumnonamant:ThcFormola
Commonwcalth
447
isthcn|.|altcrcdbyncgligcncc,whcnthoscmcn
arctakcnintoPowcr,whichdonotlovcthcprcscntstablishmcnt,

it
isnotonclyawaytoprcscrvcaCommonwcalth,toavoidthoscthat
hatcit,butthoscalsoarcasmuchtobcavoidcd,thatdonotlovcit,
thatis,whoarcnotcarncstlywcddcdtoitbyaninwardactivcprinciplc
olAcction:Andthcrcasonisvcrycvidcnt,bccauscthcirAcctions
Aristotlc,Politics,\..
.cc
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
bcingolanindicrcntNaturc,rcmainrcadytorunoutintoanyForm,
!ntcrcst,orParty,thatocrsitsclluponthclcastaltcrationortcmpta
tionwhatsocvcr.Forthis,wcmightgivcyouinstancc
448
cnough,andtoo
much,butwavingthcm,itmaysucc,thatmostolthc8roils,Tumults,
andCivilisscntions,thatcvcrhapncdinFrccStatcs,havcbccnoc
casioncdbythcAmbitious,Trcachcrous,and!ndircctPracticcsolsuch
pcrsonsadmittcdintoPowcr,ashavcnotbccnrminthcirhcartsto
thc!ntcrcstolLibcrty.
Thctrutholthisis(omittingmanyothcrs)tobcsccninthcRomanc
Statc
449
,altcritsLibcrtywaslullysctlcdinaSucccssionolthcPcoplcs
suprcamAsscmblics.
|.| For thc Nobility in thc Scnatc, bcing mcn ol anothcr !ntcr
cst (howcvcr thcy prctcndcd) and, somctimcs by cunning, somctimcs
bycorrupting,gcttingTrustlromthcPcoplc,didbycombinationand
complyanccwiththcirFcllowScnators,sogarblc,pcrplcx,andturmoil
thcPcoplcsAairs,Conccrnmcnts,andUndcrstandings,thatatlcngth,
whatthcycouldncvcrhavcdoncbylorcc,asppositcs,thcyccctcd
bylraud,asFricnds,todcprivcthcPcoplcolaquictandcomlortablc
cnjoymcntolthcirFrccdomc.
A third Caution is,That in all thcir lcctions ol any into thc Su
prcamCourt,orCounccls,thcybcnotlcdbyanybcnt
450
olFaction,
Alliancc,orAcction,andthatnoncbctakcnin,butpurclyuponthc
accountolmcrit.
Thclormcrcourschathcvcrbinthcoccasionoldiscontcnts,sidings,
andPartics.
Thc lattcr, stops thc mouths ol mcn, that pcrhaps arc contrary
mindcd,anddrawsthcconscntandapprobationolallthcVorld,whcn
thcy scc mcn put in Authority, that havc a clcar rc|.|putation ol
transccndcntHoncstyandVisdom.
AlourthCaution,is,ThatasitisthcsccrctolLibcrty,thatallMag
istratcs,andpublikcccrs,bckcptinanaccountablcstatc,liablcto
rcndcr an account ol thcir 8chaviour and Actions, and also, that thc
pcoplchavclrccdomtoaccuscwhomthcyplcasc:soonthcothcrsidc,
itconccrnsthcm,abovcallthings,toavoidlalscChargcs,Accusations,
Calumniations
451
againstPcrsonsinAuthority,whicharcthcgrcatcst
Faction,
Alliance, &
Aection is to
be avoided in
all Elections.
That people
are to avoid
all false charges
against persons
in Authority.
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
.c.
abuscs and blcmishcs ol Libcrty, and havc bccn thc most lrcqucnt
CauscsolTumultandisscntion.
Thc 8anishmcnt, callcd Ostracism, among thc thenians, was in
stitutcd (at rst) upon a just and noblc ground: so
452
was that callcd
Petatism,amongthc Lacedemonians,toturnsuchoutolthcCommon
wcalth
453
,whohadrcndcrcdthcmsclvcssuspcctcdagainstthccommon
Libcrty:butyctthcabuscolitaltcrwardsprovcdmostpcrnicious,to
thcimbroylingolthoscStatcswithCivilisscntion,whcnitwaspcr
vcrtcdbysomcpctulantspirits,toanoppositionolsomclcw(andbut
lcw)ol|.6|thcirbcstdcscrvingCitizcns.
ThcRomansalso,inthcirstatcolLibcrty,rctaincdthislrccdomalso,
ol kccping all pcrsons accountablc and accusing whom thcy plcascd,
butthcnthcywcrcvcrycautiousalso,torctainthatccrccolthcScn
atc, callcd, Turpilianum
454
, in lull lorcc and vcrtuc, whcrcby a scvcrc
FincwassctonthcHcadsolallCalumniators,andlalscAccuscrs.

ThcducbscrvationolthisRulcprcscrvcdthatStatcalongtimc
lromUsurpationbymcninpowcronthconcsidc,andlrompopular
clamourandTumultsonthcothcrsidc.
AlthCautionis,That,asbyallmcansthcyshouldbcwarcol!n
gratitudc,andunhandsomcRcturns,tosuchashavcdonccmincntscr
viccslorthcCommonwcalth
455
,Soitconccrnsthcm,lorthcpublikc
pcaccandsccurity,nottoimposcaTrustinthchandsolanypcrsonor
pcrsonslurthcr,thanasthcymaytakcitbackagainatplcasurc.
ThcRcasonis,bccausc,(asthcProvcrbsaith) Honoresmutantmores,
Honours changc mcns manncrs,

Acccssions, and Continuations ol

Powcrand|.,|Grcatncss,cxposcthcmindtotcmptations:Thcyarc
Sailcstoobiglorany8ulkolMortalitytostccrancvcncoursc
456
by.
Thc Kingdoms ol thc Vorld, and thc Glorics ol thcm, arc 8aitcs
thatscldomclailcs
457
whcnthcTcmptcrgocsashing:andnoncbut
hc,thatwasmorcthanman,couldhavcrcluscdthcm.HowmanyFrcc
Statcs&Commonwcalthshavcpaiddcarlorthcirxpcricnccinthis
As the people
are to avoid
ingratitude,
so likewise to
have a care
not to intrust
any particular
persons, with
an unlimited
Power.
iodorusSiculus,X!.6,.

Thclaw,passcdin~.b.6.,isdcscribcdbyTacitus,nnals,....

Provcrbial.
.ca
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
particular:whobytrustingthcirownscrvantstoolar,havcbccnlorccd,
inthccndtorcccivcthcmlorthcirMastcrs.Norisittobcwondrcd
at by any, considcring that immodcratc Powcr soon lcts in high and
ambitiousthoughts,andwhcrcthcyarconccadmittcd,nocsignso
absurd,orcontrarytoamansprinciplcs,buthcrushcthintoit,without
thclcastrcmorscorconsidcration:lorthcSpiritolAmbition,isaSpirit
olGiddincss,itloxcsmcnthatrcccivcit,andmakcsthcmmorcdrunk
thanthcspiritolVinc.
Sothatwcrcthcyncvcrsowisc,just,andhoncstbclorc,thcyaltcr
wardsbccomcthccontrary,mccrsots, noncomposmentis,bcinghurricd
onwith|.|outlcarorwit,inallthcirundcrtakings:Andthcrclorc,
withoutqucstion,ithighlyconccrnsaPcoplcthathavcrcdccmcdand
rcscucdthcirLibcrticsoutolthchandsolTyranny,andarcdcclarcd
a FrccStatc, so to rcgulatc
458
thcir Aairs, that allTcmptations, and
pportunitics ol Ambition, may bc rcmovcd out ol thc way: or clsc
thcrclollowsancccssityolTumultandCivilisscntion,thccommon
conscqucnccwhcrcolhathcvcrbccnaRuincolthcpublikcFrccdomc.
This
459
Caesar, who rst took Arms upon thc Publick Scorc, and
bccamcthcPcoplcsLcadcr,lcttinginAmbitiousThoughtstohisun
boundcdPowcr,soonshookhandswithhisrstFricndsandPrinciplcs,
and bccamc anothcr man: so that upon thc rst lair pportunity, hc
turndhisArmcsonthcPublickLibcrty.
ThusdidSyllascrvcthcScnatc,and MariusalsothcPcoplc,bcingthc
samcTyrant,inccct,thoughnotinnamc,norinanopcnmanncr.
ThusdidPisistratusatthens,gathoclesin Sicily,Cosmos,Soderino,
andSa.aranolain Florence,Castrucioin|.| Luca,andothcrs,inmany
othcr placcs: Nor must it bc lorgottcn what thc Family ol Orange
wouldhavcdoncin Holland;loruponthcvcrysamcaccounthavcUsur
pationsbincommcnccdinall Free-StatesthroughoutthcVorld.
460

|MP.c,,.,aJunc.6a|
Thc Ninth, and last Rulc, lor prcscrvation ol thc Publick Freedome,
is this
461
,That it bc madc an unpardonablc Crimc, to incur thc guilt
olTrcasonagainstthc!ntcrcstandMajcstyolthcPcoplc.
Treason
against the
Peoples
Liberties,
not to be
pardoned.
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
.c
Andlorthcclcaringolthis,itwillbcrcquisitctomustcrupthosc
variousParticularsthatcomcwithinthccompassolTrcason,accord
ingtothcPracticc,andpinionolothcrNations.Thc..rcmarkablc
Trcasoninold Fome,altcrits EstablishmentinaStateofFreedome,was
thatolBrutushissons,whocntcrcdintoalormalConspiracylorthc
bringingbackolthc TarquinstothcKingdombylorccolArms.
462

ThisBrutuswasthcFoundcrolthcRomanLibcrty,andthcrclorc
oncwouldhavcthoughtthcyoungmcnmighthavcobtaincdancasic
pardon:8utsuchwasthczcalolthcRomans,|acc|lorthcprcscrva
tionolthcir Freedom,thatthcywcrcallputtodcathwithoutmcrcy,
and,thatallothcrsintimctocomc,mightbcdcprivcdolthclcasthopc
olbcingsparcduponthclikcoccasion,thcirownFathcrwasthcman
mostlorwardtobringthcmtoxccution.
ThiswasTrcasoningross:butinaltcrtimc,thcrcstartcdupmorc
rcncd picccs ol Trcason, as may bc collcctcd out ol thc Actions ol
Maelius and Manlius, two pcrsons that had dcscrvcd highly ol thc
Commonwcalth
463
,butcspcciallythclattcr,whosavcditlromruinc,
whcnthc GaulshadbcsicgcdthcCapitol.
Ncvcrthclcss,prcsumingaltcrwardsuponthcPcoplc,bccauscolhis
cxtraordinary Mcrits, Hc, by grcating himscll bcyond thc sizc ol a
goodCitizcn,andcntcrtainingThoughtsandCounsclsolsurprising
thcPcoplcsLibcrtics,wascondcmncdtodcath,butyctnotwithoutthc
Pcoplcspitty(asindccditwasanunhappyNcccssity,thatthcyshould
bclorccdtodcstroyhimthathadsavcdthcmlromdcstru|ac.|ction).
Tothcsamccndcamc Maeliusalso,uponthclikcoccasion.
Anothcr sort ol Trcason thcrc was contrivcd likcwisc against that
Pcoplc,
AndthatwasbythoscMagistratcs,callcdthcDecem.iri,touching
whosc Actions, and thc Ground ol thcir Condcmnation, ! oncly lct
youknow,
That you may bc sucicntly inlormcd by othcr Pcns thcn minc,
suchasthcHistorianLi.y,Pomponius,Dionysius,andothcrs,thathavc
writtcnolthcRomanAaircsandAntiquitics.
AlourthsortolTrcasonagainstthatPcoplc,wasmanilcstUsurpa
tion,actcdovcrandovcr,longbclorcthctimcol Caesar.
.c
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
Somc othcr Particulars also, thcrc wcrc, ol lcss considcration, that
camcwithinthccompassolTrcason,Andinall,thcywcrcvcrystrict
to vindicatc thc !ntcrcst ol thc CommonVcalth, without rcspcct
olPcrsons.
|aca|TothoscpassagcsoutolthcoldCommonwcalth
464
olFome,
lctusaddthcrcstwchavctosayaboutthispoint,outolthcpracticcs
olthcprcscntStatcol!enice,thcmostcxactlorPunctillosolthat
465

NaturcthatcvcrwasinthcVorld,andthcrclorc,qucstionlcss,itisthc
most principal causc ol hcr so long continuancc: !t is, thcrc, cath
without mcrcy, lor any man to havc thc lcast attcmpt, or thought, ol
conspiring against thc Commonwcal, and in scvcral othcr Cascs, as
lollowcth.
466

Sccondly,itisTrcason
467
incascanyScnatorbctrayCounscls:thcrcit
isanunpardonablcCrimc,andsuchamortalsin,thatdrawsoncath
withoutmcrcy.
This scvcrity also, was rctaincd in thc Roman Statc, whcrc such
asbccamcguiltyolthisCrimc,wcrccithcr
468
burntalivc,orhangcd
uponaGibbct:Hcrcupon,(saith!aleriusMax.lib.a.)whcnanymat
tcrwasdclivcrcd,ordcbatcd,itwas,asilnomanhadhcardasyllablc
olwhathadbccnsaidamongsomany: Fromwhcnccitcamctopass,
that thc ccrccs ol thcir Scnatc wcrc callcd Tacita, that is to say,
|ac|thingsconccalcd,bccauscncvcrdiscovcrcd,untillthcycamcto
xccution.
469

Thirdly,itisTrcason,without
470
mcrcy,loranyScnators,orothcrl
ccrsol !enice,torcccivcGilts,orPcnsions,lromanylorrcignPrincc,
orStatc,uponanyprctcnccwhatsocvcr.!twasanoldProvcrbamong
thcHcathcns
471
,Thatthegodsthemsel.esmightbetaken.ithgifts:and
thcrclorcthcconscqucnccsmustnccdsbcdangcrous,inthcinlcriour
CourtsolStatcsandPrinccs,sinccnothingcanbccarrycdinthisCasc,
accordingto Nati.eInterest,andSoundFeason;butonclybyPluralitics
olForrcignictatcs,andComplianccs:8utin
472
!enicethcyarcsolrcc
lromthistrcachcrous!mpicty,thatallStatcswhichtransactwiththcm,
mustdoitabovcboard,consultbclorchandwiththcirbrains,andnot
Apparcntlyarclcrcnccto\alcriusMaximus,FactorumetDictorumMemora-
biliumLibriNo.em,!!..a.
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
.c
thcirpurscs:sothat(as Thuanussaith)thcKingol Francenccdsnot
usc much labour to purchasc an Interest with any Princc, or Statc in
Italy, unlcss it bc thc !enetian Fepublick, whcrc all Forrcign Compli
anccs, and Pcnsioncrs, arc punishcd with utmost scvcrity, but cscapc
wcllcnough,inothcrplaccs.
|ac|Fourthly,itisTrcasonloranyolhcrScnatorstohavcanypri
vatcConlcrcnccwithForrcignAmbassadorsandAgcnts.
473
!tisvcry
obscrvablc also, among our Ncighbours ol thc LowCountrics, that
onc Articlc ol thc Chargc, whcrcby thcy took o Barne.elts hcad,
was,lorthathchcldlamiliarityandconvcrscwiththcSpanishAm
bassador,atthcsamctimcwhcn Spainwasan
474
ncmy.
Thusyouhavc
475
abriclcscriptionolTrcason,inthcmostnotablc
kinds ol it, according to thc Customcs and pinions ol two ol thc
mostcmincnt Free-States,(whichmayscrvcinstcadolallthcrcst)that
hathbccninthcVorld,who,asaprincipalRulcandMcanslorthc
prcscrvationol Freedom,madcitaCrimcunpardonablc,toincurthc
guiltolTrcason,inanyolthcsckinds,againstthc!ntcrcstandMajcsty
olthcPcoplcina Free-State.
476

|MP.c,aJunc.July.6a|
Vcnowrcturntothclormcr
477
mainPointolthis
478
iscoursc,intrac
ingoutthcRcmaindcrsolthoscrroursthathavcbccnrcccivcdinthc
PracticcolPolicy.
|ac|AlourthcrrorinPolicy,&whichisindccdpidcmical,hath
bccnthcRcgulationolaaircsbyRcasonolStatc,notbythc
479
strict
RulcolHoncst.
480
8utlorlcarbc
481
mistakcn,youarctoundcrstand,
thatbyRcasonolStatchcrc,wcdonotcondcmnthccquitablcRcsults
olprudcnccandrightRcason:lorupondctcrminationsolthisnaturc
dcpcnds thc salcty ol all statcs, and princcs, but that rcason ol statc
thatowcslromacorruptprinciplctoanindircctcnd,thatrcasonol
statc,whichisthcstatcsmansrcason,orrathcrhiswillandlust,whcn
hcadmitsAmbitiontobcarcason,Pcrlcrmcnt,Powcr,Prot,Rcvcngc,
andpportunity,tobcrcason,sucicnttoputhimuponanydcsignc
Reason
of State
preferred
before Rules
of Honesty,
is an Error
in policy.
JacqucsAugustcdcThou(..6.,).
.c6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
olActionthatmaytcndtothcprcscntadvantagc,thoughcontraryto
thcLawolGod,orthclawolcommonhoncsty &olNations.
Amorclivclydcscriptionolthisstrangc PocuscallcdRcasonolStatc,
takcaslollowcth.
482
!tisthcmostsovcraignCommandcr,&thcmost
importantCounscllor.RcasonolStatcisthcCarcandcompassolthc
ship,thclilcolaStatc.Thatwhichanswcrsallobjcctions,andquar
rcls,aboutMall|ac6|govcrnmcnt.Thatsit,whichmakcs
483
Var,im
poscs Taxcs, cuts o cndcrs, pardons cndcrs, scnds and trcats
Ambassadors.
!tcansayandunsay,doandundo,baulkthcCommonRoad,makc
Highwaycs to bccomc 8ywaycs, and thc lurthcst about, to bccomc
thcncarcstCut.!ladicultKnotcomctobcunticd,whichncithcrthc
ivincbyScripturc,norLawycrbyCascorprcccdcntcanuntic,thcn
Rcason ol Statc, or a hundrcd waycs morc, which !diots knows not,
dissolvcsit.ThisisthatgrcatmprcsswhichthcItalianscallFaggione
distato.!tcanrantasaSouldicr,complcmcntasaMonsicur,trickitas
aJugglcr,strutitasaStatcsman,andisaschangablcasthcMoon,in
thcvarictyolhcrappcaranccs.
8ut wc may takc noticc ol a morc cxccllcnt way in oppsition to
thissandyFoundationolPolicy,callcdFeasonofState,
484
.i..asimplc
rcliancc upon God in thc vigorous and prcscnt actings ol all Righ
tcousncss,cxprcstbyhoncstmcn,inplainlanguagc,tothisccct,Fiat
justitia,.fractusillabaturOrbis;caluprightly,walkcclosc|ac,|and
rcal to your promiscs, and principlcs, though thc Fabrick ol Hcavcn
and carth should lall, yct God is ablc to support, hc cxpccts but so
much laith as will countcrpoisc a grain ol mustardsccd. 8csidcs, in
lollowingsingly,ajustandrightcousprinciplc,amangainsthisadvan
tagc,thatwc
485
maygoonboldly,withamindlrcclromthattorturing
sollicitudcolsucccss,(

hcissubjccttononcolthoschcatsandcolds,
Thctcxtprcccdingthcparcnthcsis(whichismcrclyaprintcrsmark)istakcn
lromCharlcsHotham,Corporations!indicated(London,.6.),p.a.Hothams
prcvious paragraphs (pp. aa) thcmsclvcs rcproducc rccctions onrcason ol
statc,whichNcdhamincludcdinMercuriusPoliticusinJuly.6.andwhichin
July.6arcappcarcdinthccditorialonthcsamcsubjcctthatisrcproduccdhcrc
(LP,p.a.c).
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
.c,
thosctsandlrights,whcrcwithmcnarcpcrpctuallyvcxcd,lorlcarol
discovcryormiscarriagc,whcnthcyhavconccintanglcdthcmsclvcsin
anybyactingolngagcmcnts
486
)hccithcrprospcrs,tothcgrcatgood
olhisNation,orclscdicswithhonourandtriumph.
8utthoscthatlollowthcothcrprinciplcolHumaneIn.ention,and
scrvcthat ItalianGoddcss, FaggionediStato,thcymaylivcawhilcas
gods,butshalldiclikcmcn,andpcrishlikconcolthcPrinccs.
8utbccauscwordswillnotscrvcthcturn,takcalcwxamplcsol
thosc many, that might bc lctcht lrom all Agcs, and Nations. !t was
FeasonofState,madc PharoahholdthcIsrae-|ac| litesinbondagc,and
altcrwards, whcn thcy wcrc lrccd, to cndcavour to bring thcm back
againtothciroldslavcry:butyouknowwhathccamcto,!twas Feason
ofState,thatmadc Saultosparcgag,andplotthcruincol Da.id.
!twas FeasonofState,thatmadc JeroboamtosctupCalvcsin Dan
andBethel.
!twas FeasonofState,(andashrcwdonctoo)whcn chitophelcauscd
bsalom,todclchisFathcrsConcubincsinthcsightolall Israel.You
knowwhatcndthcybothcamcto.!twasthcsamc,thatcauscdbner,
rst,totakcpartwiththchouscol Saul;andthatcauscdJoabtokilhim
altcrhccamctobchisRivalinFamc,andthcFavourol Da.id:thcir
ndswcrcbothbloudy.
Hcncc it was, that Solomon having pardoncd donijah, thought t
altcrwardstoputhimtodcath,uponavcryslcndcroccasion.
And Jehu,thoughhchadVarrantlromGodtodcstroyallthchousc
ol hab his Mastcr, yct, bccausc in thc xccution ol it, hc minglcd
FeasonofState,inrclationtohisown Interest,|ac|andmindcdthc
stablishmcntolhimscllthcrcby,morcthanthcCommandandHon
ourolGod,inthcxccutionolJusticc:thcrclorcGodcurscdhimlor
hispains,thrcatningbythcmoutholthcProphct Hosea,toavcngcthc
bloudol habslamilyuponthchouscol Jehu.
!twas FeasonolState,thatmovcdHerodtocndcavourthcdcstruc
tionolChrist,assoonashcwasborn.
!t was Feason of State in thc Jcwcs, (lcst thc Romans should comc
andtakcawaythcirPlaccandNation)andin Pilate,(lcsthcshouldbc
thoughtnolricndtoCaesar)thatmadcthcmbothjoynincrucilying
.c
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
thc Lord ol Glory, and incur that hcavy Cursc, which at lcngth lcll
uponthcJcwishPlaccandNation.
!t is Feason ol State, that makcs thc Popc and thc Cardinals stick
soclosconctoanothcr,andbindsthcmandthcMonarchsolChris
tcndominonccommon!ntcrcst,lorthcgrcatningolthcmsclvcs,and
thc inslaving ol thc Pcoplc, lor which, a sad dcstruction doth attcnd
thcm.

487
!t was Feason of State, that dcstroycd so many millions ol mcn
(lorsooth)in|a.c|thcHoly!ar;thatsoPrinccsmightnothavctimcto
takcnoticcolthcPopcsUsurpation,northcPcoplclcisurcandoppor
tunitytocallthcirPrinccstoanaccountlorthcirunboundcdTyranny.
!t was Feason of State, that was plcadcd in bchall
488
ol Borgia, to
justicallhis\illanics,inwadingthroughsomuchbloudandmischicl
toaPrincipalityinItaly;buthccscapcdnot,tocnjoythclruitolall
hislabour.
!twasthcsamccvil,thatmadc Henrythc.olFrance,torcnouncc
hisRcligion,andturnPapist,tosccurchimsclllromPopishRcvcng,
butGodpunishthim,andscntaPopishaggcrthroughhishcart.
!tmadc FichardthcThirdin England,tobutchcrhisownNcphcw,
lorwhich,vcngcanccpursucdhim,bcingatlastticdathwartahorsc
back
489
,nakcdandbloudy,likcaCallolthcShamblcs.
!t madc Henry thc ,.
490
to cxtinguish thc Linc ol Plantagenet, and
hisSonaltcrhim,notonclytodabblchishandsinthcbloudolmany,
buttopcrsccutc
491
thcProtcstants,notwithstandingthathclcllhcavy
alsouponthcPapists.
|a..|!tmadchisaughtcr MarytollupthcmcasurcolhcrFathcrs
iniquitics,asthcycouldnotbccxpiatcdbythcvcrtucsolhcrsistcr,and
Succcssor,whosconlylaultwas,inlollowingRcasonolStatcsolar,as
toscrvcthc!ntcrcstolMonarchy,abovcthatolRcligion,byuphold
inganrdcrolPrclacy,sothatinhcrthcdircctLincolthatFamily
cndcd.
Altcrthis,itwaswickcdRcasonolStatc,thatcontinucdMonarchy,
and brought in a Scotchman upon us.This was James, who was so
grcat an Admircr ol Rcason ol Statc, that hc adoptcd it lor its own
arling,bythcnamcolKing-craft:andhisMotto,NoBishop,noKing,
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
.c
shcwcd,thathcprclcrdRcasonolStatc,bclorcthc!ntcrcstolRcli
gion, as in othcr things, bclorc honcsty: witncss, among many othcr,
hisquittingthcCauscolGod,andthc Palatinate,tokccplairwiththc
houscol ustria:lorwhich,andlorthcsamcRcasonolStatc,putin
practiccbyhisSon Charles,lorthcruincolRcligionandLibcrty,bya
bloudywar,thcwholcFamilyhathbccnbroughttoasaddcstruction.
Thcsc
492
xamplcsarcsucicntto|a.a|shcwthatRcasonolStatc,
prclcrdbclorcthcRulcolHoncsty,isanrrourinPolicywithavcn
gcancc, as thcy that will not bclicvc, shall bc surc to lccl it, sincc it
brings unavoidablc Ruinc, not oncly to particular pcrsons, but upon
wholcFamilics,andNations.
|MP.c,.July.6a|
AlthrrourinPolicyhathbccnthis,.i..apcrmittingolthcLcg
islativc and xccutivc Powcrs ol a Statc, to rcst in onc and thc samc
handsandpcrsons.8ythcLcgislativcPowcr,wcundcrstandthcPowcr
olmaking,altcring,orrcpcalingLaws,whichinallwcllordcrcdGov
crnmcnts,hathcvcrbccnlodgcdinasucccssionolthcsuprcamCoun
cclsolAsscmblicsolaNation.
8ythcxccutivcPowcr,wcmcanthatPowcrwhichisdcrivcdlrom
thcothcr,andbythcirAuthoritytranslcrdintothchandorhandsol
oncPcrson,(callcdaPrincc)orintothchandsolmany(callcdStatcs)
lorthcadministrationolGovcrnmcnt,inthcxccutionolthoscLaws.
!nthckccpingolthcsctwoPowcrsdistinct,owingindistinctChan
ncls,sothatthcymayncvcrmcctinonc,savcupon|a.|somcshort
cxtraordinaryoccasionconsiststhcsalctyolaStatc.
493

ThcRcasoniscvidcnt,bccauscilthcLawmakcrs,(whocvcrhavc
thc Suprcam Powcr) should bc also thc constant Administrators and
ispcnccrs ol Law and Justicc, thcn (by conscqucncc) thc Pcoplc
would bc lclt without Rcmcdy, in casc ol !njusticc, sincc no Appcal
can lic undcr Hcavcn against such as havc thc Suprcmacy, which, il
onccadmittcd,wcrcinconsistcntwiththcvcryintcntandnaturalim
portoltrucPolicy:whichcvcrsupposcth,thatmcninPowcrmaybc
unrightcous,andthcrclorc(prcsumingthcworst)pointsalwaycs,inall
A uniting of
the Legislative
and Executive
Powers in
one and the
same hands,
an Errour in
Policy.
..c
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
dctcrminations, at thc normitics and Rcmcdics ol Govcrnmcnt, on
thcbchallolthcPcoplc.
For thc clcaring ol this, it is worthy your obscrvation, that in all
Kingdomcs and Statcs whatsocvcr, whcrc thcy havc had any thing
olFrccdomamongthcm,thcLcgislativcandxccutivcPowcrshavc
bccnmanagcdindistincthands:Thatistosay,thcLawmakcrshavc
sct down Laws, as Rulcs ol Govcrnmcnt, and thcn put Powcr into
thchandsolothcrs(notthcirown)togovcrnbythoscRulcs,by|a.|
whichmcansthcpcoplcwcrchappy,havingnoGovcrnours,butsuch
aswcrcliablctogivcanaccountolGovcrnmcnttothcsuprcamCoun
ccl ol Lawmakcrs. And on thc othcr sidc, it is no lcss worthy ol a
vcryscriousobscrvation,ThatKingsandstandingStatcsncvcrbccamc
absolutcovcrthcPcoplc,tillthcybroughtboththcmakingandcxccu
tionolLawcsintothcirownhands:andasthisUsurpationolthcirs
tookplaccbydcgrccs,sounlimitcdArbitraryPowcrcrcptupintothc
Thronc, thcrc to dominccr orc thcVorld, and dcc thc Libcrtics ol
thcPcoplc.
Cicero,inhissccond8ook deOc.andhisthird, deLegibus,spcaking
olthcrstinstitutionolKings,tcllsus,howthcywcrcatrstlcltto
govcrnatthcirowndiscrctionwithoutLaws. ThcnthcirVills
494
,and
thcirVords,wcrcLaw,thcmakingandcxccutionolLawcswasinonc
andthcsamchands.
8ut what was thc conscqucncc: Nothing but !njusticc, and !njus
ticc without Rcmcdy, till thc Pcoplc wcrc taught by Ncccssity to or
dainLawcs,asRulcswhcrcbythcyoughttogo|a.|vcrn.Thcnbcgan
thc mccting ol thc Pcoplc succcssivcly in thcir suprcam Asscmblics,
tomakcLaws,whcrcbyKings(insuchplaccsascontinucdundcrthc
KinglyForm)wcrclimitcdandrcstraincd,sothatthcycoulddonoth
ing in Govcrnmcnt, but what was agrccablc to Law, lor which thcy
wcrc accountablc, as wcll as othcr ccrs wcrc in othcr Forms ol
Govcrnmcnt,tothoscsuprcamCouncclsandAsscmblics:Vitncssall
thcoldstoricsolthens,Sparta,andothcrCountricsolGreece,whcrc
youshallnd,thatthcLawmaking,andthcLawcxccutingPowcrs,
Ciccro,DeOciis,!!..a,DeLegibus,!!!..
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
...
wcrcplaccdindistincthandsundcrcvcryFormolGovcrnmcnt:For,
so much ol Frccdom thcy rctaincd still undcr cvcry Form, till thcy
wcrc both swallowcd up (as thcy wcrc scvcral timcs) by an absolutc
omination.
!nold Fome,wcnd FomulusthcirrstKingcutin
495
picccsbythc
Scnatc, lor taking upon him to makc and cxccutc Laws at his own
plcasurc.And Li.ytcllsus,thatthcrcasonwhythcycxpcldTarquin
thcir last King, was, bccausc hc took thc xccutivc and Lcgislativc
Powcrsbothintohisown|a.6|hands,makinghimscllbothLcgislator
and ccr, inconsulto Senatu, without advicc, and in dcancc ol thc
Scnatc.

Kings
496
bcing cashicrcd, thcn thcir StandingScnatcs
497
camc in
play,whomakingandcxccutingLaws,byccrccsolthcirown,soon
grcwintolcrablc,andputthcpcoplcupondivcrsdcspcratcAdvcnturcs,
to gct thc Lcgislativc Powcr out ol thcir hands, and placc it in thcir
own,thatis,inasucccssionolthcirSuprcamAsscmblics:8utthcx
ccutivcPowcrthcylclt,partinthchandsolccrsolthcirown,and
partinthcScnatc,inwhichStatcitcontinucdsomchundrcdsolycars,
tothcgrcathappincssandcontcntolall,tillthcScnatcbyslcightsand
subtilticsgotbothPowcrsintothcirownposscssionagain,andturncd
allintoconlusion.
Altcrwards,thcirmpcrors(thoughUsurpcrs)durstnotatrstturn
both thcsc Powcrs into thc Channcl ol thcir own unboundcd Vill,
butdiditbydcgrccs,thatthcymightthcmorcinscnsiblydcprivcthc
pcoplc ol thcir Libcrty, till at lcngth thcy opcnly madc and cxccutcd
Laws at thcir own |a.,| plcasurcs, bcing both Lcgislators and
ccrs,withoutgivinganaccounttoany:andsothcrcwasancndolthc
RomanLibcrty.
Tocomcncarcrhomc,lctuslookintothcoldConstitutionolthc
Commonwcalths
498
,andKingdomcsoluropc:Vcndinthc Ital-
ian States; !enice, which having thc Lcgislativc and xccutivc Powcr,
conncdwithinthcnarrowPalcolitsNobilityinthcScnatc,isnotso
lrccasoncc FlorencewaswithSiena,Millan,andthcrcst,bclorcthcir
Livy,bUrbeCondita,!..,.
..a
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
ukcs, by arrogating both thosc Powcrs to thcmsclvcs, wormd thcm
outolthcirLibcrty.
lallthoscStatcsthcrc,oncly Genoarcmainsinalrccposturc,by
kccpingthc Po.erolLcgislationonclyinthcirsuprcamAsscmblics,
and lcaving thc xccution ol Law in a titular ukc, and a Counccl,
thckccpingolthcscPowcrsasundcrwithinthcirpropcrSphcrc,isonc
principal Rcason why thcy havc bccn ablc to cxcludcTyranny out ol
thcirownStatc,whilcithathrunthcRoundin Italy.
VhatmadcthcGrandScigniorabsolutcolold,buthisingrossing
boththcsc
499
Powcrs:andollatc|a.|thcKingsol SpainandFrance?
!nancicnttimcthccascstoodlarothcrwisc,lorinmbrosioMorales
hisChroniclc youwillndc,thatin SpainthcLcgislativcpowcrwas
lodgcdonclyinthcirsuprcmcCounccl
500
,andthcirKingwasnomorc
butanclcctivcccr,tocxccutcsuchLawsasthcymadc,andincasc
ollailing
501
,togivcthcmanaccompt,andsubmittothcirjudgcmcnts,
whichwasthccommonpracticc,asyoumaysccalsoin Mariana:

!t
wassoalsoinragon,tillitwasunitcdtoCastile,bythcMariagcol
Ferdinand,andIsabel;andthcnbothStatcssoonlostthcirlibcrty,by
thcprojcctsol Ferdinandandhissucccssors,whodrcwthcpowcrsol
LcgislationandxccutionolLaw,withinthcvcrgcandinucnccol
thc Prcrogativc Royall: whilcst thcsc two powcrs wcrc kcpt distinct,
thcnthcscStatcswcrclrcc,butthcingrossingolthcminoncandthc
samchands,wasthclosscolthcirFrccdom.
502

FrancelikcwiscwasonccaslrccasanyNationundcrHcavcn:though
thcKingollatchathdoncall,andbccnallinall,tillthctimcolLe.is
|a.|thcclcvcnth:hcwasnomorcbutanccrolStatc,rcgulatcd
by Law, to scc thc Laws put in cxccution, and thc Lcgislativc Powcr
Prolcssor ol Rhctoric at Alcal dc Hcnarcs, Moralcs (...) was ap
pointcdCronistaFealin.6.HisLaCrnicaGeneraldeEspaawaspublishcdin
.,.MoralcsmayhavcbccnasourccolNcdhamsrcmarksonthcconstitution
olAragoninthcsamcparagraph.

