had some hope to have her sonne Reigne after David upon a certaine promise that David in his youth had made unto her thereof as also she had in the speciall favour and friendship which Nathan the Prophet and Sadock the Priest who could do much with the ould King David did beare unto her sonne Solomon aboue all the rest of his Bretheren Hereupon I say these two that is to say Queene Bersabee and Nathan the Prophet comming together to the old man as he lay one his bed and putting him in mind of his promise and oath made to Bersabee for the preferment of her Son and shewing besides how that Adonias without his order and consent had gathered an Assembly to make himselfe King even that very day which did put the old King in very great feare and anger and further also telling him which pleased him wel quod oculi totius Israel in eum â—espicerent ut indicaret eis quis sederet in solio suo post ipsum 3. Reg. 1. that is that the eyes of all Israel were upon him to see whom he would commend unto them to sit in his seat after him which was as much to say as that the whole common-wealth referred it to his choise which of his Sonnes should reigne after him Vpon these reasons and perswasions I say the good ould King was content that they should take Solomon out of hand and put him upon the Kings owne mule and carry him about the streets of Ierusalem accompanied with his guard and court and crying with sound of Trumpets Vivat Rex Salomon 3. Reg 1. and that Sadock the Priest should anoint him and after that he should be brought back and placed in the royall Throne in the palace and so indeed he was at what time King David himselfe being not able through impotencie to rise out of his bed did him honour and reverence from the place where he lay for so saith the Scriptures Adoravit Rex in lectulo suo king David adored his Sonne Salomon thus Crowned even from his bed all which no doubt though it may seeme to have been wrought by humane meanes and policy yet must we confesse that it was principally by the speciall instinct of God himselfe as by the sequell and succes we see so that hereby also we are taught that these and like determinations of the people Majestrates and common wealths about admitting or refusing of Princes to Reigne or not to Reigne ever them when their designements are to good ands and for just respects and causes are allowed also by God and oftentimes are his owne speciall drifts and dispositions though they seeme to come from man Whereof no one thing can give a more evident proofe then that which ensued afterward to Prince Roboam the Lawfull Sonne and heire of this King Salamon who after his Fathers death comming to Sichem where all the People of Israel were gathered together for his Coronation and Admission according to his right by succession 3. Reg. 12. For untill that time we see he was not accounted true King though his Father was dead and this is to be noted the people began to purpose unto him certain conditions for taking away of some hard and heavy impositions laid upon them by Salomon his Father an evident president of the oath and conditions that Princes do swear unto in these dayes at their Coronation whereunto when Roboam refused to yeald ten Tribes of the twelve refused to admit him for their King 3. Reg 11. but chose rather one Ieroboam Robohams servant that was a meere stranger and but of poore parentage and made him there lawfull King and God allowed thereof as the Scripture in expresse words doth testifie and when Roboam that tooke himselfe to be openly Injured heereby would by armes have pursued his Title and had gathered together an Army of a hundred and foure-score thousand chosen souldiers as the scripture sayth 5 Rig. 12. and 21. to punish these rebells as he calle them and to reduce these 10. tribes to their due obedience of their naturall Prince God appeared unto one Semejah a holy man and bad him goe to the camp of Roboam and tell them plainly that he would not have them to fight against their Brethren that had chosen another King but that every man should goe home to his house and live quietly vnder the King which each party had and so they did and this was the end of that tumult which God for the sins of Salomon had permitted and allowed of And thus much by the way I thought good to touch on t of holy Scripture concerning the Iewish Common-Wealth even at the begining for that it may give light to all the rest which after I am to treate of for if God permitted and allowed this in his own Common wealth that was to he the example and patern of all others that should ensue no doubt but that he approveth also the same in other Realms when just occasions are offered either for his service the good of the people and Realm or else for punishment of the sinnes and wickednesse of some Princes that the ordinary line of succession be altered Now then to passe on further and to begin with the Kingdoms of Spayne supposing ever this ground of Gods Ordinance first I say that Spayne hath had 3. or 4. races or discents of Kings as France also and England have had and the first race was from the Gotheâ— which began their raigne in Spayne after the expulsion of the Romans about the year of Christ 416. Ambros Moral lib. 11. c. 12 to whom the Spaniard referreth all his old Nobility as the Frenchman doth to the German Franckes and the English to the Saxons which entred France and England in the very same age that the other did Spayne and the race of