Confessors Title by Succession cannot be justified for that his eldest Brothers Son was then alive to wit Prince Edward who in this Kings Reign came into England and brought his Wife and three lawful Children with him But yet was not this good King Edward the Confessor so scrupulous as to give over his Kingdom to any of them or to doubt of the right of his own Title which he had by Election c. Id. p. 151. And though this Edward had an undoubted Title to the Crown if Proximity of Bloud could have given it yet the Confessor was so far from suspecting any danger from such a Title as that he invited his Nephew into England and welcom'd him when he came with the greatest expressions of Joy and entertain'd him with the greatest confidence Id. ibid. This King Edward being dead Harald Son of Earl Godwin had also the approbation of the Realm to be King Id. p. 152. Nor had the People any regard to this Royal Bloud upon the death of the Confessor but elected Harald the Son of Earl Godwin Id. p. 2. All this is before the Conquest but if we should pass any further down we should find more Examples than before viz. of Kings made in England by only Authority and Approbation of the Commonwealth contrary to the ordinary coursâ— of Lincâ—l Successiâ—n by Propinquity of Bloud Id. p. 53. These few among many other instances which may be given will shew plainly enough how men intituled themselves to the Crown in those days and that then it was no strange thing to hear of a Parliaments medling with the Succession Let us go on more particularly to observe what has been done since the Conquest Id. ibid. After the Conquerors death William Rufus was chosen King though younger Brother to Robert Duke of Normandy to whom the most part of the Realm he means the Normans was inclined to have given the Kingdom presently as due to him by Succession notwithstanding his Fathers Will to the coutrary Id. p. 153. William Rufus had the consent of the Nobles and wise men for his Title and the English Interest was so great at that time that it kâ—pt the Crown upon William Rufus's head in spight of all that the Normans could do in the behalf of Robert though they universally joyn'd with him Id. p. 3. By like means got Henry his younger Brother the same Crown afterward to wit by fair promises to the People c. Id. p. 154. It was by the full consent and Counsel of the whole body of the Realm that the Conqâ—erors Third Son Henry was Elected for their King Id. p. 3. King Henry dying left a Daughter behind him named Mawd which being married first to the Emperour Henry V. he died without Issue and then was she married again the second time to Geoffry Plantaginet Earl of Anjou to whom she bare a Son named Henry But for that Stephen Earl of Bologn was thought by the State of England to be more fit to govern he was admitted and Henry put back Id. p. 154. King Henry died leaving no Issue but Mand his Daughter who had been married to the Emperour and afterward to Geoffry Plantagenet Earl of Anjou No dispute can be made but that she had all the right which Proximity of Bloud could give yet Stephen Earl of Bologn stept in before her and prevail'd with the Estates of the Realm to Elect him King Id. p. 3. The States some years after in a Parliament made an agreement that Stephen should be lawful King during his life only and that Henry and his Off-spring should succeed him Id. p. 155. Afterwards Stephen came to an Agreement with the Empress and her Son and a Parliament who alone could give a Sanction to such Agreement was assembled to confirm it and then Stephen publickly adopts Henry for his Son and with their full consent declares him his Heir and with the same consent Henry gives Stephen the name of Father and agrees that he should continue to be King during his Lise c. Id. p. 4. After King Richard John younger Brother to Richard was Admitted and Crowned by the States of England and Arthur Duke of Britain Son and Heir to Geoffry that was Elder Brother to John was against the ordinary course of Succession Excluded Id. p. 155. Richard dying without Issue Arthur Son of Geoffry Duke of Britain the next Heir to the Crown ought to have Succeeded But John younger Brother to Richard without regarding this divine right of his Nephew applies himself to the People for a more sure though but a Humane Title who being summoned together Elected him King Id. p. 5. Some years after when the Barons and States of England misliked utteâ—ly the Government and Proceeding of this K. John they rejected him again and chose Lewis the Prince of France to be their King and did swear Fealty to him in London depriving also the young Prince Henry King John's Son that was at that time but eight years old Id. p. 156. When King John gave over to dissemble his Nature and went about to change his Religion and discovered himself not to be that worthy man which the People supposed him to have been they remember'd whence he derived his Title and proceeded upon the same reason they had chosen him to make a new Election chusing Lewis Son of Philip King of France who coming to London was there Elected and Constituted King Id. p. 5. Upon the death of King John the People recalled again their former Sentence and admitted Prince Henry to the Crown by the name of King Henry the Third and disanulled the Oath of Allegiance made