Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
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A52764
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A Letter from Oxford concerning Mr. Samuel Johnson's late book
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N. N.
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1693
(1693)
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Wing N40; ESTC R4251
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12,066
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31
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person_n whatsoever_o who_o act_n by_o virtue_n of_o any_o authority_n derive_v from_o the_o prince_n must_v act_v at_o their_o peril_n for_o that_o if_o such_o authority_n writ_n commission_n or_o whatever_o it_o be_v be_v not_o warrant_v by_o law_n the_o person_n who_o put_v it_o in_o execution_n be_v trespasser_n and_o if_o they_o meet_v with_o opposition_n and_o kill_v the_o opponent_n be_v murderer_n because_o they_o act_v without_o any_o authority_n at_o all_o for_o a_o illegal_a commission_n be_v a_o void_a commission_n and_o a_o void_a commission_n be_v no_o commission_n whereas_o according_a to_o our_o passive-obedience-gentleman_n a_o void_a commission_n which_o our_o law_n say_v ought_v not_o to_o be_v obey_v do_v yet_o command_v our_o obedience_n equal_o with_o a_o commission_n warrant_v by_o law_n because_o it_o proceed_v forsooth_o from_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o sovereign_n they_o have_v not_o be_v able_a to_o deny_v be_v thus_o press_v that_o passive_a obedience_n have_v no_o foundation_n in_o the_o ancient_a law_n of_o this_o realm_n and_o have_v betake_v themselves_o to_o a_o few_o clause_n in_o a_o act_n or_o two_o of_o parliament_n make_v since_o the_o restauration_n of_o king_n charles_n the_o second_o the_o one_o be_v the_o corporation-oath_n whereby_o be_v renounce_v the_o traitorous_a position_n of_o take_v up_o arm_n by_o the_o king_n authority_n against_o his_o person_n or_o against_o those_o that_o be_v commissioned_n by_o he_o beside_o that_o this_o oath_n be_v now_o take_v away_o by_o a_o act_n of_o parliament_n in_o the_o first_o year_n of_o their_o present_a majesty_n reign_n they_o will_v do_v well_o to_o remember_v what_o pass_v in_o the_o house_n of_o lord_n in_o the_o year_n 1675_o when_o great_a endeavour_n be_v use_v to_o have_v this_o oath_n impose_v as_o a_o test_n upon_o the_o whole_a nation_n what_o be_v then_o allege_v against_o it_o and_o that_o the_o bill_n be_v thereupon_o throw_v out_o of_o the_o house_n but_o the_o chief_a thing_n that_o i_o now_o think_v fit_a to_o mention_v be_v that_o in_o the_o very_a sense_n of_o the_o parliament_n which_o pass_v it_o person_n legal_o commissioned_n be_v understand_v and_o no_o other_o for_o it_o meet_v with_o main_a opposition_n in_o the_o house_n of_o commons_o and_o in_o particular_a sir_n edward_n vaughan_n who_o be_v afterward_o lord_n chief_a justice_n of_o the_o court_n of_o common-plea_n make_v a_o long_a speech_n in_o which_o he_o show_v that_o by_o the_o law_n the_o people_n of_o england_n not_o only_a might_n but_o in_o some_o case_n be_v bind_v to_o take_v up_o arm_n against_o person_n commissioned_n by_o