JuandcMariana(.6.6a),SpanishJcsuitpricstandhistorian.Ncdham
mayhavchadparticularlyinmindhisDeFege(Tolcdo,.),orhisHistoriaede
rebusHispaniae(Tolcdo,.a.6c),pcrhapscspcciallybk.a.nhimsccHarald
.8raun,JuandeMarianaandEarlyModernSpanishPoliticalThought(Aldcr
shot,U.K.:Ashgatc,acc,).
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
..
(that)rcstcdinthcAsscmblyolthc.statcs,but Le.is,bysnatching
boththcscPowcrsintothcsinglchandsolhimscllc,andhissucccssors,
rooktthcmolthcirLibcrty,whichthcymaynowrccovcragain,ilthcy
havc but so much manhood, as to rcducc thc two Powcrs into thcir
ancicnt,orintobcttcrChanncls.
This pattcrn ol Le.is was lollowcd closc by thc latc King ol
England
503
, who by our ancicnt Laws, was thc samc hcrc, that Le.is
oughttohavcbccnin France,anccrintrust,toscctothccxccution
ol thc Lawcs: but by aiming at thc samc cnds which Le.is attaincd,
and straining, by thc ruinc ol Parliamcnts, to rcducc thc Lcgislativc
Powcr, as wcll as thc xccutivc into his own hands, hc instcad ol an
absolutc Tyranny, which might havc lollowcd his projcct, brought a
swiltdcstructionuponhimsclland
504
Family.
Thusyousccitappcars,thatthckccpingolthcsctwoPowcrsdis
tinct,|aac|hath
505
bccnagroundprcscrvativcolthcpcoplcs!ntcrcst,
whcrcasthcirunitinghathbccnitsruincallalonginsomanyAgcsand
Nations.
|MP..c,.July.6a|
AsixthcrrourinPolicy,obscrvablcinthcpracticcsolothcrtimcsand
Nations,hathbccnarcducingtransactions,andin!ntcrcst
506
olthcPub
lick, into thc disposition and powcr ol a lcw particulcr pcrsons.Thc
ill conscqucnccs whcrcol havc cvcr bin thcsc, that mattcrs wcrc not
wont to bc carricd by lair, lricndly, and lcgal
507
dcbatcs, but by c
signandSurprisal,notbylrccdom,andconscntolthcpcoplc,inthcir
opcnAsscmblics,butaccordingtothcprcmcditatcdRcsolutions,and
lorcstalmcntsolCraltyprojcctorsinprivatcCabincts,andJuntos,not
according to thc truc !ntcrcst ol Statc, but in ordcr to thc scrving ol
mcnscnds,notlorthcbcnct,andimprovcmcntolthcpcoplc,butto
kccpthcmundcrasignorantoltrucLibcrty,asthcHorscandMulc,
thatthcymightbc8ridlcdandSadlcd,&Riddcn,undcrthcwiscprc
tcnccsolbcingGovcrncdandkcptinrdcr.8utthcGrandandworsc
conscqucnccsolall,hathbccnthis,|aa.|thatsuchCollcgucs,Partncrs,
and!ngrosscrsolPowcrhavingonccbroughtaboutthcircndsbylying
Aairs
of State
transacted
by a few, is
an Errour
in Policy.
..
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
practicsuponthcpcoplc,havccvcrlalnintotsolmulationagainst
thcmsclvcs,andthcncxtdcsignhathcvcrbintorookthcirlcllows,and
rid thcmsclvcs ol compctitors, so that at lcngth thcy havc bccn thcir
own cxccutioncrs, and ruincd onc anothcr. And had it bccn only thc
dcstruction ol thcmsclvcs, thc mattcr wcrc not considcrablc, but
thcpcoplchavingbythismcansbccntornwithCivilldisscntions,and
thc miscrics ol Var, by bcing drawn into Partics, according to thcir
scvcrall humors and acctions, thc usuall cvcnt cvcr was, that in thc
cndthcyhavcbccnscizcdasthcprcyolsomcsinglcTyrant.
AncxamplcolthisthcrcwasinthcStatcol thens,undcrthcGov
crnmcnt ol thosc thirty mcn, who usurpcd thc powcr into thcir own
hands, and wcrc altcrwards callcd thc thirty Tyrants, lor thcir odious
bchaviour, lor Xenophon tclls us, that thcy drcw thc dctcrminations ol
all things into thcir own Closcts, but sccmcd to managc thcm, calcu-
lis .suragiisPlebis,|aaa|bythc\otcsolthcpcoplc,whichthcyhad
brought to thcir own dcvotion in thc Asscmbly, to countcnancc thcir
procccdings. Andthcircustomwas,ilanysortolmcncomplaincd,and
murmurcdatthcirdoings,orappcarcdlorthcPubliquc,immcdiatclyto
snapthcmobythclosscollilcorlortunc,undcraprctcnccolbcing
scditious,andturbulcntlcllowsagainstthcpcaccolthcirTyranny.Thcsc
Junctomcnhadnotbccnmanymoncthsinposscssion,butthcybcgan
toquarrclwithoncanothcr,andthcrcasonwhythcgamcwcntnoton,
againstoncanothcr,wasbccauscthcpcoplctookitoutolthcirhands,
and divcrtcd thc coursc ol thcir splccn against cach othcr, into a carc
olmutualldclcncc,thcybcingassaultcdoncvcrysidc,bypopulararms
and clamors, lor thc rccovcry ol libcrty. So you scc thc cvcnt ol thcsc
thirty mcns combination, was no lcssc thcn a civill Var, and it cndcd
in thcir banishmcnt. 8ut as grcat a mischicl lollowcd, lor a ncw Junto
ol tcn mcn got into thcir placcs, whosc Govcrnmcnt proving littlc
lcssc odious than thc lormcr, gavc an occasion to ncw |aa| changcs,
which ncvcr lclt shilting, till at last thcy lcll into a singlc Tyranny.
And thc wildcr sort ol pcoplc, having by a sad cxpcricncc, lclt thc
lruitsolthcirowncrror,inlollowingthclustsandparticsolparticular
Xcnophon,Hellenica,!!.iii.
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
..
powcrlul pcrsons, grcw wisc, and combining with thc honcstcr sort,
thcyallasoncman,sctthcirshouldcrstothcwork,andrcstorcdthc
primitivcMajcsty,andAuthorityolthcirsuprcmcAsscmblics.
Herodotus in his sccond 8ook, tclls us, that Monarchy bcing abol
ishcdinEgypt,altcrthcdcatholKing Setho,andacclarationpub
lishcdlorthclrccdomolthcpcoplc,immcdiatclythcAdministration
olallAaircswasingrosstinthchandsoltwclvcGrandccs,whohav
ing madc thcmsclvcs sccurc against thc pcoplc, in a lcw ycars lcll to
quarrclling with onc anothcr, (as thc manncr is) about thcir sharc
508

inthcGovcrnmcnt.Thisdrcwthcpcoplcintoscvcrallpartics,andso
acivillVarrccnsucd,whcrcinPsammeticus(oncolthctwclvc)having
slainallhisPartncrs,lcltthcpcoplcinthclurch,andinstcadolalrcc
Statc,scatcdhimscllinthcpos|aa|scssionolasinglcTyranny.
8utolalloldinstanccs,thcmostlamousarcthctwoTriumviratcs
thatwcrcinFome.Thcrstwasthatol Pompey,Caesar,and Crassus,
whohavingdrawnthcaairsolthcmpirc,andthcwholcVorldinto
thcirownparticularhands,actinganddctcrminingallinaprivatcJunto
olthcirown,withoutthcadviccorconscntolthcScnatcandpcoplc,
unlcssitwcrcnowandthcntomakcstalkinghorscsolthcm,lorthc
morc clcarly
509
convcyancc ol somc unplcasing dcsign: Thcsc mcn,
havingmadcanagrccmcntamongthcmsclvcs,thatnothingshouldbc
doncinthcCommonwcalth
510
,butwhatplcascdthcirownhumor,it
wasnotlongcrcthcspiritolAmbitionsctthcmyingatthclaccsol
onc anothcr, and drcw thc wholc Vorld upon thc Stagc, to act that
bloodyTragcdy,whoscCatastrophcwasthcdcathol Pompey,andthc
ominion
511
ol Caesar.ThcsccondTriumviratcwascrcctcdaltcrthc
latallstabgivcntoCaesarinthcScnatc,bctwccnOcta.ius(altcrwards
mpcrorbythcnamcol ugustus,) Lepidus,andntony:thcschaving
drawn all |aa| Aairs into thcir own hands, and sharcd thc Vorld
bctwccn thcm, prcscntly lcll abandying against onc anothcr. ugus-
tuspickingaquarrcllwithLepidus,gavchimaliltoutolhisAuthor
ity,andconncdhimtoacloscimprisonmcntinthcCity.Thisbcing
doncrst,hchadthcmorchopcandopportunityncxtlorthcouting
Hcrodotus,Histories,!!....
..6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
olnthony:hcpicksaquarrclwithhimtoo,bcginsancwcivillVarrc,
whcrcinFomeandagrcatpartolthcVorldwascngagcdtoscrvchis
ambition, and things bcing brought to thc dccision ol a 8attcll, and
thcruincol nthony,hcaltcrwardsscatcd,andsccurcdhimscllinthc
injoymcntolasinglcTyranny.
mittingmanyothcrinstanccs,hcrcinEngland,itisworthyobscr
vation,thatinthcgrcatcontcstbctwccn Henrythcthird,andthc8ar
ons,aboutthclibcrticsolthcmsclvcsandthcpcoplc,thcKingbcing
lorccdatlcngthtoyicld,thcLords,instcadollrccingthcNationin
dccd,ingrosscdallpowcrintothcirownhands,undcrthcnamcolthc
TwcntylourcConscrvatorsolthcKingdom,andbchavcdthcmsclvcs
likc totidem. |aa6| Tyranny, so manyTyrants, acting all in thcir own
Namcs, and in Juntos ol thcir own, wholly ncglccting, or clsc ovcr
ruling Parliamcnts. 8ut thcn not agrccing among thcmsclvcs, thcrc
wcrc thrcc or lour ol thcm dclcatcd thc othcr twcnty, and drcw thc
intircmanagcmcntolAairsintothcirownhands, .i..thcarlcsol
Leicester,Gloucester,Hereford,and Spencer;yctitcontinucdsonotlong,
lor, Leicestergcttingallintohisownpowcr,lcllatcnmitywith Glouces-
ter,andwasdclcatcd
512
byhim.
At lcngth, Leicester putting his Fortunc to a 8attcl, was slain, and
thc King thcrcupon, gctting all powcr back again took advantagc ol
thatopportunitylorthcgrcatningolhimscll,andPrcrogativc.
And so you scc, All that thc pcoplc got by thc cusion ol thcir
bloud, and loss ol thcir pcacc, was,That instcad ol oncTyrant, thcy
had Twcnty Four, and thcn Four, and altcr thcm, a singlc Usurpcr,
(whichwasMontfort,arlolLeicester)andhcbcinggonc,thcywcrc
lorccd to scrvc thcir oldTyrant Henry thcThird again, who by this
mcans,bccamcthcmorcsccurcand|aa,|rminhisTyranny:whcrcas
ilthcyhaddcaltlikcmcnolhonour,andmadcthcNationaslrccas
thcyprctcndcd,notingrossingallinto
513
thcirownprivatchands,but
instatingthclibcrtyolEngland,Paramountabovcthcrcgallprcroga
tivc,inaducandconstantcourscolsucccssivcParliamcnts,(without
which,libcrtyisbutamccrcnamcandshadow)thcnallthcsuccccd
ing inconvcnicnccs had bccn surcly prcvcntcd: thc bloody bickcring
altcrwards might havc bccn avoidcd, thcir own pcrsons and honors
prcscrvcd, Kings cithcr cashicrcd or rcgulatcd, as thcy ought to havc
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
..,
bccn,andthcwholcNationlrccdlromthoscaltcrgripcsandpangs,
inictcdbythat HenryandhiscorruptLincolsucccssors.
514

ThcVorldaordsmanyinstanccsolthiskindc,butthcscarcsul
cicnttomanilcstthclatallconscqucnccsthathavchappcncd,inpcr
mittingpublicktransactionsandintcrcststobcingrosscd,andrcstin
thcpowcrolalcwparticulcrpcrsons,andthatitdcscrvcstobcmarkt
(asoncsaith)withablackColc,asamostpcrnitiouscrrorinPolicy.
515

|MP...,.aaJuly.6a|
|aa|AscvcnthcrrorinPolicy,isthcdriving
516
olFactionsandPar
tics.NowthatyoumayknowwhatFactionis,andwhichisthclactious
PartyinanyStatcorKingdom,aictcdwiththatinrmity:thconcly
wayisrsttondcoutthctrucanddcclarcd!ntcrcstolStatc,andthcn
ilyouobscrvcanycsigncs,Counscls,Actings,orPcrsons,movingin
oppositiontothatwhichisthctrucpublick!ntcrcst,itmaybcinlallibly
concludcd,thatthcrclicsthcFaction,andthclactiousParty,whichis
so much thc morc dangcrous, in rcgard it not only aicts and tcars
Commonwcalths
517
with divisions and discords at homc, but in thc
cndcxposcsthcmtothcmcrcy(orrathcr)thcmalicc
518
olsomcpublick
cncmy,cithcrathomc,orlromabroad,andbringsasaddcsolation,and
ruincuponthcstatcs,livcs,andlibcrticsolthcpcoplc.
Thcrcisanotablclactionwcrcadolinthis Fomanstory,whichwas
thatolthc Decem.iri,whobcingintrustcdwiththcGovcrnmcnt,and
thc timc ol thcir trust cxpircd, thcy instcad ol making a Rcsignation,
combincdtogcthcrlorthcPcrpctuationol|aa|thcpowcrinthcirown
hands, contrary to thc intcnt ol thcir rst lcction, and in dcancc ol
thatwhichtwclvcmoncthsbclorchadbccndcclarcdthcintcrcstolthc
Commonwcalth.
519
ThcgrandnginccramongthcmwasppiusClau-
dius, who managcd his dcsignc by promising thc Nobility, that il thcy
wouldsticktothcDecem.iri,thcnthcDecem.iriwouldsticktothcm,and
joynwiththcm,inkccpingundcrthcpcoplcandthcirTribuncs,andto
dclcatthcmolthcirsucccssivcAsscmblics.8ythismcanshcsowcdthc
sccdsolanimmortallcnmitybctwccnthcScnatcandthcpcoplc,though
himscllandhisCollcgucswcrcnotwithstandingdcccivcdolthcirown
cstablishmcnt,andsooncashicrcdlromthcirimpcriousomination.
520

Driving of
Faction and
Parties, a
main Errour
in Policy.
..
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
!lwcconsidcralsowhatbclcllCarthage
521
,andhowitcamctoruinc:
thc story tclls us, it was occasioncd by thcir Factions, thc wholc Scn
atcbcingdividcdbctwixttwopotcntFamilicsol Hannibaland Hanno;
by which mcans thcy wcrc disinablcd, lrom carrying on thcir Varrc
withUnanimity
522
andalacrity,aswasrcqui|ac|sitcagainstsuchwary
Gamcstcrs, as thc Fomans, who madc such usc ol thcir Civil isscn
tions,thatthcysoonlaidthcgloryolthatlamousRcpublickinthcdust.
!twasFactionandCivilisscntionthatdcstroycd Fomeitscll,that
istosay,hcrLibcrty,andmadchcrstoopundcrthcYoakol Caesar.
Anditmustnotbcomittcd,thatwhcnhcrLibcrtywasrstcstab
lishcd, and Tarquin cxpcllcd, hc had likc to havc madc his way back
again,byrcasonolthcirivisions.Andthoughhcmisthisaymthcrc,
yct Pisistratus,anothcrTyrant,bcingdrivcnoutol thens,madcashilt
togctinagain,byrcasonolthcirmutualivisions.
523

!twasthcsamccvilolFaction,andCivilisscntion,(as Philipde
Cominestcllsus)thatmadcwaylorthcTurkinto Hungaria,

asitlct
himinbclorcintoConstantinople,thatadmittcdthc Gothsand!andals
intoSpainand Italy;thc Fomansinto Jerusalem,rstundcr Pompey;and
altcrwardsundcr !espasianandTitus.
!twasthccauscwhy Genoa,loratimc,wascontcnttosubmittothc
FamilyolSfor.a,ukcsolMillan.!t|a.|broughtthcSpaniardinto
Sicilyand Naples;andthc Frenchonccinto Millain,whcrcthcyoutcd
thcalorcnamcdFamilyolSfor.a.
524

Fromhcncc,thcrclorc,lctusconcludc,thatnorrourismorcdan
gcrous,noTrcasonmorcpcrnicioustoaCommonwcalth
525
,thanthc
drivingolFaction.
|MP..a,aaaJuly.6a|
Anighthandlastrrour,obscrvablcinpracticc
526
olTimcs,andNa
tions, hath bccn a violation ol Faith, Principlcs, Promiscs, and n
gagcmcnts, upon cvcry Turn ol Timc, and advantagc. An !mpicty
that ought to bc cxplodcd out ol all Nations, that bcar thc Namc ol
Breach of
Vows and
Promises, a
main Error
in Policy.
PhilippcdcCommyncs,Memoires,bk..a,chap.6.
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
..
Christians
527
:Andyctwcnditoltcnpass,amongthclcssdisccrning
sort ol mcn, lor admirablc Policy: and thosc !mpostors that uscd it,
havchadthclucktobccstccmcdthconclyPoliticians.8utyct,lcstso
manywiscmcnolthcVorld,ashavcbccngivcnuptothismonstrous
vanity,shouldbcthoughttohavcnorcasonlorit,!rcmcmbcr,!ndit
usuallycxprcstinMachia.el,tobcthis,
528
bccausthcgrcatcstpartol
thcworldbcingwickcd,unjust,dcccitlul,lulloltrcachcryandcircum
vcntion, thcrc is a Ncccssity |aa| that thosc which arc downright,
andconncthcmsclvcstothcstrictRulcolHoncsty,mustcvcrlook
tobcovcrrcachcdbythcKnavcryolothcrs.Andtakcthislorccrtain,
(saithhc) Quise.irumbonumomnibuspartibusproteristudet,eumcert
inter tot non bonos periclitari necesse est.

Hc which cndcavours to ap
provchimscllanhoncstmantoallpartics,mustolncccssitymiscarry
amongsomanythatarcnothoncst:8ccauscsomcmcnarcwickcdand
pcrdious,!mustbcsotoo.Thisisasadinlcrcncc,andtonclylorthc
practiccol Italy,whcrchcwrotcit.
ThcancicntHcathcnwouldhavcloathcdthis,andthcFomans(who
wcrcthcnoblcstolthcmall)didinallthciractionsdctcstit,rcckon
ingplainhoncstytohavcbccnthconclyPolicy,andthcloundationol
thcir Grcatncss, ( Fa.endo pietati deique, populus Fomanus ad tantum
fastigiiper.enerit).Thcpcoplcol Fomeattaincdtosogrcatahcight,by
obscrvingFaithandPicty:whcrcolyoushallscc
529
an!nstanccortwo.
!nthcVarbctwccnthcm,andPorsenaKingolthcTuscans,itsohap
|a|pcncd, that thcir City was bcsicgcd by Porsena: but pcacc bcing
madc, upon somc advantagious Conditions lor thc Tuscans, thc Fo-
manes,lorthcpcrlormanccolthcir
530
Conditions,wcrclorccdtoyicld
updivcrsNoblc\irgins.
Thcsc\irgins, altcr somc timc, madc an cscapc lrom thc Tuscans,
andcamcbackto Fome,butwcrcdcmandcdagain.
Hcrcupon thc Scnatc, though thcy wcrc thcn rccovcrcd, and in
a posturc, ablc to havc dccd thc Tuscans, and dcnicd thc pcrlor
manccolthoscharshConditions,choscrathcrtoprcscrvcthcirFaith
Machiavclli, Nicholas Machia.el s Prince, trans. acrcs (London, .6c),
chap...
.ac
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
inviolablc,thcntotakcthcprcscntadvantagc,andsodclivcrcdupthc
\irgins.
ThcbchaviouralsoolttiliusFegulus,isvcrymcmorablc,whobcing
prisoncrat Carthage,andcondcmncdtoacruclcath,was,notwith
standing,pcrmittcdtogoto Fome,uponhisbarcParoll,topropound
ccrtainTcrmstothcScnatc,whichilthcyyicldcd,thcnhcwastohavc
hislibcrty:ilnot,hcwastorcturnagaintoCarthage,andtosucr.
531

ThcScnatcnotyiclding,Hc,rathcr|a|thcnviolatchisFaith,did
rcturnandsucr,bcingputintoa8arrclspikcdwithNails,andtum
blcddownaHillbythcCarthagenians.Norwasitthctcmpcronclyol
alcwpcrsons,butgcncralthroughoutthcwholcNation,asmightbc
shownbyinnumcrablcxamplcs,cspcciallyinthcirLcagucsandTrca
ticswithothcrNations.
532

|MP..,aJulyAug..6a|

533
8ut that you may thc bcttcr know, and avoid thc impious !mpos
tors,!shall
534
rcprcscntthcmin Machia.elsownlanguagc,whointhat
unworthy book ol his, cntitulcd, The Prince, hath madc a most un
happycscriptionolthcVilcsthathavcbccnuscdbythoscJugglcrs,
and thcrcby lclt a Lcsson upon Rccord, which hath bccn practiscd
cvcrsinccbyallthcStatcRooksinChristendom.Andthcrclorc,sincc
thcyhavcmadcsoilluscolit,!supposcthcbcstwaytoprcvcntthc
lurthcropcrationolthcpoyson,is,tosctitdownhcrcbclorcyou,(as
!shalldo.erbatim
535
,withoutadding,ordiminishingasyllablc)and
thcnmakctwoorthrcc!nlcrcnccsthcrcupon,lorthcpracticcolthc
pcoplc.

In.hatmannerPrincesoughttokeeptheir!ords.Howcommcnda
|a|blc
536
inaPrinccitistokccphisVord,andlivcwith!ntcgrity,
notmakinguscolCunningandSubtilty,cvcryoncknowswcll:Yct
wcsccbyxpcricncc,inthcscourdaycs,thatthoscPrinccshavccl
lcctcdgrcatmattcrs,whohavcmadcsmallrcckoningolkccpingthcir
Ncdham makcs vcry minor adjustmcnts to thc translation ol chap. . by
dwardacrcsinNicholasMachia.el sPrince.
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
.a.
words, and havc known by thcir Cralt, how to turn and wind mcn
about,andinthccndovcrcomcthoscwhohavcgroundcduponthc
Truth.
Youmustthcnknow,thcrcarctwokindsolCombatingorFighting:
thc onc, by Right ol thc Laws: thc othcr, mccrly by Forcc.That rst
wayispropcrtoMcn:Thcothcrisalsocommonto8casts.8utbccausc
thcrstmanytimcssuccsnot,thcrcisancccssitytomakcrccoursc
to thc sccond: whcrclorc, it bchovcs a Princc to know how to makc
gooduscolthatpartwhichbclongstoa8cast,aswcllasthatwhichis
propcrtoaMan.
This part hath bccn covcrtly shcwd to Princcs by anticntVritcrs,
whosay,that chilles,andmanyothcrsolthoscanticntPrinccs,wcrc
intrustcd to Chiron thc Centaure, to bc brought up undcr his isci
plinc:Thcmorall|a6|olthis,havinglorthcirTcachcr,oncthatwas
halla8cast,andhallaMan,wasnothingclsc,butthatitwasnccdlul
loraPrincctoundcrstandhowtomakchisadvantagcolthconc,and
othcrNaturc,bccauscncithcrcouldsubsistwithoutthcothcr.
APrinccthcnbcingncccssitatcdtoknowhowtomakcuscolthat
partbclongingtoa8cast,oughttoscrvchimscllolthcConditionsol
thcFox,andthcLyon,lorthcLyoncannotkccphimsclllromSnarcs,
northcFoxdclcndhimscllagainstthcVolvcs.Hchadnccdthcnbc
aFox,thathcmaybcwarcolthcSnarcs,andaLyon,thathcmayscarc
thcVolvcs.Thosc that stand wholly upon thc Lyon, undcrstand not
thcmsclvcs.
AndthcrclorcawiscPrincccannot,noroughtnottokccphisFaith
givcn,whcnthcobscrvanccthcrcolturncstodisadvantagc,andthcoc
casionsthatmadchimpromisc,arcpast:lorilmcnwcrcallgood,this
Rulcwouldnotbcallowablc,butbcingthcyarclullolmischicl,and
will not makc it good to thcc, ncithcr art thou ticd to kccp it with
thcm:norshallaPrincccvcrwantlawlulloccasionsto|a,|givcco
lourtothisbrcach.\crymanymodcrnxamplcshcrcolmightbcal
lcadgcd,whcrcinmightbcshcwcd,howmanyPcaccsconcludcd,and
howmanyPromiscsmadc,havcbccnviolatcdandbrokcnby!ndclity
ol Princcs, and ordinarily things havc bcst succccdcd with him that
hathbin ncarcstthcFoxincondition.
.aa
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
8utitisncccssarytoundcrstand,howtosctagoodcolouruponthis
isposition, and bc ablc to lcign and disscmblc throughly, and mcn
arcsosimplc,andyicldsomuchtothcprcscntNcccssitics,thathcwho
hathamindtodcccivc,shallalwaycsndanothcrthatwillbcdcccivcd.
! will not conccal any ol thc xamplcs that havc bccn ol latc, lex-
anderthcsixthncvcrdidanythingclsc,thandcccivcmcn,andncvcr
mcantothcrwisc,andalwaysloundwhomtoworkupon,yctncvcrwas
thcrcmanthatwouldprotcstmorcccctually,noravcranythingwith
morcsolcmnaths,andobscrvcthcmlcssthcnhc:ncvcrthclcss,his
Couzcnagc thrivcd wcll with him, lor hc kncw how to play his part
cunningly.
|a|ThcrclorcisthcrcnoncccssiticloraPrincctobccnducdwith
allthoscabovcwrittcnqualitics,butitbchovcswcllthathcsccmcto
bcso:orrathcr!willboldlysaythis,thathavingthoscqualitics,and
alwaicsrcgulatinghimscllbythcm,thcyarchurtlull,butsccmingto
havcthcm,thcyarcadvantagcous,astosccmcpittylull,laithlull,mildc,
rcligious,andindccdtobcso(providcdwithallthoubccstolsucha
composition,thatilnccdrcquircthcctouscthccontrary,thoucanst,
andknowsthowtoapplythyscllcthcrcto).Anditsuccstoconccivc
this,thataPrincc,andcspcciallyancwPrincc,cannotobscrvcallthcsc
things, lor which mcn arc hcld good, hc bcing oltcn lorccd, lor thc
maintcnanccolhisStatc,todocontrarytohislaith,charity,humanity,
andrcligion.Andthcrclorcitbchovcshimtohavcamindsodisposcd
astoturnandtakcthcadvantagcolallwindsandlortuncs,andaslor
mcrly!said,notlorsakcthcgoodwhilchccan,buttoknowtomakc
uscolthccviluponncccssity.APrinccthcnoughttohavcaspcciall
carc, that hc ncvcr lct lall any words, but what |a| arc all scasoncd
withthcvcabovcwrittcnqualitics:andlcthimsccmtohimthatsccs
andknowshim,allpitty,alllaith,allintcgrity,allhumanity,allrcligion,
noristhcrcanythingmorcncccssariclorhimtosccmtohavc,than
thclastquality:lorallmcningcncralljudgcthcrcol,rathcrbythcsight
thanbythctouch,lorcvcryman,maycomctothcsightolhim,lcw
comc to thc touch and lccling ol him, cvcry man may comc to scc
what thou sccmcst, lcw comc to undcrstand and pcrccivc what thou
art:andthosclcwdarcnotopposcthcopinionolmany,whohavcthc
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
.a
Majcsty ol statc to protcct thcm. And in all mcns actions, cspccially
thosc ol Princcs, whcrcin thcrc is no judgmcnt to appcal unto, mcn
lorbcar to givc thcir ccnsurcs till thc cvcnts, and cnds ol thing. Lct
aPrinccthcrclorctakcthcsurcstcourscshccantomaintainchislilc
and statc, thc mcancs shall alwaics bc thought honorablc, and com
mcndcdbycvcryonc:lorthcvulgariscvcrtakcnwiththcappcarancc
andcvcntolathing,andlorthcmostpartolthcpcoplc,thcyarcbut
thcvulgar,thcothcrsthatarc|ac|butlcw,takcplaccwhcrcthcvulgar
havcnosubssistcncc.APrinccthcrcisinthcscdaics,whom!shallnot
dowclltonamc,thatprcachcsnothingbutpcaccandlaith,buthadhc
kcptthconcandthcothcr,scvcralltimcshadthcytakcnlromhimhis
Statcandrcputation.
This is thc old Court Gospcl, which hath gaincd many thousand
olProsclytcs,amongthcgrcatoncs,lromtimctotimc,andthcinlcr
cnccsarisingthcnccinbchallcolthcpcoplc,inbriclcarcthcsc:That
sinccthcgrcatoncsolthcworld,havcbccnvcrylcwthathavcavoydcd
this doctrinc, thcrclorc it conccrns thc pcoplc to kccp a strict hand
and cic upon thcm all, and imposc not ovcrmuch or long condcncc
inany.
!lthcRightollawsbcthcwayolmcn,andlorccolbcastsandgrcat
oncs,notonclyadviscd,butinclincdtothclattcr,thcnitconccrncsany
Nationorpcoplctosccurcthcmsclvcs,andkccpGrcatmcnlromdc
gcncratingintobcasts,byholdingupollaw,libcrty,privilcdgc,birth
right,clcctivcpowcr,againstthc|a.|ignoblcbcastlywayolpowcrlull
domination.
!lolallbcasts,aPrinccshouldsomctimcsrcscmblcthcLyon,and
somtimcs thc Fox, thcn pcoplc ought to obscrvc grcat oncs in both
thcdisguiscs,andbcsurctocagcthcLyon,andunkcnnclthcFox,and
ncvcrlcavctillthcyhavcstriptthconc,andunraisdthcothcr.
!laPrincccannot,andoughtnottokccphislaithgivcn,whcnthc
obscrvancc thcrcol turncs to disadvantagc, and thc occasions that
madchimpromisc,arcpast,thcnitisthc!ntcrcstolthcpcoplc,ncvcr
totrustanyPrinccs,noringagcmcntsandpromiscsolmcninpowcr,
ThcpassagclromMachiavcllicndshcrc.
.a
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
butcvcrtoprcscrvcapowcrwithinthcmsclvcs,cithcrtorcjcctthcm,
or to hold thcm to thc pcrlormancc whcthcr thcy will or no. And
il Princcs shall ncvcr want occasions to givc colour to this brcach,
thcnalsoitconccrncsthcpcoplc,cvcrtomakcsurcolthc!nstancc,
and not sucr thcmsclvcs to bc dcludcd with colours, shadows, and
mccrcprctcnccs.
Lastly, il it bc ncccssaric lor grcat oncs to lain and disscmblc
throughly,|aa|bccauscmcnarcsosimplcandyicldsomuchtothc
prcscnt ncccssity (as Machia.el saith,)

and in rcgard hc that hath a

mindtodcccivc,shallalwaycsndcanothcrthatwillbcdcccivcd:thcn
itconccrnsanypcoplcorNation,tomakcanarrowscarchcvcrintothc
mcn,andthcirprctcnccsandncccssitics,whcthcrthcybclaincdornot,
andilthcydiscovcranydcccipthathbccnuscd,thcnthcydcscrvctobc
slavcs,thatwillbcdcccivcdanylongcr.
537
Thus!havcnotcdthcprimc
rrorsolGovcrnmcnt,andRulcsolPolicy.!shallnowconcludcwith
awordolAdvicc,inordcrtothcchusingolthcSuprcmcAsscmblics.
|MP,,cct.6Nov..6.|
Sincc
538
itappcars,thatthcright,libcrty,wcllarc,andsalctyolapcoplc,
consistsinaducsucccssionolthcirsuprcmcAsscmblics:surclythcn,
thc right constitution and ordcrly motion ol thcm, is ol thc grcatcst
conscqucnccthatcanbc,thcrcbcingsomuchimbarqucdinthis\csscl,
thatilitshouldmiscarry,allisirrcparablylost,unlcssitcanbcrccov
crcdagainoutolthcScaolconlusion.Thcrclorc,asatalltimcsthcrc
oughttobcan|a|cspcciallcarchadtothcComposurcandCom
plcxionolthoscgrcatAsscmblics,somuchmorcaltcrthcconlusionol
aCivilVarrc,whcrcitiscvcrtobcsupposcd,thcrcwillbcmanydis
contcntcdhumoursaworking,andlabouringtoinsinuatcthcmsclvcs
intothcbodyolthcpcoplc,toundcrmincthcscttlcmcntandsccurity
olthcCommonwcalth,thatbygaininganintcrcstandsharcwiththc
bcttcr sort, in thc suprcmc Authority, thcy may attain thosc corrupt
cndsolPolicy,whichwcrclostbyPowcr.
Machiavclli,Prince,chap...
rroursolGovcrnmcnt
<
.a
!nthiscascwithoutqucstion,thcrcarcscvcrallmcnthatoughttobc
takcnintoastrictconsidcration:ThcrcisthcoldMalignantandthc
ncw,againstwhom,notonlythcdoorcsarctobcshut,butcvcryholc
andcrannyoughttobcstopt,lorlcarthcycrccpintoAuthority.Thcrc
islikcwiscatamc8cast,morcdangcrousthanthcothcrtwo,whichis
thatAmphibiousanimal,thcncutrallolLaodicea,

thatcanlivcinci
thcrlcmcnt,sailwithanywindconcvcrypointolthccompassc,and
strikcinwithMalignantsolcvcrysort,uponanyoccasion.
|a|This
539
is hc that will undoc all, il hc bc not avoidcd, lor in
thclormolanAngclolLight,hcmostslightlycarricsonthcworks
ol darkncss. Lct not him thcn, as to our prcscnt casc, bc so much as
namcduponanlcction.ThusmuchlorthcConstitutionolthcsu
prcmc Asscmbly, or thc manncr ol sctling Authority upon thc closc
olaCivilVarrc,lorthcrccovcryolLibcrty.Vhatrcmainsthcn,but
thatuponduccautionlorcxcludingthcwildcGccscandthctamc,thc
MalignantandthcNcutrall,suchapcoplcmayrcasonablybcputinto
posscssionolthcirrightandintcrcstinthcLcgislativcpowcr,andolall
injoymcntolit,inasucccssionolthcirsuprcmcAsscmblics.
540

