16. Neither do the conveniences or inconveniences which are found to be more in one kind of government than another, arise from hence, namely, because the government itself, or the administration of its affairs, are better committed to one than many; or on the other side, to many than to some few. For government is the _power_, the administration of it is the _act_. Now the _power_ in all kinds of government is equal; the _acts_ only differ, that is to say, the _actions_ and _motions_ of a commonweal, as they flow from the deliberations of many or few, of skilful or impertinent men. Whence we understand, that the conveniences or inconveniences of any government depend not on him in whom the authority resides, but on his officers; and therefore nothing hinders but that the commonweal may be well governed, although the _monarch_ be a woman, or youth, or infant, provided that they be fit for affairs who are endued with the public offices and charges. And that which is said, _woe to the land whose king is a child_, doth not signify the condition of a monarchy to be inferior to a popular state; but contrariwise, that by accident it is the grievance of a kingdom, that the _king being a child_, it often happens, that many by ambition and power intruding themselves into public councils, the government comes to be administered in a _democratical_ manner; and that thence arise those infelicities, which for the most part accompany the _dominion of the people_. [Sidenote: The power of generals is an argument of the excellency of monarchy.] 17. But it is a manifest sign that the most absolute _monarchy_ is the best state of government, that not only kings, but even those cities which are subject to the _people_ or to _nobles_, give the whole command of war to one only; and that so absolute, as nothing can be more. Wherein, by the way, this must be noted also; that no king can give a general greater authority over his army, than he himself by right may exercise over all his subjects. _Monarchy_ therefore is the best of all governments in the camps. But what else are many commonwealths, than so many camps strengthened with arms and men against each other; whose state, because not restrained by any common power, howsoever an uncertain peace, like a short truce, may pass between them, is to be accounted for the state of nature; which is the state of war. [Sidenote: The best state of a commonweal, is that where the subjects are the ruler’s inheritance.]