Gothish Kings indured by the space of 300. yeares untill Spayne was lost unto the Moores The second race is from Don Pelayo that was chosen first King of Asturias and of the Mountain Countrey of Spayne after the distruction thereof by the Moores about the year of Christ 717. Ambros Moral lib. 13. c. 2. which race continued and increased and added â—â—â—gdom unto Kingdom for the space of other 300 years until the year of Christ 1034. Moral lib. 13 c. 42 43 44. when Don Sancho Mayor King of Navarra got unto his power the Earldom also of Aragon and Castiliae and made them Kingdoms and divided them among his Children and to his second sonne named Don Fernando surnamed afterward the great he gave not only the said Earldom of Castilia with title of Kingdom but by marriage also of the sister of Don Dermudo King of Leon and Austâ—rias he joyned all those Kingdoms together that day forward the 3 race of the Kings of Navair to reign in Castel and so indured for 500 years until the year of Christ 1540. when the house of Austira entred to reign there by mariage of the daughter heire Don Ferdinando
surnamed the Catholick and this was the 4 race of Spanish Kings after the Romans which endureth until this day And though in all these foure raceâ— and â—anks of Royall discents divers examples might be alleadged for manifest proof of my purpose yeâ— will not deale with their race for that it is evident by the Councell of Tolido which were holden in that very time that in those daies expresse election was joyned with succession as by the deposition of K. Suintila and putting back of all his children as also by the election and approbation of K. Sifinando that was further of by succession hath been insinuated before and in the 5 Councell of that age of Toledo it is decreed expresly in these words Si quis talia meditatus fuorit talking of pretending to be King quem nec electio omnium perficet nec Gothicae gentis nobilitas ad hunc honoris apicom trahit si consortio Catholicorum privatus divino anathemat condemuatus Concil Tol. 5. c. 3. If any man shall imagine said these Fathers or go about to aspire to the Kingdom whom the election and choice of all the Realm doth not make perfect nor the Nobility of the Gotish Nation doth draw to the height of this dignity let him be deprived of all Catholique society and damned by the câ—rse of Almighty God by which words is insinuated that not only the Nobility but of Gotish bloud or nearnes by succession was required for the making of their King but much more the choice or admission of all the Realm wherein thiâ— Councell putteth the perfection of his title Don Pelayo died in the year of our Lord 737. and left a Son named Don Fauila who was King after his Father and reigned 2. yeares only After whose death none of his Children were admitted for King though he left divers as all writers do testifie But as Don Lucas the Bishop of Tuy a very ancient Authour writeth Aldefonsus Catholicus ab universo populo Gothorum eligitur that is as the Chronicler Moralis doth translate in Spanish Don Alonso surnamed the Catholick was chosen to be King by all voyces of the Gotish Nation This Don Alonso was Son in law to the former K. Fauila as Morales saith for that he had his Daughter Ermâ—nesenda in Marriage and he was preferred before the Kings own sonnes only for that they were young and unable to govern as the said Historiographer testifieth And how well this fell out for the Common-Welth and how excellent a King this Don Alonso proved Morales sheweth at large from the 10. Chapter of his 13. Booke untill the 17. and Sesastianus Bishop of Salamanca that lived in the same time writeth of his valiant acts he was surnamed the great Sâ—â—ast Episc Saelam in hist Hisp To this famous Don Alonso succeded his son Don Frucla the first of that name vvho vvas noble King for 10 years space and had divers excellent victories against the Moores but aftervvard declining to tiranny he became hatefull to the subjects and for that he put to death vvrongfully his ovvn brother Don Vimerano Prince of excellent parts and rarely beloved of the Spaniards he vvas himselfe put dovvn and put to death by them in the year of Christ 768. And albeit this King left 2. godly Children behind him vvhich vvere lavvfully begotten upon his Queen Dona Munia the one of them a son called Don Alonso and the other a daughter called Dona Ximea yet for the hatred conceived against their Father neither of them vvas admitted by the Realm to succeed him but rather his châ—sen german named Don Aurelio brothers son to Don Alonso the Catholique vvas preferred and reigned peacably 6 years and then dying vvithout issue for this the hatred â—f the Spaniards vvaâ— not yet ended against the memory of K. Eruela they vvould not yet admit any of his Generation but raâ—her excluded thâ—m again the 2 time and admitted a brother in lavv of his named Don Silo that vvas married to her sister Dona Adosinda daughter to the foresaid noble K. Catholique Alonso So that here vve seervvice the right heyres of K. Don Fruela for his evil government vvere put back But Don Silo being dead vvithout issue as also Don Aurelio vvas before him and the Spaniards anger against K. â—ruca being novv vvel aslvvaged they admitted to the Kingdom his foresaid son Don Alonso the yonger surnamâ—d aftervvard the chast vvhom novv tvvice before put back as you have seen but novv they admitted him though his reign at the first endured very