the_o king_n and_o that_o sheriff_n of_o county_n be_v bind_v if_o it_o can_v be_v do_v no_o otherwise_o to_o raise_v the_o posse_fw-la comitatus_fw-la to_o oppose_v and_o suppress_v all_o such_o as_o shall_v put_v any_o such_o illegal_a commission_n in_o execution_n if_o they_o proceed_v so_o far_o as_o to_o compel_v obedience_n to_o they_o for_o than_o they_o become_v rioter_n and_o subject_a to_o the_o several_a act_n of_o parliament_n make_v for_o the_o suppress_n of_o such_o offender_n to_o which_o sir_n heneage_n finch_n than_o solicitor_n general_n and_o afterward_o earl_n of_o nottingham_n and_o lord_n chancellor_n of_o england_n who_o be_v a_o great_a promoter_n of_o the_o bill_n make_v no_o other_o answer_n but_o this_o viz._n that_o the_o word_n legal_o need_v not_o be_v insert_v for_o that_o it_o must_v of_o necessity_n be_v understand_v to_o be_v imply_v because_o person_n not_o legal_o commissioned_n be_v not_o commissioned_n at_o all_o upon_o which_o the_o bill_n pass_v and_o for_o the_o truth_n of_o this_o i_o appeal_v to_o the_o memory_n of_o some_o who_o be_v yet_o alive_a and_o be_v member_n of_o that_o parliament_n and_o present_a in_o the_o house_n at_o this_o debate_n the_o same_o oath_n with_o very_o little_a alteration_n in_o word_n be_v in_o the_o act_n for_o order_v the_o force_n in_o the_o several_a county_n of_o this_o kingdom_n common_o call_v the_o militia-act_n the_o alteration_n be_v this_o or_o against_o those_o that_o be_v commissioned_n by_o he_o in_o pursuance_n of_o such_o military_a commission_n those_o military_a commission_n be_v commission_n of_o the_o lieutenancy_n which_o we_o know_v to_o be_v settle_v and_o regulate_v by_o a_o law_n and_o therefore_o to_o swear_v not_o to_o oppose_v they_o be_v no_o more_o than_o to_o swear_v not_o to_o fight_v against_o a_o act_n of_o parliament_n the_o rest_n be_v cursory_a expression_n in_o the_o preamble_n of_o a_o act_n or_o two_o which_o we_o know_v do_v not_o make_v a_o law_n but_o i_o fear_v the_o fountain_n of_o the_o error_n that_o our_o clergy_n have_v run_v into_o upon_o this_o subject_a be_v their_o frame_n to_o themselves_o a_o idol_n of_o their_o own_o invention_n instead_o of_o a_o legal_a english_a king_n this_o cheat_n be_v discover_v early_o in_o the_o 7_o the_o year_n of_o the_o reign_n of_o k._n james_n the_o first_o and_o complain_v of_o in_o a_o apology_n of_o the_o house_n of_o commons_o in_o those_o day_n viz._n that_o instead_o of_o inquire_v into_o what_o power_n authority_n and_o prerogatives_n the_o king_n of_o england_n enjoy_v by_o the_o law_n of_o this_o nation_n our_o man_n of_o speculative_a head_n have_v frame_v to_o themselves_o a_o general_a notion_n of_o the_o word_n king_n as_o a_o genus_fw-la have_v give_v it_o a_o definition_n and_o bring_v all_o king_n and_o other_o single_a supreme_a magistrate_n as_o individual_n under_o that_o definition_n by_o which_o mean_v the_o law_n and_o constitution_n of_o nation_n be_v silence_v and_o whatever_o government_n have_v a_o single_a person_n at_o the_o head_n of_o it_o be_v equal_o subject_a to_o that_o single_a person_n however_o their_o several_a law_n and_o constitution_n respective_o may_v limit_v and_o restrain_v his_o power_n this_o pernicious_a as_o well_o