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estates； so he injure not the right of any other。 Over the rest of the
people； if there were any that consented not to the war； and over
the children of the captives themselves or the possessions of either
he has no power； and so can have； by virtue of conquest； no lawful
title himself to dominion over them； or derive it to his posterity；
but is an aggressor； and puts himself in a state of war against
them； and has no better a right of principality； he； nor any of his
successors； than Hingar； or Hubba； the Danes； had here in England；
or Spartacus； had be conquered Italy； which is to have their yoke cast
off as soon as God shall give those under their subjection courage and
opportunity to do it。 Thus； notwithstanding whatever title the kings
of Assyria had over Judah； by the sword； God assisted Hezekiah to
throw off the dominion of that conquering empire。 〃And the Lord was
with Hezekiah； and he prospered； wherefore he went forth； and he
rebelled against the king of Assyria； and served him not〃 （II Kings
18。 7）。 Whence it is plain that shaking off a power which force； and
not right； hath set over any one； though it hath the name of
rebellion； yet is no offence before God； but that which He allows
and countenances； though even promises and covenants； when obtained by
force； have intervened。 For it is very probable； to any one that reads
the story of Ahaz and Hezekiah attentively； that the Assyrians subdued
Ahaz； and deposed him； and made Hezekiah king in his father's
lifetime； and that Hezekiah； by agreement； had done him homage； and
paid him tribute till this time。
Chapter XVII
Of Usurpation
197。 As conquest may be called a foreign usurpation； so usurpation
is a kind of domestic conquest； with this difference… that an
usurper can never have right on his side； it being no usurpation but
where one is got into the possession of what another has right to。
This； so far as it is usurpation； is a change only of persons； but not
of the forms and rules of the government； for if the usurper extend
his power beyond what； of right； belonged to the lawful princes or
governors of the commonwealth； it is tyranny added to usurpation。
198。 In all lawful governments the designation of the persons who
are to bear rule being as natural and necessary a part as the form
of the government itself； and that which had its establishment
originally from the people… the anarchy being much alike； to have no
form of government at all； or to agree that it shall be monarchical；
yet appoint no way to design the person that shall have the power
and be the monarch… all commonwealths； therefore； with the form of
government established； have rules also of appointing and conveying
the right to those who are to have any share in the public
authority； and whoever gets into the exercise of any part of the power
by other ways than what the laws of the community have prescribed hath
no right to be obeyed； though the form of the commonwealth be still
preserved； since he is not the person the laws have appointed； and；
consequently； not the person the people have consented to。 Nor can
such an usurper； or any deriving from him； ever have a title till
the people are both at liberty to consent； and have actually
consented； to allow and confirm in him the power he hath till then
usurped。
Chapter XVIII
Of Tyranny
199。 As usurpation is the exercise of power which another hath a
right to； so tyranny is the exercise of power beyond right； which
nobody can have a right to； and this is making use of the power any
one has in his hands； not for the good of those who are under it；
but for his own private； separate advantage。 When the governor；
however entitled； makes not the law； but his will； the rule； and his
commands and actions are not directed to the preservation of the
properties of his people； but the satisfaction of his own ambition；
revenge； covetousness； or any other irregular passion。
200。 If one can doubt this to be truth or reason because it comes
from the obscure hand of a subject； I hope the authority of a king
will make it pass with him。 King James； in his speech to the
Parliament； 16O3； tells them thus： 〃I will ever prefer the weal of the
public and of the whole commonwealth； in making of good laws and
constitutions； to any particular and private ends of mine； thinking
ever the wealth and weal of the commonwealth to be my greatest weal
and worldly felicity… a point wherein a lawful king doth directly
differ from a tyrant； for I do acknowledge that the special and
greatest point of difference that is between a rightful king and an
usurping tyrant is this… that whereas the proud and ambitious tyrant
doth think his kingdom and people are only ordained for satisfaction
of his desires and unreasonable appetites； the righteous and just king
doth； by the contrary； acknowledge himself to be ordained for the
procuring of the wealth and property of his people。〃 And again； in his
speech to the Parliament； 1609； he hath these words： 〃The king binds
himself； by a double oath； to the observation of the fundamental
laws of his kingdom… tacitly； as by being a king； and so bound to
protect； as well the people as the laws of his kingdom； and
expressly by his oath at his coronation； so as every just king； in a
settled kingdom； is bound to observe that paction made to his
people； by his laws； in framing his government agreeable thereunto；
according to that paction which God made with Noah after the deluge：
'Hereafter； seed…time； and harvest； and cold； and heat； and summer；
and winter； and day； and night； shall not cease while the earth
remaineth。' And therefore a king； governing in a settled kingdom；
leaves to be a king； and degenerates into a tyrant； as soon as he
leaves off to rule according to his laws。〃 And a little after：
〃Therefore； all kings that are not tyrants； or perjured； will be
glad to bound themselves within the limits of their laws； and they
that persuade them the contrary are vipers； pests； both against them
and the commonwealth。〃 Thus； that learned king； who well understood
the notions of things； makes the difference betwixt a king and a
tyrant to consist only in this： that one makes the laws the bounds
of his power and the good of the public the end of his government； the
other makes all give way to his own will and appetite。
201。 It is a mistake to think this fault is proper only to
monarchies。 Other forms of government are liable to it as well as
that； for wherever the power that is put in any hands for the
government of the people and the preservation of their properties is
applied to other ends； and made use of to impoverish； harass； or
subdue them to the arbitrary and irregular commands of those that have
it； there it presently becomes tyranny； whether those that thus use it
are one or many。 Thus we read of the thirty tyrants at Athens； as well
as one at Syracuse； and the intolerable dominion of the Decemviri at
Rome was nothing be