 Grotius extends the case elsewhere, insisting that a people may give their rights to a ruler, receiving a peaceful and stable society in return (DIB I.4.2.1). But what are the limits placed on the ruler who has taken possession of these rights? To some readers, Grotius’ willingness to allow agents to transfer their rights leaves him open to charges of befriending despots. Provided that the initial transfer of rights was legitimate, then once the ruler is in possession of rights, those living under him or her have no right to complain that certain forms of behavior are unjust, for they have no relevant rights at all. As Rousseau put it, Grotius “spares no pains to rob the people of all their rights and invest kings with them” (Social Contract, Book II, Chapter Two). To be sure, other readers denied that Grotius’ theory allowed agents a total transfer of their rights; in particular, they contended that agents will always retain their fundamental rights, such as the right of self-defense (see Locke as interpreted by Tuck 1979: 172–3). Nevertheless, whatever the theory itself actually implies, it remains that Grotius himself seems to have believed that agents may surrender all liberties in certain circumstances (for more, see DIB I.3.9–16).