as_o senseless_a hypothesis_n strike_v at_o the_o root_n of_o whatever_o the_o church_n be_v possess_v of_o in_o temporal_n as_o well_o as_o at_o the_o liberty_n and_o property_n of_o lay-subject_n for_o the_o clergy_n have_v no_o privilege_n jurisdiction_n endowment_n etc._n etc._n but_o what_o be_v confer_v upon_o they_o and_o secure_v to_o they_o by_o law_n which_o law_n if_o they_o subject_a to_o the_o personal_a power_n of_o the_o prince_n their_o enjoyment_n of_o they_o be_v precarious_a and_o they_o have_v nothing_o but_o his_o good_a nature_n to_o depend_v upon_o not_o to_o mention_v the_o ingratitude_n they_o show_v in_o have_v receive_v so_o ample_a endowment_n from_o the_o charity_n of_o our_o ancestor_n who_o think_v themselves_o proprietor_n of_o their_o estate_n out_o of_o which_o they_o provide_v so_o liberal_o for_o they_o and_o yet_o endeavour_v to_o enslave_v their_o master_n and_o render_v their_o liberty_n and_o property_n precarious_a but_o st._n paul_n word_n to_o timothy_n be_v verify_v in_o these_o man_n viz._n desire_v to_o be_v teacher_n of_o the_o law_n they_o understand_v neither_o what_o they_o say_v nor_o whereof_o they_o affirm_v we_o can_v wish_v that_o mr._n johnson_n have_v enlarge_v his_o book_n with_o what_o he_o do_v but_o hint_n at_o and_o bare_o mention_v i_o mean_v the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o mirror_n the_o confessor_n law_n the_o curtana_n sword_n and_o the_o power_n of_o the_o lord_n high_a steward_n and_o other_o great_a officer_n of_o the_o kingdom_n but_o particular_o that_o he_o have_v give_v we_o a_o account_n of_o the_o authority_n of_o the_o lord_n high_a steward_n concern_v which_o great_a officer_n we_o find_v but_o some_o few_o scrap_n here_o and_o there_o in_o any_o print_a book_n but_o they_o be_v such_o as_o give_v we_o good_a cause_n to_o believe_v that_o he_o be_v far_o entrust_v and_o empower_v to_o redress_v misgovernment_n in_o the_o state_n than_o our_o clergy_n be_v general_o aware_a of_o and_o though_o there_o be_v no_o such_o stand_a officer_n at_o this_o day_n yet_o there_o have_v be_v such_o a_o one_o it_o will_v do_v well_o if_o we_o be_v inform_v both_o wherein_o his_o office_n do_v particular_o consist_v and_o how_o it_o come_v to_o be_v disuse_v the_o style_n of_o mr._n johnson_n preface_n offend_v some_o among_o we_o as_o too_o light_a and_o wanton_a for_o the_o gravity_n of_o the_o subject_a other_o as_o make_v too_o bold_a with_o his_o superior_n by_o personal_a reflection_n to_o the_o former_a we_o who_o be_v his_o friend_n give_v this_o answer_n that_o it_o be_v a_o very_a hard_a matter_n for_o a_o author_n to_o keep_v his_o gravity_n when_o he_o think_v he_o have_v nothing_o but_o nonsense_n to_o encounter_v with_o to_o the_o second_o that_o his_o suffering_n have_v be_v so_o considerable_a and_o perhaps_o his_o disappointment_n so_o too_o he_o may_v the_o better_o be_v allow_v a_o freedom_n of_o his_o pen_n in_o treat_v those_o who_o perhaps_o he_o may_v look_v upon_o either_o personal_o or_o in_o their_o principle_n to_o have_v be_v instrumental_a in_o either_o where_o we_o find_v so_o much_o truth_n so_o much_o integrity_n and_o such_o strength_n of_o reason_n as_o appear_v in_o every_o page_n of_o his_o discourse_n we_o can_v easy_o dispense_v with_o humane_a infirmity_n if_o more_o have_v real_o intervene_v than_o what_o we_o hear_v be_v object_v against_o he_o sir_n i_o be_o your_o humble_a servant_n n._n n._n finis_fw-la cap._n 6._o vers._n 7._o
