The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 03 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
REWARD, is either of _gift_, or by _contract_. When by contract, it is
called _salary_, and _wages_; which is benefit due for service
performed, or promised. When of gift, it is benefit proceeding from the
_grace_ of them that bestow it, to encourage, or enable men to do them
service. And therefore when the sovereign of a commonwealth appointeth a
salary to any public office, he that receiveth it, is bound in justice
to perform his office; otherwise, he is bound only in honour, to
acknowledgment, and an endeavour of requital. For though men have no
lawful remedy, when they be commanded to quit their private business, to
serve the public, without reward or salary; yet they are not bound
thereto, by the law of nature, nor by the institution of the
commonwealth, unless the service cannot otherwise be done; because it is
supposed the sovereign may make use of all their means, insomuch as the
most common soldier, may demand the wages of his warfare, as a debt.
[Sidenote: Benefits bestowed for fear are not rewards.]
The benefit which a sovereign bestoweth on a subject, for fear of some
power and ability he hath to do hurt to the commonwealth, are not
properly rewards; for they are not salaries; because there is in this
case no contract supposed, every man being obliged already not to do the
commonwealth disservice: nor are they graces; because they be extorted
by fear, which ought not to be incident to the sovereign power: but are
rather sacrifices, which the sovereign, considered in his natural
person, and not in the person of the commonwealth, makes, for the
appeasing the discontent of him he thinks more potent than himself; and
encourage not to obedience, but on the contrary, to the continuance, and
increasing of further extortion.
[Sidenote: Salaries certain and casual.]
And whereas some salaries are certain, and proceed from the public
treasure; and others uncertain, and casual, proceeding from the
execution of the office for which the salary is ordained; the latter is
in some cases hurtful to the commonwealth; as in the case of judicature.
For where the benefit of the judges, and ministers of a court of justice
ariseth from the multitude of causes that are brought to their
cognizance, there must needs follow two inconveniences: one, is the
nourishing of suits; for the more suits, the greater benefit: and
another that depends on that, which is contention about jurisdiction;
each court drawing to itself, as many causes as it can. But in offices
of execution there are not those inconveniences; because their
employment cannot be increased by any endeavour of their own. And thus
much shall suffice for the nature of punishment and reward; which are,
as it were, the nerves and tendons, that move the limbs and joints of a
commonwealth.