Thconclyway
541
toprcscrvclibcrtyinthchandsolapcoplc,that
havcgaincditbythcSword,istoputitinthcpcoplcshands,thatis,
into thc hands ol such, as by a contribution ol thcir purscs, strcngth,
andcounsclls,havcallalongasscrtcdit,withoutthclcaststainolcor
ruption, staggcring, or apostasic, lor in this casc, thcsc only arc to bc
rcckoncd thc pcoplc: thc rcst having cithcr by a traytcrous n|a|
gagcmcnt, Compliancc, Ncutrality, or Apostasic, as much as in thcm
lics, dcstroycd thc pcoplc, and by conscqucncc madc a lorlciturc ol
allthcirRightsandimmunitics,asMcmbcrsolapcoplc.!nthiscasc
thcrclorcmcnoughttohavcacouragc,andtohavcacarcolthccoursc
ol lcction, and trust God with thc succcss ol a rightcous Action,
lor nothing can bc morc rightcous and ncccssary, than that a pcoplc
shouldbcputintoposscssionolthcirnativcrightandlrccdom:How
cvcr,thcymayabuscit,itisthcirrighttohavcit,andthcwantolit
isagrcatcrinconvcnicncc,anddrawcsgrcatcrinconvcnicncicsaltcrit,
Rcvclation:..,.
.a6
<
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
than any can bc prctcndcd to arisc lrom thc injoymcnt, though thcy
wcrcprcscntcdinamultiplyingglassc,tothccycsoldisccrningmcn.
8ut now, as this holds truc at all timcs, in all Nations, upon thc likc
occasions ol Libcrty ncwly purchascd, so much morc in any Nation,
whcrclrccdom,inasucccssivccourscolthcpcoplcsAsscmblics,hath
oncc bccn solcmnly acknowlcdgcd and dcclarcd to bc thc intcrcst ol
thcCommonwcalth,lor,thcnadcpriving|a6|thcpcoplcolthcirduc,
isaloundationlorbroilsanddivisions,andas Cicerodcncslactionto
bcadcviationlromthcdcclarcdintcrcstolStatc:sointhiscasc,ilit
happcnthatanyshalldcscrtaCommonwcalthinitsdcclarcd!ntcrcst,
thcyimmcdiatclyloscthcnamcandhonourolPatriots,andbccomc
ParticsinaFaction.
.a,
~vvvxbi x ~
Thcditionol.66
:vx:u~iv:vxb~:ioxs
!havcmadcthclollowingcmcndationstothctcxtol.66(sccp.cvi).
Pageandline
/ gatc to gait
./. anath anath
./margin aths aths
a./a ycild yicld
a/.a tircenses circenses
/a. playaltcr, play,altcr
,/ Patrocian Patrician
/aa andin!ntcrcsts and!ntcrcsts
/c Convcnicncc: Convcnicncc):
/. miliam milian
/. withdoubt withoutdoubt
6/ac ownlamily onclamily
,/. whcrtas whcrcas
./. Tragdcics Tragcdics
./a trajicito trajicitio
.c/. Free-State, Free-State.
.c6/ Commudacr Commandcr
../aa lrcindly lricndly
.a
<
AppcndixA
../a prijcctors projcctors
../ pcoplcinalcwycars, pcoplc,inalcwycars
~bvvv:isv:vx:
Atthcbackolthc.66cditionol TheExcellencie,thcpublishcr,Thomas
8rcwstcr,supplicsanadvcrtiscmcnt,orCatalogucol8ookcs.!tlists
thrccvolumcs(olwhichthcthirdwasananonymouspublication):
SirHcnry\anc,TheFetiredMansMeditations
ThomasMay,Bre.iaryoftheHistoryoftheParliamentofEngland
La.arusandHisSistersDiscourseofParadice
Allthrccbookswcrcpublishcdin.6,thatis,bythcmodcrncalcn
dar, bctwccn March .6 and March .66. \ancs book can bc con
dcntlydatcdtocarlyJuly.ThomasMaysbookwasasccondcdition.
.a
~vvvxbi x n
Thcditionol.,6,
:i:ivv~cv
ThcxccllcncicolaFrccStatc
ioxboxvvix:vbvov
~.:iii~v~xb:.c~bviiix:nvs:v~xb,
c.xv~vsivixiubc~:vs:vvv:,~xb
n.v~vxvvixcovxniii
:bccixvii
:nvvvvv~cv
vvvv~cv:o:nisvbi:.
nthcsubjcctolgovcrnmcnt,nocountryhathproduccdwritingsso
numcrousandvaluablcasourown.!thathbccncultivatcdandadorncd
by mcn ol grcatcst gcnius, and most comprchcnsivc undcrstanding,
M!LTN,HARR!NGTN,SYNY,LCK,namcslamousto
allagcs.
8ut, bcsidc thcir incomparablc writings, many lcsscr trcatiscs on
thc samc argumcnt, which arc littlc known, and cxtrcmcly scarcc,
.c
<
Appcndix8
dcscrvc to bc rcad and prcscrvcd: in which numbcr may bc rcck
oncdthcsmallvolumc!nowgivcthcpublic,writtcnbyMARCH
AMNTNHAM,aman,inthcjudgmcntolsomc,inlcrioronly
toM!LTN.
!twasrstinscrtcdinthc MercuriusPoliticus,thatcclcbratcdstatc
papcr,publishcdindclcnccolthcCommonwcalth,andlorthcinlor
mationolthcpcoplc,andsoonaltcrrcprintcdin.amo,

undcrthc
lollowing titlc,Thc xccllcncic ol a FrccStatc. r,Thc right con
stitution ol a Commonwcalth. Vhcrcin all objcctions arc answcrcd,
andthcbcstwaytosccurcthcpcoplcslibcrticsdiscovcrcd.Vithsomc
crrorsolgovcrnmcnt,andrulcsolpolicic.Publishcdbyawcllwishcr
to postcritic. London, printcd lorThomas 8rcwstcr, at thc wcst cnd
olPauls,.66.
Anaccountolthcauthormaybcsccnin .!oodsthenaeOxoni-
enses,thodrawninbittcrncssolwrathandangcr.!lthisvolumcshall
bclavorablyrcccivcd,thccditorwillgoontogivcothcrrarctrcatiscs
ongovcrnmcntinhisposscssion,tothccntcrtainmcntandbcnct,as
hchopcs,olthcpublic.
Rcadcr,larcwcl,
Richard8aron
8clow8lackhcath,Jan..,.,6,
:vx:u~i~b,us::vx:s
8clowisalistolthcaltcrationsmadcin.,6,tothctcxtol.66.Apart
lromthcaltcrations,thccditionol.,6,islaithlultothcoriginal,cx
ccptthatitovcrhaulsthcspcllingandthcuscolcapitallcttcrs,changcs
that!havcnotrccordcd.Somcobviousmisprintscorrcctcdin.,6,arc
alsocorrcctcdinthcprcscntcdition:sccAppcndixA,pp..a,a.
Changcs madc in .,6, that rcvcrt to thc tcxt ol Mercurius Politi-
cus(whcthcrornotwiththcknowlcdgcolRichard8aronorThomas
Hollis)arcastcriskcd().
Todaywcwouldsayasmalloctavo.
ditionol.,6,
<
..
Pageandline[ofthis.olumeJ
zoo z,o,
a/a \irginus \irginius
/a. playaltcr, play,altcr
,/ Patrocian Patrician
/aa andin!ntcrcsts andintcrcsts
c/. translorm totranslorm
c/a6 bandcd bandicd
./a Hungaria Hungary
./c Casimira Casimir

/a principal principlc
6/a thcirsccrcts thcsccrcts
6c/a6 (which . . . mpirc.) which. . .cmpirc.
6/a6 Antonics Antonius
a/a. noticctobctakcnol tobctakcnnoticcol
/. miliam milian
6/ac ownlamily onclamily
,/. whcrtas whcrcas
./a trajicito trajicitio
/. nuzlcd nurslcd
.c./a lailcs lail
.ca/. ThisCacsar ThusCacsar
.c./ Pctalism Pctatism
../. and!ntcrcst andthcintcrcsts

../aa lrcindly lricndly

../ pcoplcinalcwycars,lcll pcoplc,inalcwycarslcll
nlouroccasionsanastcriskwasuscdinthctcxtol.,6,toidcn
tily,inacorrcspondinglootnotc,thc latckingasCharlcs !.Thc tcxt
ol.66hasancwparagraph6at!nAthcns,thatol.,6,docsnot.
Thctcxtol.,6,normallygivcsmorclormalitytothcnamcsandtitlcs
olkings(Hcnry!\andLcwisX!olFrancc,Hcnry\andHcnry\!!!
olngland).

MercuriusPoliticushas:Casimirc

MPhas:andintcrcsts.