unto Lewis Prince of France Id. p. 156. King John hapning to die very opportunely the Great men of the Kingdom were called together and Prince Henry then an Infant placed in the midst of them and the whole Assembly cried out unanimously Fiat Rex and acordingly they Crowned King Henry the Third and soon after compelled Lewis to renounce all pretences to the Crown Id. p. 6. The Jesuit Parsons goes no further upon particulars in Chap. 8. Part. 1. than Henry the Third But saith Should we enter into the contention about the Crown between the Two Houses of York and Lancaster which took their beginning from King Henry the Third we should see plainly that the best of all their Titles after the deposition of King Richard the Second depended on the Authority of the Commonwealth for that as the People were affected and the greater part prevailed so were their Titles either allowed confirmed altered or disanulled by Parliaments Cap. 8. Part. 1. Pag. 156. This hint the Collector of the History of Succession took to proceed upon more particulars still and pickt them up and down out of other places in Doleman to which Book he was mainly beholden for the History of the Pretences Claims Titles and Fates of those Princes he names since Henry the Third The doubt whether Edward the First or his Brother
put down here some part of the Oration or Speech which the Embassadors that were sent from the State of France unto Charles of Lorrain after their Election of Hugh Capet and Charles's Exclusion did use unto him in their names which Speech Gerard doth recount in these words Every man knoweth Lord Charles that the Succession of the Crown of France and so on to the very Similitude of the Pilot which our Collector useth being of the same mind with the Jesuit who speaking of a Successor to the Crown of England saith I for my part do feel my self much of the French opinion before alledged that so the Ship be well and happily guided I esteem it not much important of what Race or Nation the Pilot be Doleman Part. 1. Cap. 8. Pag. 139 140 143. Father Parsons moreover observes That this Hugh Capet had that Surname given him when he was a Boy for that he was wont to snatch away his Fellows Caps from their heads whence he was termed Snatch-cap which some did interpret as an Abodement that he would also also snatch a Crown from the true Owners head in time as afterwards it fell out But this our Collector would take no notice of lest Hugh Capet should be lookt upon as an Usurper as indeed he was notwithstanding the Election and Approbation of the Realm 4. It is an avowed Principle in Doleman that 't is both sinful in an high degree and against all Wisdom and Policy to suffer a Prince of a contrary Religion to come to the Crown Part. 1. Cap. 9. And thus much our Collector insinuates when he saith He will not dispute how far the difference of Religion which will also necessarily draw on a change of the Gocernment doth justifie men in seeking to preserve the two dearest things on earth in an orderly and lawful way Pag. 19. 5. But he doth confidently insist on this that the Crown is not a bare Inheritance but an Inheritance accompanying an Office of Trust and that if a mans defects render him uncapable of the Trust he has also forfeited the Inheritance ibid. This if it be true equally holds against the King himself as well as against his Heir For faileur in point of Trust may be and has been pleaded for the Deposing of the King as well as for the Exclusion of his Successor And so Parsons reckons who affirms likewise that the Princes power is Potestas Vicaria or delegata that is to say a Power delegate or by Commission given by the Commonwealth with such Restrictions Cautels and Conditions as if the same be not kept but wilfully broken on either part then is the other not bound c. Doleman part 1. Cap. 4. pag. 59. And from this Principle he concludes that even a true King may be deposed when he answers not that Trust which the People hath reposed in him Id. part 2. pag. 48. cap. 4. This Jesuitical Doctrine did not long ago cost one of our Kings his Throne and his Life too I pray God it may not be so chargeable to another but 't is ominous when Pretending Protestants will be nibling at such Jesuitical Principles which under colour of keeping back an Heir naturally and necessarily strike at the very Crowned Head III. Having hitherto instanced in some of this Gentlemans Principles to shew you that he hath carefully written after the vilest of Men and the worst of Books I shall now for your further satisfaction instance in those Examples which he makes use of and hath borrowed out of Doleman to prove that Succession to the Crown and even to the Crown of England dependeth upon the Pleasure and Courtesie of the People If you compare the History of Succession with this Book of the Jesuit Parsons you will find it to be nothing but a little Improvement of the eighth Chapter of Doleman Part. 1. For that Jesuit and this Collector undertaking to prove that the Commonwealth hath power to alter Titles of Succession as publick Necessity or Utility shall require do both of them shew what the Realm of England hath done and what Alterations they have made formerly and their Instances are alike as you may see by casting your Eye upon the two following Columns for it will not be amiss to set