they know anything of it； they are beholding for it to the
accidental records that others have kept of it。 And those that we have
of the beginning of any polities in the world； excepting that of the
Jews； where God Himself immediately interposed； and which favours
not at all paternal dominion； are all either plain instances of such a
beginning as I have mentioned； or at least have manifest footsteps
of it。
102。 He must show a strange inclination to deny evident matter of
fact； when it agrees not with his hypothesis； who will not allow
that the beginning of Rome and Venice were by the uniting together
of several men； free and independent one of another； amongst whom
there was no natural superiority or subjection。 And if Josephus
Acosta's word may be taken； he tells us that in many parts of
America there was no government at all。 〃There are great and
apparent conjectures；〃 says he； 〃that these men ＇speaking of those
of Peru＇ for a long time had neither kings nor commonwealths； but
lived in troops； as they do this day in Florida… the Cheriquanas；
those of Brazil； and many other nations； which have no certain
kings； but； as occasion is offered in peace or war； they choose
their captains as they please〃 （lib。 i。 cap。 25）。 If it be said；
that every man there was born subject to his father； or the head of
his family。 that the subjection due from a child to a father took away
not his freedom of uniting into what political society he thought fit；
has been already proved； but be that as it will； these men； it is
evident； were actually free； and whatever superiority some politicians
now would place in any of them； they themselves claimed it not； but；
by consent； were all equal； till； by the same consent； they set rulers
over themselves。 So that their politic societies all began from a
voluntary union； and the mutual agreement of men freely acting in
the choice of their governors and forms of government。
103。 And I hope those who went away from Sparta； with Palantus；
mentioned by Justin； will be allowed to have been freemen
independent one of another； and to have set up a government over
themselves by their own consent。 Thus I have given several examples
out of history of people； free and in the state of Nature； that； being
met together； incorporated and began a commonwealth。 And if the want
of such instances be an argument to prove that government were not nor
could not be so begun； I suppose the contenders for paternal empire
were better let it alone than urge it against natural liberty； for
if they can give so many instances out of history of governments begun
upon paternal right； I think （though at least an argument from what
has been to what should of right be of no great force） one might；
without any great danger； yield them the cause。 But if I might
advise them in the case； they would do well not to search too much
into the original of governments as they have begun de facto； lest
they should find at the foundation of most of them something very
little favourable to the design they promote； and such a power as they
contend for。
104。 But； to conclude： reason being plain on our side that men are
naturally free； and the examples of history showing that the
governments of the world； that were begun in peace； had their
beginning laid on that foundation； and were made by the consent of the
people； there can be little room for doubt； either where the right is；
or what has been the opinion or practice of mankind about the first
erecting of governments。
105。 I will not deny that if we look back； as far as history will
direct us； towards the original of commonwealths； we shall generally
find them under the government and administration of one man。 And I am
also apt to believe that where a family was numerous enough to subsist
by itself； and continued entire together； without mixing with
others； as it often happens； where there is much land and few
people； the government commonly began in the father。 For the father
having； by the law of Nature； the same power； with every man else；
to punish； as he thought fit； any offences against that law； might
thereby punish his transgressing children； even when they were men；
and out of their pupilage； and they were very likely to submit to
his punishment； and all join with him against the offender in their
turns； giving him thereby power to execute his sentence against any
transgression； and so； in effect； make him the law…maker and
governor over all that remained in conjunction with his family。 He was
fittest to be trusted； paternal affection secured their property and
interest under his care； and the custom of obeying him in their
childhood made it easier to submit to him rather than any other。 If；
therefore； they must have one to rule them； as government is hardly to
be avoided amongst men that live together； who so likely to be the man
as he that was their common father； unless negligence； cruelty； or any
other defect of mind or body； made him unfit for it？ But when either
the father died。 and left his next heir… for want of age； wisdom；
courage； or any other qualities… less fit for rule； or where several
families met and consented to continue together； there； it is not to
be doubted； but they used their natural freedom to set up him whom
they judged the ablest and most likely to rule well over them。
Conformable hereunto we find the people of America； who… living out of
the reach of the conquering swords and spreading domination of the two
great empires of Peru and Mexico… enjoyed their own natural freedom；
though； caeteris paribus； they commonly prefer the heir of their
deceased king； yet； if they find him any way weak or incapable； they
pass him by； and set up the stoutest and bravest man for their ruler。
106。 Thus； though looking back as far as records give us any account
of peopling the world； and the history of nations； we commonly find
the government to be in one hand； yet it destroys not that which I
affirm… viz。； that the beginning of politic society depends upon the
consent of the individuals to join into and make one society； who；
when they are thus incorporated； might set up what form of
government they thought fit。 But this having given occasion to men
to mistake and think that； by Nature； government was monarchical；
and belonged to the father； it may not be amiss here to consider why
people； in the beginning； generally pitched upon this form； which；
though perhaps the father's pre…eminency might； in the first
institution of some commonwealths； give a rise to and place in the
beginning the power in one hand； yet it is plain that the reason
that continued the form of government in a single person was not any
regard or respect to paternal authority； since all petty monarchies…
that is； almost all monarchies； near their original； have been
commonly； at least upon occasion； elective。
107。 First； then； in the beginning of things； the father's
government of the childhood of those sprung from him having accustomed
them to the rule of one man； and taught them that where it was
exercised with care and skill； with affection and love to those
under it； it was sufficient to procure and preserve men （all the
political happiness they sought for in society）； it was no wonder that
they should pitch upon and naturally run into that form of
government which； from their infancy； they had been all accustomed to；
and which； by experience； they had found both easy and safe。 To
which if we add； that monarchy being simple and most obvious to men；
whom neither experience had instructed in forms of government； nor the
ambition or insolence of empire had taught to beware of the
encroachments of prerogative or the inconveniencies of absolute power；
which monarchy； in succession； was apt to lay claim to and bring
upon them； it was not at all strange that they should not much trouble
themselves to think of methods of restraining any exorbitances of
those to whom they had given the authority over them； and of balancing
the power of government by placing several parts of it in different
hands。 They had neither felt the oppression of tyrannical dominion；
nor did the fashion of the age； nor their possessions or way of
living； which afforded little matter for covetousness or ambition；
give them any reason to apprehend or provide against it； and；
therefore； it is no wonder they put themselves into such a frame of
government as was not only； as I said； most obvious and simple； but
also best suited to their present state and condition； which stood
more in need of defence against foreign invasions and injuries than of
multiplicity of laws where there was but very little property； and
wanted not variety of rulers and abundance of officers to direct and
look after their execution where there were but few trespassers and
few offenders。 Since； then； those who liked one another so well as
to join into society cannot but be supposed to have some
acquaintance and friendship together； and some trust one in another；
they could not but have greater apprehensions of others than of one
another； and； therefore； their first care and thought cannot but be
supposed to be； how to secure themselves against foreign force。 It was
natural for them to put themselves under a frame of government which
might best serve to that end； and choose the wisest and bravest man to
conduct them in their wars and lead them out against their enemies；
and in this chiefly be their ruler。
108。 Thus we see that the kings of the Indians； in America； which is
still a pattern of the first ages in Asia and Europe； whilst the
inhabitants were too few for the country； and want of people and money
gave men no temptation to enlarge their possessions of land or contest
for wider extent of ground； are little more than generals of their
armies； and though they command absolutely in war； yet at home； and in
time of peace； they exercise very little dominion； and have but a very
moderate sovereignty； the resolutions of peace and war being
ordinarily either in the people or in a counci