word_n out_o of_o st._n john_n gospel_n viz._n this_o be_v the_o true_a light_n which_o enlighten_v every_o man_n that_o come_v into_o the_o world_n i_o ask_v a_o courtier_n what_o relation_n the_o meaning_n of_o those_o word_n can_v have_v to_o such_o a_o occasion_n and_o he_o tell_v i_o that_o i_o interpret_v scripture_n like_o a_o peasant_n and_o do_v not_o understand_v the_o court-interpretation_n of_o scripture_n but_o this_o court_n we_o think_v will_v do_v well_o to_o consult_v their_o master_n honour_n and_o safety_n more_o than_o to_o sacrifice_n both_o to_o the_o interest_n or_o indeed_o but_o the_o suppose_a interest_n of_o a_o party_n of_o man_n who_o in_o their_o principle_n be_v his_o avow_a enemy_n and_o consequent_o be_v oblige_v to_o be_v so_o in_o their_o practice_n if_o a_o opportunity_n ever_o present_v itself_o and_o who_o of_o all_o mankind_n be_v seldome_a in_o the_o right_n by_o discountenance_v mr._n johnson_n discourse_n they_o wound_v their_o master_n honour_n in_o a_o double_a respect_n both_o his_o own_o personal_a honour_n and_o that_o of_o his_o family_n his_o personal_a honour_n by_o contradict_v he_o in_o his_o declaration_n and_o blemish_v the_o concurrence_n of_o other_o with_o he_o to_o promote_v the_o end_n of_o his_o expedition_n the_o honour_n of_o his_o family_n by_o cast_v dirt_n upon_o a_o principle_n which_o raise_v it_o to_o so_o great_a a_o eminency_n in_o the_o low-countries_n as_o that_o both_o his_o majesty_n father_n and_o himself_o marry_v into_o a_o royal_a family_n by_o which_o his_o majesty_n have_v a_o opportunity_n and_o have_v happy_o lay_v hold_n of_o it_o to_o rescue_v a_o distress_a nation_n from_o tyranny_n and_o oppression_n and_o thereby_o to_o make_v so_o illustrious_a a_o figure_n as_o he_o do_v at_o present_a in_o this_o part_n of_o the_o world_n his_o majesty_n accept_v kind_o that_o learned_a and_o ingenious_a gentleman_n compliment_n to_o he_o upon_o the_o singular_a and_o transcendent_a honour_n bereditary_a to_o his_o family_n of_o be_v the_o champion_n of_o almighty_a god_n send_v forrh_n in_o several_a age_n to_o vindicate_v his_o own_o cause_n from_o the_o great_a oppression_n which_o he_o and_o they_o have_v no_o otherwise_o do_v than_o by_o espouse_v the_o cause_n of_o law_n in_o opposition_n to_o the_o exorbitancy_n of_o prince_n who_o obstinate_o decline_v to_o make_v they_o the_o rule_n of_o their_o government_n how_o far_o they_o endanger_v their_o master_n safety_n i_o pray_v god_n neither_o his_o majesty_n nor_o we_o may_v learn_v by_o woeful_a experience_n in_o short_a either_o let_v they_o give_v his_o majesty_n say_v we_o a_o legal_a title_n to_o the_o crown_n which_o he_o can_v have_v but_o by_o the_o law_n of_o the_o realm_n which_o be_v the_o foundation_n upon_o which_o every_o government_n be_v build_v that_o be_v not_o a_o tyranny_n or_o let_v they_o speak_v out_o roundly_o and_o say_v in_o plain_a term_n that_o he_o be_v a_o usurper_n plain_a deal_n be_v a_o jewel_n one_o consideration_n