.
~vvvxbi x c
CorrcspondingPassagcsol
MercuriusPoliticus
:nvvxbxo:vs
Thc cndnotcs that lollow arc signalcd in thc tcxt ol this cdition (scc
p. cvii). Thcy rcproducc thc words and passagcs ol Mercurius Politi-
cus (MP) that wcrc altcrcd in thc .66 cdition ol The Excellencie ( E).
(Politicus docs not havc thc hcadings ol thc scctions into which The
Excellencieisdividcd.)
!nthccauscolintclligibility,allthcnglishlanguagcmatcriallrom
Politicusisgivcninromantypc,cvcnthoughmucholthcoriginalisin
italic.Thcprintol Politicusisnotalwaysclcar,andoccasionallythctran
scriptionolthctcxthastobcconjcctural.
|MP,.,.6ct..6.|
..Eomits:VchcarnotolmanyNationsinthislattcrAgc,whcrcin
thc Pcoplc havc bccn solcmnly acknowlcdgcd and dcclarcd to bc thc
riginalandFountainolSuprcmacy,orthatthcyhavcbccnmadcthus
toundcrstandit,8utwhcrccvcrithathbccnsoprcscntcdtovulgarAp
prchcnsions,ittakcssuchdccp!mprcssion,thatallthcArtsundcrhcavcn
canncvcrwcaritoutolmcmory,norwillthcycvcrrcst,tillthcyhavcsipt
andtastcdallolthcswcctsolSovcraignty.
.
<
AppcndixC
a.thc
.Charactcrs
.this
.Thcbscrvationthcnwhichnaturallyariscthhcncc,is,That
6. E substitutes this paragraph for: Libcrty dcclarcd or posscst, is likc
thcGoldcncccc,orthcHcspcrianlruit,watchtbyArgushishundrcd
cycs,orbycvcrwakingragons.
|MP,,acct..6.|
,. In MP the paragraph begins: Libcrty is thc most prccious Jcwcl
undcrthcSun,Andthcrclorcwhcn
.oldRoman
.8ounds
.c.lostit:thcy
...a
.a.thcyindccd
..bonds
..\assals
..!nucncc
.6.Counccll
|MP,a,.6act..6.|
.,.!tisobscrvcd,thatwhcn
..inrcgardthat
..CountrythatmovcdhimtotakcArms
ac.sccurc
a..practiscs
aa.Canulcius
a.pcrswasions
a.olGovcrnmcnt
|MP,c,act..6.|
a.VhcnRomcwasonccdcclarcd
a6.cspcciall
a,.hatclull
a.mpcror,&c.
a.that
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.
c.bound
..!mportunity
a.thc
.sothatitsccmcsthcPcoplc
. thc Scnatc.Thc Pcoplc without thc Scnatick Counccll wcrc likc
SulphurandMcrcury,cvcrinmotionorcombustion,(asappcarsbythc
Story:)butthcScnatcwcrcasSalttoscason,xandlastcnthcbodyol
thcpcoplc.
Ncvcrthclcssitisvcryobscrvablc,thatthisCommonwcalthcvcr
.irrcgularandunruly
|MP6,.aScp..6.|
6.is
,.paminondas
.wcrc
.ithavingbccn
c.Eomitsthispassage,.hichMPtakesfromThcCascolthcCom
monwcalth(Knachel,pp.zz,z8):
!n our own Countrcy hcrc, bclorc that CacsarsTyranny took placc,
thcrcwasnosuchthingasMonarchy:For,thcsamcCacsartclsushow
thc8ritainswcrcdividcdintosomanyscvcrallStatcs,rclatcshowCasscv
cllanuswasbythcCommonCounccllolthcNation,clcctcdinthatthcir
publiquc dangcr to havc thc principall Administration ol Statc, with
thc busincss ol Var, And altcrward how thc scvcrall Citics scnt thcir
Hostagcsuntohim,whcrcbywcpcrccivc,itwasolnooldMonarchy,but
likctothcGauls(withwhomitwasthcnoncalsoinRcligion)dividcd
into Provinciall Rcgimcnts, without any cntirc Rulc or Combination,
onclyincascolcommonpcrilby!nvasion,&c.thcywcrcwonttochusc
aCommandcrinChicl,muchlikcthcictatorchoscnbythcRomans
upon thc likc occasion. And now wc scc all thc Vcstcrn world (latcly
discovcrcd)tobc,asgcncrallyallthcrCountricsarcinpurisnaturali-
bus,inthcirrstandmostinnoccntcondition,sctlcdinthcsamcForm,
bclorcthcycamctobcinslavcd,cithcrbysomcprcdominantPowcrlrom
abroad,orsomconcamongthcmsclvcs,morcpotcntandambitiousthcn
hisncighbours.SuchalsowasthcStatchcrctolorc,notonclyolourNa
tion,butolFrancc,Spain,Gcrmany,andallthcVcstpartsoluropc,
.6
<
AppcndixC
bclorcthcRomansdidbystrcngthandcunningunlockthcirLibcrtics:
AndsuchaswcrcthcntcrmcdKings,wcrcbutasGcncrallsinVar,with
outanyothcrgrcatJurisdiction.
!lwcrccctlikcwiscuponthcanticntStatcol!taly,wcndcnoothcr
lorms ol Govcrnmcnt but thosc ol Frcc Statcs and Commonwcals, as
thcTuscans,Romans,Samnits,andmanyothcrs,noristhcrcanymcn
tionmadcolKingsin!taly,bcsidcsthoscolthcRomans,andolTuscany,
whichcontinucdbutashorttimc,lorTuscanysoonbccamcalrccStatc,
andasabsolutccncmicsolMonarchyasthcRomans,inthccontinua
tionolwhichcnmity,thcyplaccdakindcolanHcroickbravcry.
..inlargcmcntolaPcoplc
a.Guicciardin
.Pisistratus
.thcirkings.Nor
.rcason,lorasmuchasitisusuall
6.usuallywcighs
,.Titlc
|MP,,.acFcb..6.|
.atplcasurc
.disposscsscd
c.thatbcing
..which
a.rcadvanccc
. wc may vcry wcll rcinlorcc thc conclusion madc in our last two
[editorialsJ,andlcarn,
.withasharcolGovcrnmcnt,orinplaccolTrust,cxccpthchavc,
bysomcnotablcScricsolAction,rcndrcdhimsclluttcrlyirrcconcilcablc
tothclormcrpowcr:lor,othcrwisc,such
.thcncwtitularTyrant
6.cvcryncwCommonwcalth
|MP,,,aca,Nov..6.|
,.birds
.ordinary
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.,
.Eomits:NodoubtbutthclamousCoblcrsCrowwaswontthcn
to prattlc in thc samc strain too, though altcrwards, hc wcrc taught to
cric.|Thestoryofthecoblerscro.taughtbyitso.nerto
saya.ecaesartougustusuponhisreturnfromEgypt.asoriginallytold
byMacrobius,Saturnalia,II.,.:,c.Nedhammayha.ekno.nitfromthe
referenceinErasmussApothcgmata, I!.,:,,ortheplaysofFobertGreene
andThomasNashe.|
6c. MPreads:
lollowingRcasons.
|Echangestheorderofthisparagraph,andthat.hichfollo.s,fromthat
inMP.Therstreasongi.eninEforbelie.ingthatthepeoplearethebest
Keepersoftheiro.nLibertiesisthatprintedasthesecondinMP.Ereprints
thefollo.ingasitssecondreason.|First,bccauscitiscvcrthcPcoplcscarc
toscc,thatAuthoritybcsoconstitutcd,thatitshallbcrathcra8urthcn
than a 8cnct to thosc that undcrtakc it, and bc qualicd with such
slcndcrAdvantagcsolprotorplcasurc,thatmcnshalrcaplittlcbythc
cnjoymcnt:Thchappicconscqucnccwhcrcolisthis,thatnoncbutHon
cst, Gcncrous, and Publick Spirits will thcn dcsirc to bc in Authority,
andthatonlylorthccommongood.Hcnccitwas,thatinthc!nlancy
olthcRomanLibcrty,thcrcwasnocanvasinglor| Ehas:ol|\oiccs,but
simplcandplainhcartcdmcnwcrccallcd,andintrcatcd,andinmanncr
lorccd with importunity to thc Hclm ol Govcrnmcnt, in rcgard ol thc
grcattroublcandpainsthatlollowcdthcimploymcnt:ThusCincinnatus
was lctcht out ol thc cld lrom his Plough, and placcd (much against
hiswill)inthcsublimcdignityolictator,SothcnoblcCamillus,and
Fabius,andCuriuswcrcwithmuchadocdrawnlromthcrccrcationol
Gardcning to thc troublc ol Govcrning, and thc Consulcr ycar |E has:
Consulyccr|bcingovcr,thcyrcturncdwithmuchgladncssagaintothcir
privatcmploymcnts| Ehas:cmploymcnt|.
Sccondly,thcpcoplcarcthcbcstKccpcrsolLibcrtybccauscthcyarc
notambitious,Thcyncvcrthinkolusurping
6..mindconcly
6a.Esubstitutesthisparagraphfor:
AThird,andaFourthRcasonwcadjourntilhcrcaltcr,!nthcmcan
timc,thismayscrvcpartlytoshcwhowgrcatahappincsswcmaycnjoy
undcrastatcolLibcrty,bcinglrccdthcrcbysonoblylromthclatc!n
convcnicncicsolKinglyPowcr.
.
<
AppcndixC
|MP,,a,Nov.cc..6.|
6. MPbegins:!nthclast,youhadaToucholsomcRcasons,justilying
thclormolaFrccStatc(oraGovcrnmcntbythcPcoplc)tobcmuch
morccxccllcntthanthcGrandcc,orthcKinglyPowcr:8ythcPcoplc,wc
mcansuchasshalbcduclychoscntorcprcscntthcPcoplcsucccssivclyin
thcirSuprcamAsscmblics,AndthatthcPcoplcthusqualicdorconsti
tutcd,arcthcbcstKccpcrsolthcirownLibcrtics,shalbclarthcrmadc
cvidcntbyRcasons|.|
AthirdRcasonis,
6.Juncta
6.bythciradvantagc
66.Counscls
6,.upalso
6.Eomits:Morcolthishcrcaltcr.
|MP,,..cc..6.|
6. Eomits:TojusticthcxccllcncyolaFrccStatcabovcaKingly
govcrnmcnt,andtoprovcthatthcPcoplc,inaducandordcrlysucccssion
olthcirSuprcamAsscmblics,arcthcbcstKccpcrsolthcirownLibcrtics,
wchavcalrcadygivcnyousomcRcasons,andshallhcrcprcsumctosct
downoncmorc.
,c.Prcvcntivc
,..causc
,a.suchlrcqucnthcats
,.mcans,atlcngthLordit
,.Powcrs
,.hadcvcrbin
,6.last
,,.ThisisgoodCommonwcalth
,.Commonwcal
,.\irginius
c.thcnamcolStuart
|MP,(c),...cc..6.|
.. MP begins: !t hath in somc mcasurc bccn alrcady provcd, that
thc Pcoplc, intcrcstcd in a duc and ordcrly succcssion ol thc suprcmc
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.
Authority, arc thc bcst Kccpcrs ol thcir own Libcrtics, And that this
qualication ol a Frcc Statc (without which it cannot bc lrcc indccd)
rcndcrsitsomuchmorccxccllcntthcnthcKingly,oranyothcrlormol
Govcrnmcn|t| whatsocvcr|.|Thc lilc ol Libcrty lics in thc Succcssion
olPowcrsandPcrsons,aswcshalllarthcrdcmonstratcbyRcason.
A Filt rcason is, bccausc as an ordcrly Succcssion and rcvolution ol
Authorityinclcctcdpcrsons,isthcgrandprcvcntivcolCorruptionand
Faction,soitisthconclyRcmcdy
a.thcy(muchlikcourclcvcnimpcachcdMcmbcrsinthcycar.6,.)
ovcrrulcd
. Eomits:8ythisyousccthcrstandsccondinsurrcctionwascauscd
byNcccssity,thcthirdandlourthhapncdthroughmulation:For,thc
grcat oncs ol thc Scnatc taking advantagc by thcir standing Authority,
took carc likcwisc to cstablish a |S|cllintcrcst, by conning ol Mar
riagcsandMagistracic,Thcyprocccdcdsolarastobcarthcpcoplclrom
marryingintothcirFamilics,andbythismcans(asthcydonowin\cn
icc,lorthcmostpart)kccpingakindolStatcandGrandcurabovcthc
pcoplc,thcythcmorccasilymadcashilttokccpthcmoutolallplaccs
olhightrustandAu|t|hority.
.groundanbscrvation,whichshallbcthis:
.SLF
6.Commonwcalth
,.thcsuprcmc
.Eomits:
This(!say)stillmakcslorthchonorolallGovcrnorsinFrccStatcs,
who havc, or shall at any timc dcny thcmsclvcs in scttling limits and
boundstothcirownauthority.
|MP.,.acc..6.|
. MPbegins:!npursuanccolourPosition,ThataFrccStatcismuch
morccxccllcntthanaGovcrnmcntbyGrandccs,orKings,andthatthc
PcoplcarcthcbcstKccpcrsolthcirownLibcrtics,givclcavctoprocccd
yctlarthcruponthcAccomptolRcason.
AsixthRcasonis,bccausc
c.Scllintcrcst
..till
a.App.Claudius
.c
<
AppcndixC
.Tyranny
.prorogation
. E omits: 8ut altcrtimcs growing morc corrupt, you shall nd in
story,thatwhcnthclcngthningolPowcrsandTrustsinthcsamchands
grcwcustomary,ituttcrlyspoilcdallthcbravcRomanPatriots,insomuch,
thatmostolthcgrcatFavourcrsandclcndcrsolthcpcoplcsintcrcst,
by thc samc mcans wcrc tcmptcd lrom thc purc principlcs ol Libcrty,
andinthccnddcgcncratcdintoTyranny.
ThismayscrvcasalarthcrdcmonstrationolthcquityandNoblc
ncsscolsuchRcsolutions,asarctakcnupbyGovcrnoursinFrccStatcs,
lorscttingLimitsandboundstothcdurationolAuthority.
|MPa,acc..6..Jan..6a|
6. MP begins: That a Frcc Statc is much morc cxccllcnt thcn any
othcrlormolGovcrnmcnt,&thatthcPcoplc,qualicdwithaducand
ordcrly succcssion ol thcir suprcmc asscmblics arc thc bcst Kccpcrs ol
thcirownLibcrtics,appcarsmorccvidcntstillbyRcason.
AScvcnthRcasonis,bccausc
,.and
.Story
.howmany
.cc.lor,(tothcadmirationolmorcgaylcllowsandgawdydaics,bcit
spokcn)hchad
.c..Yctitso
.ca.quans
.c.trcmblingconditiondcspaircdolsalcty
.c. dclivcrancc. 8ut in what picklc did thcy ndc him: vcn lol
lowinghisploughinapoorrustickhabit,aplainsimplcmanandvcry
unwilling, bccausc hc lcarcd himscll unt, lor so high an cmploymcnt:
8utthcywhoncglcctcdallthcGrandccsandGallantsolRomc,tomakc
choiccolthispoorman,constraincdhimtoundcrtakcit,andhcbchavcd
himscllthcrcinsowcll
.c.arc
.c6.L.Paulus
.c,.Thcbscrvationthcn,thatariscthlromthisdiscourscisthis:
.c.bcstprcscrvcd
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
..
.c.thcir
..c.till
....madcashilt
|MP,.Jan..6a|
..a.MPbegins:urcsignisstilltoprovc,ThataFrccStatcGovcrn
mcntismuchmorccxccllcntthcnanyothcrlorm,rthatthcPcoplc,
instatcdinaducandordcrlysucccssionolthcirSuprcmcAsscmblics,arc
thcbcstKccpcrsolthcirownLibcrtics.
ThccighthRcasonis,
...lormcrTyrannics
...kcpt,lrcclrommixturcwith
...a
..6.bccomc
..,.cntrcnch
...FrccSta|t|c
...stilllrcsh
.ac.6cycars
.a..Hcrcs
.aa.mindcsolthcpcoplc,withhowgrcataSpiritolZcalandRcvcngc
thcyarcactcdinitsbchall,uponanyoccasion,andhowjcalousthcyarc
toprcscrvcit,itbcingthcironclydclight,thcir!ntcrcst,thcirLilc,and
all,sothat
|MP,.Jan..6a|
.a. MP begins: To procccd in thc justication ol a Frcc Statc, or a
Govcrnmcntbythcpcoplcinaducandordcrlysucccssionolthcirsu
prcmc Asscmblics, and to provc, that a Form thus qualicd, is much
morc cxccllcnt than that ol Kings, or Grandccs, wc arc still upon thc
accountolRcason.
ANinthRcasonis
.a.honcst
.a.sccurc
.a6.bothold
.a,.thoscmanyopprcssivc
.a
<
AppcndixC
.a.lcd,andoltcnlorccd
.a.upstartcd
.c.Pisistratus
...play,altcrwhosc( Ehas:playaltcr,which).
.a.thcothcr
.. E omits the passage belo.. In it, Nedham takes the .erse from the
translationofLucansPharsalia(II.:8c,z)bythepoetandhistorianThomas
May,.hodiedinzoc(and.hoserelations.ithNedhamarediscussedinLP,
pp.,,8).InthethirdlineNedhamchangesso.reCatoto.iseCato;in
thelastt.olinesheabbre.iatesMaystext.Thepassageabout!illiamtheSi-
lentistaken,.itht.oslightalterationsof.ording,fromFulkeGre.illeslife
ofSirPhilipSidney,.hich.asrstpublishedinzo:inLondon.ThcProsc
Vorks ol Fulkc Grcvillc, Lord 8rookc, ed. John Gou.s (Oxford, U.K.:
ClarendonPress,z,8o),pp.zz,:8utthatyoumayknowwhatitwas,takc
hcrcthccopyololdCatoscountcnancc,asitwasdrawnbyLucan.
Thcscwcrchismanncrs,thiswiscCatosScct,
Tokccpamcan,holdlastthccnd,andmakc
Naturchisguidc,diclorhisCount|r|icssakc.
ForallthcVorld,nothim,hisLilcwaslcnt
Hcthinks,hisFcastsbuthungcrsbanishmcnt,
Hischoiccst8uildingswcrcbutlcncclorcold,
HisbcstattircroughGowns,suchasolold
VasRomanwcar,andnothingbutdcsirc
lProgcnyinhimwarmd\cnusrc:
FathcrandHusbandbothtoRomcwashc,
ScrvanttoJusticc,andstrictHoncstic.
!nnoncolCatosactscrccpsscllbornplcasurc,
8utinthcpublickgoodlayallhisTrcasurc.
ThusyousccwhatCatowas,andinhimwhatthcGovcrnorsolRomc
wcrconcc,duringthcpcoplcsGovcrnmcnt:whichbcingatancnd,and
thcpowcrputinothcrhands,thcirmanncrsdcgcncratcdintoluxury,and
thcirlibcrtyintoTyranny.
!lwccomcdowntolatcrtimcs,wcndthatthcFrccStatcsolMilan,
Florcncc,Sicna,andLuca,duringthcirLibcrty,wcrcascvcrcandsobcr
pcoplc,lrcclromallthoscvaniticsandtyrannicswhcrcwiththcya|r|c
nowintanglcd,sinccthcyhavcbccntramplcdonbyambitious,luxurious
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.
GrandccsandPrinccs,lor,cvcninthoscStatcsthclcngthningolPow
crsinparticularhands,broughtonambitionandluxurytothclosscol
thcir Libcrty, witncss thc actions ol thc two Familics ol Mcdiccs and
Slorza.
!lwclooknccrcrhomctosuchFrccStatcsasarcnowinbcing,wc
ndthcUnitcdProvinccs,whilcundcraTyranny,toaboundinluxuri
ousGovcrnorsandpcoplc,butmuchaltcrduponthcvcryrstappcar
ancc ol Libcrty, insomuch that Luxury andTyranny ying both away
togcthcr, thcy havc livcd cvcr sincc in a sobcr parcimonious condition
(yctwcalthy)undcragravcandscriousGovcrnmcntbythcpcoplc.And
thcFamilyolrangcitscllc(bclorcitgrcwcorrupt)wasincvcryrcspcct
suitcduntothispopularForm,asappcarsbythatdcscriptionolPrincc
VilliamthcFoundcrolthcirlibcrty,asitissctlorthbySirFulkGrcvil
inthclilcolSirPhilipSidncy.For,whcnSirFulkcamctovisithiminthc
Townolclph,hcsaithhcloundhimthusaccuoltrcd.
||His uppcrmost garmcnt was a Gown, yct such as (! darc con
dcntlyarm)amcanstudcntinour!nnsolcourt,wouldnothavcbccn
wcllplcascd to walk thc strccts in. Unbuttond his oublct was, and
ol likc prccious Mattcr and lorm to thc othcr. HisVastcoat (which
shcwcditscllundcrit)notunlikcthcbcstsortolthoscwoollcnknit
oncs, which our ordinary watcrmcn row us in. His company about
him wcrc thc 8urgomastcrs ol that bcarbrcwing Town, and hc so
lcllowlikc cncompasscd with thcm, as ! had not known his Facc, no
outw|ar|dsigncoldcgrccormcrit,couldhavcdiscovcrcdthcincqual
ityolhisworthorcstatclromthatmultitudc.Notwithstanding,!no
sooncrcamcintohisprcscncc,butitplcascdhimtotakcknowlcdgol
mc,Andcvcnuponthat(asilithadbccnasignalltomakcachangc)
hisRcspccttoastrangcrinstantlybcgatRcspccttohimscllinallabout
him: An outward passagc ol inward Grcatncssc, which in a popular
statc is worth thc obscrving.||Thus larr Sr Fulk Grcvil, which may
scrvc to upbraid thc Cours and convcrsation ol thc latcr 8ranchcs ol
that stock, who having by dcgrccs lorsakcn thcir rst Principlcs, and
wcddcd thcmsclvcs to thc 8loud and !ntcrrcst ol Rogalty, no sooncr
bccamcinlcctcdwithpridcandLuxury,butthcybcgantohatchProj
cctsanddcsigns,lorthcruinolthcLowCountryLibcrty.
Vcmightalsocitcanothcr!nstancclromthclrccCantonsolSwit
zcrland, by comparing thcir prcscnt Statc ol Frccdom, !ndustry, and
.
<
AppcndixC
Sobricty, with thc Luxury andTyranny ol lormcr timcs in that Coun
try, but wc havc bccn too largc alrcady. And as lor \cnicc, though it
bcarthcnamcolaFrccstatc,yctithavclittlcolthcSubstancc,lor,thc
chiclPowcrbcingdcpositcdinthchandsolastandingScnatcolGran
dccs, thc Pcoplc must nccds bc to scck ol thcir Frccdom. And this is
obscrvablc,thatbyhowmuchthclcsscthcyhavcolthatFrccdomwhich
thcunitcdProvinccs&thcCantonsnowcnjoy,somuchthcmorcboth
thcy and thcir Govcrncrs arc now inclincd to Luxury, bcing (to spcak
mildly) ol a morc solt and dclicatc dcmcanour than is usuall in a statc
thatisrcallylrcc.
Andthusmuchlctushavclurthcrtosay,itisnogoodsigncolthat
Grandcc\cnctianGovcrnmcntsbcingplcasingtothcPcoplc,sinccwc
ndcbyallour!ntclligcnccthatway,thatthc!slandsinthcArchipclago,
and othcr ol thcirTcrritorics, arc rcady still, upon any opportunity (as
thcyhavcbccncvcr)torcvoltuntothcTurkishGovcrnmcnt.
..urConclusionthcrclorcupon
.. Eomits:Morc!mightinlargc,butlcss!couldnot.
|MP,.aaJan..6a|
.6.MPbegins:TogoonuponouroldSubjcctolalrccStatcorGov
crnmcntbythcPcoplc,asitisconstitutcdinaducandordcrlysucccssion
olthcirsuprcmcAsscmblics,andtoprovcitscxccllcncyabovcallothcr
Forms,wccshallmakcmattcrsyctmorccvidcntbyRcason.
ATcnthRcasonis,
.,.posscsscth
..scc
..and
.c.Thisisit
...whilcundcrKings,rcmaincd
.a.alittlcmorc,andloralittlctimc,yctallthatthcy
..thcVorld
..thcmorc
..whcrcwiththatpcoplcwascnducduponthc
.6.cspccially
.,.lor
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.
..thcyoakolthcRomans
..Carthagc
.c.manytimcs
...savc
.a.againol
.. Eomits:
To avoid tcdiousncss, lct us comc ncarcr homc. !n Francc, as long as
thc Frcnch rctaincd thcir old Libcrty, in thc succcssivc Asscmblics ol thc
Pcoplc (whcrcin thcir King was but a Cyphcr) so long thcy produccd
SparksolthatancicntCouragc,whichwassccninthcoldGallsandFranks
thcir prcdcccssors, and no Nation did grcatcr things abroad in Palcstinc
and gipt, bcsidcs all parts ol uropc, till by a continuation ol thc su
prcmc powcr in Charlcs thc ,th, and a kccping it by cralt in Lcwis thc
..th, thcy quitc lost thcir Libcrty, sincc which timc thcy havc bccn ablc
to doc littlc, savc thc making ol a lcw sallics into !taly, and somc othcr
placcs, but havc sucrcd morc at homc, thcn thcy gaincd abroad, which
wantolsucccssmustolncccssitybcattributcdchicytoadclcctolcouragc,
sinccthclossolLibcrtyinthcGcncralityolthatpcoplc:For,thcCountry
mcn(whomthcycallPcasants)arconlySpungcstothcKing,thcNobility,
andthcirLandlords,havingnothingolthcirown,butonclylorthcuscol
thcm,andarcscarccallowcd(as8casts)cnoughtokccpthcmablctodoscr
vicc,lor,bcsidcsthcirRcnt,thcypaynowmorcthantwothirdstothcKing
bywhichmcansthatStatciscxtrcmclywcakncd,havingthcworst!nlantry
undcrHcavcn,lorthcgrcatcstpartolthcpcoplcbcingmiscrablyopprcst,
arcbccomhcartlcss,wcakandlccblc,&conscqucntlyuntlorMilitaryuscs,
sothat(asoncobscrvs)thcyarcrstlorccdtoborrowaidcolthcSwisscrs
atagrcatchargc,andsccondlytocomposcthcirArmicslorthcmostpartol
Gcntlcmcn,whichmakcsthclossola8attclalmostirrccovcrablc.
..scc
..lollows
.6.gallant
.,. Hollandcrs, and also our own Nation, whosc high atchicvmcnts
may match any ol thc Ancicnts, sincc thc cxtirpation ol Tyranny, and
a rccstablishmcnt ol our Frccdom in thc hands ol thc Pcoplc: Thc
considcration
..scttling
.6
<
AppcndixC
|MP6,aaaJan..6a|
.. MP begins: That a Frcc Statc, or Govcrnmcnt by thc Pcoplc,
sctlcd in a duc and ordcrly succcssion ol thcir suprcmc Asscmblics, is
muchmorccxccllcntthananyothcrForm,wcshalllarthcrillustratcby
Rcason.
ThcclcvcnthRcasonis
.6c.that
.6..Laws
.6a.willaord
.6.Tyrant
.6. E omits: Nor is it thus only in thc govcrnmcnt ol Kings, but thc
samc!nconvcnicncchathbccnsccnalsointhatolthcgrcatoncs,whcrc
thcyhcldastandingpowcrinthcirownhandsovcrthcpcoplc:For,asin
Romc,whcrcKingswcrccxpcld,andthcsuprcmacyusurptbythcScnatc,
thcymadcLawsatthcplcasurcolgrcatmcn,withoutthcsuragcorcon
scntolthcpcoplcinthcirsucccssivcAsscmblics,sothccxccutionolthosc
LawswascommittcdonclytosuchaswcrcolthcScnatorianrdcrorAl
liancc,whoncvcrconstrucdthcminlavourolthcpcoplc,butonclysolar
stillaswouldsuitwiththcLordlyintcrcstolthcScnatc,asismanilcstby
thcscvcralccisionsmadcinthcMatrimoniall,Tribunitian,andAgrarian
controvcrsicsinoldRomc,bctwixtthcgrcatoncs,olthcScnatcandthc
pcoplc: yca, thcy procccdcd so lar, as to swcar against thc pcoplc, bind
ing cach othcr by oath and conlcdcracy (saith Livy) to bridlc, supprcssc,
andkccpthcmundcr,notpcrmittingthcmthccnjoymcntolanyccor
ignityinthcCommonwcalth,whichpracticcsarcbyhimtaxcdolhigh
imprudcncc, lor, by this mcans thc Pcoplc grcw dcspcratc, & ncvcr gavc
ovcrmutiny,tillthcygaindaRight,notonclytothccxccutionolLaw,in
bcingadmittcdtoccs,butalsotothcmakingolLaws,thatnothing
shouldpassclorLaw,butwhatwasrstraticdbyconscntinthcirsolcmnc
Asscmblics.
.6.Thcwaryproviding
.66.Commonwcal
.6,.olastandingScnatc
.6.ScnatcwasstrictlytycdupbyLawcs,thatthcywalkcdin
.6.that
.,c.rathcraJunctathcnaCommonwcal
.,..opportunitics(as!onccmcntioncdbclorc)torcvolt
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.,
.,a.Thcrclorc(tobccbricl)ourConclusion
.,.ctcrminations
|MP,,aJan.Fcb..6a|
.,. Eomits:Hithcrto,Vchavcprcttywcllclcarcdourway,toprovc
thataFrccStatc,oraGovcrnmcntbyalrccclcctionandconscntolthc
Pcoplc,sctlcdinaducandordcrlysucccssionolthcirSuprcamAsscm
blics,ismuchmorccxccllcntthananyothcrForm,8utlctusgoon.
.,.saithinthcrstolhisccs
.,6.whcrclorc
.,,.submit
.,.Nimini
.,.thrcccductionsolminc
.c.ictatc
...thc
.a.by
..olStanding
..atalladvcnturc,lromthchandolChancc,orFortunc
..totranslorm
.6.bandicd
.,.that
..itlastsusually
..bcingoltcnlitigious
.c.bctwixt
...MPreads:LincolSucccssion.Thcrclorc,ilanyKinglyFormbc
tollcrablc,itmustbcthatwhichisbylcction,andhcrcinasKingsarc
tolcrablc only upon this Account ol bcing lcctivc, so thcsc lcctivc
Kings
.a.which
..ccct,larthcrthan
..olaspiring
..Hungary
.6.Casimirc
.,.MPreads:CasimircandAustria.
Ncithcrarcsuchgrand!nconvcnicnccstobcloundonclyundcrthc
standing powcr ol Kings, bccausc thcy arc Hcrcditary, but thc samc
.
<
AppcndixC
aboundinlikcmancrinthcgovcrnmcntolstandingScnatcs,thcrcbcing
thcsamcrcasontoprovcinconvcnicnccs,bccauscinthislormthcycvcr
continuc thc samc Hcrcditary coursc ol Succcssion in thcir particular
Familics,usurpingthcsamcpowcr(asKingsdo)bybirth,notrccciving
itlromthcconscntolthcpcoplc.Thctrutholthisappcarcsbyasurvcy
ol thc constitution ol thc Roman Scnatc, which conncd all right to
govcrnmcntwithinthcirownValls,Vills,andFamilics,towhomthcy
axcdonccommonnamcolHonour,callingthcmsclvcsthcPatrician
or Noblc rdcr, just as thcy doc now in \cnicc, whcrc nonc but thc
sonsolthcScnatcarcadmittcdtoanydignityorpowcr,butthcyallol
thcm(withoutdistinction)arcadmittcdtothcHclm,altcrthcyarconcc
a ycars old, so that as in both thosc Commonwcals thc rcasons and
occasions ol inconvcnicncc arc thc samc, as in thc Kingly hcrcditary
Form, so had ! room ! would havc madc Rcasons and xamplcs walk
hand in hand togcthcr, to makc lull prool ol our position, and this !
might havc donc, not oncly in Romc and\cnicc, but also in Florcncc,
Gcnoa, and cvcn in Switzcrland in timc past, whcn thc Cantons wcrc
prcst undcr thc wcight ol an Hcrcditary standing Nobility. 8ut ! havc
bccntoolargcalrcady,lctthisscrvctomanilcst
..Form
..clinqucncy, orNcutrality,.c.inrclation
acc.thcPcoplc,asshallbcprovcdhcrcaltcr.
|MP,.aFcb..6a|
ac.. MP begins:To procccd still in thc maintcnancc ol our Position,
thataFrccStatc,orGovcrnmcntbythcPcoplc,constitutcdinaducand
ordcrly Succcssion ol thcir Suprcam Asscmblics, is thc most cxccllcnt
Form,wcshalladdalcwRcasonsmorc.
Thcthirtccnthrcasonis,
aca.FrccCommonwcals
ac.CamporCounccl
ac.lattcr
ac.grow
ac6.which
ac,.Pisistratus
ac.!nRomcthccascwas
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.
ac.pcrmittingmanyol
a.c.MPreads:lossolthcirLibcrty.
Now,onthcothcrsidc,ilyouplcasctoconsidcr,youshallndc,that
allStatcswhichhavc,lromtimctotimc,sccurcdthcirLibcrty,havcdonc
it mccrcly by rcscrving all Powcr only in thc hands ol thc Pcoplc, and
ncvcr intrusting morc than a modcratc rcstraincd Powcr in thc hands
olparticularPcrsons,aswccsccnowitisthcircarcinSwitzcrland,and
thcspcciallcarcalsoolthc\cnctianScnat,toprcscrvcthcmsclvcslrcc
lromthcusurpationolanyolthcirFcllowScnators,aswcllasolthcir
ukc: And it is attributcd by a Countrcyman ol ours [ James Ho.ell,
.hose A Survay ol thc Signoric ol \cnicc (London, zoz), p. o, Nedham
looselyquotesJtobconcmaincauscolthclonglilcolthatRcpublick,that
itwasncvcryctusurptbythcPowcrorPolicicolanyolitsMcmbcrs.For
(saithhc)ShcputssundryRcstraintstothcPowcrolthcukc,which
arcsuch,thatitisimpossiblclorhimtoattcmptanythingagainstthc
Scnatc,orbccomcaTyrant.
HcrcuntomaybcaddcdthcLimitationsShcputsalsotothcwcalth
olthcScnators,thatnoncolthcmgrowovcrrich,buttosuchaPropor
tion,inrcgarditisaqualitycvcrinhcrcnt,andHcrcditaryinthcnaturcol
man,thatrichcsincxccsspuupthcmindc,incitingittoambitionand
highAttcmpts,noristhcrcamorccatching8aitloronctotakcvulgar
acctions,anddrawthcmaltcrhimthanwcalth:Thcrclorconcolhcr
primcPrinciplcsolstatcis,
a...grcatorpopular,cstccmingitanotablcmcans(asindccdithath
bccn)insccuringhcrsclllrom
a.a.Eomits:
Sccondly,astothcpcrmittingolanySort,Rank,orrdcrolmcn,to
assumcuntothcmsclvcsthcstatcandTitlcolNobility,!shouldprocccd
toprovcitcvcryjotasinconvcnicntasthcothcr,andoccasioningasdan
gcrousoportuniticsolintroducingtyrannyintoaFrccStatc,so,thatit
hath,notwithoutgoodrcason,bccnavoidcdinallStatcsthatcvcrwcrc
rcallyFrcc:8utitbcingamatcrialldiscoursc,!amlorccdtoputitotill
thcncxt.!nthcmcantimc,thismayscrvcinparttoshcw,ThatinaFrcc
Statc,orGovcrnmcntbythcpcoplc,solongasthcRulcsolitarccau
tiouslyobscrvcd,inprcvcntingthcovcrgrowtholGrandcurinparticu
larPcrsons,thcrcwillbclcwcropportuniticsolopprcssionandtyranny,
than in thc govcrnmcnts ol Kings, or thc grcat ncs, and thcrclorc by
.c
<
AppcndixC
conscqucncc it must nccds bc much morc cxccllcnt and commodious
thananyothcrFormwhatsocvcr.
|MP.,a6Fcb.Mar..6a|
a..EomitstheeditorialsofMP8,and,c(z:z,Feb.,z,:oFeb.zo:),
.hicharereproducedinppendixB.Therstofthemgi.esfurtherreasonsto
supportthethirteenthreason;thesecondad.ancesafourteenth;theeditorial
that follo.s consequently gi.es the fteenth. It begins: Vc havc oncly onc
Rcason morc to insist upon, lor thc prool ol our Position, that a Frcc
statc,orgovcrnmcntbythcPcoplc,sctlcdinaducandordcrlysucccs
sionolthcirsuprcmcAsscmblics,ismuchmorccxccllcntthananyothcr
Form.
ThcFiltccnth,andlastRcason,is,
a..crushcs
a..thcPrinciplc
a.6.omination
a.,.anybutGod
a..grcatcr
a..cvcrylorm,byrcasonolitsoutwardsplcndor,andprcscntpowcr,
bywhich
aac.crown
aa..thcir
aaa.Commonwcal!ntcrcst
aa. MPreads:conscntolthcPcoplc.
8utyctwcndthisprinciplcolLibcrtyincallingsuprcmcccrsto
account,wasncvcrtotallycxtinctinothcrForms,For,thoughthcdi
cultyinqucstioningthcmisusuallyvcrygrcat,bccauscolthcadvantagcs
which thcy draw to thcmsclvcs, and thc opportunitics that thcy havc
tolramcpractiscsolthcirown,throughlongcontinuanccinauthority,
yctwccancollcctPrcccdcntsoutolallNations,whcrcbyitappcars,that
thcpcoplchavcmanytimcsconqucrdalldicultics,andrunthchazard
ol all cxtrcmitics, rathcr thcn thcy would bc acccssary to thc lossc ol
thcirownFrccdom,andlcavcmankindwithoutnoblccxamplcsoljusticc
uponthcproudcstolallstandingPowcrs,whcthcrKingsorothcrs.
First lor Kings, givc mc lcavc to shcw (what ! oncc publishcd upon
anothcr occasion [in an anonymous pamphlet, Anglia Libcrata (London,
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
..
zoz):seetheprefacetothesecondimpressionofLPJthattisnoncwthing
lorKingstobcdcprivcd,orpunishtwithdcathlorthcircrimcsingov
crnmcnt,VcrcadolAmon,KingolJudah,thatwasslainbyapartol
thcpcoplc,8ccauschcwalkcdnotinthcwayolthcLord.Andthough
anothcrpartolthcpcoplcwcrcangryatit,andavcngcdhisdcathupon
thoscthatdidit,yctqucstionlcsscthccxccutionwasjust,accordingtothc
lawolGod,whichwas(withoutrcspcctolpcrsons)that!dolatcrsshould
dic thc dcath. And no doubt thc punishmcnt had bccn inictcd by a
judiciallProccssc,hadnotsogrcatapartyolthcpcoplcbccnaddictcd
tohimandhiswaycs,andopposcdit,whichoppositionolmcnolcor
ruptprinciplcsbcingcrcaturcsandvassalsolLordly!ntcrcst,isusually
thccauscinallcascsolthisnaturc,whyKingsandcontinucdPowcrsarc
nottobcattachcd,aswcllasothcrmalclactors,byancasicandordinary
courscoljusticc.
!nlikcmancrwcrcad,thatthcwholcPcoplctookcAmaziahKingol
Judah,andputhimtodcathlorhis!dolatry,whichsccmsbythcwordsto
havcbccndonbyjudiciallproccss,inalullAsscmblyolthcPcoplc,and
spcaksmuchtothchonorolthoscwhohavchadthccouragctoimitatc
soHcroickanActolJusticc,byasolcmnandscriousProcccding.Thc
likchadbccncxccutcduponJoasthclathcrolAmaziahbyapartolthc
Pcoplc,lorhismurthcrandApostacic.
Prolanc storics (both old and ncw) arc lull likcwisc to thc purposc.
Romulus thc rst King ol Romc, was lor hisTyranny cut in picccs by
thcScnatc,andTarquin(thcirlastKing)withhiswholcFamilywasca
shicrcd,thcGovcrnmcntchangcd,bythcsamcpowcr,anduponthcsamc
occasion.ManyycarsaltcrNcrothcRomanmpcror,wasscntcnccdto
dcathbythcScnatc,butbcingaltcrwardcowcddownbyH|c:|liogabalus,
sothatthcycouldnottakcthcordinarycoursc,thcywcrclaintodcalwith
thcSoldicry(uponwhoscstrcngthhcdcpcndcd)toputhimtodcath.
!n Francc it is vcry obscrvablc,That thc two lamous changcs madc
thcrc in thc Linc Royal, dcpcnd upon Two such noblc Picccs ol Jus
ticccxccutcduponthcirKings,thcrstuponChildcrickthcthirdKing
olFrancc,whobcingjudiciallycondcmncdinthcAsscmblyolthcPco
plc,thcsucccssionwasthcncutolromthcFamilyolPharamond,&
conrmdtothcraccolPcpin,tillCharlsolLorrainalso,thclastolPcp
insracc,wasinlikcmancrpunishtbyParl.andthcCrownwastranslatcd
tothcsucccssorsolHughCapct,whoholdthcsamctothisday,though
.a
<
AppcndixC
a. ol this last Racc also. viz. Lcwis . and Charls thc Gross, havc bin
judiciallyprocccdcdagainstinParliamcnt.AndthoughthcPcoplc,(lor
Rcasons bcst known to Thcmsclvs) lorbcar to put thcm to dcath, yct
thcywcrcburicdalivc,bcingmucdupwithinthcmclancholywalsola
Monastcry,orclosclyconncdwithinthcCastlcolrlcans.
!n Spain too, wc rcad ol Suintilla, also ol on Alonso !!. and on
Pcdro, judicially procccdcd against, Thc rst by thc lourth National
Counccl ol Tolcdo, Thc sccond by publick Act ol thc statcs ol thc
RcalminthcTownol\alladolid,andthcthirdbythcstatcsolCastilc,
butalllorthcirTyranny.
!n Portugal, thc likc procccding was had against on Sancho thc
sccond.ThclikcwcndcpasscdagainstHcnryolPolandthatwasK.
olFrancc,HcnryolSwcthlan,Christicrnolcnmark,andVcnccslaus
ol8ohcmia,asalsoagainstdwarda.andRicharda.hcrcinngland,
andlatclyagainstthclatcTyrantCharls,whowaspublicklybchcadcd,
And though many ol thc rcst wcrc not, yct it is sucicnt thcy wcrc
judgcdworthyolaScaold:Andthcrclorcitmustnccdsbcmorchon
ourablc(altcrthclatccxamplcolngland)thatthcJudgmcntsolGod
shouldbccxccutcdinpublickbclorcallthcworld,thanthatthcyshould
bc sticd in a ungcon, or thc Majcsty ol thcm bc lcssncd by paltry
privatc Assassinations, or poysonings, actcd upon Royall Tyrants and
cndcrs.
Thusyouscc,hownotwithstandingthcpowcrandsplcndourolthosc
gawdythingscaldMonarchs,thcPcoplcundcrthcmhavcmadcashilt
(thoughnotwithoutmuchadoc)tokccpthcminanaccountablccondi
tion,asthconlymcanstoabatcthccondcnccandoccasionsolTyranny.
Vhcrcistobcnotcd,thatthcoltcncrthcycallcdthcmtoAccount,thc
bcttcrandcasicrthcykcptthcirLibcrty.
NowlorthcothcrlormolPowcrinstandingScnatcs,thcpcoplchavc
loundcvcryjotasgrcatdiculticsinkccpingthcminanAccountablc
condition,aswcllasKings.
!nAthcns,whcnthcPowcrolthcPcoplcwasusurpdbythcThirty,in
thclormolastandingScnatc,thcyprcscntlycwoutintoallxtravagan
cics,andborcupsohigh,crcatingParticsbyFavor,thatthcComonwcalth
wasbroughtncarctoruinc,bclorcthcycouldbccmadcaccountablcand
punisht.!nSparta,thcirKingsindccdwcrcaccountablctothcirphori,
orstandingScnatc,butScnatorstononc,whichwasthccauscolallaltcr
cnormiticsthatbclcllthcPcoplc,toolargchcrctorcckon.
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.
!n Romc as long as thc Scnatc was accountablc to nonc but thcm
sclvs, thc Pcoplc wcrc swallowcd up with thcir Libcrtics, which could
ncvcrbcrcgaincd,northcScnatcbclctchcddownlromthcirunaccount
ablcStatc,tillthcPcoplc,altcrlongstrugling,obtaincdthcirsucccssivc
Asscmblics. !n Florcncc, obscrvc all thc scucs bctwccn thc Scnators
andthcPcoplc,andaltcrwardsbctwccnthcScnatcandthcirukcs,As
longasthcPcoplckcptthcmtoAccount,solongthcykcptthcmsclvcs
andthcPcoplclromthcusurpationolukcs.!nGcnoa,thcirlibcrtyis
prcscrvcd only by this mcans: that thcir Asscmblics arc succcssivc, and
thcirukcaccountablc,&c.!n\cniccthcPcoplchavcnothingbutthc
namc and shadow ol Libcrty, bccaus thcir ukc is to account only to
thcstandingScnatc(whohavcpunishtabout6or,olthcirukcslor
misgovcrnmcnt)butthcScnatorsaccountablctononcbutthcmsclvs,so
thatthcPcoplcastothcmarcrcmcdilcss.!nSwitzcrlandthcPcoplclarc
bcttcr,andarclrccindccd
aa.Powcrscouldcvcrbccallcdtoaccompt
aa.Rcasonslormcrlypublishcd
aa6. Eomits:urncxtCoursshallbctorclutcallbjcctionstothc
contrary.
|MPa,..Mar..6a|
aa,.thcPcoplc
aa.whobcingnowinvcstcd
aa. may (in ordcr to thc prcscrvation ol this Commonwcalth) un
dcrstandwhatCommonwcalPrinciplcsarc,and
ac.intcrcstolmonarchy.8ut
a..soonthc
aa.Propcrty
a.Proprictics
a.likcmaybcsaidalsoolFrancc
a.thcirSucccssivcAsscmblics,solongthcy
a6.samcpasstoo
a,.howmucholLcvclling,andhowlittlcolPropcrty
a.propricty
a.Powcr
ac.Proprictics
a..cccnnallGovcrnors
.
<
AppcndixC
aa.thc
a.thoscmiscariagcs,as(ilcvcrthcrcbcoccasion)shallbcmadcap
pcaratlargcbythccurrcntolthcStory:
a.thatvcryaccount
a.tircd
a6.propricty
a,.bythcalorcmcntioncd
a.propcrtyascvcr,lor,asLivytclsus,ThcysoonlostthcirPropricty
undcrthatcrroncousconstitutionolastandingScnatc,Thcgrcatncs
not only dcprivcd thcm ol all intcrcst in thc Govcrnmcnt, but cvcn in
ordinary cnjoymcnts, cating thcm out with dcbt, usury, cxtortion, and
circumvcntion,sothatthcywcrclaintobcg,andmanytimcsmakcMu
tinicsandUproarslor8rcad,andatlasttolcavcthcCity,withaRcsolu
tionncvcrtorcturn,tillthcywcrcpcrswadcdbackonccbythccloqucncc
ol Mcncnius Agrippa, at anothcr timc wonn by thc lair promiscs ol
Q. Hortcnsius. Thc samc miscrics rathcr incrcascd than diminishcd
undcr thc othcr lorm ol standing Powcr, callcd thc cccmviri, during
whoscgovcrnmcntthcPcoplcwcrc(bcsidcsthcmanyothcrcxtrcmitics)
rcduccdtosomuchwant,havingnoProprictynorposscssion,thatupon
anuproarlor8rcadinthccomonForum,thcysctuponAppiusClaudius,
thc chicl ol thc cccmviri, with Curscs and imprccations, so that hc
notwithmuchadoccscapcdata8ackdoorc,hchadbintorninpicccs.
ThusyouscchowthcRomansalsoshiltcdoutoloncstandingFormto
anothcr,tonopurposctillncccssitytaughtthcmarcmcdyagainstthosc
mcrcilcssLcvcllcrs,bysctlingthcGovcrnmcntinthcPcoplcshands,by
anordcrly
a.rccovcrapropricty
ac.whichncwstrain
a..inasaFavoritc
aa. MPreads:libcrtyandPropcrty,asappcarsmorcatlargcinthcStory.
!n\cnicc,whcrcthcGovcrnmcntisinastandingForm,nomanhath
any Propricty in what hc posscsscth, in thcirTcrritorics, savc what thc
Scnatc plcasc to allow him, lor thcy may command what thcy plcasc,
uponanyprctcncc,withoutthcwillandconscntolthcwncrs,byvcrtuc
ol thcir own Scnatick ccrccs, whcrc thc Pcoplc havc no intcrcst, nor
inucnccatallinthcdctcrminationsolthatsuprcmcAsscmbly.
a.Vcmightcnlargc,butbcingtoolargcalrcady,wcmay(!supposc)
salclyconcludc
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.
a.Royalliststhat
a.dcstroyingolProprictics
a6.UsurpationsolallStandingpowcrs.Addtothclormcr!nstanccs,
thcconsidcrationolthclormcrsadconditionolSwitzcrland,andHol
land,undcrstandingPowcrs,withthcourishingstatcthcyhavcbinin
cvcrsinccthccxpulsionolthoscpowcrs,andasctlingolthoscGovcrn
mcntsinthcPcoplcsSucccssivcAsscmblics.!tisclcarthcn,thatKings
|MP,...Mar..6a|
a,. Eomits:!nourlastwasprovcd,ThatthcwayolalrccStatc,or
govcrnmcnt by thc Pcoplc, sctlcd in a duc succcssion ol thcir suprcmc
Asscmblics, is so larr lrom introducing ol Community, and Lcvclling
olstatcs,thatitis,andcvcrhathbinthconlyprcscrvativcolPropcrty
inallparticulars.
a. Asscmblics, which cquality ol Right in all to chusc and to bcc
choscn,isbyAristotlccallcdLcvclling.
a.Commonwcal
a6c.arc
a6..andbcchoscn
a6a.MPreads:isnothcrctobcdctcrmincd,norshallwcprcsumcto
dcnc what it ought to bc in our own Nation hcrcaltcr, whcn it shall
plcasc God to cxtinguish thc prcscnt Animositics, and unitc us all in
hcart,undcrthclormolaFrccStatc,asoncPcoplc:!nthisCascaduc
Latitudc(asalorcsaid)cannotbcaccountcdLcvclling.
8utastoaCommonwcalthundcrthcsccondConsidcration,whcnit
isloundcdorncwlyloundcd,inthccloscolaCivilVar,uponthcruinc
olalormcrGovcrnmcnt&c.!nthiscasc(!say)tomakcnodistinction
bctwixt mcn, but to allow thc Conqucrd part ol thc Pcoplc an cqual
Right to chusc and bc choscn, &c. with thosc that subducd thcm, and
prcscrvcd thc Commonwcalth, wcrc at Lcvclling indccd: And trucly
thisisthcLcvclling!cvcrcondcmncd,bccauscundcraprctcnccolUni
vcrsalFrccdom,toadmitallpcrsonswhatsocvcr,andbyConscqucnccthc
ldncmy,intoancqualsharcandintcrcstwiththcCommonwcalths
Fricnds,tochuscandbcchoscn,&c.wcrcnotoncly
a6.rcckoncd
a6.CommonwcalthsolGrccccwcrc
.6
<
AppcndixC
a6. dcad, dcvou|r|ing thcm to thc dccps with !mprccations, and
branding
a66.Commonwcal
a6,. Trcason. This also hath bccn thc practicc ol Florcncc, Luca,
Sicna,Millain
|MP:.aMar..6a|
a6. E omits: ur Position is,That a FrccStatc, or Govcrnmcnt by
thcPcoplc,sctlcdinaducandordcrlysucccssionolthcirsuprcmcAs
scmblics,isthcmostcxccllcntForm.
a6.prctcndcd
a,c.Commonwcal
a,..wrings
a,a.lorcascandrcmcdy
a,.Counccl
a,. as wc havc hcrctolorc sucicntly madc manilcst morc at largc,
bothbyrcasonandcxamplc:Thcrclorcallwcshalldoatprcscnt,istoadd
alittlctothclormcrpartolouriscoursc
a,.Counccll
a,6.continucasthcirstandingCounccll
a,,.Eomits:Andin\cnicc,thoughthcPcoplchavcnointcrcstabovc
thatstandingScnatc,allPowcrandAuthoritybcingcompriscdinagrcat
Counccl, madc up oncly ol that which thcy call thc Patrician rdcr, in
whichgrcatCouncilorAsscmblythcypassallLaws,andprcscribcrulcs
lorGovcrnmcnt,yctcvcrinthcintcrvalsolthatmccting,thcyobscrvthc
samcMcthodashathbinusdinStatcsrcallylrcc,committingthcArts&
sccrctsolGovcrnmcnttoaCounccl,caldthccouncclolTcn,choscnby
thcgrcatCounccl,butwiththisdicrcncc,inrcgardthcychuscthcmout
olthcScnatorianordcr,cxcludingthcPcoplc.
a,.Counccl
a,.Counccllors
|MP,aMar..Apr..6a|
ac.sizcorStandard
a..abovc
aa.Eomits:8utyctitwillbcsaid,thatthcrcwcrcasmanygrcatand
gricvousTumultsaltcrthoscAsscmblicswcrcinbcing.Tistruc,butthc
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.,
lault was not in thc Pcoplc, nor in thc Frccdom that thcy had gottcn,
but in this, that thcy ncvcr wcrc so lrcc as thcy ought, or might havc
bccn, had not thc body ol thcir Commonwcal bccn inlcctcd with that
rankmixturcolanHcrcditarystandingPowcr,whichwasrcscrvcdstill
in thc Scnatc. For, though all ultimatc Appcals (thc grcat nsigncs ol
Suprcmacy) wcrc dircctcd to thc Pcoplc, lor that thc Scnatc could not
controllthcirAsscmblic,yctthcScnatorsbcingmcnolgrcatcrwcalth,
Powcr, and wit thcn ordinary, and having an !ntcrcst still in Aairs, as
anhcrcditarydistinctrdcrolmcnlromthcPcoplc(whichisthc8anc
olallinaCommonwcal)thcybythismcanshadsuchaninucncc,that
thcycouldpcrplcx,puzzlc,andovcrrcachthcpcoplc(cvcrandanon)to
scrvc thcir own cnds, in thc grcat Asscmblics: which thc pcoplc altcr
wards obscrving with rcgrct, to scc thcmsclvcs bacd and coscnd, was
thctruccauscolmostolthoscdiscontcnts,andTumultsthathappcncd