little for that a bastard uncle of his named Don Mauregate by help of the Moores put him out reigned by force 6. years in the ending vvithout issue the matter came in deliberation again vvhether the K. Don Alonso the chast that yet lived had been hidden in monastary of Galitia during the time of he yrant should returne again to govern or rather that his coseâ—n German Don vermudo son to his uncle the Prince should be elected in his place And the Realm of Spayâ—ed etermined the 2. that Don Vermulo though he vvere much further of by propinquity of blood vvithin 〈…〉 also should be admitted True it is that after three yeareâ— reign this 〈…〉 King Vâ—rmudo being weary of kingly life feeling some scruple of conscience that being Deacon he had forsaken the life Ecclesiasticall maryed though by dispensation of the Pope as Morales saith entangled himself with the affairs of a kingdom Moric 28 29. an 791. he resigned willingly the gouernment unto his said cozen Don Alonso the chast himself lived after a privat life for divers yeers but this Don Alonso who now the 4. time had been deprived of his succession as you have seen deceived the expectation of the Spaniards that accounted him a Monk for he proved the most valiant excellent King that ever that Nation had both for his vertue valour victories against the Moors building of Towns castles churches Monasteries other such works of christianity as Morales recounteth he reigned after this his last admission 51 yeers had great friendship with K. Charles the great of France who lived in the same time with him And this man among other most noble exploits so tamed the Moores of his country as during his days he never paid that cruelâ— horrible tribute which before and after was paid by the christians to the Moors Mor. l. 13 c. 45. an 842. which was 100 young Maidens 50 Sons of Gentlemâ—n every yeer to be brought up in the Religion of Mahomet among those infidell tyrants And finally this man after so much affliction came to be one of the most renowned Princes of the World After this Don Alonso who left no children for that he would never marry who lived all his life in chastity there succeeded to him by election his nephew named Don â—anurs son to the former said K. Don Vermudo the Deacon that gave this man the
to alledge out of the 2. rank only which began with the exclusion and deposition of their lawfull king Childerike the 3. and election of k. Pepin then surnamed le brefe or the little for his small stature though he were a Gyant in deeds being made king of France by meer election in the yeer of Christ 751. after 22 Kings that had reigned of the first line of Pharamond for the space of more then 300 yeers being so famous worthy a King as all the world knoweth reigned 18 yeers and then left his States Kingdoms by succession unto his eldest Son Charles surnamed afterward the Great for his famous heroicall acts And albeit the whole kingdom of France appertained unto him alone by the law of succession his Father being King and hee his eldest Son yet would the Realm of France shew their authority in his admission which Girard setteth down in these words Estant Pepâ—n decede les Francois esleurent Rois Charls Carlomon ses fils ala charge quils partageroient entre eux egalement le royaume Gir. du Haillan l. 3. an 768. which is king Pepin being dead the brench-men chose for their kings his two Sons Charles Carlomon with condition that they should part equally between them the Realm Wherein is to be noted not only the elect on of the Common wealth besiâ—es succession but also the heavy condition laid upon the heyre to part half of his kingdom with his younger brother and the very same words hath Eginard an ancient French Writer in the life of this Charles the Great to wit That the French State in a publike Assembly did chuse two Princes to be their Kings with expresse condition to divide the Realm equally as Francis Belforest citeth his words Eginard Belfor l 2. c. 5. After 3 yeers that these two Brethren had reigned together K. Carlomon the yonger dyed and left many Sons the elder whereof was named Adalgise but Belforest saith That the Lords Ecclesiasticall Temporall of France swore fidelity and obedience to Charles without any respect or regard at all of the childâ—en of Carlomon who yet by right of succession should have been preferred and Paulus Emilius a Latine Writer saith proceres regni ad Carolum ultroven entes regem tum totius Galliae sulutarunt Paâ—l Mil. hist Frâ—nc that is The Nobility of the Realme coming of their own accord unâ—o Charles saluted him k. of all France whereby is shewed that this exclusion of the children of Carlomon was not by force or tyranny but by free deliberaâ—ion of the Realm After Charles the great reigned by succession his only Son Lewis the first surnamed deâ—onnaire of hâ—s courtesie who entring to reigâ— in the yeer 817. with great applause of all men for the exceeding gratefull memory of his father was yet afterward at the purâ—uit principally of his own three sonnes by his first wise which were Lothair Pepin and Lups deposed Girard l. 1 An. 834. first in a chancell at Lions and then again at Compeigne and put into a monastery though afterward he came to reigne againe An 840. and his fourth sonne by hâ—s second wife which sonne was named Charles le châ—une for that he was bald â—ucceeded him in the states of France though after many battells against his brother Lothair to whom by succession