Since, then, those who liked one another so well as
to join into society cannot but be supposed to have some
acquaintance and friendship together, and some trust one in another,
they could not but have greater apprehensions of others than of one
another; and, therefore, their first care and thought cannot but be
supposed to be, how to secure themselves against foreign force. It was
natural for them to put themselves under a frame of government which
might best serve to that end, and choose the wisest and bravest man to
conduct them in their wars and lead them out against their enemies,
and in this chiefly be their ruler.
108. Thus we see that the kings of the Indians, in America, which is
still a pattern of the first ages in Asia and Europe, whilst the
inhabitants were too few for the country, and want of people and money
gave men no temptation to enlarge their possessions of land or contest
for wider extent of ground, are little more than generals of their
armies; and though they command absolutely in war, yet at home, and in
time of peace, they exercise very little dominion, and have but a very
moderate sovereignty, the resolutions of peace and war being
ordinarily either in the people or in a council, though the war
itself, which admits not of pluralities of governors, naturally
evolves the command into the king's sole authority.
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