more_o i_o will_v add_v before_o i_o leave_v this_o head_n and_o that_o be_v that_o trajan_n the_o emperor_n one_o of_o the_o great_a beyond_o dispute_n and_o perhaps_o one_o of_o the_o worthy_a and_o most_o excellent_a prince_n that_o ever_o sway_v a_o sceptre_n be_v so_o little_o concern_v whether_o his_o subject_n think_v themselves_o oblige_v to_o yield_v obedience_n to_o tyrant_n or_o not_o that_o one_o of_o his_o chief_a favourite_n and_o who_o know_v his_o mind_n very_o well_o scruple_v not_o to_o vent_v these_o bold_a and_o generous_a truth_n in_o a_o panegyric_n make_v in_o his_o own_o audience_n viz._n tuam_fw-la statuam_fw-la in_o vestibulo_fw-la jovis_fw-la optimi_fw-la maximi_fw-la unam_fw-la alteramve_fw-la &_o hanc_fw-la aeream_n cernimus_fw-la at_o paulò_fw-la ante_fw-la aditus_fw-la omnes_fw-la omnes_fw-la gradus_fw-la totaque_fw-la area_n hinc_fw-la auro_fw-la hinc_fw-la argento_fw-la relucebat_fw-la seu_fw-la potius_fw-la polluebatur_fw-la quum_fw-la incesti_fw-la principis_fw-la statuis_fw-la permixta_fw-la deorum_fw-la simulachra_fw-la sorderent_fw-la ergo_fw-la istae_fw-la quidem_fw-la aereae_fw-la &_o paucae_fw-la manent_fw-la manebuntque_fw-la quamdiu_fw-la templum_fw-la ipsum_fw-la illae_fw-la autem_fw-la aureae_fw-la &_o innumerabiles_fw-la strage_fw-la &_o ruina_fw-la publico_fw-la gaudio_fw-la litaverunt_fw-la juvabat_fw-la illidere_fw-la solo_fw-la superbissimos_fw-la vultus_fw-la instare_fw-la ferro_fw-la saevire_fw-la securibus_fw-la acsi_fw-la singulos_fw-la ictus_fw-la sanguis_fw-la dolorque_fw-la sequeretur_fw-la here_o the_o author_n in_o the_o hear_n of_o a_o excellent_a prince_n describe_v the_o multitude_n tear_v a_o tyrant_n to_o piece_n in_o imagination_n and_o do_v it_o with_o joy_n and_o triumph_n 〈◊〉_d tam_fw-la temâ—erians_fw-la gaudii_fw-la seraeque_fw-la lâ—â—titiae_fw-la quin_fw-la instar_fw-la ultiâ—nis_fw-la videretur_fw-la cernere_fw-la laceros_fw-la artus_fw-la truncatamembra_fw-mi postremo_fw-la truce_n horrendusque_fw-la imaginis_fw-la abjectas_fw-la excoctasque_fw-la flammis_fw-la ut_fw-la ex_fw-la illo_fw-la terror_fw-la &_o minis_fw-la in_o usum_fw-la hominum_fw-la &_o voluptales_fw-la mutarentur_fw-la and_o a_o little_a after_o quùm_fw-la de_fw-la malo_fw-la principe_fw-la posteri_fw-la tacent_fw-la manifestum_fw-la esteadem_fw-la facere_fw-la praesentem_fw-la then_o he_o put_v trajan_n into_o the_o same_o class_n with_o brutus_n who_o be_v instrumental_a in_o deliver_v rome_n fâ—om_n the_o tyranny_n of_o the_o tarquin_n and_o he_o that_o help_v to_o kill_v julius_n cesar_n in_o the_o senate_n visuntur_fw-la eâdem_fw-la ex_fw-la materiâ_fw-la caesaris_fw-la statuae_fw-la qua_fw-la brutorum_fw-la qua_fw-la camillorum_fw-la nec_fw-la discrepat_fw-la causa_fw-la illi_fw-la enim_fw-la reges_fw-la hostemque_fw-la victorem_fw-la moenibus_fw-la depulerunt_fw-la hic_fw-la regnum_fw-la ipsum_fw-la quaeque_fw-la alia_fw-la captivitas_fw-la gignit_fw-la arcet_fw-la ac_fw-la submovet_fw-la sedemque_fw-la obtinet_fw-la principis_fw-la ne_fw-la sit_fw-la domino_fw-la locus_fw-la and_o whereas_o the_o author_n of_o the_o preface_n to_o the_o three_o treatise_n make_v a_o jest_n of_o conditional_a settlement_n of_o power_n pliny_n tell_v we_o that_o the_o public_a prayer_n