The Principles of Government.

ALL government is founded upon over-balance, in propriety.

If one man hold the over-balance unto the whole people in propriety, his propriety causeth absolute monarchy.

If the few hold the over-balance unto the whole people in propriety, their propriety causeth aristocracy, or mixed monarchy.

If the whole people be neither over-balanced by the propriety of one, nor of a few, the propriety of the people, or of the many, causeth the democracy, or popular government.

The government of one against the balance, is tyranny.

The government of a few against the balance, is oligarchy.

The government of the many, (or attempt of the people to govern) against the balance, is rebellion, or anarchy.

Where the balance of propriety is equal, it causeth a state of war.

To hold, That government may be founded upon community, is to hold, that there may be a black swan, or a castle in the air; or, that what thing soever is as imaginable, as what hath been in practice, must be as practicable, as what hath been in practice.

If the over-balance of propriety be in one man, it necessitateth the form of government to be like that of Turky.

If the over-balance of propriety be in the few, it necessitateth the form of the government to be like that of king, lords, and commons.

If the people be not over-balanced by one, or a few, they are not capable of any other form of government, than that of a senate, and a popular assembly. For example, as followeth.