the Thief just over against the Knave Thus saith Doleman the Jesuit And thus saith the Collector of the History of Succession the Protestant King Egbert came to the Crown by Election though he were not next by propinquity of Bloud Doleman pag. 144. Egbert himself the first English Monarch came to the Crown not by Succession but Election being no ways related to Bithricus Hist. of Succession Pag. 1. Athelstan illegitimate Son to to King Edward was preferred to the Crown before his two Brothers the Princes Legitimate Id. pag. 145. Athelstan though a Bastard succeeded his Father and was Preferred to his Legitimate Brothers Id. pag. 1. King Edmond left Two Lawful Sons but for that they were young they were both put back by the Realm and their Uncle Eldred was preferred before them Id. p. 146. Eldred the younger Brother of King Edmond was advanced to the Throne though the deceased Prince had two Sons Id. ibid. Canutus was admitted for King of England by the whole Parliament and consent of the Realm Id. p. 149 Canutus had so great an Interest that by an unanimous consent in a full Council he was Elected King Id. pag. 2. After the death of Canutus all the States of the Realm met together at Oxford to consult whom they should make King and at last by the more part of voices was chosen Harald the first Son of Canutus by a Concubine c. Id. p. 149. Immediately upon the death of Canutus there was assembled at Oxford a great Council to determine who ought to succeed and Harald Harefoot Canutus his Bastard was Elected c Id. p. 2. After the death of Harald Hardicanutus was received with the great good will of all and by common consent made King Id. p. 150. Harald died in the fifth year of his Reign and then the People were content to accept of Hardiknute for their King Id. p. 2. Haraicanutus being dead the States of the Realm determined to chuse Alured for their King Id. ibid. After the death of Hardiknute the People proceeded to elect Alfred Id. ibid. Alfred being traiterously murdered by Earl Godwin of Kent Prince Edward was chosen King Id. ibid. Alfred being murder'd by the treachery of Earl Godwin they chuse his Brother Edward commonly called Edward the Confessor Id. ibid. Nor had the State herein any respect to antiquity of Bloud for that before Alfred were both his own elder Brother Prince Edward and before them both were Edmond and Edward the Children of their elder Brother Edmond Ironside Id. ibid. Nor were these Elections of theirs made with any respect to nearness of Bloud for Edmond Ironside their Elder Brother had a Son then alive whose name was Edward Id. ibid. The
to command their Judgment to be obeyed 11. That they have Power to dispose of the Militia to Levy Moneys Horse Arms c. even without or against the Kings Consent 12. That of their Power they are the Legal Judges and that all the Subjects of this Kingdom are bound by the Laws to obey them herein Ibid. Sir you cannot but remember that the late Rebellion was raised and maintain'd upon these Principles And if there were no new Rebellion intended again for what Reason can you imagine is there a Revival of these Principles which serve for no other end The Author of Plato Redivivus who doth confess pag. 172. That we are to this day tugging with the same difficulties managing the same debates and giving the same disgusts to the Court and Hopes to the Country which our Ancestors did before the Year 1640. might have added too if he had pleased to speak truth to the full that we are acting to this day upon the same Principles on which they acted in 1641. All which Principles are of their Fathers the Jesuites who are of their Father the Devil and are so manifest that he that runs may read them all in Doleman Redivivus If now you chance to read the Character of a Popish Successor you will find it there Asserted pag. 21. That in the Infancy of time and in the first Original of Nations Monarchy came by the Peoples Choice who frequently in the beginning of the World oâ—â— of the natural desire of safety for the securing a peaceful Community and Conversation chose a single Person to be their Head as a proper Supreme Moderator in all differences that might arise to disquiet the Community Now this is utterly false but yet 't is directly Dolemans very Notion pag. 12. And in the Vindication of that Character you will find another of Dolemans Pleas viz. That the Succession of Kingly Government has not been so sacred but upon some Occasions it has been changed by Divine as well as Lawful Authority pag. 14. And in the Vox Populi the zealous True Protestant speaks after the Jesuite saying That the King has no Power but what the Law gives him pag. 2. And yet I ever thought that the Law hath no Power but what the King gives it and if the Law be His Creature how can it be His Creator And again he tells us That the Kings share in the Sovereignty is cut out to him by Law and not left at his disposal pag. 9. and that the King has no Prerogative but what the Law gives him pag. 13. Now Sir the Books and Pamphlets hitherto mentioned have been all Printed since the beginning of the Year 1680. Bâ—t I must observe to you that these Anti-Monarchical and Seditious Doctrines have come so thick into the World by the Midwivery of a certain Speech which was made five years before and which was Father'd upon a