for_o this_o emperor_n be_v conceive_v conditional_o viz._n si_fw-mi benè_fw-la rempublicam_fw-la &_o ex_fw-la utilitate_fw-la omnium_fw-la rexerit_fw-la he_o applaud_v he_o for_o countenance_v and_o trencher_v the_o posterity_n of_o such_o as_o have_v signalise_v themselves_o in_o assert_v the_o law_n and_o liberty_n of_o their_o country_n an_fw-mi aliud_fw-la a_o te_fw-la quam_fw-la senatus_fw-la reverentia_fw-la obtinuit_fw-la ut_fw-la juvenibus_fw-la clarissimae_fw-la gentis_fw-la debitum_fw-la generi_fw-la honorem_fw-la sed_fw-la antequam_fw-la deberetur_fw-la offerres_fw-la tandem_fw-la ergo_fw-la nobilitas_fw-la non_fw-la obscuratur_fw-la sed_fw-la illustratur_fw-la a_o principe_fw-la tandem_fw-la illos_fw-la ingentium_fw-la virorum_fw-la nepotes_fw-la illos_fw-la posteros_fw-la libertatis_fw-la nec_fw-la terret_fw-la caesar_n nec_fw-la pavet_fw-la quinimò_fw-la festinatis_fw-la bonoribus_fw-la amplificat_fw-la atque_fw-la auget_fw-la &_o majoribus_fw-la suis_fw-la reddit_fw-la he_o tell_v he_o that_o no_o prince_n can_v be_v acceptable_a to_o god_n who_o have_v not_o the_o love_n of_o the_o people_n and_o that_o therefore_o trajan_n have_v conclude_v his_o vota_fw-la publicâ—_fw-la nuncupata_fw-la ut_fw-la ita_fw-la precibus_fw-la suis_fw-la dii_fw-la annuerent_a si_fw-la judicium_fw-la populi_n mereri_fw-la perseverasset_fw-la adeò_fw-la say_v pliny_n nihil_fw-la tibi_fw-la amore_fw-la civium_fw-la antiquus_fw-la ut_fw-la ante_fw-la a_o nobis_fw-la deinde_fw-la a_o diis_fw-la atque_fw-la ita_fw-la ab_fw-la illis_fw-la amari_fw-la velis_fw-la si_fw-la a_o nobis_fw-la ameris_fw-la et_fw-la sanè_fw-la priorum_fw-la principum_fw-la exitus_fw-la docuit_fw-la ne_o a_o diis_fw-la quidem_fw-la amari_fw-la nisi_fw-la quod_fw-la homines_fw-la ament_fw-la and_o at_o the_o end_n of_o his_o panegyric_n the_o author_n pray_v to_o jupiter_n capitolinus_n to_o preserve_v the_o emperor_n to_o they_o and_o their_o posterity_n upon_o the_o same_o condition_n si_fw-la bene_fw-la rempublicam_fw-la si_fw-la ex_fw-la utilitate_fw-la omnium_fw-la rexerit_fw-la and_o all_o these_o principle_n be_v good_a doctrine_n under_o the_o reign_n of_o a_o good_a prince_n one_o who_o when_o he_o deliver_v the_o sword_n to_o the_o commander_n in_o chief_a of_o the_o praetorian_a cohort_n give_v it_o he_o with_o this_o charge_n viz._n to_o use_v for_o he_o if_o he_o deserve_v it_o if_o not_o to_o use_v it_o against_o he_o as_o mr._n johnson_n tell_v we_o true_o that_o passive_a obedience_n be_v calculate_v for_o tyranny_n so_o be_v the_o opposite_a principle_n calculate_v for_o liberty_n under_o a_o free_a government_n nor_o can_v any_o prince_n be_v afraid_a of_o they_o who_o be_v not_o conscious_a to_o himself_o that_o his_o government_n be_v such_o as_o deserve_v to_o have_v the_o effect_n of_o they_o bring_v home_o to_o his_o door_n and_o therefore_o whoever_o assert_v they_o under_o the_o reign_n of_o a_o just_a prince_n put_v the_o great_a affront_n upon_o he_o imaginable_a for_o consequential_o they_o call_v he_o a_o tyrant_n to_o his_o face_n i_o have_v argue_v with_o some_o of_o our_o jure-divino-man_n upon_o this_o topick_n viz._n that_o passive_a obedience_n be_v direct_o against_o the_o law_n of_o the_o nation_n by_o which_o all_o