the republicans and to the royalists. By this principle, the
republicans maintained the right of Cromwell, since his
authority was established, while it absolved the royalists
from their burdensome allegiance; for, according to "The
Leviathan," Charles was the English monarch only when in a
condition to force obedience; and, to calm tender consciences,
the philosopher further fixed on that precise point of time,
"when a subject may obey an unjust conqueror." After the
Restoration, it was subtilely urged by the Hobbists, that this
very principle had greatly served the royal cause; for it
afforded a plea for the emigrants to return, by compounding
for their estates, and joining with those royalists who had
remained at home in an open submission to the established
government; and thus they were enabled to concert their
measures in common, for reinstating the old monarchy. Had the
Restoration never taken place, Hobbes would have equally
insisted on the soundness of his doctrine; he would have
asserted the title of Richard Cromwell to the Protectorate, if
Richard had had the means to support it, as zealously as he
afterwards did that of Charles II. to the throne, when the
king had firmly re-established it. The philosophy of Hobbes,
therefore, is not dangerous in any government; its sole aim is
to preserve it from intestine divisions; but for this purpose,
he was for reducing men to mere machines. With such little
respect he treated the species, and with such tenderness the
individual!

I will give Hobbes's own justification, after the Restoration
of Charles II., when accused by the great mathematician,
Dr. Wallis, a republican under Cromwell, of having written
his work in defence of Oliver's government. Hobbes does not
deny that "he placed the right of government wheresoever
should be the strength." Most subtilely he argues, how this
very principle "was designed in behalf of the faithful
subjects of the king," after they had done their utmost to
defend his rights and person. The government of Cromwell
being established, these found themselves without the
protection of a government of their own, and therefore
might lawfully promise