the same apperteyned After Charles the bald succeeded Lewis the second surnamed le begue for his stuttering who was not eldest but third Son unto his Father an 878. for the second dyed before his Father the eldest was put by his succesâ—ion for his cruell demeanure this Lewis also was like to have bin deprived by the States at his first entrance for the hatred conceived against hâ—s Father Charles the baâ—d but that he calling a solemn Pâ—rl at Compeigne as Girard saith Gie l. 1. an 879 he made the People Clergy Nobility many fair promises to have their good wils This Lewis the stuttering left two bastard sons by a Concubine who were called Lewis Carlomon as also he left a litle Infant newly born of his lawfull fe Adeltrude daughter to k. Alfred of England which Infant was K. of France afterward by name of Charles the simple albeit not immediatly after the death of his Father for that the Nobles of France said that they that they had need of a man to be King not a child as Girard reporteth therefore the whole State of France chose for their Kings the two foresaid bastards Lewis the 3. Carlomon the first of that name joyntly they were crowned most solemnly divided the whole Relm between them in the yeer of Christ 881. Q. Adeltruds with her child true heir of France fled into England to her Father there brought him up for dâ—vers yeers in which time she saw 4 or 5 Kings Reigne in his place in France one after the other for briefly thus it passed Of these two bastard Kings the elder named Lewis reigned but 4 yeers and dyed without issue the 2d that is Carlomon lived but one yeer after him left a Son called also Lewis the 5. surnamed Faineant for his idle slothfull life an 886. For which as also for his vicious behaviour in perticular for taking out marying a Nun of the Abby of Baudour at Chels by Paris he was deprived made a Monk in the Abbey of S. Denis where he dyed in his place was chosen K. of France and crowned with great solemnity Charles the 4. Emperour of Rome srrnamed le gios for that he was fat corpâ—lent he was Nephew to Charles the bald before mentioned therfore the French stories say that he came to the Crown of France partly by succession partly by election Girard l. 5. an 888. but for succession we see that it was nothing worth for so much as Charles the simple the right heire was alive in England whom it seemeth that the French men had quite forgotten seeing that now they had not only excluded him three times already but afterwards also againe when this grosse Charls was for his cruel government by them deposed deprived not onely of the kingdom of France but also of his Empire which he had before he was King was brought into such miserable penury as divers write that he perished or want this time I say the States of France would not yet admit Charles the simple though hitherto his simplicity did not appear but he seemed a goodly Prince but rather they chose for King one Odo Earl of Paris Duke of Angiers caused him to be crowned But yet after a few yeers being weary of this mans government and moved also somewhat with compassion towards the youth that was in England they resolved to depose Odo and so they did while he was absent in Gascony and called Charls the simple out of England to Paris and restored him to the kingdom of France leaving only to
whom they alleadged this reason for their doing in that behalfe as Girard putteth it downe in both his French Chronicles I mean the large and the abbreviation to wit that their oath to Childerie was to honour serve and obey maintaine and defend him against all men as long as he was just religious valiant clement and would resist the enemies of the Crowne punish the wicked and conserve the good and defend the Christian faith And for as much as these promises said they were conditionall they ought not to hold or binde longer then that they were reciprocally observed on both parts which seeing they were not on the part of Childerie they would not be any longer his subject and so desired Zacharias to absolve them from their oaths which he did and by this meanes Childerie was deposed and 〈◊〉 into a Monastery where he dyed and in his place Pepin was chosen and crowned King whose posterity reigned for many years after him and were such noble Kings as all the world can testifie And so continued the race of Pepin in the royall throne for almost two hundred years together untill Hugo Capetus Hug. Cap. per an 988. who was put into the same throne by the same authority of the Commonwealth and Charles of Loraine last of the race of Pepin for the evill satisfaction which the French Nation had of him was put by it and kept prisoner during his life in the Castle of Orleance And thus much doe affirme all the French Histories and doe attribute to these changes the prosperity and greatnesse of their present Kingdome and Monarchy and thus much for France where many other examples might be alleaged as of King Lewis the third sirnamed Faineant For that he was unprofitable and of Charles sirnamed Legros that succeeded him both of them deposed by the States of France and other the like of whom I shall have occasion to speak afterwards to another purpose But now if you please let us step over the Pireny mountains and look into Spayne where there will not faile us also divers examples both before the oppression of that Realme by the Moores as also after Concil Tolet. 