9. What then, will some one demand, is the difference between a _son_, or between a _subject_ and a _servant_? Neither do I know that any writer hath fully declared what _liberty_ and what _slavery_ is. Commonly, to do all things according to our own fancies, and that without punishment, is esteemed to be _liberty_; not to be able to do this, is judged _bondage_; which in a civil government, and with the peace of mankind, cannot possibly be done; because there is no city without a command and a restraining right. _Liberty_, that we may define it, is nothing else but _an absence of the lets and hindrances of motion_; as water shut up in a vessel is therefore not at liberty, because the vessel hinders it from running out; which, the vessel being broken, is made _free_. And every man hath more or less _liberty_, as he hath more or less space in which he employs himself: as he hath more _liberty_, who is in a large, than he that is kept in a close prison. And a man may be free toward one part, and yet not toward another; as the traveller is bounded on this and that side with hedges or stone walls, lest he spoil the vines or corn neighbouring on the highway. And these kinds of lets are external and absolute. In which sense all _servants_ and _subjects_ are _free_, who are not fettered and imprisoned. There are others which are arbitrary, which do not absolutely hinder motion, but by accident, to wit, by our own choice; as he that is in a ship, is not so hindered but he may cast himself into the sea, if he will. And here also the more ways a man may move himself, the more _liberty_ he hath. And herein consists civil _liberty_; for no man, whether _subject_, _son_, or _servant_, is so hindered by the punishments appointed by the _city_, the _father_, or the _lord_, how cruel soever, but that he may do all things, and make use of all means necessary to the preservation of his life and health. For my part therefore I cannot find what reason a mere _servant_ hath to make complaints, if they relate only to want of _liberty_; unless he count it a misery to be restrained from hurting himself, and to receive that life, which by war, or misfortune, or through his own idleness was forfeited, together with all manner of sustenance, and all things necessary to the conservation of health, on this condition only, that he will be ruled. For he that is kept in by punishments laid before him, so as he dares not let loose the reins to his will in all things, is not oppressed by servitude, but is governed and sustained. But this privilege free subjects and sons of a family have above servants in every government and family where servants are; that they may both undergo the more honourable offices of the city or family, and also enjoy a larger possession of things superfluous. And herein lies the difference between a _free subject_ and a _servant_, that he is _free_ indeed, who serves his city only; but a _servant_ is he, who also serves his fellow-subject. All other