altcrthccrcctionolthcirsucccssivcAsscmblics,andthis,withthclikc,
mightbcmadccvidcntlromtimctotimc,notonlybythcRoman,but
Athcnian Storics, wcrc not thc multitudc ol Particulars morc t lor a
TrcatiscthcnaPamphlct.
a.suchasbccomcthcir,Lcadcrs.Thus
a.Libcrty
a.Lcadcr
a6.thcoccasionswcrc
a,.anhcight
a.bclorc,andaltcr,but
a.Story
ac.andthc
a..\irginius
aa.conscqucnts
|MP6,.Apr..6a|
a.thclormolFrccStatc
a.attcnds
a.omination
a6.callcdtoaccount
a,.thcirparticular
a.First,8ccauscitis
a.instatc
.
<
AppcndixC
cc.rcmain
c..Commonwcal
ca.accusarc,whichbcingnglishcdsaith,!tmost
c.rcachthcm,norhavcanyordinarycourscallowcdlorthckccping
olthcm(asitbccomcsallcarthlypowcrs)
c.olthchorridtumults
c.cvcr
c6.Commonwcal
c,.Proccss
c.thcm
c. Eomits:Vcmightbcmuchlargcr,andshcwyouwhatmiscrics
ourownNationhathcndurcdlorwantolthislibcrtyagainstourKings
andthcirgrandcrcaturcs,suchasStraord,&c.|V|cmighthintalso,
whatadocthcrcwasinandaboutLondon,inthcycar.6,whcnthccor
ruptpartythcnshcltcrdthcmsclvcsinbothHouscsundcraprctcndcd
privilcdgc ol Parliamcnt, so that thcy could not bc brought into qucs
tion,tillitplcascdGodthatthcArmy,withcxtrcamhazard,broughtina
Chargcagainstthcm,whichhazardolancwVar(byGodalonchappily
prcvcntcd)hadncvcrbccn,ilthcrchadbccnanyordinarywaylcltlorthc
managcmcntolthciraccusation.
.c.thc
...Commonwcal
|MP,,.Apr..6a|
.a.ownhand
.. conlcdcratcs, and now again at this instant, bctwccn thc Court
andthcPrinccs,whcrcin
..larthcr
..samcalsoin
.6.grandgamc
.,.bctwixt
..allTyranny,and
..sccms
ac.ThiswasrcmarkablcinthclatcTyrantCharlcs
a..andxt
aa. Eomits:HowclosclyhissonalsohathtrodcnthcFathcrsstcps,
appcars by thc last Gamc with thc Prcsbytcrs in Scotland, whcrc hc
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.
plaidlastandlooscwiththcCovcnantandthcstoololRcpcntancc.!tis
mcmorablctoo,howHollis,Staplcton,andthcrcstolthoscimpcachcd
grandstagcrs,discrtcdthcPcoplcsintcrcst,andallthcpurcprctcnccsol
thcirrstcngaging,sothathadnotthcPcoplcbccnmorcconstant,rm,
andrcsolutc,wcmightthcnhavcbidlarwclltothcLibcrticsolngland.
a.Scipios,(olwhomyouhadahintinourlast:)thccausc
a. thcmsclvcs within thc rulcs ol a FrccStatc, in an cquability or
modcratccondition,bypcrmitting
a.allthcsc
a6.own
a,.what
a.Rcputationthat
a.Libcrty
c.andacccssolpowcrandgrcatncssions
..cvcr
a.suitingwiththc!ntcrcstolLibcrty
.Antonius
.unworthydcalingisthcnaturallccct
. Esubstitutesthisparagraphfor:8utthcmorclargcdisquisitionol
allthcscthingsisrclcrrdtoabcttcrlcisurcandportunity,thanthisol
a Papcrkitc or Phamphlct, only thus lar ! havc prcsumcd (wcck altcr
wcck)insinccrityolhcart,andinhonortothcFoundcrsolourCom
monwcalth, to makc it appcar how highly thcy dcscrvc ol our Nation
andthcwholcworld,whohavclaidthcFoundationsolFrccdom,upon
that noblc and dcclarcd intcrcst ol a FrccStatc, which consists oncly
inaducandordcrlysucccssionolthcPcoplcsAsscmblics,andwithout
which ! darc say ! havc lully provcd, thcrc can bc no supcrstructurc ol
trucLibcrtyinaNation.ThcrclorchcrcwcmakcancndolourRcasons,
andAnswcrstothcmostmatcrialbjcctions,whicharcnottobctakcn
apart,butcomparcdoncwithoncanothcr,andconsidcrdalltogcthcr,il
youmcantojudgcarightolparticulars.
|MP,.aaApr..6a|
6. E omits: 8clorc wc procccd to any ncw iscours, Lct us havc
Lcavctobringinthatlast,whichshouldhavcbinhandlcdrst,andis
indccdthcvcryFoundationolallthcrcst,towit,Thatthcoriginallolall
justPowcrandGovcrnmcntisinthcPcoplc.
,.upon
.6c
<
AppcndixC
.dcscribcs(asSalmasiusandallthcRoyal!ntcrprctcrswouldhavc
uscbclccvc)but
.wc
c.Right
..thcirlorm
|MP,aaaApr..6a|
a.Havingalrcadyprovcd
.!sracls
.bythcChurchNationallPrctcndcrs
.bringing
6.sancticd,&c.Not
,. My Kingdom is not lrom hcncc, My Kingdom is not ol this
world,&c.
.ccrtain
.whosckingdombcingnotolthisworld,dcpcnds
c. MP reads: rthodox (thcy said) as thcmsclvcs. This tyranny
ol8ishopsbcingrclormcd,thcnourlatcClcrgyRclormcrscaminplay,
who did wcl in banishing Prclacy, but yct rctaind thc old Principlc ol a
distinctpowcrlulbody,andolbcingQuartcrmastcrs&Sharcrswiththc
Civilpowcr,whichhavingobtaincdloralittlctimc,thcybcgantopcrsc
cutcthoscthcycallcd!ndcpcndcnt,bccauscthcycmbraccdPrinciplcsola
purcrnaturcthanthcirs,whichthcybrandcdtoowithrrourandhcrcsic.
!lcar!havcbintoolargc,butcouldnotavoidit,inrcgardyouhavc
not hall my mindc, thcrclorc to concludc, hc that will conscicntiously
and scriously considcr how lrom this spccious prctcncc ol supprcssing
rrorandHcrcsic,allthcscmonstrouscnormiticsdidspring,andhow
thatvcryprctcnccolClcrgymcnshavingworldlypowcrtodclcndtruth,
hath lrom timc to timc bin thc grcat impcdimcnt ol its progrcss and
discovcry(thcirworldlyintcrcstcvcrlyinginthcprcscntcstablishmcnt,)
Andilitbcconsidcrcdlikcwisc
..Civil,oranythinglikcit,must
a.rrorsrcccivcdin
|MP.cc,aApr.6May.6a|
.that
.that
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.6.
.Monarchick
6. E omits: ! should now shcw you also, how that\cnicc it scll is
nomorcbut(asamanmaycallit)amultiplycdMonarchy,aparticular
Scnatc ol mcn (who call thcmsclvcs Nobility) bcing scatcd thcrc in an
hcrcditary, arbitrary, uncontrolablc, unaccountablc statc ol domination
ovcrthatpoorpcoplc.
,.iscvidcntalso
. crcpt into thc Unitcd Provinccs, thc rclicks whcrcol arc not yct
cxtinct,asappcarsbysomchumorsolthcpcoplcthatyoumayobscrvc
thcrc,cvcninthiswccks!ntclligcncc.
Nowwhatuscistobcmadcolthisdiscoursc:nclythis,
.thc!ntcrcstolMonarchymayrcsidcinthchands
6c.barring
|MP.c.,6.May.6a|
6..tobctakcnnoticcol
6a.sharcdallAuthority
6.!ntcrcsts
6.maxim,thatignorancc
6.amongapcoplcsctlcdinaStatcollrccdom
66.Commonwcal
6,.rcigncagain
6.andlcvcllcd
6.Statc,allthcir
,c.Eomits:SomuchalsoolaFrccStatcwcndcpractiscdin\cnicc,
thoughthcbcnctcxtcndonlytothcNobilitythcmsclvcs,andnottothc
pcoplc,lor(aswctoldyouonccbclorcoutoloncolourCountrimcns
| James Ho.ell s| Collcctions) shc puts limitations to thc wcalth ol thc
Scnators, that nonc ol thcm grow ovcrrich, but to such a proportion,
bccauscacccsscolwcalthinclincsmcntohighthoughts,andambitious
attcmpts,anddrawcspcoplcsacctionsaltcrthcm:thcrclorconcolhcr
primcprinciplcsolStatcis,tokccpanyman,thoughncvcrsomcritori
|o|us,lrombcingtoopow|c|rlullandpopular.
,..costthcLowcountrcymcnthcirLibcrty
,a.bccnstrangclyprcvcntcdbyamiraclcolProvidcncc,might
,.olcommand,powcr,andauthority
.6a
<
AppcndixC
,.largcinhcrctolorc,butitmustnotbcomittcdinthisbriclabstract
nowintcndcd,solarasconccrnsalcwmorc!nstanccsloritsconrma
tion.Thc
,.mylian
,6.cst,&c.This
,,.mylian( Ehas:miliam)
,.that!dcs
,.pistlc
c.wcrc
..Eomits:ForthcothcrRulcs,youarcrclcrrdtothcncxt,having
bccntolargchcrcalrcady.
|MP.ca,.acMay.6a|
a. MPbegins:VcchavcnotcdthcthirdcrrorordclaultinPolicy,to
bcakccpingthcpcoplcignorantolthoscwaysandmcansthatarccs
scntiallyncccssarylorthcprcscrvationolthcirLibcrty,andthcrcmcdy
thcrcol wc judgcd to bc a publication ol thosc Rulcs, which havc bccn
practiscdintimcpastbydivcrsNations,lorthckccpingolthcirFrccdom
whcnthcyoncchadgottcnit.Thrccolthoscrulcsyouhadinourlast.
AFourthis,
.onc (Ehas:own)
.isvcrycvidcnt
.Commonwcal
6.StatcinthcRcpublickolthc
,.somctimcswinking
.whcrcas( Ehas:whcrtas)
.tothcpublick
c.Cosmus
..doubtingto
a.Columna
.ccrtainlythatpcoplccouldncvcrhavchadsolaranopportunityas
thcynowcnjoy,(thcCockatriccbcingbutinthcgg)torcducc
.to
. Eomits:ThusthcywcrcscrvcdtoobyhisNcphcwctavius(bct
tcrknownbythcnamcolAugustus)whowasaripcyouth,andbcgan
bctimcs,lorbcingscarccac.ycarsolagc,hcdrcwhisArmyalsotoRomc,
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.6
andscntmcsscngcrstothcScnatctodcmandthcConsulship,butwhcn
thcmcsscngcrssawakindcolslackncssandunwillingncsstomakchim
consul, thcn Cornclius a Ccnturion (onc ol thc mcsscngcrs) told thcm
plainly to thcir laccs, sctting his hand upon thc hilt ol his sword, Hic
faciet,si.osnonfeceritis,!lyouwilnotdoit,thisshall.Vhcnthcysaw
that thcn (thc mcsscngcrs bcing withdrawn) thcy soon agrccd to givc
thcmasatislactoryanswcr.
ThiswasajustpunishmcntuponthcFathcrs,thatthcsamcFrccdom
shouldbctakcnlromthcScnatickpowcr,bysuchkindcolPractiscsas
thcmsclvcshadrstcontrivcd,toovcrthrowthclrccsuragcandauthor
ityolthcpcoplcinthcirAsscmblics.
6.prcscrvc
,.Eomits:MorcolthcscRulcsarcyctbchind.
|MP.c,aca,May.6a|
.Eomits:!nordcrtothcdiscovcryolthoscwaicsandmcans,that
arccsscntiallyncccssarytothcprcscrvationolaCommonwcalinastatc
olFrccdom,wcprocccdinthcscttingdownolsuchRulcsashavcbccn
obscrvcdinpastAgcs,andNations,uponthclikcccasion.Fivchavc
bccnpublishcdalrcady.
.thcirownConscnt
cc.spcciallcarcperplhsin ka gumnasan,
c..bccausc(saithhc)thcCommonwcalisthcirswhohold
ca.attcmptcdscvcrall
c.Commonwcal
c.thcScnatcandpcoplc
c.RivcrRubicon
c6.trajicito(Ealsohas:trajicito)
c,.all,andmarch
c. Commonwcal [In E, the corresponding .ord may or may not be
hyphenated.J
c.Practorian,instcadolapublickpopularMilitia
.c.Tyrant
... E omits: Vcrc \cnicc a Statc, so lrcc as it is callcd, wc might
thcn havc sccn thcm in anothcr posturc ol Militia thcn now thcy arc:
For,thcNobility,asthcgrandsccrctolStatctoupholdthcirownpowcr,
donotintrustthccArmsinthchandsolthcpcoplcbutholdanArmy
.6
<
AppcndixC
cvcrinpay,mixtpartlywithNativcs,partlyForcincrs,whodcpcndoncly
uponthcmsclvcs,bcingcnablcdthcrcbytodowhatthcyplcascwiththc
pcoplc.
!twcrcawondcrtoconsidcr,howthcUnitcdProvinccshavcsolong
kcptthcirLibcrty,thoughthcyhavchcldaconstantArmyinpayundcr
thcconductoloncandthcsamcFamily,didwcnotwithallconsidcr,that
boththcArmyanditsCommandcrwcrccvcrcxcrciscdwithcontinual
actionandncccssity.FornosooncrwasapcaccmadcwiththcSpaniard,
but that Nation immcdiatly lclt, and wc havc obscrvcd thc sad consc
qucnccsthatbclcllthcm.
|MP.c,a,MayJunc.6a|
.a.MPbegins:AScvcnthRulc,csscntiallyncccssarylorthcprcscrva
tionolaCommonwcalinaStatcolFrccdom,isthis,thatChildrcn
..muzlcd
..Eomits:!rcmcmbcradiscourscolavcrysubtilcPolitician [Ma-
chia.elli. InThc Casc ol thc Commonwcalth, .here this passage of MP
also appears, Nedham gi.es his source as the Florentines subtile Discourses
uponLi.yandreferstobk.I,chaps.zoz8,ofthat.ork:Knachel,pp.zzzz:J,
vcry pcrtincnt to our purposc, who shcwing ol what lorcc cducation is
inrcspcctolGovcrnmcnt,comparcssuchashavcbccncducatcdundcra
Monarchy,tothcscbcastswhichhavcbccncagcd,orcooptupallthcir
livcsinacn,whcrcthcysccmtolivcinasmuchplcasurcasothcrbcasts
thatarcabroad:Andilthcyhappcntobclctloosc,yctthcywillrcturn
again, bccausc thcy know not how to usc thcir Libcrty: So strong an
imprcssionismadclikcwiscbycducationandcustomclromthcCradlc,
cvcnuponmcnthatarcinducdwithrcasonablcsouls,thatthcychuscto
livcinplaccsandlormsolGovcrnmcntundcrwhichthcyhavcbccnbrcd,
rathcr thcn to submit to bcttcr which might makc morc lor thcir hap
pincsscandadvantagc.Hcnccitis(aswchavconccobscrvcdbclorc,but
cannotnowomitit)thatthoscpoorslavcsundcrthcTurk,Pcrsian,Tartar,
Muscovit,Russian,FrcnchandSpaniardwithothcrastcrn,Northcrn,
andVcstcrnLords,arcsoinamordolthcirchains,thatthcyadmircthcir
owncondition,bcingbrcdupinit,abovcallothcrs,andlikcthc!ndians,
adorcthccvilthattormcntsthcm,bccauscthcircducationhathmadc
thcmignorantolabcttcrcitytoprotcctthcm.
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.6
Sccingthcrclorc,ducationhathsuchalorccinmoldingmcnsminds
altcrcvcrylorminGovcrnmcntorprolcssion,withoutdoubtthatRulc
isolcxccllcntusc,whichinalltimcshathbccnobscrvcdbythcRulcrs
ol Statcs and Kingdoms, liter educanda est ju.entus in regno; aliter in
optimatum imperio; aliter in populi;Thc cducation ol youth is to bc or
dcrcdoncwayinaKingdom,anothcrwayinthcgovcrnmcntolalcw
grcat oncs, and altcr a dicrcnt manncr lrom all in thc govcrnmcnt ol
thcpcoplc,itbcingvaricdandrcgulatcdaccordingtothcnaturcolcvcry
lorm.
..thisground
.6.callcdthcruidcs
.,.olCommonwcal
.. E omits: How comcs it to passc, that thc Jcsuits havc so rcadily
lurnishcdthcmsclvcswith!nstrumcntsandAgcntslorthccarryingon
olthcirdcsignstothccmbroylmcntolChristcndom,butthatthcyhavc
bccnpcrmittcdtocrcctCollcdgcsandScminaricsincvcryCorncr,whcrc
thcirNoviccsarcsucklcdonclywithsuchdoctrincasmayinablcanddis
poscthcmlorthcruiningolStatcsandKingdoms:sothatwhcthcritbc
toagoodpurposcorabad,yousccallthcccaciclicsinthccducation.
..andundcrsuch
ac.Commonwcal
a..alrccCommonwcal
aa.incvcry!nstitution
|MP.c,.cJunc.6a|
a.Eomits:lthoscRulcsthatarccsscntiallyncccssarylorthcprcs
crvation ol a Commonwcal in a statc ol Frccdom, you havc had scvcn
alrcady.
a.intoaMonarchall
a.conlutcitis,thatthcydoc
a6.bcajust
a,.Commonwcal
a.outolourpastdiscourscs,whicharcnottobcrcpcatcdhcrc:8ut
thcscnsc
a.thatnotablconc
c.andthatis
.66
<
AppcndixC
..Actingsamonghissouldicry
a.uponthcscnatcandPcoplc
.noblc
. MP reads: point ol bchaviour. For, il wc rccct upon thcsc c.
ycars past, wc shall nd how cautious thc Parliamcnts and Pcoplc ol
nglandhavcbccnbclorcthcyprocccdcdtoArms,thcutmostandmost
dcspcratcRcmcdy.
.latcTyrants
6. E substitutes that sentence for:Though all thcscTyrannics ol his
wcrcsucicntlylcltandknown,yctsuchwasthcwisdomandcaution
olournation,lromtimctotimc&ParticularlyolthisParliamcnt,that
thcyuscdallthcwaicsundcrhcavcnbyPctitioning,cclaring,Rcmon
stratingtoGodandman,inhopctorcducchim:andthoughallwould
notdoc,yctnotwithstanding,thatdcspcratcRcmcdyolthcSwordwas
lorborn till altcr hc had rst takcn it up, and that invinciblc ncccssity
didputitintothcirhands,lorthcprcscrvationolThcmsclvcs,withthc
RightsandLibcrticsolthcPcoplc.
,.Commonwcals
.Libcrty.
|MP.c6,.c.,Junc.6a|
.Eomits:AsconccrningthoscRulcsthathavcbccnputinpracticc
hcrctolorcbydivcrsNations,andwhichhavcbythcmbccnrcputcdcs
scntiallyncccssaryloraprcscrvationolthcirFrccdom,wchavcpublishcd
cightalrcady.ThcighthRulcmcntioncdinourlast,was,ThataPcoplc
bcingonccposscsscdolLibcrty,oughttouscitwithmodcration,lcast
itturntoliccntiousncss,whichasitisaTyrannyinitscll,sointhccnd
it usually occasions thc corruption and convcrsion ol a FrccStatc into
a Monarchy. For prcvcntion whcrcol wc gavc onc Caution in our last.
MorcCautionsthcrcarc,which(that!maydrivconthcmaindiscoursc
toapcriod)shallbcsummdupthiswcckinbricl,whcrcbyaPcoplcina
FrccStatcmayundcrstandhowtodcmcanthcmsclvcslorthcavoiding
thoscpcrnitiouscnormiticsolTumult,isscntion,Scdition,&c.chargcd
uponthcmbyKings,Grandccs,andthcirCrcaturcs:
c.or
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.6,
..surcly
a.larthcr
.or
.Commonwcal
.Commonwcal
6.lt
,.Commonwcal
.instanccs
.inthcwholcScricsolaairsinthcRomanStatc
c.hcat
..accusations,andcalumniations
a.andso
.Commonwcal
.callcdSC.Turpilianum
.Commonwcal
6.coursc(Ehas:coursccoursc)
,.lail
.conccrnsapcoplccstablishcdinastatcolFrccdomsotorcgulatc
.Thus
6c. E omits: so that in this casc, that maximc ol our nglish Law
is vcry pcrtincnt, bundans Cautela non nocet.Thcrc can bc no hurt in
cxtraordinarycaution.
|MP.c,,.,aJunc.6a|
6..MPbegins:TouchingthoscRulcsthathavcbccnrcputcdcsscn
tiallyncccssary,andaccordinglyputinpracticcbydivcrsNations,lora
prcscrvationolthcPublickFrccdom,youhavchadightalrcady.
ThcNinthandlastRulcisthis
6a.Eomits:ThiswasTrcasonolthcgrosscstkind.
6.Commonwcal
6.Commonwcal
6.this
66.Cascs,asthcyarccollcctcdandsctlorthbyaCountriman[ James
Ho.ellJolourowninnglish
6,.a.ThcsccondpointolTrcasonis
.6
<
AppcndixC
6.thisCrimc,aut.i.iexurebantur,&c,wcrccithcr
6.Eomits:Andlorthcavoidingolthosc!nconvcnicnccsthatlol
lowadiscovcry,thcyhavcaspcciallcarcin\cnicctokccpallthosccs
pcciallylromthcPricsts,asthcydidinRomclromVomcn.Thclormcr
arc Pcrsons alwaics, and in all Placcs, ol a distinct !ntcrcst lrom thc
Civill, Thc lattcr, by thc naturc ol thcir Scx, not t lor such kindc ol
Communications|.|
,c..!tisTrcason,anddcathwithout
,..hcathcn
,a.Complianccs.Hcnccitis,thatthcPopcsConclavchavccvcrbccn
morchotandtcdiousinthcirdcbatcsanddctcrminations,thananyothcr
Asscmblyolmcninthcworld,For,mostPrinccshavccvcrhcldthcmin
Pcnsion,somconcway,andsomcanothcr.8utin
,.Eomits:Andthatitmayappcarhowcxtrcmcstrictthcyarcinthis
Particular,itcannotbcamisstolctdownhcrcavcrysadstoryconccrn
ingAntonioFoscarinioncolthcscnators,asitwaswrittcnbySirHcnry
Votton [.hose.ords,inRcliquiacVoottonianac (zoz;repr.zo,:,p.c,),
MPlooselyreproducesJ,whobcingAmbassadorat\cnicc,chanccdtobc
thcrcatthatvcrytimcwhcnthcTragcdywasactcd.Thcrcin(saithhc)
inthcPartitionsolthisGovcrnmcntavcryawlullMagistracycntitulcd
Inquisitorydistato,whorccicvcallsccrctaccusationsinmattcrolpractisc
againstthcRcpublick,andthcnrclcrrthcsamc,asthcyscccaus,tothc
Counccl ol Tcn, who arc thc suprcmTribunall in Criminal Cascs.To
thcsc!nquisitorscamctwomcn,andcapitulatcdlorarcwardtodiscovcr
somc Gcntlcmcn, who at unscasonablc timcs, and in disguiscd Forms
didhauntthcHouscsollorcinMinistcrs,inparticularthcynamcdthc
spanishAgcnt,bcinglikclicsttogainalavourablchcaringuponthatsub
jcct.!nthchcadolthcirsccrctlistthcynamcdoncolthcscnatorscallcd
AntonioFoscarini,whobcingolthcscnatcwasthcrcbyrcstraincdupon
painoldcathlromallconlcrcnccwithpublickministcrs,unlcssbyspc
cialpcrmission.AndtogivcsomcColourtothcirdiscovcry,thcydid,bc
sidcsthcirownTcstimonics,allcdgoncGiovan8attista,whoscrvcdthc
alorcsaidSpanishAgcnt,andhad,asthcysaid,acquaintcdthcmwiththc
acccsscs ol such and such Gcntlcmcn unto him. 8ut rst thcy adviscd,
or so thc !nquisitors thought t to procccd against Foscarini, without
cxaminingthcalorcsaidGiovan8attista,lcstitmightcausanoisc,and
thcnpcrhapsthoscothcrthatthcymcanttoaccuscmightcscapc.
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.6
Hcrcupon Foscarini coming lrom thc ncxt sitting ol thc Scnatc at
nightdownthcPalacc,wasbyordcrolthc!nquisitorssuddcnlymucd,
andsomadccloscPrisoncr:Andaltcrusualcxaminations,hisownsinglc
dcnialbcingovcrrulcdbytwoagrccingwitncsscs,hcwasbyscntcnccat
thcCouncclolTcn,aboutltccndaicsaltcrhisapprchcnsionstranglcd
inprison,andthcnhangcdbyonclcgonaGallowsinthcpublickPiazza,
lrombrcakoldaytillSunsct,withallimaginablcCircumstanccsol!n
lamy.8utnotlongaltcritlcllout,thatthcAccusationolthcscmcnwas
loundandbythcmsclvcsconlcsscdtobcadcvilishplotolthcirownto
gctmoncy,sothatthcbusincsswashushtupwiththchangingolthclals
accuscrs, and a cclaration ol thc innoccncc ol poor Foscarini.This is
thcstoryandbyityoumaysccthcscvcrityolthc\cnctiansinthcalorc
namcdparticular.
,.thcir
,.havcbclorcyou
,6.aFrccRcpublick
|MP.c,aJunc.July.6a|
,,.MPbegins:Forrdcrssakc,lctusrunbackalittlc,andscchowour
iscourschangstogcthcr.Thcrstthingwcdispatchcdwastoprovcthc
xccllcncyolaFrccstatcabovcallothcrForms,lorwhichyouhaddivcrs
Rcasons. Altcr this, Answcrs wcrc givcn to divcrs bjcctions comonly
madcagainstthcGovcrnmcntolalrccStatc|.|Ncxt,wccnotcddivcrs
rrorsthathavcbccnrcccivcdinthccourscolChristianPolicy,whcrcol
wcc havc as yct sct down onclyThrcc, and thc third rror is notcd to
havcbccnakccpingthcPcoplcignorantolthoscwaycsandmcansthat
arccsscntiallyncccssarylorthcprcscrvationolthcirLibcrty,thcrcmcdy
wccjudgcdtobcapublicationolthoscRulcswhichhavcbccnpractiscd
in timcs past by divcrs Nations, lor thc kccping ol thcir Frccdom.Thc
ighthRulcwasthatwhichmorccspcciallyrclatcdtothcPcoplcthcm
sclvcsinpointol8chaviour,lorthcducRcgulationwhcrcol,wccdidin
thcncxtplaccsctdownalcwCautions,andaltcrthcmthcNinthand
lastRulcwhichyouhadlastwcck,sothathavingrunthroughallthcsc
Particularsinordcr,wccnaturallyrcvcrtnowtothclormcr
,.our
,.notthcstrict
.,c
<
AppcndixC
c.honcsty
..lcar!bc
a. callcd Rcason ol statc, you had about this timc Twclvcmonth,
Numb.6c [MP:,zJulyzoz,p.,,;LP,p.:zcJ,whichwcctransplant
hithcr,asintoitsmorcpropcrPlacc:
.Thatwhichwagcs
. Esubstitutestheopeningofthisparagraphfor:Thispassagcbcing
takcnnoticcol,andquotcdbyaningcniousGcntlcmanina8ookolhis
inPrint,hcwasplcascdinoppositiontothissandyFoundationolpolicy,
callcdRcasonolStatc,topointoutamorcsurcandNoblcway:
.hc
6.8yActingsorngagcmcnts
,.Eaddsthisparagraph.
.inthcbchall
.Horscsback
c.Harrythcscvcnth
..prosccutc
a. MP reads: sad dcstruction.Yct rcason ol Statc is still thc grand
!dololthcprcscntYoungstcr.!tmadchimrstrcsolvctojoynwiththc
!rish,butthingsnotlallingouttohismindcthcrc,itmadchimwhccl
aboutintoScotland,andturnCovcnantcr.Altcrwards,itmadchimcast
othcCovcnantandCovcnantcrsbothtogcthcr,andthcrclorc,nodoubt
butthcncxtwhcclingwilbctowardsRomc,oranyway,ilrcasonolStatc
rcquircit,thathcmaynishthctransgrcssionsolthcFamily.
!hadthoughttohavctouchcduponthclatcpowcrlullPrcsbytcrian
party in ngland, and our Ncighbours bcyond Sca, thc lormcr having
hadthcCupolvcngcancclldoutinparttothcmalrcady,andtothc
othcritisllingout,bccauscthcyhavcmadcRcasonolStatcthcirGod,
andthcRulcolallthcirActions.8ut!wantRoom,andthcsc
|MP.c,.July.6a|
.occasion,thcrclicsagrandSccrctolLibcrtyandgoodGovcrn
mcnt
.willswcrclaw
.to
6.MPreads:thcScnatc.ThiswasthcmainCaus,lor,thcRapcol
Lucrcccdidbutquickcnthcmtolayholdolanopportunity.Kings
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.,.
,.Standingscnatc
.Commonwcals
.thosc
cc.Councclls
c..lailcr
ca. Eomits:
8ythcconstitutionsolthcKingdomsolPolandand8ohcmia,thcir
grand icts or Parliamcnts havc long cnjoycd thc Lcgislativc powcr,
but thc cxccution ol Law hath bccn lclt in thcir Kings, who wcrc (no
morcthanwhatallKingsshouldbc)mccrcclcctivcoccrsinTrustlor
thatcnd,bywhichmcansPolandkccpsitsLibcrtytothistimcinagood
mcasurc,thoughthcybcgintoloscitcvcrydaybylcttinginFrcnch!n
tcrcsts and humors among thcm. As lor 8ohcmia it is quitc lost thcrc
alrcady, thc mpcror having by lorcc ol Arms turncd both thc Powcrs
intothcChannclolhisownwillandPrcrogativc.8utthisismorcthan
cvcr hc hath bccn ablc to doc at homc, lor, though hc bc thc rst in
dignityamongChristianPrinccs,yctsolimitcdandrcstraincd,thathc
cannotbylawsomuchaswagcwarr,normakcLcvicsolmcnormoncy,
butbyconscntolthcGcrmandictorParliamcnt,sothatthcpowcrol
Lawmakingbcinglodgcdhcrc,andthcxccutionlcltinthcmpcror,
whilstthcscPowcrsrunintwodistinctChanncls,thoscCountricsmay
makcashilttorctainthcirFrccdom.8utilcvcrhcturnthcCoursolonc
olthcmintohisCabinctat\icnna(ashcoltcnhathattcmptcd)andso
botholthcmintoonc,thcnthcrcwillbcancndindccdolthcLibcrtycs
olGcrmany.
c.latcTyrantinngland
c.andhis
c. MPreads:himscllandhislamily.
Now,!supposcwhosocvcrtakcsascriousvicwolthcscinstanccs,and
cxamplcs,willcasilyconcludc,ThatapcrmittingthctwoPowcrsolmaking
andcxccutingLaws,torcstinoncandthcsamchands,hathbccnanotori
ousrrorinPolicic,sinccitappcars,thatthckccpingthcmdistincthath
|MP..c,.July.6a|
c6.!ntcrcsts
c,.loyall
.,a
<
AppcndixC
c.sharcs
c.clcanly
.c.Commonwcal
...domination
.a.dcscrtcd
..in
..Eomits:!tisrcmarkablcalsointhcStatcolFrancc,howpcacc
ably,happily,andordcrlythcirnationwasgovcrncd,solongasthciraairs
wcrcmanagcdinapublickwaybythcthrccstatcs,inthcirsucccssivc
suprcmAsscmblics,asthcirstoricswillinlormyou.Andnosooncrwcrc
thoscAsscmblicslaidasidcbythccraltandpowcrolLcwis..andthc
succccdingKings,andthcpublickaairsandintcrcstsolthcNationin
grosscd by thcm, and thc Princcs ol thc 8loud, and somc lcw ol thcir
Crcaturcsandcpcndants,butthcirpcacc,libcrty,andwcllarcbccamc
lostlorcvcr.For,thatCountrcyhathcvcrsinccbccnthcstagcolbloud,
andapcrpctuallCivillwar,thcpoorpcoplcbcingtostandbandcdtoand
lrotoscrvcthcircndsanddcsigncs,who,asallJuntomcnandGrandccsin
thcworld,howcvcrthcymaysccmtocomply,colloguc,andcogwithonc
anothcrloratimc,inthccarryingonthcircommondcsignolusurpation,
yctnosooncristhcprcybclorcthcm,butthcycvcrlalltocuttingoncan
othcrsthroats(aswcsccinFranccatthisday)lorthcirsharcsinthctyranny.
..MPends:pcrniciousrrorinthcpracticcsolothcrtimcsandNations.
|MP...,.aaJuly.6a|
.6.AScavcnthrrorinPolicy,obscrvablclromthcpractiscsolothcr
timcsandNations,hathbccnthcriving
.,.Commonwcals
..(orrathcr)malicc
..Commonwcal
ac.Eomits:
Vcrcadalso,whathazardthatstatcranmanytimcsbydivisionand
Faction,cxposingthcmsclvcsthcrcbyasaPrcytothcirpublickcncmics.
Thcyrcccivcdthatnotablcdclcatgivcnthcmbythc\cians,whichhad
likctohavccostthcmthclossolthcirCountry,throughthcdivisionsat
thattimcbctwixtlourolthcirchiclCommandcrs.Thatothcrcspcr
atc dclcat which thcy rcccivcd also at Cannac, was occasioncd by thc
SplccnoltwoFactions,thconcbcinghcadcdbyPaulusAcmilius,and
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.,
thcothcrbyTcrcntius\arro,sothatHanibalhcrcbygaincdalairpor
tunity,whichhaditbccnlairlyprosccutcd,hcmightwithcaschavcsct
ancndtothcRomanPowcr,andrcduccdthcirCityundcrthcYoakol
Carthagc.
a..bclcllCarthagcinAltcrtimc
aa.withsuchunanimity
a.disscnsions
a. E omits: !t hath oltcn invitcd thc Spaniard into Francc, but hc
hadncvcrsosurcaFootingasinthcGuisianLcaguc.Atthisdaywcscc,
hcisgottcninagain,uponoccasionolthctwoFactions,bandcdbctwixt
thcCourtandthcPrinccs,whichhathinablcdhimtogivcalairChcck
alrcadytothcgrowinggrcatncsolthcFrcnchMonarchy.
Normustitbclorgottcnwhathazardourownnationhathrunollatc,
throughthcmalicc,lalshood,andFactionolthclatcPrcsbitcrianriv
crs.Hcthatwillrcmcmbcrwhatthcydidinthcycar.6,,,.c.and
..mustnccdsconlcssc,thatgrcathathbccnthcdclivcranccolthisCom
monwcal,andthcmanncrolitalmostincrcdiblc,considcringthcwaics
andmcancswhcrcbywchavcbccnrcscucdoutolthcClawsolthcold
Tyranny,which(throughthcirlactionandlury)wasatthcvcrypointol
rcturninginagainuponus.
a.Commonwcal
|MP..a,aaaJuly.6a|
a6.Anighthrrorobscrvablcinthcpractisc
a,.Christian
a. ! nd it lully cxprcssd in Machiavcl, who as hc hath lclt many
noblcPrinciplcsandobscrvationsuponrccord,indclcnccolthclibcrtyol
thcpcoplc,sowcndinsomcolhis8ooksmanypcrnitioussprinklings,
unworthy ol thc light, and ol him who in othcr things was mastcr ol a
vcrysolidjudgcmcnt,andmostactivcphantsic.8utthcvilcrcason,which
hcgivcswhyStatcsmcnmaybccxcuscdlorthisprodigiouscrimc,isthis,
a.havc
c.thosc
..Carthagc&sucr.
a. E omits: For thc rcst, touching this particular, ! rclcr you to an
othcr timc, this bcing but an introduction to what ! intcnd you in my
ncxt,whcn!shalldcsccndtothcpracticcsollatcrtimcsandNations.
.,
<
AppcndixC
|MP..,aJulyAug..6a|
. Eomits:ThcightrrorinPolicyobscrvablclromthcpracticcol
othcrtimcsandNations,wcnotcdinourlasttobc,AviolationolFaith,
Principlcs, Promiscs and !ngagcmcnts, upon cvcry Turn ol Timc and
Advantagc.An!mpicty(wctoldyou)thatoughttobccxplodcdoutolall
SocicticswhichbcarthcnamcolChristian:andyctwcnditoltcnpass
among thc lcss disccrning sort ol mcn lor admirablc Policy, and thosc
!mpostcrsthatuscit,havchadthclucktobccstccmdthconlyPoliticians.
.andavoidthcm,givcmclcavcalittlcto
.vcrbatimoutolthcnglishTranslation
6.MPreads:
cn~v.xviii.
!nwhatmanncrPrinccsoughttokccpthcirwords.
Howcommcndablc
,. MPends.
|MP,,cct.6Nov..6.|
.Now,sincc
.Uponanyoccasion:Thisindicrcntivcllusuallybcarsthcchar
actcr ol thc honcst pcaccablc man, among thc ordinary sort ol pcoplc:
8utthis
c. Eomits:ManyPrctcnccsmaybcagainstit,manysuppositions
oldangcr,thcsonncsolAnakmaybcsaidtobcinthcway,andthcrc
lorcnocntringintothcpromiscdLand:8uthadsuch8ugbcarsbccn
rcgardcd, had Phlcgmatick rcasonings takcn placc in timc past, thcrc
is a Nation undcr thc Sun (which shall bc namclcss) that had bccn
undonc bclorc now in bcing kcpt lrom ncw moduling ol an Army,
which provcd altcrwards thc most victorious Army that cvcr was in
Christcndom.
..waythcn
:nvvvo:nvvvbi:ovi~is
Thefollo.ingeditorials,.rittenduringtheperiodofthesequencefrom.hich
Thcxccllcncic .asmostlytaken,.ereomittedfromit.
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.,
|MP,.a.Fcb..6a|
ToprovcthcsccondpartolthatRcason,whichwasproduccdinour
last,wcshall(accordingtopromisc)procccd,toshcwthatthcpcrmit
tingolanySort,Rankc,orrdcrolMcn,toassumcuntothcmsclvcs
thcStatcandTitlcolNobility,isaltogcthcrinconvcnicntinaCom
monwcalth,andmustnccdsoccasionmanydangcrousopp|o|rtunitics
ol introducingTyranny into a FrccStatc.Thc principal caus (as was
thcndcclarcd)isthis,inrcgardsuchpcttyTitularTyrantsalwaycsbcara
naturallandimplacablchatrcdagainstthcPcoplc:sothatilatanytimc
it happcn, that any grcat Man or Mcn whatsocvcr arrivc to so much
powcrandcondcnccastothinkolusurping,ortobcinacondition
tobcctcmptcdthcrcunto,thcscarcthcrstwillsctthcmon,minglc
!ntcrcsts with thcm, and bccomc thc primc !nstrumcnts in hcaving
thcm up into thc scat ol Tyranny. And thc main rcason lics in this,
Thatitisthcir!ntcrcstsotodoc,bccauscbcingscatcdinahighcrdc
grccandstationthcnordinaryabovcthcPcoplc,thcywillbccthcnin
thclaircrwayolsatislyingthcirhcrcditaryAppctitcsolCovctousncss,
Pridc,Ambition,andLuxury,andwiththcgrcatcr!mpunitycxcrcisc
andcascthoscpassionsolthcSplccn,whichusuallybrcakoutintoall
cxtrcamcsuponthcPcoplc,lorthcmaintcnanccolthcirLordlyintcr
cstanddignity.
Now lor thc cvidcncing ol thisTruth by cxamplc, thc wholc world
aords varicty in cvcry corncr. !n Grcccc wcc ndc, that in thc island
olCous,inRhodcs,andMcgara(whichwcrcallrccStatcs)thcymight
havcbinalrccPcoplcindccd,hadthcybuttakcncarctoknockothosc
goldcnFcttcrs,whcrcinthcywcrchcldboundbyatitularNobility:For,
thcPcoplcbcingprcstundcrthcm,wcrclorccdoncctodrivcthcmout,
but altcrwards most loolishly lctting thcm in again into thcir lormcr
Statc and rdcr, thcy soon improvcd thcir Rcturn to an undcrmining,
andanuttcrcxtinctionolthcPcoplcsFrccdom.Vcrcadtoothatinthc
lrccStatc ol thc Argivcs, thc standing titular Nobility would ncvcr bc
atrcst,butalwaysbroachingoncdcsignorothcr,andatlcngththcStatc
having occasion ol war against thc Laccdcmonians, did vcry loolishly
intrustmanyolthoscNoblcswithCommandsinthcArmy:8utwhat
lollowcd,thcwarbcingovcr,andthcybythismcansgottcnintoArms,
immcdiatclymadcuscolthcprcscntopportunitytoattcmptthcruinol
thcPcoplcsLibcrty,andthcRcpublick.ThcinnatcTrcachcryinthcsamc
ordcrolmcnwasthcruinolthcSyracusanFrccdomctoo,For,thcyncvcr
.,6
<
AppcndixC
lcltpcckingatthcpoorpcoplc,tilthcywcrcrcduccdtosuchcxtrcmity,
that thcy wcrc lorccd to put morc powcr into thc hands ol ionysius
than cvcr thcy could gct back again, which provcd an occasion lor his
introducinganabsolutcTyranny,whcrcinallthcNobilitythatlormcrly
hadbccnhisncmics,didsidcwithhim,altcrhccwasonccscatcd,bc
causcthcysawthcirownintcrcstprovidcdlorbyhiscstablishmcntina
Tyranny.!nthc!slcalsoolCorcyrathcyncvcrlclt,tillthcybroughtthat
Statctothcutmosthazard,atwhichtimcthatlrccandgcncrousPcoplc
madcashilttosurprizcthcminthcirdcsign,andgivcthcmthcbloody
rcward ol thcirTrcason. !n Athcns, thcy dcstroyd that gcncrous Frcc
Statc, rst undcr thcir a a, by ingrossing all powcr
intothchandsolthcirownrdcr,whichwasaltcrwardsusurptbythirty
ol thcir lcllows, and whcn thatTyranny could hold no longcr, thcn in
proccssoltimcthcycrcctcdancwonc,callcd,thccccnnall
Govcrnors, which swaycd all, lor Tcn ycars, and with no lcss Tyranny
than thc lormcr, bccausc thcy had an !ntcrcst distinct, bcing ol a rank
SupcriortothcPcoplc.!nHcraclcalikcwiscitisvcrymcmorablc,that
thcGrcatoncswcrcthcmcnthatdrovcoutthcTyrantClcarchus,but
withan!ntcnt(itsccms)tosctupthcmsclvcsinhisTyranny,whcrcinthc
PcoplcprcvcntingthcmbymakingthcStatclrcc,thcywcrcsoimpaticnt
olthcPcoplcslrccdom,thatrathcrthansucritthcycallcdhomcthc
Tyrantagainc,whichncvcrthclcssturndaltcrwardstothcdcstructionol
thcirowncpcrsons,thoughnotolthcir!ntcrcstandFamilics.
From Grcccc lct us travcll to Romc, whcrc altcr thc cxpulsion ol
Kingly Tyranny, a ncw onc was substitutcd in its placc by pcrmitting
thoscthatcallcdthcmsclvcsthcNobility,toarrogatcallauthorityunto
thcmsclvcs.Thiswroughtsodisastrousanccct,thatthcpcoplcallowing
olastandingTitularrdcrolNobility,soonlostallothcrcnjoymcnts,
aswcllasthcirLibcrty,lor,thoscgrandTituladocsmadcitthcirbusi
ncss cvcry way to vcx and kccp thcm undcr, insomuch that thcy wcrc
lorccdintocontinuallmutinicslorrcmcdy,oncwhilcagainstthcusury
andcxactionolthcirNoblcs,anothcrwhilclorLand,&somctimcslor
8rcad,somctimcsalsolorlibcrtyolMarriagc,andlastlylorthclibcrty
olthcwholcStatc,whcnthcyprocurcdthcTribuncsandlrccSuragcs,
withpowcrolclcctingandcallingthcirsuprcmcAsscmblics,butyctlor
allthis,thcycouldncvcrcnjoyanythinginquict,butthatthcywcrcstill
plagucdwiththcsubtilticsandcncroachmcntsolthcirNoblcs,allalong,
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.,,
lrombclorcAppiusClaudius,butcspcciallythcn,andaltcrwardsdownc
toCacsar,yca,andaltcrhimtoo,tilthcmcmoryolthcRomanlibcrty
was buricd in an odiousTyranny, which was crcctcd rst by lorcc, but
altcrwardscstablishcdbythcTrcachcryandcomplianccolthcNobility
inthcScnatc.
ForModcrn!nstanccs,thctrutholthishathbccnalwaycscvidcntin
thcRcpublickolGcnoa,whcrcthcPcoplccouldncvcrbcquictnorsc
curc,tillthcypulddownthcpridcolthoschcrcditarypcttyTyrantsthat
wcrc among thcm, and opcncd thc Scnatc dorcs to thc lrcc Suragcs
ol thc Pcoplc in thc clcction ol thcir ukc, cvcn out ol thcmsclvcs (il
thcyplcascd)andinallothcraairsolconccrnmcnt.8utthcCascislar
othcrwisc in \cnicc, whcrc thc Pcoplc arc not in any capacity to clcct,
orbcclcctcdtothcukcdom,noranyothcrccolignity.8utall
ccrsandaairsolStatcandAuthorityarcimbczlcdinthcScnatc,by
anhcrcditaryTitularNobility,lorwhichcaus,thoughthcStatcbccallcd
Frcc,yctilyouplcasctoproportionyourJudgcmcntbythcSchcmcsol
trucPolicy,youwillndcithathnotsomuchasalaccolFrccdom,nor
somuchasthcFormcolarcallRcpublick,asthcpcoplchavccvcrlound
inallthcirTcrritoricsbysadcxpcricncc.
And that you may Pcrccivc what an !nconsistcncy thcrc is bctwccn
LibcrtyandthoscTitulartoycs,itisvcryobscrvablc,thatinmanyParts
olthcworldthcyhavcbccnthconlyobstaclcstoFrccdom,witncssthc
Countrics ol Latium, Acmilia, Flaminia, !nsubria, Milain, Sicily, and
Naplcs,inallwhichPlaccsthcmultitudcolTitularPowcrsanddignitics,
hath bccn thc only causc whcrclorc thc Pcoplc havc cvcr had so much
dicultytoattain,orprcscrvcthcmsclvcsinthcstatcolaRcpublick,and
inNaplcsnow,wcsccitisthcSpaniardspolicytoupholdaninnumcr
ablclricolHcrcditaryNobility,lorthcmorcsurcbridlingolthcPcoplc,
whichcourswastakcnalsobythcMcdiccanlamily,rsttowcakcnthc
Pcop|l|cs!ntcrcst,thcntobanishit,andcvcrsincctocxtinguishthcvcry
hopc ol Libcrty, in thosc quondamlrcc statcs ol Florcncc, Sicna, and
Luca,asthcPcoplc,andothcrPrinccshavcdoninthcrcstol!taly.
!nFranccalso,thcywcrcmain!nstrumcntsinthclossolthatNations
Libcrty:For,itsohapncd,thatwhcnthcmostpartolFranccwasposscst
bythcnglish,thcrcwasancccssitytodiscontinucthcAsscmblyolthc
.statcs,whichwasthc8ulwarkolthcFrcnchLibcrty,andtoputan
absolutcpowcrintothchandsolCharlsthc,thduringthcwar,which
.,
<
AppcndixC
Lcwisthcclcvcnth,havingamindctocontinucinhisownhandsaltcr
thcwarwasdon,tookcarctoobligcthcnobilityuntohimscllcbylargc
!mmunitics,sothatthcywcrccasilydrawntobctraythcPcoplcsLibcr
tics, and lcavc thcm to thc mcrcy ol thc King, sincc whcn an absolutc
Tyrannyhathbccncontinucdthcrctothisvcryday,whcrcinthcnobility
havingasharcallowcdjoynissuccvcrwiththcKing,toamiscrablcin
slavingolthcpoorPcoplc.
VcknowthcCaschathbccnthcsamchcrcwithustooinngland,
allalongsinccthcConqucst,andinHolland,itmaybcobscrvcdasonc
principallCauscolthcirlongsubsistcnccagainstthcSpaniard,thatthc
mainauthorityhathbccnrcscrvcdinthcpcoplcshands,andnotmuch
allottcdtothcNobility,sothatthcyhavcbccnthclcssconsidcrabl|c|lor
ccctinganydcsigncagainstthcpublickLibcrty,thcirpowcrbcingsmall,
and thcy but lcw in numbcr. 8ut thc Switzcrs took a surcr coursc lor
thcprcscrvationolthcirLibcrty,andbanishdthcm,whichhadthcynot
donc,ithadbccnalmostimpossiblclorthcm(asthingsthcnstood)to
standagainstthatshockolFurywhcrcwiththcywcrcassailcdoncvcry
sidc,bythcFrcnch,8urgundian,andAustrianTyrants.
Now,whatwchavchcrcsaidolaTitularNobility,cxtcndslikcwiscto
allHcrcditaryorStandingPowcrswhatsocvcr,bccauscthcyarcinccct
cquivalcnt,andhavcthcsamcinucnccsandintcrcststothcprcjudicc
olFrccdom,bcingconccrncdtoprcscrvcthcmsclvcsinaStationabovc
thcordinarystandardolthcPcoplc,andthcrclorcarcnaturallyinclincd
tosidcanyway(asthcysccoccasion)withanypowcrlulpcrsonswhatso
cvcrthatarcablctograticthcminthcincrcascolthcirLordly!ntcrcst
anddomination.Andthcrclorc,lromallthcsc!nstanccsandxamplcs,
aswcmaycasilyconcludcourPosition,thataTitularNobility,orHc
rcditary Powcrs, arc not only inconvcnicnt, but altogcthcr inconsistcnt
with a Commonwcalth, bccausc ol thcir implacablc animosity, and
natural compliancc with any Powcr against thc Pcoplcs !ntcrcst, so it
cannotbutmakcmightilylorthchonourolallFoundcrsolFrccStatcs,
thathavcorshallprovidclorthcPcoplcs!ntcrcst,andblockupthcway
against Tyranny, in kccping a duc proportion, cquability, or harmony
ol condition among all thc Mcmbcrs, by placing thc Authority in thc
Pcoplcshands,thatis,inaducandordcrlysucccssionolthcirSuprcam
Asscmblics.
McrcuriusPoliticus
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|MPc,.a6Fcb..6a|
ThataFrccStatc,orGovcrnmcntbythcPcoplc,sctlcdinaducand
ordcrlysucccssionolthcirsuprcmAsscmblics,ismorccxccllcntthanany
othcrlorm,wcshallmorcclcarlyvidcnccbyRcason.
A.thRcasonis,bccauscallncwAcquisitionsinthislorm,madcby
Conqucsttcndnotonlytothccasc&bcnctolthcPcoplcThcmsclvcs,
butalsotothccontcntolthcconqucrdParty,whcrcasundcrMonarchs
andGrandccsithathbccncvcrsccnthatinsuchcascsthcyarrogatcall
untothcmsclvcs,andtakcAdvantagcbycvcryncwConqucst,lorthcin
slavingolallthcrcstthatarcundcrthcirPowcr.ForinStorywcscldom
ndthcmuponTcrmsol!ndulgcncctothcirSubjccts,nordothcyusc
tonaturalisc,incorporatcorimbodythcmintoannjoymcntolthcsamc
Privilcgcs with thcir Nativcs, but rathcr usc thc onc as !nstrumcnts to
opprcssthcothcr,andinthccndtodcprivcthcmallolthcir!mmunitics.
8utinStatcsgovcrncdbythcPcoplc,thccascismuchothcrwisc,lor
thcycvcrdcalcmorcnoblywiththcirNcighborsuponthclikcoccasion,
admitingthcmintoaparticipationolthcsamcLibcrticsandPrivilcgcs
with thcmsclvcs, by which mcans thcy hold thcm thc morc Fast in thc
bondsolacctionandobcdicncc.Aslorxamplc,inallthclrccStatcs ol
Grccccthcycvcrdidso,cxccptonlyinSparta,whobcinggovcrncdbya
standingscnatccrrcdinthisPointolStatcsolarastodcnican!ncorpo
ration,notonlytothcirconqucrdNcighbors,butcvcntoallthcPclopc
ncsiansthatwcrcthcirConlcdcratcsandAssociats:8utwhatlollowcd:
nothingbutlossand\cxation,lorwithinalcwycars,uponthcrstocca
siongivcn,whichwasnomorcthanaSuprisallolthcCastlcolThcbcsby
ccrtain dcspcratc Conspirators, thcrc cnsucd immcdiatly a gcncrall Rc
volt&dclcctionolallthcirncighborsandAssociats,whichwasthcruin
olthcirstatc,ncvcraltcrtobcrccovcrcdbyanyArtor!ndustry:Nowthc
Athcnianstookanothcrcoursduringthctimcthatthcywcrcundcrthc
govcrnmcnt ol thc Pcoplc, lor, by naturalising and incorporating thosc
thatwcrcconqucrdbythcm,orconlcdcratcdwiththcm,&lcttingthcm
partakc ol thc samc Libcrty withThcmsclvcs, thcy wcrc bound so last,
bcinginvolvcdinthcsamc!ntcrcst,thatthcystuckcloscinthcmidstol
allstorms,&ncvcrincht,whcnthcpoorAthcnianswcrcassailcdbythc
unitcdPowcrs,olthcLaccdcmonianandPcrsianForccs.
.c
<
AppcndixC
!l wc obscrvc thc actions ol King Philip thc Maccdonian, wc nd
thataltcrhchadgotlootinginGrcccc,rstbyconlcdcracy,andaltcrby
Conqucst,hc,instcadolindulgingthcPcoplcaltcrthclorcmcntioncd
manncrtookawaythciroldLibcrticsandallowcdthcmnoncwoncs,but
altcrhccrushtoncCommonwcal,madcuscolittosupprcssanothcrtill
inthccndhavingmastcrdthcmall,hcimprovcdhisConqucstsabroad
toanincrcascolTyrannyboththcrc&athomc,&lcltbothhisold&
ncw Subjccts lul ol discontcnt, and dissatislaction. 8ut what was thc
Conscqucncc:StorywilltcllyouthcPcoplcncvcrlorgotit,butwaitcd
loranopportunity,andaltcrthcdcatholhissonAlcxandcr,havingalair
onctobcrcvcngcd,thcywcrcthcrstthatcastothcFamilyolPhilip,
andsubmittcdtoCassandcr,whcnhcandhisFcllowCaptainssharcd
thcirMastcrsConqucstsbctwccnthcm.
!noldRomc,aslongasLibcrtywasinlashion,itwasthcirconstant
