TO MY MOST HONOR’D FRIEND Mr. FRANCIS GODOLPHIN of GODOLPHIN
To my most honored friend, Mr. Francis Godolphin of Godolphin
HONOR’D SIR.
Honored Sir.
Your most worthy Brother Mr SIDNEY GODOLPHIN, when he lived, was pleas’d to think my studies something, and otherwise to oblige me, as you know, with reall testimonies of his good opinion, great in themselves, and the greater for the worthinesse of his person. For there is not any vertue that disposeth a man, either to the service of God, or to the service of his Country, to Civill Society, or private Friendship, that did not manifestly appear in his conversation, not as acquired by necessity, or affected upon occasion, but inhaerent, and shining in a generous constitution of his nature. Therefore in honour and gratitude to him, and with devotion to your selfe, I humbly Dedicate unto you this my discourse of Common-wealth. I know not how the world will receive it, nor how it may reflect on those that shall seem to favour it. For in a way beset with those that contend on one side for too great Liberty, and on the other side for too much Authority, ’tis hard to passe between the points of both unwounded. But yet, me thinks, the endeavour to advance the Civill Power, should not be by the Civill Power condemned; nor private men, by reprehending it, declare they think that Power too great. Besides, I speak not of the men, but (in the Abstract) of the Seat of Power, (like to those simple and unpartiall creatures in the Roman Capitol, that with their noyse defended those within it, not because they were they, but there) offending none, I think, but those without, or such within (if there be any such) as favour them. That which perhaps may most offend, are certain Texts of Holy Scripture, alledged by me to other purpose than ordinarily they use to be by others. But I have done it with due submission, and also (in order to my Subject) necessarily; for they are the Outworks of the Enemy, from whence they impugne the Civill Power. If notwithstanding this, you find my labour generally decryed, you may be pleased to excuse your selfe, and say that I am a man that love my own opinions, and think all true I say, that I honoured your Brother, and honour you, and have presum’d on that, to assume the Title (without your knowledge) of being, as I am,
Your most worthy brother, Mr. Sidney Godolphin, while he lived, was pleased to think my studies worth something. He also obliged me in other ways, as you know, with real proofs of his good opinion. These were great in themselves, and greater for the worth of the man who gave them. Every virtue that inclines a man to serve God or his country, or to civil society or private friendship, appeared clearly in his conduct. These virtues were not acquired out of necessity or put on for the occasion. They were inborn, and they shone in the generous makeup of his nature. Therefore, in honor and gratitude to him, and with devotion to you, I humbly dedicate to you this discourse of mine on the Common-wealth. I do not know how the world will receive it, nor how it may reflect on those who seem to favor it. The way is crowded with people who fight on one side for too much Liberty and on the other side for too much Authority. So it is hard to pass between the points of both without being wounded. And yet, it seems to me, an effort to advance the Civil Power should not be condemned by the Civil Power. Nor should private men, by criticizing that effort, declare that they think that Power too great. Besides, I do not speak of the men who hold power, but (in the abstract) of the Seat of Power. I am like those simple and impartial creatures in the Roman Capitol, which defended those inside it with their noise. They did so not because of who those people were, but because they were there. Like them, I offend no one, I think, except those outside, or those inside (if there are any such) who favor them. What perhaps may offend most are certain texts of Holy Scripture, which I have cited for a different purpose than others usually do. But I have done it with due submission. I have also done it out of necessity, given my subject. For those texts are the Enemy's outer fortifications, from which they attack the Civil Power. If, despite this, you find my work generally condemned, you may be pleased to excuse yourself. You may say that I love my own opinions and think all that I say is true. You may say that I honored your brother and honor you, and that I presumed on that to take the title (without your knowledge) of being, as I am,
Sir,
Sir,
Your most humble, and most obedient servant, Thomas Hobbes.
Your most humble and obedient servant, Thomas Hobbes.
Paris APRILL 15/25 1651.
Paris, April 15/25, 1651.