185. Over those, then, that joined with him in the war, and over
those of the subdued country that opposed him not, and the posterity
even of those that did, the conqueror, even in a just war, hath, by
his conquest, no right of dominion. They are free from any
subjection to him, and if their former government be dissolved, they
are at liberty to begin and erect another to themselves.
186. The conqueror, it is true, usually by the force he has over
them, compels them, with a sword at their breasts, to stoop to his
conditions, and submit to such a government as he pleases to afford
them; but the inquiry is, what right he has to do so? If it be said
they submit by their own consent, then this allows their own consent
to be necessary to give the conqueror a title to rule over them. It
remains only to be considered whether promises, extorted by force,
without right, can be thought consent, and how far they bind. To which
I shall say, they bind not at all; because whatsoever another gets
from me by force, I still retain the right of, and he is obliged
presently to restore. He that forces my horse from me ought
presently to restore him, and I have still a right to retake him.
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