customtoadmitsuchasthcyconqucrdintothcPrivilcdgcsolthcirCity,
making thcm lrcc cniscns. Thc rst !nstancc ! shall givc is ol that
mcmorablcunionwhichwasmadcbctwccnthcmandthcLatins,which
continucdalongtimc,tillsomcqucstionarisingbctwccnthcRomans,
andthcm,andsomcothcrolthc!ncorporatcdNations,aboutthisvcry
point ol !ncorporation, it occasioncd that Var which was callcd Bel-
lum Sociale, bcing thc most bloudy and pcrnicious Var that cvcr thc
RomanStatccndurcd,whcrcinaltcrinnit8attcls,Sicgcs,andsurpriscs
olTowns,thcRomanswithmuchadomadcashilttoprcvail,andmastcr
thcLatins:8utthcnlookingback,andconsidcringintowhatpcrdition
andconlusionthcyhadlikctohavcbccnbrought,thcynaturaliscdthcm
all,andconrmcdthcir!ncorporation,asthconlymcanstocxtinguish
thcsccdsolluturccnmitylorcvcr.
Thus also saith Ciccro, Oc. .. did our Anccstors, and lor thc samc
causc,rcccivcthcTuscuans,thcAcquans,thc\olsci,thcHcrnicini,and
thc Sabins, into a participation ol thc privilcdgcs ol thcir City, as suc
cccdingTimcsdidothcrsaltcrwordsthatwcrcwillingtoimbraccthcm,
at Carthaginem, . Numantiam funditus sustulerunt, but as lor such as
rcluscd, or scorncd thc Favor, and by an implacability ol spirit rcndrcd
thcmsclvcsincapablcolit,thoscthcyuttcrlyopprcstordcstroycd,asthcy
didinCarthagcandNumantia.Thiscourscolindulgcnccwascvcrprac
tiscd(wcobscrvc)inthcRomanStatc,cvcnundcrKings,andalsoundcr
thcir standing Scnatc, so long as thosc For|cc|s wcrc in thcir !nlancy,
andkcpthoncstthroughncccssity,butinashorttimcincrcasingthcir
McrcuriusPoliticus
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ominionabroad,thcysoonlorgottopropagatcthc!ntcrcstolLibcrty,
butmadcuscolthcirgrowingConqucstsonlytohcightcnthcirPowcrat
homc,uptoaTyrannyovcrthcirownpcoplc,andtoaninslavingolthc
world,asiscvidcntinthccontinucdpractiscsolthcScnators,andthcir
Licutcnants in thc Provinccs. S|ti|ll, as that Statc lost its Libcrty, rst
undcrthcstandingFormolScnators,andaltcrwardsundcrmpcrours,
soallncwConqucstsandAcquisitionsscrvcdonlytobringinPcoplc,to
scrvcaslcwcllorthcCovctousncssandLuxuryolparticularpcrsons,and
tollthcworldwithCombustionandmiscry.
Thcrcwas,inthcsclattcrdays,atimcin!taly,whcnallConqucrors
madcnoothcruscolthcirCounqucsts,thantomaintainthccommon
!ntcrcst ol Libcrty, as Castuccio ol Luca, and Sodcrino ol Florcncc,
with othcrs, till Cacsar 8orgia in Romania, and thc Mcdiccan Family
inFlorcncc,sctthc!talianCommandcrstolcarnancwL|c|sson,which
way to improvc thcir ncw Conqucsts, by grandising and garbing many
pcttyStatcsintoalormalTyranny,withoutanyallowanccolPrivilcdgc,
morc than what dcpcndcd upon thcir own particular lavor, to thosc
whomthcysubducdandconqucrcd:Thcccctolwhichhathbccnonly
this,thatallthcncwAcqucstsol8orgiasooncamctonothing,andwhilc
hcposscstthcmthcywcrcvcryunccrtain,AndaslorthcMcdiccans,it
waslongcrcthcycouldsitcasicinthcsaddlc,byrcasonolthclrcqucnt
RcvoltsolthcFlorcntincs.!tisobscrvcdtoo,thatthcCityolPisahaving
bccn unitcd to thc Statc ol Florcncc, thc Grandccs thcrc not concciv
ingitwouldbclorthcir!ntcrcst,tonaturaliscorallowthcmthcbcnct
ol !ncorporation, thc Pcoplc thcrcupon bcing littlc satiscd with thcir
condition,diduponthcsightolForcinAssistancc,bythcxpcditionol
CharlsthcolFranccinto!taly,immcdiatclyrcvolt.
!n\cnicc,whcrcthcPowcrislodgcdinastandingScnat,thcrcislittlc
olLibcrtylcltwhcrcwithtoindulgcthcirown,orothcrpcoplc,sothatil
thcychanccatanytimctomakcaConqucstolanyPlacc,thcPcoplcnot
bcingobligcduponthcScorcolCommonLibcrty,takcsolittlccontcnt,
thatthcycithcrrcvolt,oryicldupthcmsclvcs,uponthcrstoportuinity.
!nSpain,thcrcisindccdamutuallincorporationolLcon,Castil,\al
cntia,Andaluzia,andGranada,butthisisnotdoncuponthcAccountol
propagatingLibcrty,butrathcroutoldcsignctoholdthcmtogcthcr,that
thcKingmaybcthcbcttcrinablcdtodominccr,andmaintainanabso
lutcpowcrovcrthcdividcdparcclsolhisncwConqucstsupanddownin
Milain,Sicily,Naplcs,andhisncw!nhcritanccinthclowCountrics,so
.a
<
AppcndixC
thatilcvcrthoscStatcsndcanoportunity,thcywillsoonbidhimlar
wcll,andlollowthcxamplcolPortugallandCatalonia.Arragonmay
altcrthcmtoointimc,lorthcsamccausc,bccauscthcArragoniansarc
notonlydcspoilcdolthciroldlamousLibcrtics,buttotallydisobligcd,
notbcinggraticdwiththcbcnctolan!ncorporation.
!nFranccitwasnotthcActolthcirKings,butolthcAsscmblyol
thcthrccstatcsolthcPcoplc,thatthcrcwasan!ncorporationolthosc
Conqucstsmadcin8ritany,Normandy,Guicn,Aquitain,and8urgundy.
Thc Suprcam powcr in thosc days, was dcpositcd in thc hands ol thc
PcoplcinthatAsscmbly,thcKingwasthcnbutaCiphcr,orothcrwiscit
wouldhardlyhavcbccnccctcd,itbcingthcrcputcd!ntcrcstolKings,
whcrcsocvcrthcyhavcthcpowcr,tostraitcn,andnotinlargcthc!mmu
niticsolsuchasarcrcduccdundcrthcirbcdicncc.
!nnglanditwasalongtimccrcourKingswouldycildtoan!ncor
poratingolValcs.dwardthcrst,havingcxtinguishtthcLincolthc
Princcss, and uttcrly subducd thc Nation, did indccd givc thcm lcavc
to scnd cputics to our Parliamcnts, who had libcrty ol \oting thcrc,
yctonlyinordcrtothc!ntcrcstsolthcirownCountrcy,butthisdidno
good,lor,aslongasthcywcrcabridgcdinadistinctwayol\otingthcrc,
it put thcm still in mindc, that oncc thcy wcrc a distinct Nation, and
thcrclorcthcywcrcncvcrquict,butcvcrandanonbrcakingout,tillaltcr
longcxpcricnc|c|olthcmanyinconvcnicnccshapningthcrcby,itwasat
lastthoughttbyHcnrythc.totakcawayallmarksoldistinctionby
!ncorporatingthcmwithngland,sinccwhichtimcthcyhavccvcrbccn
quict, bcing brought undcr thc samc Laws, and madc partakcrs ol thc
samcLibcrticsandimmuniticswiththcnglishNation.
AndasthcincorporatingolthatPcoplcwasncglcctcdbydwardthc
rst,sohcncglcctcditalsoinScotland,altcrhisConqucststhcrc,whcrc
(accordingtothcCustomolallMonarchsandstandingPowcrs)sccking
torulcrathcrwithaRodol!ron,thanaGoldcnSccptcr,andtakingno
coursctoobligcoraltcrthcdispositionolthcPcoplc,byan!ncorpora
tionwithus,oranyothcrway,thcconscqucnccwas,thatallthctimchc
hcld thcm (which was but short) thcy put him to a pcrpctual cxpcncc
andtroublcbycontinual!nsurrcctions,andaltcrwardstakinganoccasion
ol\crtucbyhissondwards!nrmity,thcysooncastoallRcspccts
and obcdicncc to thc nglish! might inlargc (wcrc ! not too largc
alrcady)toshcw,thatallstandingPowcrs(whcthcrMonarchsorothcrs)
arcsolarlrompropagating,thatthcycvcrmakcitthcirstudictoobstruct
McrcuriusPoliticus
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thccommon!ntcrcstolLibcrty,uponncwAcquisitionsolPowcr,aswcll
asallothcroccasions,which!nconvcnicnccbcingprovidcdlor,andthc
commoncauscolLibcrtycvcrpromotcdbythcPcoplcinthcirGovcrn
mcnt,by!ndulgcncctoothcrNations,uponthcsamcopportunity,must
nccds concludc it, as in all othcr Particulars, so likcwisc in this, much
morccxccllcntth|an|an|y|othcrFormwhatsocvcr.
|MP..,.aAug..6a|
!AmnowcomctosctaPcriodtothisiscoursc,thcNinthandlast
rror in Policic, obscrvablc lrom thc Practisc ol mostTimcs and Na
tions,hathbccnthcpcrsccutingandpunishingolmcnlorthciropinions
inRcligion.
Thisrrorisgroundcduponanothcr,asscrtcdinaltimcsbythcFu
rious drivcrs ol thc Clcrgy, undcr cvcry transition and Rcvolution ol
outwardForms,viz|.|,thatthcrcoughttobcancstablishmcntolsomc
ccrtain chicl hcads, Articlcs, and Principlcs ol Faith, as Fundamcntall
and rthodox, which all mcn must bc bound to hold and bclccvc, or
cls incurr thc Ccnsurc ol Hcrcticks, Scctarians, and Schismaticks, &c.
ThisPosition(!say)undcrwhatdisguiscsocvcritcomc,withwhatcvcr
Prctcnccsitbcclothcd,orbywhatPcrsonssocvcritbcowncd,is ipsa
Fatioformalis,thcvcrySpiritandPrinciplcolthcPopcandAntichrist,
!thathbccnthcdamolthatwhitccvillcallcdccclcsiasticallPolitic,
orNationallUnilormity,adcviccsubscrvicnttothatinvctcratcdProjcct
ol Nationall Churchcs, which is in a word thc !ntcrcst, not ol Christ,
butthcClcrgy,lorthcscrrorsdcpcndupononcanothcr,asLinksol
thcsamcChainoldarkncss,whichhithcrtohathshacklcdTruthinits
progrcss,boundupallthcChristianworldinignorancc,andhindcrdthc
propagationolthcGospcl,initsmorcgloriousdcgrccsanddiscovcrics
olLight,lilc,andPowcr.
This unrcasonablc Position was it which sct on thc dg ol Papall
FuryandpcrsccutionagainstthatlightwhichbrakcoutamongthcAl
bingcnscs and Valdcnscs in Francc, against that also which was pro
lcsscd by thc Hussitcs, thc Vicklcvists, thc Luthcrans and Protcstants
in Gcrmany and ngland, who all succcssivcly rcccivcd thc 8rands
ol Hcrcticks and schismaticks, bcing dclivcrd up to rc and dcstruc
tion,bccauscthcyhcldlorthgrcatcrmcasurcsolTructh,thanwouldt
thcsizcolthatstatcRcligionwhichwascstablishcdinthcirrcspcctivc
.
<
AppcndixC
Countrics.AndwhcnallothcrFormshadlullldthcirPcriodsolom
ination,andlaiddown,thcnatlastthcPrcsbytcrycamcinPlay,andtook
upthcCudgcls,layingaboutthcmwithasmuchFuryasanyolthcirPrc
dcccssors,sothatyousccthisPapallSpiritandPrincipallhathrundown
throughallthcscTimcsandForms,sinccthcvcryrstdawningsolRcl
ormation,tothcgrcat!mpcdimcntolthcGospcl.Andtruly,itwcrcto
bcwishcd,thisSpiritmightbcatastandinthislastlormolPrcsbytcry,
andnotwinditscllintoanyothcrmorcrcncd.For,asaGodlyPrcachcr
saithinanpistlctoaprintcdscrmonolhis,whichhcprcachcdtothc
Parliamcnt,onNovcmb..6.| PeterSterry,nglandsclivcrancclrom
thcNorthcrnPrcsbytcry(London,zo:).Untilthenalparagraph,therest
of this editorial reproduces material from the epistle dedicatory, .ith minor
abbre.iationsandadjustments,andpp.8z8ofSterrystext.|!havcdcsircd
inmyPraycrstoworkwithGod,cvcnlorthcopcningolthccicsolmcn
toscc,thatthcsamcspiritwhichlayinthcpollutcd8cdolPapacy,may
mcctthcminthcpcrlumcdbcdolPrcsbytcry,thatthcFornicationsand
sorccricsolthiswhorcarcthcngrcatcstwhcnthcyarcmostMystcrious,
thatshcisablcbyhcrSorccricstobcwitchthoscthathavcattcincdtoa
grcatdcgrccolSpirituality,asthcGalatians.Tothispurposchavc!rcp
rcscntcdthcsamcspirit,whichdwcllsinthcPapacywhcnitcntcrsinto
thcpurcrFormolPrcsbytcry,aslullcrolmystcry,solullcrolcspight,
oldangcr,nottomakcthcFormorPcrsons,butthatPrinciplc,thatSpirit
unttobcchcrishtbyanyPcrsoninanyForm.ThchighcstGodlincsscs,
andthchighcstwickcdncsscs,arcthoscwhicharcmostSpirituall.
!nhisscrmonhcprocccdsthus,mostcxccllcntly.!prolcssnotatall
tospcakagainstthcFormolPrcsbytcry,ilconsidcrdinitssimplicity,as
away,andordcr,inwhichsaintshavcCommunionwithGod,andcach
withothcr,accordingtothcirprcscntlight,asitkisscsthcgoldcnsccptrc
ol thc spirit, submitting, and subordinating it scll to thc Rulc ol that
spirit, bcing dcsirous ol no morc, no othcr powcr, authority, or cstccm,
than what thc spirit shall put lorth upon it, by putting lorth it scll in
it.Muchlcsscwould!gricvcorcastcontcmptuponanylittlconc,that
walksinthatFormwithhumilityand!ntcgrity:bclicvingthatsoitought
toworshipGod.8utthatPrcsbytcrywhich!comparcwiththcPapacy,is
suchasappropriatcthtothcutwardlormc,thoscthingswhichpcrtain
onclytothcPowcrolthcSpirit:suchasbyvcrtucolanutwardChurch
lormc,assumcsaSpirituallandCivillpowcrtoitscll,suchasoutolthc
McrcuriusPoliticus
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Goldcncupolagloriousprolcssion,makcsitscllcdrunkwiththcwinc
ol Fornications with arthly powcrs and !ntcrcsts: such as takcs to it
scllthc!ronMaccolcshlylorccandlury,tobrcakinpicccsatplcasurc,
Commonwclths, Crowncs, Conscicnccs, statcs, and Hcarts ol mcn.
ThisisthatPrcsbytcry,onwhichthoscncmics,whomthcLordhath
lastolallsubducdbclorcyou,hadloundcd,andbuiltupthat!ntcrcstand
Strcngth,bywhichthcyopposcdthcGloriousoutgoingsolGodbclorc
you,andcndcavourcdyourRuin.Thisisthat,which!callthcScotch
Prcsbytcry,andnowcomparcwiththcRomishPapacy.
.. Thc Comparison is rst to bc madc in thosc things which ! call
Agrccmcntsbctwccnthcm,andthcscarcSix.
..Agrccm.8othjoinscttingupthcScripturcsthcVordolGodout
wardlycxprcst,asthcLcttcrolthatLaw,bywhichallthingsolChris
tianity and Rcligion arc to bc judgcd. So Scotus himscll tcachcth in
his Prclacc to his isputcs upon thc scntcnccs, that Rcligion must bc
groundcd upon a Rcvclation. !n this, not only thc RomishPapist, and
ScotchPrcsbytcr,butallwhoprctcndwithanylacctoanythingolGod
orChrist,doconcurrc.8utthcrcarctwothingsinaRcvclation.Thcrcis
LcxRcvclata:andLumcnRcvclationis,thatisthcLawRcvcalcd,andthc
LightolRcvclation.ncisthcSubjcct,orMattcr:butthcothcristhc
Form,thcLilc,thcsscnccolaRcvclation.Nowthcsctwoparticsmcct
inthis,tomagnicthcrstolthcsc,thcLawRcvcalcd.Thisthcymakc
thcloundationolthcirThronc,thcSccptcrolthcirGovcrnmcnt,which
astakcnsinglybyitscllcisbutabrcathlcsscCarkassc,oracadLcttcr.
Hcrcin a Living Mcmbcr ol Jcsus Christ is in this point distinguishcd
lrom all othcrs, Hc rcccivcth, owncs, bowcs down to thc Law rcvcalcd
uponthisaccount,bccauscitcomcsdownlromHcavcnintohishcartin
aLightolivincRcvclation.
a.Agrccmcnt.Thcsctwoolwhomwcspcak,do8othasscrtavisiblc
Judgconarth,uponwhomallParticularPcrsonsarctodcpcndlorthc
ctcrminingolthosctwoGrandQucstions,First,whatisscripturc,Scc
ondly,whatthcscnscolthatScripturcis.ThcRomanistssay,Thatthis
Judgc is thc Popc, or an ccumcnical Counccll.Thc Scotch Prcsbytcr
isloraNationallAsscmbly,orrathcranccumcnicallAsscmbly,ilthc
Civil Govcrnmcnt would bcar it.This Prcsbytcr condcmncs thc Papist
justlybccauschcsucrcthnotthcPcoplctorcadthcScripturcs,inthcir
ownTongu|c|.8utwhoartthou,man,whocondcmncstanothcr,and
.6
<
AppcndixC
dostthyscllthcsamcthing,whilcthoulorbiddcstprivatcpcrsonstorcad
thcScripturcswiththcirowncys:ThouconncstthcmtoSpcctaclcsol
thcAsscmblicsmaking,whilcthoupcrmittcstthcrcading,butprohibit
cstthcintcrprctingolthcScripturcsaccordingtothatscnsc,whichthc
holySpiritbringslorthtocvcrymaninhisownspirit,ilitbcnotstampt
lorcurrantbythcspiritolthcGcncrallAsscmbly.Vhydostthoujudgc
thcPapistlorcxaltingunwrittcnTraditionstoancquallAuthoritywith
thcScripturcs,whcnthywaymakcththcScripturcitscllcinthclcttcr
andmcaningolit,aTraditionolthcldcrs.
. Agrccmcnt. 8oth thcsc Sccts havc a vcry grcat jcalousic ovcr thc
SpiritolGod.AsthcPharisccssaidConccrningJcsusChrist,John....
!l wc lct this man alonc, all mcn will bclicvc on him, and thc Romans
shallcomcandtakcawaybothourplaccandNation:Sosaythcsctwo,thc
RomishandScotchprinciplcsinthchcartsolmcn:!lwcyccldtothis,to
lctthcSpiritalonc,&tosucrallmcntobclicvconthcholyGhost,asthc
onlywitncssandcvidcnccoldivinctruth:!lwcgivcwaytothis,assound
doctrinc, that it is thc propcr occ ol thc third Pcrson, thc Spirit, and
olhimalonc,toapplytruthauthoritativcly,asitisolthcsccondPcrson
toact,olthcrstPcrsontodccrccthatitbclongstothisSpiritaloncau
thoritativclytotcsticinthcspiritsolMcn,whatthoscwordsarcwhich
himscllhathtaught,whatthcmcaningolthcspiritisinthoscwords:il
thisbconccgrantcd,thatnothingistobcrcccivcd,asivincTruth,but
thatwhichbringsanpistlcolcommcndationsalongwithit,writtcnby
this ngcr ol thc living God upon thc hcart, thcn larcwcll all Rcligion:
AllmanncrolSccts,Hcrcsics,Hcathcnismc,willbrcakinuponus,and
takc way thc vcry lacc ol a Church lrom amongst us. !t is said ol Jcsus
Christ, that Hc was numbrcd amongst transgrcssors in his dcath. Such
usagcasourSaviourhimscllcloundoncarthlromPilatc,andthcPricsts,
suchdothhisSpiritndtothisdaylromthcPapacy,&thatPrcsbytcryol
whichwcspcak.ThcholyGhost,ashcappcars,andgivcslorthhisra
clcsinhisTcmplcs,whicharchisSaints,isnumbrcdamongstwhimsics,
lansics,lanaticklurics,cnthusiasmcs,andsoiscondcmncd,issupprcsscd.
.Agrccmcnt.AwatchlullppositiontoallGrowthsoltruthabovc
thc pitch and staturc ol opinions commonly rcccivcd. Nothing is ac
countcdsodangcrousinthingspcrtainingtothcGospcl,as!nnovation,
although St. Paul command us still, to bc translormcd in thc rcncw
ingolourMinds,thatwcmayprovcwhatthcgoodandacccptablcwill
ol God is, and this to Saints alrcady convcrtcd, as a continuall duty, in
McrcuriusPoliticus
<
.,
whichthcyarccvcrtobccxcrcisingthcmsclvcs,thatthcymayhavcncw
minds to day, in comparison with thosc which thcy had ycstcrday, and
ncwmindsagaintomorrow,incomparisonwiththcirmindstoday,yct
thcsamcJcsus,ycstcrday,today,andlorcvcr.Asinsomcplaccsolthc
RivcrThamcsyouhavcVycrssctupquitccrosscthcRivcr,andbaskct
nctslaidinthoscVycrs,tocatchthoscLampricsthatcomcswimming
up against thc strcamc: so both in Papacy, and in rigid Prcsbytcry, all
Constitutions,Mcthods,Framcsoloctrinandisciplincsccmtobcas
wycrswithnctsinthcm,sctcrossthcwholcstrcamolcivilandrcligious
convcrsation,tocatchcvcrydiscovcryolChrist,cvcrymanilcstationol
thcGospcl,whichcomcsupagainstthcprcscntTydc,thcgcncralcurrcnt
olPrinciplcsandPositions.Thcylabourastohcdginthcwindc,tobindc
upthcswcctinucnccsolthcSpirit,thcywillnotsucrittoblowwhcrc
itlists,bccauscthcyknownotwhcnccitcomcs,orwhithcritgocs.
. Agrccmcnt in anncxing thc Spirit to outward lormalitics. Likc
SimonMagus,bothsccmtobclicvc,thatthcGilts,andMinistryolthc
Spiritmaybcpurchascdbythccoynolducation,Parts,Morallhon
csty,lormallqualications,CcrcmoniousbscrvationsoloutwardRitcs.
So is thcir way laid, so arc all thcir practiscs managcd, as il by a kind
ol Simoniacall Magick, that powcr which alonc can awc, or sccurc us
lrom, thc dcvil, wcrc shut up within thc circlc ol thcir customary, and
solcmnForms.VhcnthcLordsaith,NcithcronthisMountainnorin
Jcrusalcm,butinspiritandtruthshallallmcnworshipthcFathcr:Yca,
saythcy,butSpiritandtruthdispcnscthcmsclvcswithinthcJcrusalcmol
thisChurchordcr,onthcMountainolthcscrituallobscrvations,thcsc
consccratcdlorms.
6. Agrccmcnt in making Rcligion a risc to civil pomp, and powcr.
JcsusChristsaith,MyKingdomisnotolthisworld.8utsaythcsctwo
Factions, ur Kingdom is ovcr this world. Vc rulc in carthly things,
byancarthlystrcngth,thoughnotlromancarthlytitlc.ThcHcavcnly
powcrolthcSpiritisthcSccptcrinourHand:butthccshlypowcrol
thc Magistratc is thc Sword in thc hand ol our Ministcr, and Guard,
whichistobcsubordinatctoourSccptcr.8ythismcansthcybringall
manncrolcivilaairswithinthccompassolthcirCognisancc,byvcrtuc
ol thcir spiritual Judicatorics: Thcy disposc ol Govcrnmcnts, Nations,
Crownsbyvcrtucolthcircclcsiastickccnsurcs.
Now what hath bccn said ol this lorm ol Prcsbytcry, by that pious
man,isapliablctoanyothcrlorm,orlorms,thoughncvcrsorcncd,that
.
<
AppcndixC
shalladmitthcsamcPapallandAntichristianPrinciplc.Sohcrcisan
cndolthcwholcdiscoursc,havingwithsinccrityrunovcrallthcprinci
pallpointsolPolicy,inlortilyingyouwithRcasons,rclutingbjcctions,
prcscribingRulcs,andCautions,andnotingthcprimcrrors,whcrcby
supposc that all bcing put togcthcr havc madc a sucicnt prool ol my
Position,whichwasthis,thataFrccStatc,orGovcrnmcntbythcPcoplc,
sctlcd in a duc and ordcrly Succcssion ol thcir Suprcam Asscmblics, is
muchmorccxccllcntthcnanyothcrFormwhatsocvcr.Andyct,bcing
conncdtoalcwpagcswcckly,!havcbccnablctogivcyoubutthcbarc
hints ol things donc in hastc, which may (pcrhaps) appcar abroad in a
morcaccomplishcdmanncrhcrcaltcr.
.
i xbvx
<
Abncr,.c,
Absalom,.c,
absolutcmonarchy,,
Ab Urbe Condita(Livy),civcv,.n,
an,a,n,n,6cn,c.n,n,
n,n,,n,...n
accountabilityolgovcrnmcntal
powcrs,6,.cc,.cnaac
Achillcs,.a.
Achitophcl,.c,
Acta imperiivcrsus Arcana imperii,
6
ActolScttlcmcnt(.,c.),lxxviii
Adam,,c
Adams,John:Holliscditionsand,
lxx,Hollissintcrcstin,lxxxvii,
onNcdhamsFrcnchinucncc,
xcvi,xcix,Ncdhamsinucnccon,
lxxxvixcvi,onNcdhamswit
andburlcsquc,ciii nc
An Admonition to my Lord Protector
(Howcll,.6),xlii n6a
Adonijah,.c,
advcrtiscmcnts,.66cditionol
Excellencie,.a
Acmilia,.,,
AcmilianLaw,
Acquans,.c
Agag,.c,
Agathoclcs,,.ca
Ahab,.c,
Albigcnsians,.
Albuqucrquc,Alphonsus,6
Alcibiadcs,6a,6,
AlcxandcrthcGrcat,6,.c
Alonso!!olSpain,.anaac
Amaziah,..naac
AmcricaandAmcricanRcvolution:
8aronandHollisssupportlor,
lxvi,HarvardCollcgc,Holliss
conncctionwith,viii,lxiv,lxvii,
lxxx,inucnccolNcdhams Ex-
cellenciein,lxxxvixcvi, Mercurius
Politicusin,lxxiiin.6,pcoplcas
bcstkccpcrsolownlibcrtics,xc,
xciv,xcv,TolandandothcrVhig
rcpublicationsol.,thccntury
writcrs,inucnccol,lxii,lxxix,
xcv,unicamcralrulcinccrtain
statcs,lxxxix. See alsoAdams,John
.c
<
!ndcx
Amilcar|Hamilcar8arca|,.6
Amon(kingolJudah),..naac
Amyntor, or, A Defense of Miltons
Life(Toland,.,6.),lxv
T he Anarchy of a Limited or Mixed
Monarchy(Filmcr,.6),,cn
ancicnt8ritain,statcol,,,,
.n,
Andalusia,..
Anglia Liberata(Ncdham,.6.),
.c.naac
An Historical and Moral View of the
Origin and Progress of the French
Revolution(Vollstonccralt,.,),
xcii
Annals(Tacitus),n,.c.n
Anthony(MarcAntony),xxxviii n.,
ac,aa,6,,,...6
Antipatcr,6
Aphorismes Civill and Militarie
(allington,.6.),civ
An Apology for Poetry(Sidncy,..),
an
Apothegmata(rasmus,..),.,n6
AppiusClaudius,xl,xlv n,.,.c,aa,
a,,..,,.na,.,,
Aquitainc,.a
Aragon,,,,..a,.a
Arcana imperiivcrsusActa imperii,
6
Areopagitica(Milton,.6),lxxiii
Arcopagus,..,6
An Argument, Shewing, that a Stand-
ing Army is inconsistent with a
Free Government(Toland,Moylc,
andTrcnchard,.6,),lviii n
Argus,.
aristocracy,prcvcntingdcvclopmcnt
ol,,.cnac,.,,
Aristotlc,ci nc,civ,6.6a,6,,
a,,.na
army.Seemilitary
As You Were(Lilburnc,.6a),
xxxvn6
Athenae Oxonienses(Voodand
8liss,.6..6a),xxiv na.,.c
Athcns:conqucrcdparticsinlrcc
statcscstablishcdbyconqucst,
contcntmcntol,.,,crrorsand
rulcsolgovcrnmcntandpolicy
illustratcdby,,,.c.,.ca,..c,..,
..,lrccstatcin,,..,.6,hcrcdi
tarynobilityin,.,6,Ncdhams
allusionsto,xxxiii,objcctions
againstgovcrnmcntolthcpcoplc,
answcrcd,bycxamplcol,c,.,
6,6c,6a,66,6,,.,na,,thc
pcoplcasbcstkccpcrsollibcrty
in,c.,a,,.anaac. See
also specic gures and events
AttiliusRcgulus,a,.ac
AugustusCacsar(ctavius):crrors
andrulcsolgovcrnmcntand
policyrclcrcnccdbycxamplcol,
,,a,,...6,.6a6nc,
Ncdhamsallusionsto,xxxviii n.,
xl,objcctionsagainstgovcrn
mcntolthcpcoplc,answcrcdby
rclcrcnccto,6,pcoplcasbcst
kccpcrsollibcrty,illustrating,
aca,,.,n6
Austria,.,.c,.,
8aldwin,Richard,lixn
8arcclona,kingdomol,,
8arcboncsParliamcnt(.6),xxi
8arncvclt| Johanvanldcn
barncvclt|,.c
8aron,Richard:biographical
inlormation,lxiiilxiv,dcathol,
lxxiv,Hollis,lricndshipwith,
lxiv,lxvlxvii,lxxi,lxxiv,prclacc
olExcellenciewrittcnby,lxxii,
lxxivlxxv,lxxxii,xciii,.ac,
!ndcx
<
..
prcparationol Excellencielor
prcss,lxxiilxxiv,rcpublicanism
ol,lxxv,rcpublicationsol.,th
ccnturyworksby,lxiilxxiv
Bellum Iugurthum(Sallust),,n
8crkcnhcad,SirJohn,xxii
8iblc. SeeScripturcs
8irch,Thomas,lxiii n..
8lackburnc,Francis,lxxv,lxxxii
8lackburnc,Thomas,lxix
8liss,Philip,xxiv na.
8odin,Jcan,civ
8ohcmia,.,.anaac,.,.n
8ooth,Hcnry,Lordclamcrcand
arlolVarrington,lxxix nacc
8orgia,Cacsar,..
8orgialamily,.c
8radshaw,John,xxiv,xxv,xxxiv,xlii,
l,liv,xcii na
8randHollis,Thomas,lxxxvii
lxxxviii
brcadandcircuscs,a
A Breviary of the History of the
Parliament of England(May,
.6),.a
8rcwstcr,Thomas,xli n,xlvii,li,
.a,.c
A Brief History of Epidemic and
Pestilential Diseases(Vcbstcr,
.,),lxxiii n.6
8rittany,uchyol,,,.a
8rookc,Lord,lxxxvi
8rutus,lxxxii,..,.,a,,,,
,.c
8uchanan,Gcorgc,lxxix
8uckingham,ukcol(undcr
Charlcs!),lxviii
8urgundy,uchyol,,,.,,.a
8urgundy,Frcnchhouscol,6
8urnct,Gilbcrt,lxx
8utc,arlol(ministcrol
Gcorgc!!!),lxviii
Cacsar. SeeAugustusCacsar,Julius
Cacsar
Caius,.c
calumniation(slandcr),avoiding,
6.6,.cc.c.
Camillus,,a.,a,6,
canonolVhiglitcraturc,placcol
Ncdhamin,x,lix n,lxilxv,lxx,
lxxvii,lxxx,lxxxiii,xcv
Canulcius,.n.
Canutc(kingolngland),6,
Canutcius,.
Capct,Hugh,.anaac
Carthagc,a,,.ac,.,n.,.c,
..
Cartwright,John,lxxxvlxxxvi
T he Case of the Commonwealth of
England, Stated(Ncdham,
.6c),xixxx,xxi,xxiv,xxvi,
xxvii,xxviii,xl,xlv n,.,ci,n,
.n,
T he Case of the Kingdom, Stated
(Ncdham,.6,),xxiii
Casimira,houscol,.
Cassandcr,.c
Cassius,lxxxii
Castilc,,,..a,..
Castrucio/CastuccioolLuca,.ca,
..
Catalonia,.a
Catholicism,lxviii,lxxviii,,,,,
,,,.c,.6n.,.6n66,
.
Catilinc,
Cato,a,,6c,.an.c
Catos Letters(Trcnchardand
Gordon,.,ac.,a),lxiii
Certain Considerations tendered in all
humility, to an Honorable Member
of the Council of State(Ncdham,
.6),lxxiii n.
Chaloncr,Thomas,xxvi
.a
<
!ndcx
Charlcs!(kingolngland):ac
countabilityrcquircdol,.anaac,
Adamsrcadingrcgarding,
lxxxvi,annualrcmcmbranccsol
cxccutionol,lxviiilxix,anti
Cromwclliancommonwcalth
mcnon,lvi,8aronontrialand
cxccutionol,lxiii,Cook,John,
appointcdasprosccutionintrial
ol,lxiii,Gcorgc!!!comparcd,
lxviii,Hollissintcrcstinrcgicidc
ol,lxvii,lxviii,inconstancyol,6,,
LongParliamcntand,xvixvii,
Mercurius Britanicussattacks
on,xxiii,xliii,Miltons Defensio
rcgardingrcgicidcol,lii,Ncdham
incmploymcntol,xxiiixxiv,
radicalsvcrsusmodcratcson
cxccutionol,xxvxxvi,rcasonsol
statcrathcrthanrulcolhon
csty,actinglor,.c,rcsistancc,
cxccutionasrightol,lxxixlxxx,
scparationolpowcrs,lailurcol,
..,Vhigvicwsolcxccutionol,
lviilviii
Charlcs!!(kingolngland),
xxiii,xxvi,xxviii,xlviii,lxviii,
.n.,.,cn
Charlcs!!!thcGross(kingol
Francc),.anaac
Charlcs\!!(kingolFrancc),
.n.,.,,
CharlcsolLorrain,..naac
chccks,conccptol,xcixcii na
Childcrick(kingolFrancc),..naac
childrcncducatcdinprinciplcsol
lrccdom,a,.66nc,
.6n.
ChironthcCcntaur,.a.
Christianissimus Christanandus
(Ncdham,.6,),lix n,
lxxxivnaa
Christicrnolcnmark,.anaac
church.Seercligion
Ciccro,civ,,,6,,,,,
..c,.a6,.c
Cincinnatus,a,6
Cinna,.,.,.
civilandccclcsiasticalpolitics,crror
oldividingstatcinto,,,,
.6cn,.6n6
civilwarsanddisscnsions:avoidancc
olcivildisscnsionaspolicyrulc
inlrccstatc,,in8ritain,
xvi,xvii,xxiii,xxx,civilandccclc
siasticalpolitics,crroroldividing
statcinto,,,conqucrcdpar
ticsinlrccstatcscstablishcdby
conqucst,contcntmcntol,.,,
objcctiontogovcrnmcntolthc
pcoplc,lrcqucncyoldiscontcnts
andtumultsas,,6.,.6,na,,
propcrgovcrnmcntolCommon
wcalthatcloscol,,.a. See
alsolaction
classbascdargumcnts,Ncdhams
adaptationol,xxxxxxiii
classicalworld:8ritishCommon
wcalthcomparcdbySidncy
to,xxviii,Carthagc,a,,.ac,
.,n.,.c,.., Excellenciesusc
ol,liii,lxxvi,ciiicv,lootnotcd
rclcrcnccstoLocbcditions,cvii,
imitatorsolNcdhamsuscol,
lxxxv,Lilburncsuscolcompari
sonslrom,xxxvxxxvi,xxxviii n.,
Mercurius Politicusdrawing
lcssonslrom,xxixxxxvii,xxxix,
moralqualiticsassociatcdwith,
lxxxilxxxii,Ncdhamvcrsuspost
Rcstorationpoliticalwritcrson,
lxxvilxxvii,Romantribuncsand
popularasscmblics,Ncdhams
valorizationol,xxxiiixxxv,xxxvi,
!ndcx
<
.
xlv,liii,xc,xci,.,.,a6,6c,6,
66,.,6,,c,.,6,in\icto
rianpcriod,c. See alsoAthcns,
cmpcrors,Roman,scnatc,
Roman,Sparta, specic classical
gures and institutions
Clcarchus,.,6
clcrgy. Seercligion
cobblcrscrow,storyol,.,n6
Cockatriccinthccgg,Ncdhams
uscolmotilol,,,,.6an
Collatinus,
Collins,Anthony,lxxixnacc
Columba,Pompcius,,
Commonwcalthandprotcctor
atc:armyssplitwithRump
Parliamcnt,xviiixix,xxxvii,
constitutionalscttlcmcnt,
problcmol,xviiixx,intcrnational
scllasscrtionol,xxviixxviii,
lxxiii, Mercurius Politicus,radical
rcpublicanismol,xxvxxvii,
Ncdhamstranslcrsolallcgiancc
undcr,xxxxii,Ncdhams writings
inrclationshipto,ixx,xv,
xvixxv,Spain,warwith,liii,liv.
See alsoCromwcll,livcr,Rump
Parliamcnt
Condorcct,AntoincNicolasdc,
xcix
conqucrcdparticsinlrccstatcs
cstablishcdbyconqucst,contcnt
mcntol,.,
ConsalvusthcGrcat,6
conscntolthcpcoplc:originsol
govcrnmcntin,,.,,tyranny
avoidcdby,6
Constantinc!thcGrcat(Roman
cmpcror),,,
constitutionalissucs:ancicntconsti
tutionalisminMiltonandSidncy,
lxxx,CommcnccmcntolAdamss
ConstitutionolMassachusctts,
xciv,Commonwcalthandprotcc
toratc,problcmolconstitutional
scttlcmcntundcr,xviiixx,good
andcascolthcpcoplc,cndol
govcrnmcntas,aa,,a.,
mixcdorbalanccdconstitutional
isminHarringtonandSidncy,
xcv,Ncdhams Excellenciesccking
tocrcatcncwconstitution,lxxx,
cii,rcgularclcctions(succcssion
inpowcr),importanccol,a.a,
scparationolpowcrs,Adamsand
Ncdhamon,lxxxixxcii,unicam
cralismolNcdham,xix,xxxiii,
lxxx,lxxxiv,lxxxixxc,xcii,xcv. See
alsopcoplcasbcstkccpcrsolown
libcrtics
ConsulargovcrnmcntinRomc,
c.
Cook,John,lxiii,lxvii
Coopcr,Samucl,xcic na6
A Copy of a Letter from an O cer of
the Army in Ireland(Harrington,
.66),xlvii n,6
Corcyra,c.
CordclicrsClub,xcviii
Coriolanus,6,6,,6n
Coriolanus(Shakcspcarc),an
CorncliusthcCcnturion,.6nc
Corporations Vindicated in T heir
Fundamental Liberties(Hotham,
.6.),xxxi n,.c6n
Cosmus(CosimodcMcdicis),.,
,a,,a,.ca
Costc,Picrrc,lxx
Covcnantcrs,.n.,.,cn
Crassus,ac,..
Cromwcll,livcr:dcathol,xviii,
xxi,Excellencieascritiqucol,
xlvil,liiliv,lvilvii,thcgcn
cral,rclcrrcdtoas,liii,Hollis
.
<
!ndcx
andHarrison,lxxiii n.,a,lxxxiii,
!rcland,conqucstol,xviii,xxix,
Mercurius Politicuson,xxxviii
xliii,xlvi,l,monarchyand,xviii,
xliixliii,xlviii,parliamcntary
clcctions,postponcmcntol,
xxxviii,xli,protcctoratcol,ix,xv,
xxi.See also8ritishCommon
wcalthandprotcctoratc,
Richard!!!and,lvi,Spain,war
with,liii,liv,Vorccstcr,dclcatol
royalistsat(.6.),xviii,xxvii
Cromwcll,Richard,xxi
La Crnica General de Espaa(Mo
ralcs,.,),..an
Curius(MarcusCurius),a.
acrcs,dward,.6n,.acn
allington,SirRobcrt,civ
avid(biblicalking),.c,
dcccit. Seehoncstyanddcccit
cccmviratc,civcv,.a,a.,,6cn,
6,.,.c,..,,.na
Defence of the Constitutions of Amer-
ica(Adams,.,,),lxxxviilxxxviii,
xciv
Defensio(Milton,.6.),lii
cloc,anicl,lixn.cc
clamcrc,Lord,Hcnry8ooth,arl
olVarringtonand,lxxix nacc
De Legibus(Ciccro),..c
Democracy Vindicated(Moylc,.,6),
lxxxvina.
cnmark,.,.anaac
De O ciis(Ciccro),civ,n,n,n,
.cc,..c,.c
crby,ThomasStanlcy,arlol
(kingolMann),6
csborough,John,liv,lv
iodorusSiculus,.c.n
ionysiusolHalicarnassus,6n,.c
ionysiusolSyracusc,xl,xli,,
Discourses Concerning Govern-
ment(Sidncy,.6),xxviii,lxiii,
lxivn..,lxv,lxix,lxxvlxxvi,xcvi,
xcviii
Discourses on Livy(Machiavclli,
..,),xxvii,xxix,lxxxvi nac,
civcv,.6n,n,6n,6n,.6nc
disscnsions. Seecivilwarsand
disscnsions
rakc,Jamcs,lix n.cc
ruids,
utchRcpublic:8ritishCom
monwcalth,navalwarwith,
xxviii,xxix,hcrcditarynobility
in,.,, Mercurius Britanicuson,
xxvii,Ncdhamongovcrnmcnt
ol,.,6,,,,.n.c,.n.c,
.n.,oatholabjurationin,,
rangc,Ncdhamonpowcrsol
houscol,,a,,,.ca,
.n.c,.6nc6,Spain,warol
indcpcndcncclrom,.,,.c,
.6nc6,.,
ccclcsiasticalissucs. Seercligion
cducationolchildrcninprinciplcs
ollrccdom,a,.66nc,
.6n.
dwardthcConlcssor(kingol
ngland),,
dward!(kingolngland),.a
dward!!(kingolngland),
.anaac,.a
dward!\(kingolngland),.,
Eikon Basilike(.6),lxix
Eikonoklastes(Milton,.6c),8arons
.,6cditionol,lxiii,lxv,lxvii,lxx
clcctions:armysupportlordis
solutionolRumpandcstablish
mcntol,xxxviixxxviii,carcol
lrccpcoplcinuscol,.cc,
Cromwcll(continued )
!ndcx
<
.
continuationolpowcrsandcom
mandsinhandsoloncpcrson
orlamily,prcvcnting,6,
Cromwcllspostponcmcntol,
xxxviii,xli,Excellencieasclcction
manilcstolorclcctionsol.66,
lli,lvi, Excellencieonimportancc
olrcgularsucccssionolpowcr,
a.a,lactionin,.cc,monar
chy,clcctivc,.a,principlcs
lorchoosingrcprcscntativcsat
Suprcmc Asscmblics,.aa6,
suragcrights,importanccol
maintaining,
liot,Andrcw,lxvi,lxxxvii na,xciii,
xcvi
milianLaw,
cmpcrors,Roman:gcncralwickcd
ncssol,c,scparationolpow
crs,lailurcol,.... See also specic
emperors by name
cngagcmcnts,violationsol. See
honcstyanddcccit
ngland. Seecntricsat8ritish
Englands Deliverance from the
Northern Presbytery(Stcrry,.6a),
.
dondc8caumont,Chcvalicr,
xcvixcvii
paminondas/pimanondas,.6,
.n
phori,.,.anaac
Epitome of Roman History(Florus),
,n
quans,a
rasmus,csidcrius,.,n6
crrorsandrulcsolgovcrnmcntand
policy,,.a6,civildisscnsion,
avoiding,,continuationol
powcrsandcommandsinhands
oloncpcrsonorlamily,prcvcnt
ing,6,ccclcsiasticalandcivil
politics,divisionolstatcinto,
,,,.6cn,.6n6,cduca
tionolchildrcninprinciplcsol
lrccdom,a,.66nc,
.6n.,clcctivcpowcrs,carc
inuscol,.cc,lactionsand
partics,drivingol,..,.,lalsc
accusationsagainstpcrsonsin
authority,avoiding,.cc.c.,
lcwpcrsons,transactionolal
lairsolstatcconncdto,...,,
ignorancc,kccpingthcpcoplc
in,a6,ingratitudcagainst
pcrsonsinauthority,avoid
ing,.c.a,modcration,uscol
libcrtywith,,.66n,oaths
olabjuration,rcquiring,,
thcpcoplcstraininginarms
andcontrololmilitia,a,
rcasonsolstatcprclcrrcdbclorc
rulcsolhoncsty,.c,.,cn,
rcligiousintolcrancc,.,
scllaggrandizcmcnt,prcvcnt
ing,,.cnac,.,,,
scparationolpowcrs,.c.,
suragcrights,importanccol
maintaining,,SuprcmcAs
scmblics,principlcslorchoosing
rcprcscntativcsat,.aa6,trca
son,dcncdanddcscribcd,.ca,
twolromonclamilyallowcdto
bcaroccatsamctimc,6,
tyrannypasscdlromonclorm
intoanothcr,,a,violationsol
laith,promiscs,andcngagcmcnts,
..a
An Essay upon the Constitution of
the Roman Government(Moylc,
.6),lviii n
cstablishcdrcligion,Ncdhamsargu
mcntsagainst,.
thclrcd(kingolngland),6
.6
<
!ndcx
T he Excellencie of a Free-State
(Ncdham,.66),xlivlvii,abil
ityolNcdhamtopublish,xlvii,
liiilvii,advcrtiscmcnts,.66
cdition,.a,8iblicalrclcrcnccsin,
,c,,,6,,,.c,,.an,..naac,
classicalallusionin,liii,lxxvi,
ciiicv,comparcdtocontcmpo
rarytracts,lilii,Cromwcll,as
critiqucol,xlvil,liiliv,lvilvii,
disguiscdauthorshipol,xlvii,
asclcctionmanilcsto,lli,lvi,
lootnotcsandcndnotcs,cvii,
importanccol,ixx,xv,inu
cnccol,xlv,Machiavclli,inu
cnccol,lxxxvi nac,cii, Mercurius
Politicusand,xxiv,xxvi,xliv,xlvi,
l,li,lii,lvilvii,lxxiii n.6,cvii,
.c,.,,modcrnintcrcstin,
xcixcii,ncwconstitution,aimcd
atcrcationol,lxxx,originsolall
justpowcrinthcpcoplc,,c,,
prclaccto.66cdition,xlvii,xlix,
lii,lv,lvii,,,prclaccto.,6,cdi
tion(by8aron),lxxii,lxxivlxxv,
lxxxii,xciii,.ac,rarityol.66
cditions,lix n.c.,rcproductionol
tcxt,cvii,rcpublicanismrccastin,
lvilvii,royalists,appcalto,lvi,
6,RumpParliamcntand,l,liv,
tcxtualcmcndationsol.,6,cdi
tion,.ca,tcxtualcmcndations
olmodcrncditortotcxt,.a,a,
titlcpagclrom.66cdition,,
titlcpagclrom.,6,cdition,.a,
Tolandpublicationsinucnccd
by,lix. See alsocrrorsandrulcsol
govcrnmcntandpolicy,lrccstatc,
objcctionstogovcrnmcntolthc
pcoplc,answcrcd,pcoplcasbcst
kccpcrsolownlibcrty,rcpublica
tionol Excellenciein.,6,
Fabius,.6,a.
laction:dcncd,..,,asdcstroycrol
lrccstatcs,.,aaa,.a6,driving
ollactionsandpartics,ascrrorin
policy,..,.,inclcctions,.cc,as
objcctiontogovcrnmcntolthc
pcoplc,answcrcd,,6.,66.
See alsocivilwarsanddisscnsions
Factorum et Dictorum Memorabilium
Libri Novem(\alcriusMaximus),
.cn
laith,violationsol. Seehoncstyand
dcccit
lalscaccusationsagainstpcrsons
inauthority,avoiding,6.6,
.cc.c.
T he Federalist: containing some Stric-
tures upon a Pamphlet, entitled T he
Pretensions of T homas Jeerson....
(.,6),xcivna6,
Fclton,John,lxviii n.c
FcrdinandolAragon,6,..a
Fcrrara,,
Filmcr,SirRobcrt,,cn
Firth,C.H.,cci
Flaminia,.,,
Flcctwood,Charlcs,liv,lv
Florcncc:conqucrcdparticsinlrcc
statcscstablishcdbyconqucst,
contcntmcntol,..,crrorsand
rulcsolgovcrnmcntandpolicy,
ascxamplcol,.a,,,,
.ca,...,hcrcditarynobilityol,.,,,
objcctionsagainstgovcrnmcntol
thcpcoplc,answcrcdbycxamplc
ol,a,,,6,66,originolalljust
powcrinpcoplcin,,,thcpcoplc
asbcstkccpcrsolownlibcrtics
in,.,,.anc,.anaac. See also
cntricsatMcdicis
Florus,,n
Foscarini,Antonio,.66n6,
!ndcx
<
.,
Francc:accountabilityolkings
in,..anaac,ancicntstatcol,
.n,,.n.,conqucrcdpar
ticsinlrccstatcscstablishcdby
conqucst,contcntmcntol,.a,
contrololmilitiain,a,duchics
incorporatcdinto,,,.a,uch
icsnowincorporatcdinto,,,
gcncralwickcdncssolmonarchs
ol,.,hcrcditarynobilityol,
.,,,,hcrcsy,pcrsccutionol,
.,inucnccolNcdhamin,
xcvixcix,!talianconqucstsol,
..,lcvcllingin,,lossollibcr
tics,ccctsol,.n.,.,anc,,
noblclactionsin,666,royalist
scntimcntsin,xxix,scparationol
powcrs,lailurcol,..a.,Spanish
inucnccin,.,n.,,Stuartcxilcs
backcdby,lviii
Franklin,8cnjamin,xciii
lrccdom,cducationolchildrcnin
principlcsol,a,.66nc,
.6n.
lrccstatc,.,CommonwcalthAct
dcclaring(.6),xviii,xxviii,xlix,
constitutionol. Seeconstitutional
issucs,dcncd,.c,lactionas
dcstroycrol,.,aaa,.a6,luxury,
lrccstatcslcssinclincdto,.,
Mercurius Britanicusadmiring
lorcigncxamplcsol,xxvii,Mer-
curius Politicuson,xxviiixxix,
liiliii,moralqualiticsassoci
atcdbyHolliswith,xcvxcvi,as
naturalconditionolhumankind,
.c,a,nobilityolspiritin,
..6,a,a,6,prcscrvation
ol,.c.,protabilityol,.6.,,
Romanscnatc,distinctionollrcc
statclromrulcby,xxxiiixxxiv,
uscastcrm,liiliii,lxxix.See also
crrorsandrulcsolgovcrnmcnt
andpolicy,objcctionstogovcrn
mcntolthcpcoplc,answcrcd,
pcoplcasbcstkccpcrsolown
libcrtics,rcpublicanism
FrcnchRcvolution,xcii,xcvi,xcix
Furius,6,
Gallic Wars( JuliusCacsar),n
Gardincr,S.R.,c
Gascony,uchyol,,
Gaul/Gallia,aa,,,.c,.n,,
.n.
thcgcncral,Cromwcllrclcrrcdto
as,liii
Gcnoa,,,..a,..,.anaac,.,,
Gcorgc!(kingolngland),lxii
Gcorgc!!(kingolngland),lxii,
lxix
Gcorgc!!!(kingolngland),lxviii,
lxxviii
Gcrmany,,,,,a,.n,,.
Giucciardini,Franccsco,.6
GloriousRcvolution(.6),lvii
lviii,lxxviiilxxix,lxxx
Glouccstcr,arlol(undcrHcnry
!!!),..6
Godcrino(Sodcrino:),a
Godwin,Villiam,xcixc
Goldcncccc,.
GonzagalamilyinMantua,a
Goodman,Christophcr,lxxix
thcgoodoldcausc,lxiiilxiv
Goodrich,Picrrc,x
Gordon,Thomas,lxiii,lxxxi
Goths,..
govcrnmcnt:scparationolchurch
andstatc,in Mercurius Politicus,
xliii.See alsoconstitutionalissucs,
clcctions,crrorsandrulcsolgov
crnmcntandpolicy,lrccstatc,
objcctionstogovcrnmcntolthc
.
<
!ndcx
pcoplc,answcrcd,pcoplcasbcst
kccpcrsolownlibcrty
govcrnmcntolthcpcoplc.See
cntricsatpcoplc
Gracchi,,.c,,
Granada,Spain,..
Grcccc,ancicnt. Seeclassicalworld
Grccnc,Robcrt,.,n6
Grcvillc,Fulkc,.an.c,.n.c
T he Grounds and Reasons of
Monarchy(Hall,.6c),xx,lixlx,
.n
GuclphsandGhibcllincs,6
Guicn,.a
Guisc,Frcnchhouscol,666,
.,n.,
Gustavusricus(kingolSwcdcn),
.
Hall,John,xx,lixlx,.n
Hampdcn,John,lxx,lxxxvi,xcvi
HannibalolCarthagc,,..,
.,n.
HannoolCarthagc,..
Hardicanutc(kingolngland),,
Harlcy,Robcrt,lx
Harrington,Jamcs:Adamsin
ucnccdby,lxx,lxxxvi,xcv,
Frcnchinucnccol,xcvi,xcix,
ongcntlcmanlygcnius,lxxxi,
Macaulayon,lxxxiv,Machia
vclliand,xxxvixxxvii,Ncdham
comparcd,ix,x,xv,lxxiv,cii,.a,
Ncvillcaslitcrarypartncrol,xxvi,
Oceana(.66),xv,lilii,lv,lx n.ca,
lxx,lxxvi,Vhigrcpublicationol
politicalworksol,lvii,lixlx,lxv,
lxx,lxxvi
Harris,Villiam,lxvii,lxxxiii,lxxxiv,
lxxxv,lxxxvii na,xciii
Harrison,Thomas,xxxviii n.
HarvardCollcgc,Hollissconncc
tionwith,viii,lxiv,lxvii,lxxx
A Healing Question Propounded
(\anc,.66),li,liv
Hellenica(Xcnophon),..n
Hcnry!(kingolngland),6,,
Hcnry!!!(kingolngland),..6.,
Hcnry\!(kingolngland),.,
Hcnry\!!(kingolngland),,,
6,.c
Hcnry\!!!(kingolngland),,,
,.c
Hcnry!\(kingolFrancc),.c
HcnryolPoland,.anaac
HcnryolSwcthlan,.anaac
Hcraclca,.,6
hcrcditarynobility,prcvcntingdc
vclopmcntol,,.cnac,
.,,
Hcrclord,arlol(undcrHcnry
!!!),..6
hcrcsy,pcrsccutionol,.
Hcrnicini,.c
Hcrodotus,..
HcrodthcGrcat,.c,
Hcspcrianlruit,.
HicroolSyracusc,
Historiae de rebus Hispaniae(Mari
ana,.a.6c),..an
Historiarum sui Temporis(Giuc
ciardini,.66),.6n
History of England(Macaulay,
.,6,.),lxvii,lxxxiv
Hoadly,8cnjamin,lxx
Hobbcs,Thomas,xix,lii
Holland.SeeutchRcpublic
Hollis,Thomas:Adams,intcrcstin,
lxxxvii,Amcricancausc,support
lor,lxvi,attractionto.,thccntury,
lxviilxix,8aron,lricndshipwith,
lxiv,lxvlxvii,lxxi,lxxiv,bio
graphicalinlormation,lxivlxv,
govcrnmcnt(continued )
!ndcx
<
.
charactcrol,lxii,copicsol.66
Excellencieowncdby,lix n.c.,
onGloriousRcvolution(.6),
lxxviiilxxix,lxxx,libraryol,
viiviii,lxivlxv,moralqualitics
olNcdhamprobablyinimicalto,
lxxxilxxxiii,Ncdhams Excellen-
cie,.,6,rcpublicationol. Seerc
publicationol Excellenciein.,6,,
rcpublicanismand,lxxvlxxxiii,
rcpublicationsol.,thccntury
worksby,lxiilxxiv
Holstcin,uchyol,.
honcstyanddcccit:crrorolstatc
policy,violationsollaith,
promiscs,andcngagcmcntsas,
..a,Hollissvalorizationol,
lxxxilxxxii,Machiavcllion,
..,.aca,rcasonsolstatcprc
lcrrcdbclorcrulcsol,.c,
.,cn
Honores mutant mores,.c.
Horatiandc(Marvcll,.6c),
xxix,xxxix,lii
Hosca,.c,
Hotham,Charlcs,xxxi n,
xxxivxxxv,.c6n
Hotman,Franois,lxxix
Howcll,Jamcs,xlii n6a,xlviiixlix,,
6,,,.nac,,.6.n6,.6,n6c
humannaturc,lrccstatcasmost
amcnablcto,.c,a
Hungary,.,..
Hussitcs,.
ignorancc,crrorolkccpingthc
pcoplcin,a6
Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion,

