The Excellencie of a Free-State: Or, The Right Constitution of a Commonwealth

Contents

contents  The Thomas Hollis Library, by David Womersley vii Preface ix Acknowledgments xi Abbreviations xiii Introduction xv Marchamont Nedham and the English Republic xvi Nedham and Mercurius Politicus xxv Nedham and The Excellencie (1656) xliv The Republication of The Excellencie (1767) lvii The Reception of the Republication lxxxiii Nedham and His Classical Sources ciii The Text and the Notes cvii The Excellencie of a Free-State 1 To the Reader 5 vi  Contents An Introduction to the Following Discourse 8 The Right Constitution of a Commonwealth 19 All Objections Against the Government of the People, Answered 47 The Original of All Just Power Is in the People 70 Errours of Government; And Rules of Policie 75 Appendix A: The Edition of 1656 127 Textual Emendations 127 Advertisement 128 Appendix B: The Edition of 1767 129 Title Page 129 The Preface 129 Textual Adjustments 130 Appendix C: Corresponding Passages of Mercurius Politicus 133 The Endnotes 133 Three Other Editorials 174 Index 189 ...