OF AN HOLY WAR. 135 



speculative platform, that reason and nature would 

 that the best should govern ; but not in any wise to 

 create a right. But for my part, I take it neither 

 for a brag, nor for a wish ; but for a truth as he li- 

 miteth it. For he saith, that if there can be found 

 such an inequality between man and man, as there 

 is between man and beast, or between soul and 

 body, it investeth a right of government : which 

 seemeth rather an impossible case than an untrue 

 sentence. But I hold both the judgment true, and 

 the case possible ; and such as hath had, and hath a 

 being, both in particular men and nations. But ere 

 we go farther, let us confine ambiguities and mis- 

 takings, that they trouble us not. First, to say that 

 the more capable, or the better deserver, hath such 

 right to govern, as he may compulsorily bring under 

 the less worthy, is idle. Men will never agree upon 

 it, who is the more worthy. For it is not only in 

 order of nature, for him to govern that is the more 

 intelligent, as Aristotle would have it ; but there is 

 no less required for government, courage to protect ; 

 and above all, honesty and probity of will to abstain 

 from injury. So fitness to govern is a perplexed bu 

 siness. Some men, some nations, excel in the one 

 ability, some in the other. Therefore the position 

 which I intend, is not in the comparative, that the 

 wiser, or the stouter, or the juster nation should 

 govern ; but in the privative, that where there 

 is an heap of people, though we term it a king 

 dom or state, that is altogether unable or indign 

 to govern ; there it is a just cause of war for another 