ingratitudcagainstpcrsonsinau
thority,6,6,.c.a
!nsubria,.,,
Interest Will Not Lie(Ncdham,
.6),lxxxiv naa
intolcranccolrcligiousopinion
ascrroringovcrnmcntpolicy,
.
!rcland,xviii,xxix,xli
!rcton,Hcnry,xvii
!sabcllaolCastilc,..a
T he Isle of Pines(Ncvillc,.66),
rcpublishcd(.,6)byHollis,
lxxxivnaa
!socratcs,a,
!sraclitcs,,.,,,6,.c,,.anaac
!taly:lrccstatcsin,,,,.6n,,
GuclphsandGhibcllincsin,6,
royalistscntimcntsin,xxix,scpa
rationolpowcrs,lailurcol,....a.
See also specic city-states
JacobitcsandPapists,lxviii,lxxviii
Jamcs!(kingolngland),lxxxvi,
.c
Jamcs!!(kingolngland),xvii,lvii,
lxxviii
Jccrson,Thomas,xcii,xciv na6,
Jchu,.c,
Jcroboam,.c,
Jcsuits,.6n.
JcwsandJudaism,,.,,,6,.c,,
.anaac
Joab,.c,
Johnson,Samucl,lxii
Joshua,,.
JuliusCacsar:Cromwcllastypcol,
xxxix,xli,crrorsandrulcsolgov
crnmcntandpolicyillustratcdby,
6,.,,,,,.,,,,
.ca,..,..,lrccstatcand,.,.,
.n,,objcctionsagainstgovcrn
mcntolthcpcoplc,answcrcdby
rclcrcnccto,.a,,thcpcoplc
asbcstkccpcrsollibcrtyshown
acc
<
!ndcx
bycxamplcol,aca,c,,,
Rubicon,crossingol,.,,in
Triumviratc,lxxxvi nac,ac,aa,
.,..
Karstcn,Pctcr,xcvi
thcKingmakcr(RichardNcvillc,
arlolVarwick),xliii,xlviii,
.,.
kingsandkingship. See8ritish
monarchy,monarchy
Knachcl,Philip,ci,ciii
Laccdcmonia. SeeSparta
Lambcrt,John,xxxviii n.
Lancastcr,Houscol,xliixliii,.,.,
.,66
Languct,Hubcrt,lxxix
Latium,.,,
LawolthcTwclvcTablcs,6c
Lazarus and His Sisters Discourse of
Paradice(.6),.a
L. Colonel John Lilburne Revised
(Lilburnc,.6),xxxvin
Lciccstcr,SimonMontlort,arlol,
..6
Lcon,kingdomol,..
Lcpidus,xxxviii n.,ac,aa,..
Letters on Toleration(Lockc,.6),
Hollis8aroncdition(.,6)ol,
lxxlxxi
Letters to Atticus(Ciccro),
T he Leveller(.6c),xli n
Lcvcllcrs:Cromwcll,avcrsionto,
xli,Ncdhamsadaptationol
classidcasol,xxxxxxi,xxxii,
Ncdhamsapplicationolclas
sicalallusionto,ciii nc,in
Ncdhams Case,xx,Ncdhams
writingslor,xxiii,xxvii,xxxxxxi,
Quincy,Josiah,Jr.,uscolLcvcllcr
pscudonymsby,xciii,royalists,
commoncauscwith,lvi
lcvclling,objcctiontogovcrnmcnt
olthcpcoplcbascdon,a,
.na,.na,.na
Leviathan(Hobbcs,.6.),xix,lii
LcwiskingsolFrancc. Seecntrics
atLouis
LibcrtyFund,x
Life of Julius Caesar(Suctonius),acn
Lilburnc,John:Cromwcll,avcr
sionto,xxxviii n.,xlixlii,liii n,
Ncdhamscontributionstopam
phlctsonbchallol,xxvii,xxxi,
xxxiv,xxxv,Ncdhamsinucncc
on,xxxvxxxvi,xxxviii n.,xli
Lives(Plutarch),.cn,.6,an,n,
6,,6,,n,a,
Livy,civcv,.n,an,a,n,,6cn,
6,,c.,n,,,,,.c,...,
.6n.6c,.na,.6nc
Lockc,John,lxix,lxx,lxxi,lxxii,
lxxiv,lxxxvi,xciv,.a
LongParliamcnt(.6c.6a),
xvixvii,l
Lorrainc,uchyol,,
Louis!!!(kingolFrancc),.anaac
LouisX!(kingolFrancc),,
..a.,.n.,.,anc,,.,
Luca|Lucca|,.ca,.an.c,.,,,..
Lucan,lxxxi,.an.c
LuciusPaulusmilius,a
LuciusQuintius,a,
LuciusTarquin,a
Lucrccc,rapcol,c,.,cn
Ludlow,dmund:Frcnchinucncc
ol,xcvi,Godwinsintcrcstin,c,
Hollisonhoncstyol,lxxxilxxxii,
Macaulayon,lxxxiv,mcmoirs
ol,xxxviiin.,lxiii,lxvii,xcvi,
Ncdhamonstandingarmics
comparcd,lxxviilxxviii, A Voyce
JuliusCacsar(continued )
!ndcx
<
ac.
from the Watch Tower(.6.6),
lixn,Vhigrcpublicationol
politicalworksol,lvii,lxi,lxiii,
lxv,lxx,lxxiv
Luthcr,Martin,,
Luthcrans,.
luxury,lrccstatcslcssinclincdto,
.
Lycurgus,,
Macaulay,Catharinc,lxii n..c,lxvii,
lxxxiv,xcvii
Machiavclli,Niccol:8ritishprc
civilwarintcrcstin,xvi, Case
of the Commonwealthciting,
n,classargumcnts,Ncdhams
adaptationol,xxx,xxxixxxii,on
dangcrsolprolongcdpowcrol
militarylcadcrs,xxxviiixxxix,
Discourses on Livy(..,),xxvii,
xxix,lxxxvi nac,civcv,.6n,n,
6n,6n,.6nc,oncducation,
.66nc, Excellencieciting,
..6,..,.ac,.a, Excellencie
inucnccdby,lxxxvi nac,cii,cv,
Harringtonand,xxxvixxxvii,on
honcstyanddcccit,..,.aca,
Lilburncand,xxxvxxxvi,xli,
Mercurius Politicusinucnccdby,
xxixxxx,xxxvii,xl,Ncdhamas
disciplcol,ix, T he Prince(..),
xxix,xl,xli,..n,.ac,.an, Vox
Plebis(Ncdham,.66)using
argumcntsol,xxvii
Macrobius,.,n6
Madison,Jamcs,xcv
Maclius,,a.,c,,,.c
MamcrcusAcmilius,n
Manchanidas,
Mandar,Thophilc,xcviixcviii
Manlius,xl,,a.,a,,c,,,.c
Mantua,a,,
Manucl!(kingolPortugal),6
MarcAntony(Anthony),xxxviii n.,
ac,aa,6,,,...6
MarcusCurius,.6,a.
MarcusRutiliusCcnsorinus,6
Mare Clausum(Scldcn). See Of the
Dominion, or, Ownership of the Sea
Mariana,Juandc,..a
Marius,lxxxvi nac,aa,,.,,6,
.,.,,,.ca
Martcn,Hcnry,xxvi,xlii,liv
Marvcll,Andrcw,xxix,xxxix,lii,lxv,
lxxiv,lxxxi
Mary!(quccnolngland),.c
Mary!!(quccnolnglandand
Scotland),xvii,lvii
Masson,avid,c
May,Thomas,.a
Mayhcw,Jonathan,lxiii,lxxxii,xcvi
Mcdicislamily,.,,,.n.c,
.,,,..
Mcdicis,Alcxandcrdc,,
Mcdicis,Casinusdc,,
Mcdicis,Cosimo(Cosmus)dc,.,
,a,,a,.ca
Mcdicis,Juliandc,,
Memoires(PhilippcdcCommyncs,
.a),..n
McncniusAgrippa,,a,6c,
.na
Mercurius Britanicus,Ncdhamscdi
torshipol,xxiii,xxv,xxvii,xliii
Mercurius Politicus,Ncdhams
cditorshipol,xxvxliii,army,as
mouthpicccol,xxxviixxxviii,
classbascdargumcntsin,
xxxxxxiii,classicalGrccccand
Romc,lcssonsdrawnlrom,
xxixxxxvii,xxxix,critiqucol
govcrnmcntin,xxviiixxix,
xxxivxliii,onCromwcll,xxxviii
xliii,xlvi,l,Excellencieand,
aca
<
!ndcx
xxiv,xxvi,xliv,xlvi,l,li,lii,lvilvii,
lxxiiin.6,cvii,.c,.,,Har
ringtons Oceana(.66)comparcd,
li,Harrisscitationol,lxxxiii,
lxxxviina,xciii,Hollisspos
scssionolsomcissucsol,lxxii,
onHowcll,xlviii,intcrnational
scllasscrtionolCommonwcalth
and,xxviixxviii,Miltonand,
xxiv,xliii,c,originsandinucncc
on,xxiv,Quincyinucnccdby,
xciii,radicalrcpublicanismol,
xxvxxvii,rcligiousprogramol,
xliii,onRumpParliamcnt,xxvi,
xxvii,xxviii,xxxviixxxix,xli,
xlii,runsandissucsol,xliii n6,
lxxiiin.6,onscparationolpow
crs,xci,Tolandpublicationsinu
cnccdby,lix,\ictorianintcrcstin,
c,Vhitclockcand,xlv n,.
Mercurius Politicus,Vhigpublica
tionsol.thccnturynamcd,
lixn.cc
Mercurius Pragmaticus,Ncdhams
cditorshipol,xxiiixiv,xlviii,
lxxiilxxiii
Mcxia,Pcdro,civ
Milan,,,...,..,.an.c,.,,,
..
military:Cromwcllianarmy,
Ncdhamonsucccssol,.,na,
Cromwcllianarmy,RumpParlia
mcntssplitwith,xviiixix,xxxvii,
thcpcoplcstraininginarmsand
contrololmilitia,a,stand
ingarmicscontrovcrsy,lviiilix,
lx,lxxviilxxviii,xcii na,ci nc,
.6nc6
T he Militia Reformd(Toland,.6),
lviiilix
Millar,Andrcw,lxxiv
Milncr,John,lx n.ca
Miltiadcs,6,
Milton,John:Amcricansinucnccd
by,lxx,lxxxvi,xcvi, Areopagitica
(.6),lxxiii,inCromwcllian
protcctoratc,xlvi,Defensio(.6.),
lii,Eikonoklastes(.6c),8arons
.,6cditionol,lxiii,lxv,lxvii,lxx,
Excellencieand,xlv,Frcnchinu
cnccol,xcvi,Godwinsintcrcst
in,xcixc,Hollissadmirationlor
moralqualiticsol,lxxxilxxxii,
Mercurius Politicusand,xxiv,xliii,
c,Ncdhamcomparcd,ix,x,lxxiv,
xciii,.a,.c,Ncdhamslricnd
shipwith,ix,xxiv,lix,lxi,xcixc,
Prcsbytcrianism,avcrsionto,
xxi,onprovincialismolParlia
mcntarylcadcrs,xxvi,radical
rcpublicanismcspouscdby,xxv,
rcsistancc,rightol,lxxix, Samson
Agonistes(.6,.),lxix,Tolands
biographyand Amyntor,lxi,lxv,
lxxiv,lxxxv naa,xcviii,\ancand,
li,Vhigrcpublicationolpoliti
calworksol,lvii,lxi,lxiii,lxv,lxix,
lxxiv,lxxx
The Mirror for Magistrates(.),.n
modcration,uscollibcrtywith,,
.66n
monarchy:abolitionol,xvixviii,
absolutc,,,accountabilityol,
..a,classicalrclcrcnccs,post
Rcstorationmonarchicalas
sumptionsrcgarding,lxxvilxxvii,
Cromwclland,xviii,xliixliii,
xlviii,dcathwarrantolCharlcs!,
lxvii,clcctivc,., Excellencies
appcaltoroyalists,lvi,6,gcn
cralwickcdncssol,.,Hollis
notopposcdto,lxxix,oathsol
abjurationrcgarding,,
Mercurius Politicus(continued )
!ndcx
<
ac
protcctoratcand,liv,rcstoration
ol,xxi,lviilviii,trialandcxccu
tionolCharlcs!. SeeCharlcs!.
See also8ritishmonarchy
Monarchy No Creature of Gods Mak-
ing(Cook,.6a),lxvii
Montlort,Simon,arlolLciccstcr,
..6
Moorc,John,lxxiii n.6
Moralcs,Ambrosio,..a
Moscs,,.
Moylc,Valtcr,lviiilix,lxxxvi na.,
xcii na
Nabis,
Naplcs,,,..,.,,,..
Nashc,Thomas,.,n6
naturalconditionolhumankind,
lrccstatcas,.c,a
Ncdham,Marchmont:birth,
cducation,andcarlycarccr,xxiii,
8ritishCommonwcalthandpro
tcctoratc,rclationshipto,ixx,xv,
xvixxv,moralqualiticsprobably
inimicaltoHollis,lxxxilxxxiii,
populismol,lxxxlxxxi,lxxxixxc,
xcviii,translcrsolallcgianccol,
xxxxiv,trcatiscsvcrsusjournal
ism,prclcrcncclor,xliv,unicam
cralismol,xix,xxxiii,lxxx,lxxxiv,
lxxxix,xcii,xcv
Ncdham,Marchmont,writingsol:
Adamsinucnccdby,lxx, Anglia
Liberata(.6.),.c.naac,in
canonolVhiglitcraturc,x,
lixn,lxilxv,lxx,lxxvii,lxxx,
lxxxiii,xcv, T he Case of the Com-
monwealth of England, Stated
(.6c),xixxx,xxi,xxiv,xxvi,xxvii,
xxviii,xl,xlv n,.,ci,n,.n,,
T he Case of the Kingdom, Stated
(.6,),xxiii, Certain Considerations
tendered in all humility, to an
Honorable Member of the Council
of State(.6),lxxiii n., Chris-
tianissimus Christanandus(.6,),
lixn,lxxxiv naa,Hallswrit
ingsdiculttodistinguishlrom,
xx,importanccol,ixx,xvxvi,
cicii, Interest Will Not Lie(.6),
lxxxivnaa,Mercurius Britanicus,
cditorshipol,xxiii,xxv,xxvii,xliii,
Mercurius Pragmaticus,cditorship
ol,xxiiixiv,xlviii,lxxiilxxiii,
Milton,lricndshipwith,ix,xxiv,
lix,lxi,xcixc,modcrnintcrcstin,
xcixcii, T he Pacquet-Boat Advice
(.6,),lxxxiv naa,A Short History
of the English Rebellion(.66c),
lxxxiv naa,T he True Character of
a Rigid Presbyter(.66.),xxi n.a, A
True State of the Case of the Com-
monwealth(.6),xlvixlvii,xlix,
xci, Vox Plebis, or, T he Peoples Out-
Cry Against Oppression, Injustice,
and Tyranny(.66),xxvii,xxxi,
xxxiv,xxxv,xxxix. See also Excel-
lencie of a Free-State; Mercurius
Politicus,cditorshipol
Ncro(Romancmpcror),..naac
Ncthcrlands. SeeutchRcpublic
Ncvillc,Hcnry:Adamsinucnccd
by,lxx,lxxxvi,classicalrcpubli
canism,monarchicalassumptions
ol,lxxvii,inclcctionsol.66,
li,Harringtons Oceana(.66),
contributionsto,li,Macaulayon,
lxxxiv,Mercurius Politicusand,
xxvi,Ncdhamcomparcd,ix,lxi,
Vhigrcpublicationolpolitical
worksol,lvii,lxi,lxv
Ncvillc,Richard,arlolVarwick
(thcKingmakcr),xliii,xlviii,.,.
Ncwcomb,Thomas,xlvi
ac
<
!ndcx
Nimrod,,.
Noah,,c
nobility,prcvcntingdcvclopmcntol,
,.cnac,.,,
nobilityolspiritinlrccstatc,..6,
a,a,6
Normandy,.a
Numantia,.c
oaths,.,
objcctionstogovcrnmcntolthc
pcoplc,answcrcd,,6,calum
niation(slandcr),occasionlor,
6.6,conlusionolgovcrnmcnt,
a,discontcntsandtumults,
,6.,.6,na,,judgmcntand
cxpcricnccrcquircdlormanagc
mcntolstatcaairs,,,lcvcl
lingandconlusionolpropricty,
a,.na,.na,.na,
naturallactiousncssolpcoplc,
66
Oceana(Harrington,.66),xv,lilii,
lv,lx n.ca,lxx,lxxvi
ctavius.SeeAugustusCacsar
Of the Dominion, or, Ownership of
the Sea(Scldcn,.6a):cpistlc
dcdicatoricbyNcdham,xxii n.,
xxviiin,xlvxlvi n,.,lxxxiii,
lrontispiccclrom, ii,Holliss
notcson,lxxii n.6,,lxxiii,
lxxxiina.6
rangc,Ncdhamonpowcrsol
houscol,,a,,,.ca,
.n.c,.6nc6
originsolalljustpowcrinthc
pcoplc,,c,
rlcans,Frcnchhouscol,6
ostracism,.c.
T he Pacquet-Boat Advice(Ncdham,
.6,),lxxxiv naa
Painc,Tom,lxxxiv
Palatinatc,.c
PapistsandPapacy,lxviii,lxxviii,
,,,,,,,.c,.6n.,
.6n66,.
Parkcr,Hcnry,.n
Parliamcnt:armysupportlor dis
solutionolRumpandcstab
lishmcntolrcgularclcctions,
xxxviixxxviii,8arcboncs
Parliamcnt(.6),xxi,calumnia
tion,lcarol,.nc, Excellencie
asmanilcstolorclcctionsol
.66,lli,lvi,LongParliamcnt
(.6c.6a),xvixvii,l,Ncdham
vcrsusHowcllonoriginsol
Commons,6,,provincialism
ollcadcrsin.6cs,xxvi,Roman
Scnatc,Ncdhamscomparison
to,xxxiiixxxiv,rottcnbor
oughs,8aronandHollison,lxvi,
unicamcralism,Ncdhamon,xix,
xxxiii,lxxx,lxxxiv,lxxxixxc,xcii,
xcv. See alsoRumpParliamcnt
Parma,,
Parmcnio,6
particsandlactions,drivingol,
..,.
PasscrimoolMantua,a
patcrnaloriginsolgovcrnmcnt,
,c,.
PaulusAcmilius,.,n.
PcaccolRyswick(.6,),lviii
PcdroolSpain,.anaac
Pcloponncsianwars,c.
thcpcoplc,conscntol:originsol
govcrnmcntin,,.,,tyranny
avoidcdby,6
thcpcoplc,originsolalljustpowcr
in,,c,
thcpcoplcasbcstkccpcrsolown
libcrtics,.a.,accountability
!ndcx
<
ac
olgovcrnmcntalpowcrs,6,
.cnaac,inAmcricanhistory,
xc,xciv,xcv,conqucrcdparticsin
lrccstatcscstablishcdbycon
qucst,contcntmcntol,.,,
goodandcascolthcpcoplc,cnd
olgovcrnmcntas,aa,,a.,
luxury,lrccstatcslcssinclincd
to,.,asnaturalcondition
olhumankind,a,nobility
olspiritcngcndcrcdby,a,a,
6,rcgularclcctions(succcs
sioninpowcr),valucol,a.a,
tyranny,asbcstmcansolavoid
ing,6,a. See alsocrrors
andrulcsolgovcrnmcntand
policy,objcctionstogovcrnmcnt
olthcpcoplc,answcrcd
thcpcoplc,Ncdhamsconccptol,
xxxixxxiii,xxxvixxxvii
Pcpin(kingolFrancc),..naac
A Perfect Diurnall; or, Occurrences of
Certain Military Aairs(.6),
xlviin,
Pcriclcs,.6
pctalism,.c.
Pctcr,rstpistlcol,,
Pharamond(kingolFrancc),,,
..naac
Pharsalia(Lucan),.an.c
PhilipthcMaccdonian,.c
PhilippcdcCommyncs,..
Philip!!(kingolSpain),.,,
Phillips,dward,lxi
Phocion,6,
Pilatc,.c,
T he Pillars of Priestcraft and Ortho-
doxy Shaken(8aron,cd.,.,a),
lxiiilxiv
Pisa,a,..
Pistratus/Pisistratus,.6,,,.ca,
..
Plutarchs Lives,.cn,.6,an,n,6,,
6,,n,a,
Pocock,J.G.A.,ci
Poland,.,.anaac,.,.n
policyandgovcrnmcnt,crrorsand
rulcsol. Seecrrorsandrulcsol
govcrnmcntandpolicy
T he Political Register(.thccntury
pcriodical),lxviiin.c
Politics(Aristotlc),civ,6an,n,an,

