Political Philosophy · 17th century

Ten Books of Politics

Adam Contzen, S.J. (1571–1635) · translated from the Latin of the second, enlarged edition (Cologne, 1629)

The author's name is also rendered Adamus Contzen · Adam Conzen

The great Catholic treatise on the commonwealth by the Jesuit Adam Contzen, professor of Sacred Scripture at Mainz, dedicated to the Emperor Ferdinand II: a complete doctrine of government set against Machiavelli, which so impressed Maximilian I of Bavaria that he made its author his confessor. Its ten books take the commonwealth from its causes to its defense — the efficient cause, matter, form, and kinds of the commonwealth; the religion to be maintained in it; the virtues it requires; the education of youth; laws; ecclesiastical magistracy; civil magistracy; the power of the state; the internal evils that threaten it; and war — in three hundred and thirty-eight chapters drawn from Scripture, the Fathers, the philosophers, the historians, and the laws of the Empire and of Rome. With the dedicatory epistle to the Emperor, the approvals and imperial privilege, and the author's catalogue of the writers he cites. From the second, enlarged edition, Cologne, 1629. In English for the first time.

Book I — the efficient cause, matter, form, and kinds of the commonwealth, with the preliminary matter (PDF)

Book II — religion to be maintained in the commonwealth (PDF)

Book III — the virtues necessary to the commonwealth (PDF)

Book IV — the education of youth (PDF)

Book V — laws (PDF)

Book VI — ecclesiastical magistracy (PDF)

Book VII — civil magistracy (PDF)

Book VIII — the power of the state (PDF)

Book IX — the internal evils of the state (PDF)

Book X — war (PDF)

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Contents

Front Matter

Book I · The Efficient Cause, Matter, Form, and Kinds of the Commonwealth

Book II · On Religion to Be Maintained in the Commonwealth

Book III · On the Virtues Necessary to the Commonwealth

Chapter I. All the Moral Virtues Are Required in a Well-Constituted Commonwealth pp. 110
Chapter II. Prudence Is Necessary to the Commonwealth, and Its Office and Function pp. 110–113
Chapter III. Those Who Prefer Prudent Princes and Magistrates but Imprudent, Foolish, and, as They Say, Simple Citizens Are in Great Error pp. 113–115
Chapter IV. Cunning, the Imitator of Prudence, Is Harmful to the Commonwealth pp. 115–119
Chapter V. Diligence Must Be Joined to Prudence pp. 119–123
Chapter VI. Justice Is Especially Commended to the Prince pp. 123–127
Chapter VII. The State Ought to Keep Faith with All pp. 127–129
Chapter VIII. The Commonwealth Ought to Be Grateful Toward Those Who Have Deserved Well pp. 129–132
Chapter IX. The Prince and the Commonwealth Ought to Be Liberal pp. 132–136
Chapter X. Parsimony Is Necessary to the Commonwealth, and Prodigality Pernicious pp. 136–138
Chapter XI. Affability Is a Distinguished Ornament of Citizens and Princes pp. 138–141
Chapter XII. Chastity Ought to Be a Matter of Great Care in the Commonwealth pp. 141–148
Chapter XIII. Spectacles Harm Good and Chaste Morals, and Therefore Must Be Abolished, or Only Those Which Excite to Virtue Retained pp. 148–151
Chapter XIV. Sobriety Is the Firmament of the Commonwealth pp. 151–161
Chapter XV. Anger Is Equally Harmful to Rulers and Subjects pp. 161–168
Chapter XVI. Clemency Must Be Cultivated in Every State pp. 168–179
Chapter XVII. All Persons in the Commonwealth Must Be Trained in Fortitude pp. 179–184
Chapter XVIII. Fortitude Is Not Acquired by Bloody Spectacles pp. 184–187
Chapter XIX. A Commonwealth, However Powerful and Rich, Ought to Hold Most Tenaciously to Modesty pp. 187–192
Chapter XX. Magnanimity Ought to Be Commended to the Commonwealth, and Especially to Magistrates pp. 193–196
Chapter XXI. Charity, the Queen of All the Virtues, Ought to Be Esteemed Most Highly in the Commonwealth pp. 196–198