4. cap. 4. Ambros morac l. 11. cap. 17. For that before to wit about the yeare of Christ 630. we read of a lawfull King named Flaveo Suintila put downe and deprived both he and his posterity in the fourth Councell Nationall of Toledo and one Sissinando confirmed in his place notwithstanding that Suintila were at the beginning of his reigne a very good King and much commended by Isidorus Archbishop of Sivill Isidor in Hist hispan who yet in the said Councell was the first man that subscribed to his deprivation After the entrance of the Moores also when Spaine was reduced againe to the order and government of Spanish Kings we read Estevan de Garibay l. 13. de la hist de Espa c. 15. that about the yeare of Christ 1282. one Don Alonso the eleventh of that name King of Castile and Leon succeeded his father Fernando sirnamed the Saint and himselfe obtained the sirname of Sabio and Astrologo that is to say of wise and of an Astrologer for his excellent learning and peculiar skill in that Art as may well appeare by the Astronomy tables that at this day goe under his name which are the most perfect and exact that ever were set forth by judgement of the learned This man for his evill government and especially for tyranny used towards two nephews of his as the Spanish Chronicler Garavay writeth was deposed of his Kingdome by a publicke act of Parliament in the Towne of Valiodolid after he had reigned 30. yeares and his owne sonne Don Sancho the fourth was crowned in his place who for his valiant acts was sirnamed â—l bravo and it turned to great commodity of the Commonwealth The same Commonwealth of Spaine some yeares after to wit about the yeare of Christ 1368. having to their King one Don Pedro sirnamed the cruell for his injurious proceeding with his Subjects though otherwise he were lawfully seased also of the Crowne as son and heire to King Don Alonso the twelfth and had reigned among them 18. yeares yet for his evill government they resolved to depose him and so sent for a bastard brother of his named Henry that lived in France requesting him that he would come with some Frenchmen to assist them in that act and take the Crowne upon himselfe Garibay l. 14. c. 40. 41 which he did and by the helpe of the Spaniards and French Souldiers he drave the said Peter out of Spaine and himselfe was crowned And albeit Edward sirnamed the black Prince of England by order of his father King Edward the third restored once againe the said Peter yet was it not durable for that Henry having the favour of the Spaniards returned againe and deprived Peter the second time and slew him in fight hand to hand which made shew of more particular favour of God in this behalfe to Henry and so he remayned King of Spaine as doth also his prâ—geny injoy the same unto this day though by nature he was a bastard that King Peter left two daughters which were led away into England and there married to great Princes And this King Henry so put up in his place was called King Henry the second of this name and proved a most excellent King and for his great nobility in conversation and prowesse in Chivalry was called by Excellency El cavallero the Kingly King and for his exceeding benignity and liberality was sirnamed also El del merceedes which is to say the King that gave many gifts or the liberall franck and bountifull King which was a great change from the other sirnamed cruel that King Peter had before and so you see that alwayes I give you a good King in place of the bad deposed In Portugal also before I goe out of Spaine I will alleage you one example more which is of Don Sancho the second surnamed Capelo fourth King of Portugal lawfull sonne and heir unto Don Alanso surnamed el Gardo who was third King of Portugal This Don Sancho after he had reigned 34. yeares was deprived for his defects in government by the universall consent of all Portugal Garibay lib. 4. de hist Portug c. 19. and this his first deprivation from all kingly rule and authority leaving him only the bare name of King was approved by a generall Councell in Lyons Pope â—nnocentius the fourth being there present who at the Petition and instance of the whole Realme of Portugal by their Embassadors the Archbishop of Braga Bishop of Camibra and divers of the Nobility sent to Lyons for that purpose did authorize the said State of Portugal to put in supream government one Don Alonso brother to the said King Don Sarcho who was at that time Earle of Bullen in Picardy by right of his wife and so the Portugales did and further also a little after they deprived their said King
crown of whose election Morales writeth these words Muerto el Rey Don Alonso el casto fue eligido por los perlados grandes del reyno l Rey Don Ramiro primero deste nombre hyo del Rey Don vermudo el diacono Mor. c. 11. That is the K. Don Alonso the chaste being dead there was chosen K. by the Prelats Nobility of the Realm Don Ramiro the first of this name Son of K Vermudo the Deacon who resigned his crown to Don Alonso and it is to be noted thâ—t albeit this Don Ramâ—ro was next in bloud to the succession after the death of his uncle Don Alonso without children yet was hee chosen by the States as here it is said in expresse words Moreover it is to be noted that albeit this Author Ambrosio Morales other Spanish Writers do say that in the time of this K Ramiro the law of succession by propinquity in blond was so revived strongly confirmed that as the kingdom of Spain was made as Majorasgo as he termeth it which is an