195. 1 will not dispute now whether princes are exempt
from the laws of their country; but this I am sure, they owe
subjection to the laws of God and nature. No body, no power, can
exempt them from the obligations of that eternal law. Those are
so great, and so strong, in the case of promises, that
omnipotency itself can be tied by them. Grants, promises, and
oaths, are bonds that hold the Almighty: whatever some flatterers
say to princes of the world, who all together, with all their
people joined to them, are, in comparison of the great God, but
as a drop of the bucket, or a dust on the balance,
inconsiderable, nothing!
Sec. 196. The short of the case in conquest is this: the
conqueror, if he have a just cause, has a despotical right over
the persons of all, that actually aided, and concurred in the war
against him, and a right to make up his damage and cost out of
their labour and 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, if he attempts upon their properties, and thereby 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 he
conquered Italy, would have had; which is to have their yoke cast
off, as soon as God shall give those under their subjection
courage and opportunity to do it.
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