immunIty from the laws of Lucca than a Turk has from those of
Constantinople; and to say that a Lucchese has no more liberty or
immunity by the laws of Lucca, than a Turk has by those of
Constantinople, are pretty different speeches. The first may be
said of all governments alike; the second scarce of any two; much
less of these, seeing it is known that, whereas the greatest
Bashaw is a tenant, as well of his head as of his estate, at the
will of his lord, the meanest Lucchese that has land is a
freeholder of both, and not to be controlled but by the law, and
that framed by every private man to no other end (or they may
thank themselves) than to protect the liberty of every private
man, which by that means comes to be the liberty of the
commonwealth.
But seeing they that make the laws in commonwealths are but
men, the main question seems to be, how a commonwealth comes to
be an empire of laws, and not of men? or how the debate or result
of a commonwealth is so sure to be according to reason; seeing
they who debate, and they who resolve, be but men? "And as often
as reason is against a man, so often will a man be against
reason."
This is thought to be a shrewd saying, but will do no harm;
for be it so that reason is nothing but interest, there be divers
interests, and so divers reasons.
As first, there is private reason, which is the interest of a
private man.
Secondly, there is reason of state, which is the interest (or
error, as was said by Solomon) of the ruler or rulers, that is to
say, of the prince, of the nobility, or of the people.
Thirdly there is that reason, which is the interest of
mankind, or of the whole. "Now if we see even in those natural
agents that want sense, that as in themselves they have a law
which directs them in the means whereby they tend to their own
perfection, so likewise that another law there is, which touches
them as they are sociable parts united into one body, a law which
binds them each to serve to others' good, and all to prefer the
good of the whole, before whatsoever their own particular; as
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