The Seventh, That In Revenges, Men Respect Onely The Future Good A seventh is, " That in Revenges, (that is, retribution of evil for evil,) Men look not at the greatnesse of the evill past, but the greatnesse of the good to follow.”  Whereby we are forbidden to inflict punishment with any other designe, than for correction of the offender, or direction of others.  For this Law is consequent to the next before it, that commandeth Pardon, upon security of the Future Time.  Besides, Revenge without respect to the Example, and profit to come, is a triumph, or glorying in the hurt of another, tending to no end; (for the End is alwayes somewhat to Come;) and glorying to no end, is vain-glory, and contrary to reason; and to hurt without reason, tendeth to the introduction of Warre; which is against the Law of Nature; and is commonly stiled by the name of Cruelty.

The Eighth, Against Contumely And because all signes of hatred, or contempt, provoke to fight; insomuch as most men choose rather to hazard their life, than not to be revenged; we may in the eighth place, for a Law of Nature set down this Precept, “That no man by deed, word, countenance, or gesture, declare Hatred, or Contempt of another.”  The breach of which Law, is commonly called Contumely.

The Ninth, Against Pride The question who is the better man, has no place in the condition of meer Nature; where, (as has been shewn before,) all men are equall.  The inequallity that now is, has been introduced by the Lawes civill.  I know that Aristotle in the first booke of his Politiques, for a foundation of his doctrine, maketh men by Nature, some more worthy to Command, meaning the wiser sort (such as he thought himselfe to be for his Philosophy;) others to Serve, (meaning those that had strong bodies, but were not Philosophers as he;) as if Master and Servant were not introduced by consent of men, but by difference of Wit; which is not only against reason; but also against experience.  For there are very few so foolish, that had not rather governe themselves, than be governed by others:  Nor when the wise in their own conceit, contend by force, with them who distrust their owne wisdome, do they alwaies, or often, or almost at any time, get the Victory.  If Nature therefore have made men equall, that equalitie is to be acknowledged; or if Nature have made men unequall; yet because men that think themselves equall, will not enter into conditions of Peace, but upon Equall termes, such equalitie must be admitted.  And therefore for the ninth Law of Nature, I put this, “That every man acknowledge other for his Equall by Nature.”  The breach of this Precept is Pride.