inheritance so intailed and tyed only to the next bloud as there is no possibility â—o alter the same and that from this time forward the King always caused his eldest Son to be named King or Prince so ever to be sworn by the Realm and Nobility yet shall we find this Ordinance and succession oftentimes to have been broken upon severall considerations as this Author himself in that very chapter confesseth As for example after four discents from this man which were Don Ordonio the 1. this mans Son and Don Alonso the 3. Don Garzia and Don Ordonio the second all four Kings by orderly succession it hapned that in the yeer of Christ 924. Don Ordonio the second dying left four Sons and one daughter lawfully begotten and yet the State of Spain displaced them all and gave the kingdom to their Uncle Don Fruela second brother to their Father Don Ordonio and Morales saith Mor. l. 16. cap. 1. an 924. â—hat there appeareth no other reason hereof but only for that these Sons of the King deceased were young and not so apt to govern well the Realm as their uncle was But after a yeers Reign this King Fruela dyed also left divers children at mans estate then did the Spaniards as much against them as they had done for him before against the children of his elder brother For they put them all by the crown and chose for their King Don Alonso the 4 which was eldest Son to Don Ordonio the 2. beâ—ore named that had been last King saving one and this man also I mean Don Alonso the 4 leaving afterward his Kingdom betaking himself to a religious habit offered to the Commonâ—welth of Spain his eldest Son lawfully begotten named Don Ordonio to be their King but they refused him and tooke his Brother I meane this Kings Brother Uncle to the young Prince named Don Ramiro Moral lib. 19. cap. 20. An. 930. who reigned 19 yeers was a most excellent King gained Madrid from the Moors though noted of cruelty for imprisoning and pulling out the eyes afterward of this King Don Alonso the 4. and all his children nephewes for that hee would have left his habit returned to be King again But this fact my auâ—hor Morales excuseth saying that it was requisit for pcace safety of the Realm so as here you see two manifest alterations of lineal succession together by order of the Common-welth Furthermore after this noble King Don Ramiro the 2. succeeded as heire apparent to the Crown his elder Son Don Ordonio the 3. of his name in the yeer of our Savior 950. but this succession endured no longer then unto his own death which was after 7 yeers for then albeit he left a Son named el enfante Don Vermudo yet he was not admitted but rather his brother Don Sancho the first of his name surnamed el Gordo who was Uncle to the young Prince and the reason of this alteration Morales giveth in these words el succeder en el regno al hermano fue por la racon ordinaria de ser el enfante Don Vermudo nino y no bastante para â—l goviernoy difenca de la terra Mor. l. 16. c. 29. An. 950. which is the cause why the Kings brother not his Son succeeded in the Crown was for the ordinary reason so often before alledged for that the Infant or young Prince Vermudo was a litle child not sufficient for Government and defence of the Country Truth it is that after this Don Sancho had reigned his son heir named Don Ramiro the 3. after him for the space of 30. yeers in all Mor. l. 17. c. 1 2 3 4. Then was this youth Don Vermudo that is now put back called by the relm to the succession of the Crown made King by the name of King Vermudo the 2. who left after him Don Alonso the 5. he again his Son Don Vermudo the 3. who marying his sister Dona Sancha that was his heir unto Don Fernando first Earle then King of Castile who was second Son to Don Sancho Mayor K ing of Navarras before hath been said he jâ—yned by these means the Kingdoms of Leon Castile together which were separate before so ended the line of Don Pelayo first Christâ—n King of Spain after the entrance of the Moors which had endured now 300. yeers the bloud of Navar entred as you see so continued therein untill the entrance of â—â—ose of Auâ—tria as before hath been said which was almost 500. yeers together And thus much I thought good to note out of the stories of Spain for this first discent of the Spanish Kings after the entrance of the Moors neither mean I to passe much further both for that it would be over long as also for that mine Author Morales who is the most diligent that hath written the Chronicles of that Nation endeth here his story with King Vermudo the 3. last of the Gotish bloud Notwithstanding if I would go on further there would not want divers evident examples also to the same purpose which Stephen Garabay another Chronicler of Spain doth touch in the continuation of this story weereof for examples sake only I will name 2 or 3 among the rest And first about the yeer of Christ 1021. there was a marriage made by K Iohn of England for Dona Blancha his Neece that is to say the daughter of his sister Dame Elâ—nor of Don Alonso the 9. of that name King Queen of Spain which Blancha was to marry the Prince of France named Luis son heir to K. Philip surnamed Augustus which Luis was afterward K. of France by the name of Luis the 8. was Father to Luis the 9. surnamed the Saint Car. lib. 11. c. 12. This Lady Blancha was Neece as I have said unto K. Iohn to K. Richard the â— of England for