Politicus. See Mercurius Politicus,

Ncdhamscditorshipol
Pompcy,lxxxvinac,acn,aa,a,6,
.,,..
Pomponius,.c
Ponct,John,lxxix
popularasscmblics,Roman,Ncd
hamsvalorizationol,xxxiiixxxv,
xxxvi,xlv,liii,xc,xci,.,.,a6,6c,
6,66,.,6,,c,.,6
populismolNcdham,lxxxlxxxi,
lxxxixxc,xcviii. See alsocntricsat
pcoplc
Porscna,..
Portugal,6,,,.anaac,.a
PractorianGuard,a
Prcsbytcrianism:Charlcs!!and
ScottishPrcsbytcrs,.n.,
.,cn,in Excellencie,lvi,laction
drivcnby,.,n.,,in Mercurius
Politicus,xliii,Ncdhamsavcrsion
to,xxixxii,xliii,inNcdhams
Case,xx,Papismcomparcd,
.,rcasonsolstatcprclcrrcd
bclorcrulcsolhoncsty,
.,cn
Prcston,Captain,trialol,xciii
Pricc,Richard,xcix
Pridc,Thomas,xvii
PridcsPurgc(.6),xvii,xxvxxvi,
xxxviii
ac6
<
!ndcx
T he Prince(Machiavclli,..),xxix,
xl,xli,..n,.ac,.an
promiscs,violationsol. Seehoncsty
anddcccit
propcrtyrights:contcntionbctwccn
Romanscnatcandpcoplcrcgard
ing,6,inFrancc,.n.,
objcctiontogovcrnmcntolthc
pcoplcbascdonlcvcllingol,
a
propricty,objcctiontogovcrnmcnt
olthcpcoplcbascdonconlusion
ol,a
ProtcstantRclormation,,,,.c,
.6cn,.
Psammcticus,..
Publicola(Publius\alcriusPubli
cola),,
Puritans,xxiv,xxvi,xlv,xlvi n,.,xlvii,
liv,xci na,,n,,
Pym,John,lxx
Quincy,Josiah,Jr.,xciiixciv
QuintiusHortcnsius,.na
rapcolLucrccc,c,.,cn
T he Readie and Easie Way to Estab-
lish a Free Commonwealth, and the
Excellence T hereof(Milton,.66c),
xlv
rcasonsolstatcprclcrrcdbclorc
rulcsolhoncsty,.c,.,cn
Rclormation,,,,.c,.6cn,
.
rcligion:annualrcmcmbranccs
olcxccutionolCharlcs!and
rcstorationolCharlcs!!,lxviii,
8aronandHollison,lxvi,crrorol
dividingstatcintocivilandccclc
siasticalpolitics,,,,.6cn,
.6n6,intolcranccascrrorin
govcrnmcntpolicy,.,in
Mercurius Politicus,xliii,Prot
cstantRclormation,,,,.c,
.6cn,.,Puritans,xxiv,xxvi,
xlv,xlvin,.,xlvii,liv,xci na,
,n,,,RomanCatholicism,
lxviii,lxxviii,,,,,,,,
.c,.6n.,.6n66,.,
scparationolchurchandstatc,in
Mercurius Politicus,xliii,Spain,
Cromwcllswarwith,liii.See also
Prcsbytcrianism,Scripturcs
Reliquiae Wottonianae(Votton,
.6.),.6n6,
Rcnaissancccommcntaricsonclas
sicalauthors,.,thccnturyuscol,
civ
rcpublicanism:ol8aron,lxxv, Excel-
lencierccasting,lvilvii,Hollis
and,lxxvlxxxiii,Ncdhamand
Hallintroducingconccptol,xx,
NcdhamasdisciplcolMachia
vcllircgarding,xxx,Ncdhams
importanccindcvclopmcntol
conccptsol,cicii. See alsolrcc
statc
rcpublicationol Excellenciein
.,6,,x,xv,lviicii,8aronsand
Hollissrcpublicationsol.,th
ccnturyworks,lxiilxxiv,Harris
andMacaulaysapprcciationol,
lxxxiiilxxxiv,Hollisandrcpub
licanismol,lxxvlxxxiii,Holliss
intcrcstinNcdham,lxxiilxxiii,
lxxiv,lackolprioritygivcnby
Hollisto,lxxivlxxv,Mercurius
Politicusand,lxxiii n.6,prcl
acc(by8aron),lxxii,lxxivlxxv,
lxxxii,xciii,.ac,prcparation
lorprcss,lxxiilxxiv,rcccp
tionin.thandacthccnturics,
xcixcii,rcccptioninAmcrica,
lxxxvixcvi,rcccptionin
!ndcx
<
ac,
8ritain,lxxxiiilxxxvi,rcccp
tioninFrancc,xcvixcix,tcxtual
cmcndationsto.66cditionby,
.ca,titlcpagc,.a,Toland
publications,Ncdhamsworksnot
includcdin,lviilxii
rcsistancc,rightol,lxxix
T he Retired Mans Meditation(\anc,
.6),li,.a
Richard!!(kingolngland),
.anaac
Richard!!!(kingolngland),lvi,
a,.c
Rights of the Kingdom(Sadlcr,.6),
,
Robbins,Carolinc,lxi,lxii,lxvi,
lxxxiii
Roman Antiquities(ionysiusol
Halicarnassus),6n
RomanCatholicism,lxviii,lxxviii,
,,,,,,,.c,.6n.,
.6n66,.
Romania,..
Romc,ancicnt. Seeclassicalworld
Romulus,...,..anaac
Rosinus,Johanncs,civ
rottcnboroughs,8aronandHollis
on,lxvi
Rousscau,JcanJacqucs,xcviii
royalists: Excellenciesappcalto,lvi,
6,inFrancc,!taly,andScotland,
xxix,Lcvcllcrsattcmptingto
makccommoncauscwith,lvi,
Ncdhamcmploycdby,xxiiixxiv,
Vorccstcr,dclcatat(.6.),xviii,
xxvii.See also8ritishmonarchy,
Charlcs!,objcctionstogovcrn
mcntolthcpcoplc,answcrcd
Rubicon,crossingol,.,
rulcsolgovcrnmcntandpolicy.See
crrorsandrulcsolgovcrnmcnt
andpolicy
RumpParliamcnt(.6.6,.6):
Actdcclaring8ritishCom
monwcalth,xviii,army,split
with,xviiixix,xxxvii,classical
GrccccandRomc,comparcdto,
xxviii,xxxiiixxxiv,Cook,John,
appointcdasprosccutionintrial
olCharlcs!,lxiii,dissolutionand
cstablishmcntolrcgularclcc
tions,prcssurclor,xxxviixxxviii,
Excellencieand,l,liv,cxpulsion,
rcstoration,andcndol,xxi,xlii,
intcrnationalscllasscrtionol,
xxviixxviii,lxxiii,Lilburncs
vicwol,xxxvxxxvi, Mercurius
Politicusand,xxvi,xxvii,xxviii,
xxxviixxxix,xli,xlii,oathol
allcgiancctoCommonwcalth
rcquircdby,.n,originsolnamc,
xvii,thcpcoplc,conccptol,
xxxii,sword,powcrol,xixxx
Russia,contrololmilitiain,a
Sabincs,.c
Sadlcr,John,,n
Sallust,xlvn,.,.6,,n
Samnitcs,
Samson Agonistes(Milton,.6,.),lxix
Samucl(biblicalprophct),,a
Sancho!!olPortugal,.anaac
Saturnalia(Macrobius),.,n6
Saul(biblicalking),,a,,.c,
Savonarola,a,a,.ca
Savoy,,
Scipio,.6,a,6a,6,
Scot,Thomas,lxvii
Scotland,xviii,xx,xxix,.n,
.n.,.,cn,.a,.
Scott,Valtcr,xli n,,xli n,.n
Scripturcs: Excellencie,biblical
rclcrcnccsin,,c,,,6,,,.c,,
.an,..naac,PharisccsinJohn
ac
<
!ndcx
a:,PrcsbytcrsandPapists
comparcdto,.6,Prcsbytcrsand
Papistson,.
Scldcn,John,lxxxvi. See also Of the
Dominion, or, Ownership of the Sea
(Scldcn,.6a)
scllaggrandizcmcnt,prcvcnting,
,.cnac,.,,
scnatc,Roman:accountability
ol,.naac,carcinclcctions,
illustratingimportanccol,.cc,
civildisscnsionsandtumults
undcr,.,na,,distinctionollrcc
statclromrulcby,xxviii,...a,
.,.6n.6c,lrccpcoplc,compli
anccwith,,lrccstatcsnccdlor
institutionparallclto,xxxvi,xc,
.,ashcrcditarybody,.n.,
honcstyol,..ac,propcrty
rights,contcntionrcgarding,
6,scparationolpowcrs,
lailurcol,...,traininginarms
andcontrololmilitiaundcr,
c.
scnatc,\cnctian. See\cnicc
scparationolchurchandstatc,in
Mercurius Politicus,xliii
scparationolpowcrs,Adamsand
Ncdhamon,lxxxixxcii,.c.
A Sermon Preached before his Excel-
lency John Hancock(Coopcr,.,c),
xcic na6
Sctho(Pharaoh),..
Scxby,dward,xciii
Slorzalamily,..,.n.c
Shakcspcarc,Villiam,an
ShaysRcbcllion,Massachusctts
(.,,),lxxxix
A Short History of the English Rebel-
lion(Ncdham,.66c),lxxxiv naa
Sicily,,.ca,..,.,,,..
Sidncy,Algcrnon:Amcricansinu
cnccdby,lxx,lxxxvi,xciv,xcvxcvi,
on8ritishCommonwcalths
intcrnationalscllasscrtion,xxviii,
classicalrcpublicanism,monar
chicalassumptionsol,lxxvii,cxc
cutionlortrcasonol,lxiv,Frcnch
inucnccol,xcvi,Godwins
intcrcstin,c,Hollissadmiration
lormoralqualiticsol,lxxxilxxxii,
Macaulayon,lxxxiv,Ncdham
comparcd,ix,x,lxxiv,xciii,cii,.a,
rcsistancc,rightol,lxxix,Vhig
rcpublicationolpoliticalworks
ol,lvii,lxi,lxiii,lxv,lxix,lxxlxxi,
lxxiv,lxxvlxxvi,lxxx,xcviii,
Vilkcsand,lxxxvi nac
Sidncy,SirPhilip,an,.an.c,
.n.c
Sicna,...,.an.c,.,,
Sigonius,Carolus,civ
SimonMagus,.,
slandcr(calumniation),avoiding,
6.6,.cc.c.
SocictylorConstitutional!nlorma
tion,lxxxv
Sodcrino,an,6,a,.ca,..
Solomon,.c,
Solon,,..
Somers Tracts(Scott,.c6..),
xlin,,xli n,.n
Som Somber Inspections made into the
Cariage and Consults of the Late-
Long Parliament(Howcll,.6),
xlviixlix,n
Spain:accountabilityolkingsin,
.anaac,ancicntstatcol,.n,,
conqucrcdparticsinlrccstatcs
cstablishcdbyconqucst,contcnt
mcntol,..a,Consalvusthc
Grcat,downlallol,6,Crom
wcllswarwith,liii,liv,utch
Scripturcs(continued )
!ndcx
<
ac
Rcpublicswarolindcpcndcncc
with,.,,.c,.,,lorcigninu
cnccol,..,.,n.,,..a,gcn
cralwickcdncssolmonarchsol,
.,scparationolpowcrs,lailurc
ol,..a,unitingolkingdomsinto,
,,,..a,..a
Sparta(Laccdcmonia):conqucrcd
particsinlrccstatcscstablishcd
byconqucst,contcntmcntol,.,,
crrorsandrulcsolgovcrnmcnt
andpolicyillustratcdby,.c.,..c,
lrccstatcin,..,hcrcditarynobil
ityin,.,,Ncdhamsallusions
to,xxxiii,ciii nc,objcctions
againstgovcrnmcntolthcpcoplc,
answcrcdbycxamplclrom,.,,,
,thcpcoplcasbcstkccpcrsol
libcrtyin,,,,.anaac
Spcnccr,arlol(undcrHcnry!!!),
..6
standingarmicscontrovcrsy,lviii
lix,lx,lxxviilxxviii,xcii na,
cinc,.6nc6
Stanlcy,Thomas,arlolcrby
(kingolMann),6
statc:scparationolchurchand,in
Mercurius Politicus,xliii.See also
constitutionalissucs,clcctions,
crrorsandrulcsolgovcrnmcnt
andpolicy,lrccstatc,objcctions
togovcrnmcntolthcpcoplc,
answcrcd,pcoplcasbcstkccpcrs
olownlibcrty
Stcphcns,Villiam,lxxix
Stcrry,Pctcr,.
St.PaulsCathcdral,London,,
Strcatcr,John,xxxi n,livlv
succcssionolpowcr. Seeclcctions
Suctonius,ac
A Survay of the Signorie of Venice
(Howcll,.6.),.nac,
Swcdcn,.
Switzcrland,6,,6,,,,.
n.c,.nac,,.,
sword,powcrol,xixxx,lii
Sydncy,Algcrnon. SeeSidncy,
Algcrnon
Sylla,lxxxvinac,aa,a,,,.,,
6,6,.,,.,,,.ca
Syracusa,,
Tacitus,xl,lxxxi,,.c.n
Tarquins(Latinkings),xxvi,xxxv,
.c,.,,,,c,,c,,.c,
...,..,..
Tcrcntius\arro,.,n.
Thclwall,John,lxxxvina.
Thcmistoclcs,.6,6a,6,
thcocracy,,.,a
ThomasHollisLibrary,viiviii.See
alsoHollis,Thomas
Thompson,Jamcs,lxx n.
Thou,JacqucsAugustcdc(Thua
nus),.c
Thoughts on Government(Adams,
.,,6),lxx
Thuanus( JacqucsAugustcdc
Thou),.c
Thurloc,John,xli n,xlvi,xlvii n,,,
lv,lvin
Titus(Romancmpcror),c,..
Toland,John:chccks,conccptol,
xcii na,classicalrcpublican
ism,monarchicalassumptions
ol,lxxvii,onGloriousRcvolu
tion(.6),lxxviiilxxix,Hollis
inucnccdby,lxxvi,lxxxi,Milton
biographyand Amyntor,lxi,lxv,
lxxiv,lxxxv naa,xcviii,Ncd
hamand,lix,lxxvii,onpopular
rcsponsctorcgicidcsol.66c6a,
lxix,rcpublicationol.,thccntury
worksby,lviilxii,xcv
a.c
<
!ndcx
tolcrationolrcligiousopinion,
.
Torics,lvii,lx,lxixlxx,lxxix
trcason,.ca
Trcnchard,John,lviiilix,lxiii,lxxix,
xcii na
tribuncs,Roman,Ncdhams
valorizationol,xxxiiixxxv,xxxvi,
xlv,liii,xc,xci,.,.,a6,6c,6,
66,.,6,,c,.,6
Triumviratcs,xxxviii n.,lxxxvi nac,
ac,aa,.,...6
The True Character of a Rigid
Presbyter(Ncdham,.66.),
xxin.a
The True Portraiture of the Kings of
England(Parkcr,.6c),.n
The True Sentiments of America
(Adams,.,6),lxxxvii na
A True State of the Case of the Com-
monwealth(Ncdham,.6),
xlvixlvii,xlix,xci
Turgot,AnncRobcrtJacqucs,xcix
Turpilianum,.c.
Tuscans,classicalstatcol,,..,
.6n,,.c
TwclvcTablcs,Lawol,6c
Two Treatises of Government(Lockc,
.6),Hollis8aroncdition(.,6)
ol,lxx
unicamcralismolNcdham,xix,
xxxiii,lxxx,lxxxiv,lxxxixxc,xcii,
xcv
UnitcdKingdom. Seecntricsat
8ritish
UnitcdProvinccs.Seeutch
Rcpublic
UnitcdStatcs. SeeAmcricaand
AmcricanRcvolution
Upright Mans Vindication(Lilburnc,
.6),xxxviiin.,xlin
\alcncia,..
\alcriusMaximus,.c
\alcriusPublicola(Publius\alcrius
Publicola),,
\alcsius,6
\andals,..
\anc,SirHcnry,li,liv,lxxxvi,.a
\cians,.,a,n.
\cnicc:conqucrcdparticsinlrcc
statcscstablishcdbyconqucst,
contcntmcntol,..,crrorsand
rulcsolgovcrnmcntandpolicy
rclcrcnccdbycxamplcol,,
.c,...,.6.n.,.6.n6,.6
6nc6,.66n6,,.6n6,
aslrccstatc,..,.,hcrcditaryno
bilityol,.,,,Ncdhamsallusions
to,xxxiii,xlviii,lvii,objcctions
againstgovcrnmcntolthcpcoplc,
answcrcdbycxamplcol,.na,
.6na,,pcoplcasbcstkccpcrsol
libcrtyin,,,.n.c,.nac,,
.anaac
\cspasian(Romancmpcror),6,..
violationsollaith,promiscs,and
cngagcmcnts. Seehoncstyand
dcccit
\irginus,a,6c
Virtue the Basis of Publick Happiness
(Milncr,.,,),lx n.ca
\olsci,.c
votingrights,importanccolmain
taining,. See alsoclcctions
Vox Plebis, or, The Peoples Out-Cry
Against Oppression, Injustice, and
Tyranny(Ncdham,.66),xxvii,
xxxi,xxxiv,xxxv,xxxix
A Voyce from the Watch Tower(Lud
low,.6.6),lix n
Valdcnsians,.
Valcs,.a
!ndcx
<
a..
Valpolc,Horacc,lxii,lxxxii na.
Varrington,Hcnry8ooth,Hcnry,
Lordclamcrcandarlol,
lxxixnacc
VarsolthcRoscs,xliixliii,.,.,
.,66
Varwick,RichardNcvillc,arlol
(thcKingmakcr),xliii,xlviii,.,.
Vcbstcr,Noah,lxxiii n.6
Vcnccslaus(kingol8ohcmia),
.anaac
Vhigs:canonolVhiglitcraturc,
placcolNcdhamin,x,lix n,
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