Book IV · On the Education of Youth

Chapter I. The Supreme Necessity of Educating Youth pp. 200–201
Chapter II. Precepts Necessary for the Education of Youth, Given to All pp. 201–203
Chapter III. Care of Infants Also Belongs to the State pp. 203–205
Chapter IV. Infants Also Need Education, and What It Is pp. 205–207
Chapter V. The Education of Boys Who Are Now More Grown, the Matters in Which It Is Occupied, and Morals pp. 207–209
Chapter VI. Upright and Learned Masters Must Be Placed over Youth pp. 209–216
Chapter VII. Pupils Must Be Admitted to the Study of the Liberal Arts and Sciences with Great Care in Selection pp. 216–219
Chapter VIII. Certain Rules of Conduct Must Be Prescribed for Students pp. 220–228
Chapter IX. Professors of the Sciences Must Be Held in Honor pp. 228–231
Chapter X. Youth Must Be Kept to Its Duty by Moderate Punishments and Blows pp. 231–234
Chapter XI. Learning Is Honorable and Necessary to the State pp. 234–238
Chapter XII. The Study of Letters Does Not Obstruct Political Prudence, Whether Civil or Military pp. 238–241
Chapter XIII. Academies and Public Schools Must Be Established pp. 241–243
Chapter XIV. Privileges Must Be Granted to Professors and Students, and Which Privileges Are Suitable pp. 243–246
Chapter XV. There Are Many Other Privileges of Students, and What They Are pp. 246–252
Chapter XVI. Degrees and Honors Must Legitimately Be Conferred upon the Learned, and Must Be Highly Esteemed pp. 252–262
Chapter XVII. An Enumeration of the Things That Must Be Learned pp. 262–265
Chapter XVIII. How the Elements of Grammar Are to Be Taught pp. 265–267
Chapter XIX. On Poetry pp. 267–274
Chapter XX. Eloquence in Prose Speech pp. 274–277
Chapter XXI. The System and Method of Learning Eloquence pp. 277–284
Chapter XXII. That a Prince Can Have Professors Who Accomplish All These Things pp. 285–286
Chapter XXIII. Philosophy Is Useful to the State, and How It Is to Be Taught pp. 286–291
Chapter XXIV. On the Study of Logic, Physics, Metaphysics, and Mathematics pp. 291–293
Chapter XXV. That the Greatest Care Ought to Be Taken for Medicine pp. 293–300

Book V · On Laws

Chapter I. The Rationale of the Undertaken Discussion concerning Laws pp. 302
Chapter II. The Definition and Division of Laws pp. 302–305
Chapter III. The Necessity and Utility of Laws pp. 305–307
Chapter IV. The Matter of Laws Is Varied pp. 307–309
Chapter V. The Legislator Is a Magistrate or the Whole State pp. 310–312
Chapter VI. The End of Law Is to Make Men and Citizens Equally Good pp. 312–314
Chapter VII. Law Is Imposed upon a Community for the Sake of the Common Good pp. 314–316
Chapter VIII. The Effects and Offices of Law Explained pp. 316–321
Chapter IX. Not All Laws, Even Just Ones, Bind Consciences; Some Bind Unequally pp. 321–322
Chapter X. Penal Laws Are Necessary and Bind in Various Ways pp. 322–323
Chapter XI. It Is Best That Laws Be Few pp. 323–327
Chapter XII. Laws Ought to Be Just, Equal, and Moderate pp. 327–329
Chapter XIII. Laws Are Not to Be Changed Easily pp. 329–331
Chapter XIV. There Is an Eternal Law, and It Is the Source of All Laws pp. 331–333
Chapter XV. On the Adjuncts of Human Laws, and First of All on Interpretation pp. 333–334
Chapter XVI. Laws Sometimes Cease Although They Are Not Abrogated pp. 334–335
Chapter XVII. A Law Can Be Abrogated for a Just Cause pp. 335
Chapter XVIII. Privileges Are to Be Granted, but for Merits and Moderately pp. 335–337
Chapter XIX. The Legislator Must Take the Greatest Account of Custom pp. 337–339
Chapter XX. The Prince Is Bound by the Laws pp. 339–342
Chapter XXI. The Old Law Was Useful for Morals and for the Polity pp. 342–343
Chapter XXII. Antinomians Must Be Expelled from the State pp. 343–348
Chapter XXIII. The Written Divine Law Necessary to the State Is Rightly Understood and Observed by Catholics Alone pp. 348–353
Chapter XXIV. We Are Unjustly Accused of a Corrupt Version and Interpretation of the Divine Law pp. 353–358
Chapter XXV. Sectarians Cannot Possess the True Law of God pp. 358–360
Chapter XXVI. The Written Divine Law Is Truly Difficult pp. 360–363
Chapter XXVII. Reading the Divine Law Is Not Prohibited by Us pp. 363–365
Chapter XXVIII. The Law Handed Down by Tradition Is Joined to the Written Law pp. 365–368
Chapter XXIX. The Study of Law Commended to Princes and Private Persons pp. 368–370

