Of systems subordinate, some are “political,” and some “private.” “Political,” otherwise called “bodies politic,” and “persons in law,” are those which are made by authority from the sovereign power of the commonwealth. “Private,” are those which are constituted by subjects amongst themselves, or by authority from a stranger. For no authority derived from foreign power within the dominion of another, is public there, but private.

And of private systems, some are “lawful”: some “unlawful.” “Lawful,” are those which are allowed by the commonwealth: all other are “unlawful.” “Irregular” systems are those which having no representative, consist only in concourse of people: which if not forbidden by the commonwealth, nor made on evil design, such as are conflux of people to markets, or shows, or any other harmless end, are lawful. But when the intention is evil, or (if the number be considerable) unknown, they are unlawful.