A Fundamentall Law What For a Fundamentall Law in every Common-wealth is that, which being taken away, the Common-wealth faileth, and is utterly dissolved; as a building whose Foundation is destroyed.  And therefore a Fundamentall Law is that, by which Subjects are bound to uphold whatsoever power is given to the Soveraign, whether a Monarch, or a Soveraign Assembly, without which the Common-wealth cannot stand, such as is the power of War and Peace, of Judicature, of Election of Officers, and of doing whatsoever he shall think necessary for the Publique good.  Not Fundamentall is that the abrogating whereof, draweth not with it the dissolution of the Common-Wealth; such as are the Lawes Concerning Controversies between subject and subject.  Thus much of the Division of Lawes.

Difference Between Law And Right I find the words Lex Civilis, and Jus Civile, that is to say, Law and Right Civil, promiscuously used for the same thing, even in the most learned Authors; which neverthelesse ought not to be so.  For Right is Liberty, namely that Liberty which the Civil Law leaves us:  But Civill Law is an Obligation; and takes from us the Liberty which the Law of Nature gave us.  Nature gave a Right to every man to secure himselfe by his own strength, and to invade a suspected neighbour, by way of prevention; but the Civill Law takes away that Liberty, in all cases where the protection of the Lawe may be safely stayd for.  Insomuch as Lex and Jus, are as different as Obligation and Liberty.

And Between A Law And A Charter Likewise Lawes and Charters are taken promiscuously for the same thing.  Yet Charters are Donations of the Soveraign; and not Lawes, but exemptions from Law.  The phrase of a Law is Jubeo, Injungo, I Command, and Enjoyn:  the phrase of a Charter is Dedi, Concessi, I Have Given, I Have Granted:  but what is given or granted, to a man, is not forced upon him, by a Law.  A Law may be made to bind All the Subjects of a Common-wealth:  a Liberty, or Charter is only to One man, or some One part of the people.  For to say all the people of a Common-wealth, have Liberty in any case whatsoever; is to say, that in such case, there hath been no Law made; or else having been made, is now abrogated.

CHAPTER XXVII

OF CRIMES, EXCUSES, AND EXTENUATIONS

Sinne What A Sinne, is not onely a Transgression of a Law, but also any Contempt of the Legislator.  For such Contempt, is a breach of all his Lawes at once.  And therefore may consist, not onely in the Commission of a Fact, or in the Speaking of Words by the Lawes forbidden, or in the Omission of what the Law commandeth, but also in the Intention, or purpose to transgresse.  For the purpose to breake the Law, is some degree of Contempt of him, to whom it belongeth to see it executed.  To be delighted in the Imagination onely, of being possessed of another mans goods, servants, or wife, without any intention