CHAP. XI.
Whether there be not an Agrarian, or som Law or Laws of that nature, to supply the defect of it in every Commonwealth: and whether the Agrarian, as it is stated in Oceana, be not equal and satis∣factory to all Interests.
IN this Chapter the Prevaricator's Devices are the most welfavor'd: for wheras the Agrarian of Oceana dos no more than pin the basket, which is already fill'd, he gets up into the Tree where the Birds have long since eaten all the Cherrys, and with what Clouts he can rake up, makes a most ridiculous Scarcrow. This pains he needed not to have taken, if he had not slighted overmuch the Lexicon, of which he allows me to be the Author; yet will have it, that he understood the words before, som of which nevertheless his ill understanding requires should be further interpreted in this place, as Property, Balance, Agrarian, and Levelling.
PROPERTY is that which is every mans own by the Law of the Land; and of this there is nothing stir'd, but all intirely left as it was found by the Agrarian of Oceana.
PROPERTY in Mony (except, as has bin shewn, in Citys that have little or no Territory) coms not to the present account. But Pro∣perty in Land, according to the distribution that happens to be of the same, causes the political Balance producing Empire of the like nature: that is, if the Property in Lands be so diffus'd thro the whole People, that neither one Landlord, nor a few Landlords overbalance them, the Empire is popular. If the Property in Lands be so ingrost by the Few, that they overbalance the whole People, the Empire is Aristocratical, or mix'd Monarchy; but if Property in Lands be in one Landlord, to such a proportion as overbalances the whole People, the Empire is absolute Monarchy. So the political Balance is threefold, Democrati∣cal, Aristocratical, and Monarchical.
EACH of these Balances may be introduc'd either by the Legisla∣tor at the institution of the Government, or by civil Vicissitude, Alie∣nation, or Alteration of Property under Government.
EXAMPLES of the Balance introduc'd at the Institution, and by the Legislator, are first those in Israel and Lacedemon, introduc'd by GOD or MOSES, and LYCURGUS, which were Democratical or Popular. Secondly, Those in England, France and Spain, intro∣duc'd by the Goths, Vandals, Saxons, and Franks, which were Aristo∣cratical, or such as produc'd the Government of King, Lords, and Commons. Thirdly, Those in the East and Turky, introduc'd by NIMROD, and MAHOMET or OTTOMAN, which were pure∣ly Monarchical.
EXAMPLES of the Balance introduc'd by civil Vicissitude, Alie∣nation, or Alteration of Property under Government, are in Florence,