The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 02 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
OF THE RIGHT OF PARENTS OVER THEIR CHILDREN, AND
OF HEREDITARY GOVERNMENT.
1. Paternal dominion ariseth not from generation. 2. Dominion over
infants belongs to him or her who first hath them in their
power. 3. Dominion over infants is originally the mother’s. 4.
The exposed infant is his, from whom he receives his
preservation. 5. The child that hath one parent a subject, and
the other a sovereign, belongs to him or her in authority. 6. In
such a conjunction of man and woman, as neither hath command
over the other, the children are the mother’s, unless by compact
or civil law it be otherwise determined. 7. Children are no less
subject to their parents, than servants to their lords and
subjects to their princes. 8. Of the honour of parents and
lords. 9. Wherein liberty consists, and the difference of
subjects and servants. 10. There is the same right over subjects
in an hereditary government, which there is in an institutive
government. 11. The question concerning the right of succession
belongs only to monarchy. 12. A monarch may by his will and
testament dispose of his supreme authority: 13. Or give it, or
sell it. 14. A monarch dying without testament, is ever supposed
to will that a monarch should succeed him: 15. And some one of
his children: 16. And a male rather than female: 17. And the
eldest rather than the younger: 18. And his brother, if he want
issue, before all others. 19. In the same manner that men
succeed to the power, do they also succeed to the right of
succession.
[Sidenote: Paternal dominion ariseth not from generation.]