Noble Peer who was then very active in the House of Lords In which Speech you find these Positions That the King is King by Law and by the same Law that a poor Man enjoys his Cottage that to say this Family are our Kings and this particular frame of Government is our Lawful Constitution and obligeth us is owing only to the particular Laws of our Countrey Where the Author confesseth also That he cannot find that ever the Jesuites or Popish Clergy only some of our Episcopal Clergy owned Monarchy to be of Divine Right Of all this we had heard no Nâ—ws for a long time 'till some turn'd Malâ—contents by being turn'd out of their Honours and Offices at Court Then the World began to turn too and old Doleman who had been so serviceable to Faction all along was brought again above-board You see the Gentleman doth own that he had been Dealing and Consulting with the Jesuites and Popish Clergy for he matches them against our Episcopal Clergy and declares himself plainly on the Jesuites side But had he held his tongue as to that yet such as had Parsons his Libel in their Studies clearly perceiv'd whom he had been Trucking with for what he saith in that Speech is the very substance of the first Chapter in Doleman Our Clergy do not deny but the King is King by Law if he means according to Law for the Law doth Recognize his Sacred Authority our Laws give him his Due they Own and Acknowledg that Right of Sovereign Power which he hath by the Laws of God by Natural Claim and Inheritance But the Law doth not Found his Right to the Crown as it doth the poor mans right to his Cottage For Kings were Kings before there were Laws and our King would be our Rightful Sovereign were there neither Statute-Book nor Magna-Charta in all England For the Authority of Kings doth not originally depend upon the Laws or Consent of the People any more than it dependeth upon the Consent of my Children that I should be their Father The Kings Power is Antecedent to Law which hath its force from Him as my Being is Antecedent to the Being of my Children which have under God their Life from me I hope it will appear â—'re long that our Episcopal Clergy arâ— but just to their King in owning their Principles which every knowing Man may justifie for them if he will but obey his own Reason That the Jesuites and Popish Clergy should be otherwise perswaded is not to be wondred at because being ingaged by their Interest to pretend that the Popes Supremacy is of Divine Right they are forced in defence of his pretended Power over all Princes to lay their Authority very low as if it were a Mushrome of the Earth a little Creature of yesterday depending for its Being upon the Peoples Courtesie They therefore are not to be wondred at but the wonder is that any among us that are Protestants Zealots Patriots should fetch their Principles from Dowâ—y or St. Omers We are like to have good work when an Israelite must go to the Philistines to sharpen his Coulter and for Heisers to â—â—ough with Really Sir I am quite tired with looking into Libels of this nature and shall only add that if you have Time and Patience enough to read over as many of them as I have done you will find that the most Considerable Writers of Sedition have taken large Collops out of Dolemans sides and that every little Pamphleteer has come in for a Snack so that could Father Parsons now peep out of the Earth he would bless himself to see what Filching and Kidnapping work hath been made of his Principles But I must not forget to tell you of one very lewd Tenent which Father Parsons had the Impudence to Publish to the World to the great dishonour and scandal of Christianity For speaking of the Primitive Christians Passive Obedâ—ence under Julian and other evil Princes he was not asham'd to give this as the Reason why they suffer'd so patiently and resisted not because they wanted Arms to maintain their Quarrel
Evidence hath been given by men whose Credit in other cases has passed unquestioned By which means Justice hath been obstructed and the Law hath been over-ruled or the edg of it hath been turned on one side only so that the King himself hath been denied the benefit of it and men that were notorious for Dishonesty and Sedition have been Protected against him Now it is not credible but that all this is in order to some very evil Design which cannot be carried on but by these very evil means because it cannot be supposed that men would dare to be Hated by the Government to be Obnoxious to the Magistrates Sword to mock Heaven to forfeit their Reputation and to play handy-dandy with their Consciences did not some desperate Plot require such desperate Courses as they cannot but know will one day rise up in Judgment against them even in this World if the establisht Government holdeth The Consideration of these things is enough to convince all thinking Persons that there is a Monstrous Intrigue in hand against the Government But to deal plainly with you all these Arguments to me seem to be over and above For as I mistrusted something of an extraordinary nature above three years ago when Pamphlets came every week abroad full of unworthy and base reflections upon the King upon his Counsellors upon the Bishops and all the Clergy upon the Offices and Rites in the Service Book upon the Long Loyal Parliament and indeed upon the