Book VI · On Ecclesiastical Magistracy

Book VII · On Civil Magistracy

Chapter I. The Various Classification of Magistrates
Chapter II. The Method of Creating Monarchs pp. 520
Chapter III. The Anointing and Coronation of Monarchs Is Rightly Employed pp. 520–525
Chapter IV. Great Honors Must Be Shown to Kings pp. 525–527
Chapter V. Other Honors Customarily Shown to Kings pp. 527–534
Chapter VI. The Power of Princes Is Great but Various pp. 534–535
Chapter VII. The Chief Care of the State Must Be to Entrust Dignities and Magistracies to Suitable Men pp. 535–538
Chapter VIII. The Method of Training Good Men for Government pp. 538–539
Chapter IX. Magistrates Must Be Inspected pp. 539–541
Chapter X. Magistrates Should Not Readily Be Changed pp. 541–545
Chapter XI. Lesser Magistrates Must Be Created Who Can Be Promoted to Greater Dignities, and Inferior Honors Must Not Be Despised by Those Who Have Held Greater Ones pp. 546–547
Chapter XII. A General Division of Magistrates According to the Practical Mode of the State pp. 547
Chapter XIII. A Suitable Senate Must Be Chosen: Its Laws, and Likewise Concerning Counselors pp. 547–555
Chapter XIV. The Magistrates Who Are Customarily After the King in a Monarchy pp. 555–558
Chapter XV. Caesars and Other Magistrates Nearest to Monarchs pp. 558–559
Chapter XVI. The Constitution of the Royal Court pp. 559–561
Chapter XVII. A Consideration of Counts pp. 561–563
Chapter XVIII. A Consideration of the Roman Consulship pp. 563–567
Chapter XIX. Magistracies Similar to the Consulship pp. 567–572
Chapter XX. A Consideration of the Dictatorship and Censorship pp. 572–577
Chapter XXI. The Order and Offices of Provincial Magistrates pp. 577–581
Chapter XXII. The Established System of Judges in the State pp. 581–589
Chapter XXIII. The Judgments and Tribunals of Other States pp. 589–591
Chapter XXIV. The Assistants of Judges pp. 591–593
Chapter XXV. A Consideration of the Chancellorship pp. 593
Chapter XXVI. The Magistracy and Offices of the Aediles pp. 593–595
Chapter XXVII. Prefects of the Food Supply Must Be Appointed with Great Care pp. 595
Chapter XXVIII. A Consideration of the Tribunes of the Plebs pp. 595–597
Chapter XXIX. The Very Great Care Required of Quaestors and Administrators pp. 597–602
Chapter XXX. Ministers of Magistrates pp. 602–603
Chapter XXXI. On the Chinese Kingdom pp. 603–609
Chapter XXXII. A Catalogue of the Magistrates and Offices of the Roman Empire and of Certain Other States pp. 609–612
Chapter XXXIII. Ambassadors Must Be Chosen from the Most Approved Men pp. 613
Chapter XXXIV. It Belongs to a Prince to Send and Receive Ambassadors pp. 613–614
Chapter XXXV. An Ambassador Must Not Readily Be Deceived pp. 614–615
Chapter XXXVI. Security Must Be Furnished to an Ambassador pp. 615–617
Chapter XXXVII. Instruction Given to Ambassadors pp. 617–620

Book VIII · On the Power of the State

Chapter I. The Definition of Human Power; Its Weakness pp. 622–623
Chapter II. The Prince Ought to Study the Acquisition and Increase of Power pp. 623–625
Chapter III. Power Is Twofold: Domestic and External pp. 625–626
Chapter IV. In What Power Consists, and Concerning Its Head, Which Is Authority pp. 626–627
Chapter V. That Riches Must Be Sought for the Prince pp. 627–630
Chapter VI. Various Methods of Acquiring Riches pp. 630
Chapter VII. That Tributes Are Lawfully Paid, and Their Measure pp. 630–637
Chapter VIII. Personal Services Are No Less Useful Than Tribute pp. 637–639
Chapter IX. Good Household Management Is an Honorable Road to Wealth and Troublesome to No One pp. 639–641
Chapter X. Commerce Must Be Increased pp. 641–648
Chapter XI. Agriculture Must Above All Be Cared For and Honored pp. 648–652
Chapter XII. That the prince must seek out the valuable products of things dug from the earth pp. 652
Chapter XIII. Thrift Is the Greatest Revenue pp. 652–655
Chapter XIV. Power Is Marvelously Increased by Sumptuary Laws pp. 655–662
Chapter XV. Other Honorable Means, Useful to Subjects, by Which the Resources of the State Are Strengthened pp. 662–665
Chapter XVI. Methods of Collecting Money Recounted by Aristotle in Book Two of the *Economics*, and Other Similar Methods pp. 665–672
Chapter XVII. Unjust Methods of Amassing Money pp. 673–682
Chapter XVIII. Those Who Need a Loan Should Be Assisted in Another Manner pp. 682–683
Chapter XIX. Other Methods of Collecting Money, as Customary as They Are Condemned pp. 683–686
Chapter XX. The Defense of the Nobility Makes a Prince Powerful pp. 686–693
Chapter XXI. Power Is Stable When Provisions Have Been Collected for Use pp. 693–695
Chapter XXII. The Principal Power Lies in Strong and Populous Cities pp. 695–697
Chapter XXIII. Fortresses Are Useful and Necessary for Preserving Power pp. 697–702
Chapter XXIV. Treaties Contribute Very Greatly to Power pp. 702–704

Book IX · On the Internal Evils of the State

Book X · On War