named Ethelwâ—lfe or Adâ—â—ulte or Edolph an 829. for all is one who succeeded him in the kingdom and was as worthy a man as his Father and this Adeluulfe again had four lawfull Sons who all in their turns succeeded by just and lawfull order in the crown to wit Ethelbald Ethelbert Ethelred and Alfred for that none of the former three had any children and all the latter three were most excellent Princes especially Alfred or Alured the last of all four whose acts are wonderfull an 8â—2 and who among other his renowned Guests drove Rollo that famous Captain of the Danes from the Boâ—ders of England with all his company into France where he got the country or Province named then Neustria and now Normandy and was the first Duke of that Province and Nation and from whom our William Conquerour came afterwards in the 6. discent This man also erected the University of Oxford being very learned himselfe builded divers good Monasteries and Churches dying left as famous a Son behind himself which was Edward the first surnamed the senior or elder Anno 900. This King Edward dying left two Sons lawfully begotten of his wife Edgina the one named Prince Edmund the other Eâ—â—â—ed and a third illegitimate whose name was Adelstan whom he had by a Concubine But yet for that this man was esteemed to be of more valour then the other he was preferred to the crown before the other two Princes legitimate an 924 for so testifieth Poâ—dor in these words Adâ—â—anus ex concubina Edwardi filius rax a populo consalutatur atque ad Kingstonum opidum more majorum ab Athâ—â—lmo cautuariensi Arel lepiscopo corâ—natur Pol. l. 5. hist ang which is Adelstan the Son of K. Edward by a Concubine was made King by the People and was crowned according to the old custome by Athelme Archbishop of Canterbury at the town of Kingston Thus far Polidor and Stow addeth further these words His coronation was celebrated in the Market place upon a stage erected on high that the King might better be seen of the multitude he was a Prince of worthy memory valiant and wise in all his acts and brought this land into one perfect Monarchy for the expelled utterly the Danes and quieted the Welch men Stow p. 136. an 924. Thus much Stow of the snccesse of chusing this King bastard to reign To whose acts might be added that he conquered Scotland and brought Constantine their King to doe him homage and restored Lewis d'Outremer his sisters Son to the Kingdom of France an 940. This man dying without issue his lawfull brother Edmond put back before was admitted to the crown who being of excellent expectation dyed after 6 yeers and left two lawfull sons but yet for that they were young they were both put back by the Realm their uncle Eâ—dred was preferred before them an 946. so saith Palidor Genuâ—t Edmondus ex Egilda uxore Edvinuus Edganum qui cum etate pueri esseâ—â— post Eldredum deinder regnarunt Pol l. 6. King Edmond begat of his wife Egilda two Sons named Edwin and Edgar who for that they were but children in yeers were put back and reigned afterward after their uncle Eldred The like saith Stow and yeeldeth the same reason in these words Eldred succeeded Edmond his bâ—other for that his Sons Edwin and Edgar were thought to young to take so great a charge upon them This Eldred though he entred as you see against the right of the Nephews yet saith Polidor and Stow that he had all mens good will and was crowned as his brother had been at Kingston by Odo Archbishop of Canterbury and reigned 9 yeers with great good will and praise of all men He dyed at last without issue aud so his elder Nephew Edwin was admitted to the crown but yet after 4 yeers he was deposed again for his lewd vicious life and his younger brother Edgar admitted in his place in the yeer of Christ 959. This King Edgar that entred by deposition of his brother was one of the rarest Princes that the world had in his time both for peace and war justice piety and valour Stow saith he kept a Navy of 3000. and 600 ships distributed in divers parts for defence of the Realm Also that he built and restored 47 Monasteries at his own charges and did other many such acts He was Father to King Edward the Martyr and Grandfather to K. Edward the confessor though by two different wives for by his first wife named Egilfred â—hee had Edward after martyrized and by his second wife Alfred he had Etheldred Father to Edw. the confessour and to the end that Etholdred might reign his mother Alfred caused K. Ed. the son of Egilfred to be slain after King Edgar her husband was dead After this so shamefull murther of K. Edw many good men of the Realm were of opinion not to admit the succession of Etheldred his half brother both in respect of the murther of K. Ed. his elder brother committed for his sake as also for that he seemed a man not fit to govern and of his opinion among others was the holy man Dunston Archbishop of Canterbury as Polidor saith Pol. l. 7. hist Ang. who at length in flat words denyed to consecrate him but seeing the most part of the Realm bent on Etheldreds side he foretold them that it would repent them after and that in this mans life the Realm should be destroyed as indeed it was and he ran away to Normondy and left Sweno and his Danes in possession of the Realm though afterward being dead hee returned againe and dyed in London This Etheldred had two wives the first Ethelgina an English woman by whom he had Prince Edward surnamed Iron-side for his great strength and valour who succeeded his Father in the Crown of England for a yeer and at his