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

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The Excellencie of a Free-State the thomas hollis library David Womersley, General Editor  The Excellencie of a Free-State; Or,The Right Constitution of a Commonwealth Marchamont Nedham  Edited and with an Introduction by Blair Worden liberty fund Indianapolis This book is published by Liberty Fund, Inc., a foundation established to encourage study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. The cuneiform inscription that serves as our logo and as the design motif for our endpapers is the earliest-known written appearance of the word “freedom” (amagi), or “liberty.” It is taken from a clay document written about 2300 b.c. in the Sumerian city-state of Lagash. Introduction, editorial additions, and index© 2011 by Liberty Fund, Inc. All rights reserved Frontispiece: From Of the Dominion, or, Ownership of the Sea, by John Selden, 1652. Image is reproduced courtesy of The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, shelfmark Vet.A3d.163. Printed in the United States of America c 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 p 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Nedham, Marchamont, 1620–1678. The excellencie of a free-state: or, the right constitution of a commonwealth/ Marchamont Nedham; edited and with an introduction by Blair Worden. p. cm—(Thomas Hollis library) Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-0-86597-808-9 (hardcover: alk. paper) isbn 978-0-86597-809-6 (pbk.: alk. paper) 1. Political science—Early works to 1800. 2. Republicanism—Great Britain— History—17th century. 3. Great Britain—Politics and government—1642–1660. I. Womersley, David. II. Title. III. Title: The right constitution of a commonwealth. jc153.n3 2010 321.8'6—dc22 2010050874 liberty fund, inc. 8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 300 Indianapolis, Indiana 46250-1684 ...