whole Frame and Constitution of our excellent Government which reflections had they been just were surely altogether needless then if nothing but an engagement against the Popish Interest was intended so when I saw the Jesuites Principles brought upon the Stage again and found it confidently Asserted and by many Believed that Monarchy is a meer Human Ordinance that Kings hold their Crowns by the Consent of their Subjects that all Power is Originally in the People that this Power of theirs is Unlimited and Uncontroulable and many the like Positions more which overthrew the Government once then all my doubts vanished strait and what I mistrusted before then I firmly Believed that an Alteration of our Government was intended again and that these Principles were vended about to prepare a way thereunto for to what other purposes could these Principles serve But now at last when I saw that evil men were not contented to Skim and Retal these Principles out of Doleman but moreover have reprinted Dolemans whole Book at large it is impossible for me to force my Charity to believe otherwise than that they have such a black Design against the whole Royal Family and the present Government as I am loth to mention For Books are not wont to be sent abroad into the World but with a Design nor are Booksellers willing to run the hazard of a whole Impression unless there be strong probabilities that it will do either Good or Mischief and the Reprinting of Doleman at this ticklish juncture when the affairs of England are in such an Uâ—certain and Tottering Posture is a plain Argument that 't was done with a Design to possess the People of England with such Notions that they might be ripe for a Rebellion and ready â—or a total change of our Government either according to the State of Venice which is the drift of Plato Redivivus or according to the Model of Holland which other Factionists are generally more inclined unto Consider the thing well Sir and then tell me your thoughts whether that might not be the intent of putting that Pestilent and Villanous Book again into the Press now which at the Kings Restauration and for many years since was hardly valued so much as waste Paper in comparison Men and Books rise or sink in their price according to the condition of Times Twenty years ago it was Hony-moon in England and under God nothing was so dear to our Souls then as our King and our Government and had Doleman appeared abroad then as he doth now we should have thought that Oliver Cromwel had sent the Jesuite from Hell and he would have been Executed at Tyburn by the Hangmans hands before he had done any further mischief But now the Case is alter'd and the smart of Rebellion and Innovation is quite out of some mens fingers and such as are for playing the Old Game over again think it their best course to use the same Cards that were so lucky to 'em once before and Father Parsons is called for to help 'em Deal Sir I will not give you any further trouble now though when I first set Pen to Paper I thought it necessary to Examin those Principles in Doleman which are so Popular in these days And because I find that the Doctrine of the Kings Divine Right to his Crown is become odious to many who look upon it to be full of dangerous Consequences as well as unreasonable in it self and because the Clergy of our Church are hated for that Doctrine sake and the ashes of that Learned Loyal and Honourable Person Sir Robert Filmir have been of late polluted with a great deal of dirt out of the Kennel for no other Reason but because he was such a Fatal Enemy to that Jesuitical Principle that the Original of all Power and Government is in the People therefore I judged it proper and seasonable to shew you what is meant by the Jus Divinum of Monarchy and what strong Reasons that Doctrine is founded upon that so I might vindicate the Integrity and Honour of the Assertors of it But I am not willing that this Letter should swell into a large Discourse However if it may be an acceptable thing to you to be acquainted with my thoughts on that Subject you know you may Command me as my business shall give me leave In the mean time I own my self Sir July the 6. 1682. Your faithful Servant c. FINIS Fa. Watsons Quodlibets Pag. 236. Id. p. 109. Id. p. 217. Id. p. 30â— Id. p. 305. Id. p. 265. Id. p. 236. Quodlibet p. 286. a De jure Magistrat in subdit b Vindiciae cont Tyran Though 't is hard that the same men should be Parties and Judges too * For without Order there is nothing else to be hoped but Horrour and Confusion Doleman Pa. 6. ca. 1. part 1. For remarques upon this Story see the Answer to the History of Succession p. 25. Observe that the power of Deposing a King naturally follows from the Doctrine of the Peoples power to chuse one But is not that Right of Power which a Father hath over his Child and an Husband over his Wife by Divine appointment Quod si Christiani olim non deposuerunt Neronem Diocleâ—ianum Julianum Apostatam Valentem Arianum similes id suit quia deerant Vires Bellar. de Rom. Pontif. 1. 5. c. 7. Azor. instit Moral par 2. 1. 10. c. 2. Nemo nostrum quando apprehenditur reluctatur nec se adversus injustam violentiam vestram quamvis Nimius Copiosus noster sit populus ulciscitur St Cypriar ad Demetâ—ian p. 257. edit Pamel Quodlibets p. 27 Serm. 12. Ad Aulam p. 166.