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It is manifest, that men who are in absolute liberty, may,
if they please, give Authority to One man, to
represent them every one; as well as give such
Authority to any Assembly of men whatsoever;
and consequently may subject themselves, if they
think good, to a Monarch, as absolutely, as to any other
Representative. Therefore, where there is already erected a
Soveraign Power, there can be no other Representative of the
same people, but onely to certain particular ends, by the
Soveraign limited. For that were to erect two Soveraigns;
and every man to have his person represented by two Actors,
that by opposing one another, must needs divide that Power,
which (if men will live in Peace) is indivisible; and thereby
reduce the Multitude into the condition of Warre, contrary to
the end for which all Soveraignty is instituted. And therefore
as it is absurd, to think that a Soveraign Assembly, inviting the
People of their Dominion, to send up their Deputies, with
power to make known their Advise, or Desires, should there-
fore hold such Deputies, rather than themselves, for the absolute
Representative of the people: so it is absurd also, to think the
same in a Monarchy. And I know not how this so manifest a
truth, should of late be so little observed; that in a Monarchy,
he that had the Soveraignty from a descent of 600 years, was
alone called Soveraign, had the title of Majesty from every one
of his Subjects, and was unquestionably taken by them for their
King, was notwithstanding never considered as their Repre-
sentative; that name without contradiction passing for the title
of those men, which at his command were sent up by the people
to carry their Petitions, and give him (if he permitted it) their
advise. Which may serve as an admonition, for those that
are the true, and absolute Representative of a People, to
instruct men in the nature of that Office, and to take heed
how they admit of any other generall Representation upon
any occasion whatsoever, if they mean to discharge the trust
committed to them.

Subordi-
nate Repre-
sentatives
dangerous.

The difference between these three kindes of Common-
wealth, consisteth not in the difference of Power; but in the
difference of Convenience, or Aptitude to produce the Peace,
and Security of the people; for which end they were instituted.
And to compare Monarchy with the other two, we may observe;

-130-

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Publication Information: Book Title: Leviathan: Or, the Matter, Forme & Power of a Commonwealth, Ecclesiasticall and Civill. Contributors: Thomas Hobbes - author, A. R. Waller - editor. Publisher: Cambridge University Press. Place of Publication: Cambridge, England. Publication Year: 1904. Page Number: 130.
    
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