death left two Sons which after shall be named And besides this Etheldred had by his first wife other two Sons Edwin and Adelston and one Daughter named Edgina all which were either slain by the Danes or dyed without issue The second Wife of Etheldred was called Emma sister to Richard Duke of Noâ—mondy who was Grandfather to William the Conquerour to wit Father to Duke Robert that was Father to William So as Emma was great Aunt to this William and shee bare unto King Atheldred two Sons the first Edward who was afterward named King Edward the Confessor and Alerud who was slain trayterously by the Earl of Kent After the death also of King Etheldred Queen Emma was marryed to the Dane King Canutus the first of that name surnamed the Great that was King of England after Etheldred and Edmond Ironside his Son and to him she bare a Sonne named Hardicanutus who reigned also in England before King Edward the Confessour Now then to come to our purpose hee that will consider the passing of the Crown of England from the death of Edmond Iron-side elder Sonne
of King Etheldred untill the possession thereof gotten by William Duke of Normandy to wit for the space of 50 yeers shall easily see what Authority the Common-wealth hath in such Affaires to alâ—er Titles of Snccession according as publique necessity or utility shall require for thus briefly the matter passed King Eâ—â—ldred seeing himself to weak for Sweno the King of Danes that was entred the Land fled with his wife Emma and her two children Edward and Alerud unto her brother Duke Richard of Normandy and there remained untill the death of Sweno And he being dead Etheldred returned into England made a certain agreement and division of the Realme between him and Canutus the Son of Sweno and so dyed leaving his eldest sonne Edmond Iron-side to succeed him who soone after dying also left the whole Realm to the said Canutus and that by plain covenant as Canutus pretended that the longest liver should have all Whereupon the said Canutus took the two children of King Edmond Iron-side named Edmond and Edward and sent them over into Swethland which at that time was also subject unto him And caused them to be brought up honourably of which two the elder named Edmond dyed without issue but Edward was marryed and had divers children Ethâ—ldred and his Son Edmond being dead Canutus the Dane was admitted for King of England by the whole Parlâ—ament and consent of the Realm anno 1018. and crowned by Alerud Archbishop of Canterbury as Polidor saith and he proved an excellent King and went to Rome and was allowed by that See also He did many works of charity shewed himself a good Christian and very loving and kind to Englishmen marryed Queene Emma an English woman and mother to King Edward the Confessour and had by her a Son named Hardicanutus and so dyed and was much mourned by the English after he had reigned twenty yeers though his entrance and title was partly by force and partly by election as you have heard After this Canutus the first surnamed the Great for that he was King joyntly both of England Norway and Denmark was dead Polidor saith that all the States of the Realm met together at Oxford â—o consult whom they should make King and at last by the more part of voyces was chose Harald the first Sonne of Canutus by a Concubine King Harald the Bastatd 1038. Polid. l. 8. Hist Ang. By which election we see injury was done to the line all succession of three parties First to the Sons of king Edmond Iron-side that were in Swethland Then to the Princes Edward and Ajerud sons to king Etheldred and brothers to Iron-side that were in Normondy And thirdly to Hardie mutus son to Canutus by his lawfull wife Emma to whom it was also assured at her marriage that her issue should succeed if she had any by Canutus After the death of this Harald who dyed in Oxford where he was elected within 3 yeers after his election there came from Denmark Hardicanutus to claim the crown that his Father Brother had possessed before him of whose coming Polidor saith libentissimis animis accipitur communiqve omnium consensu rex dicitur an 1041. He was received with great good will of all and by common content made King this was done by the States without any respect had of the succession of those Princes in Normondy Swethland who by birth were before him as hath been shewed this is the second breach after lineal discent after Elthred But this Hardicanutus being dead also upon the sudden 〈◊〉 a certaine banket in Lambeth by London without issue within two yeers after his Coronation the states of the Relm had deâ—ermined to chuse Aludred for their king who was yonger bâ—other to Edw. for that cause sent for him out of Normondy as polid recounteth had made him K. without all doubt for that he was esteemed more stirring valiant then his elder brother Edw. had not E. Goodwin of Kent fearing the youngmans stomack raised a strong faction against him thereupon also caused him to be trayâ—eronsly murthered as he passed through Kent towards London nor had the State here in any respect to Antiquity of bloud for that before Alured were both 〈◊〉 own elder brother P. Ed. who after him was chosen King and before them both were Edm Edw. the children of their elder brother Edmond Iron 〈◊〉 and this the third breach of lineall discent But this notwithstanding Alerud being slain P. Edw. was made King tanta publica lat tia saith Polidor vt certatim pro ejus faelici principatu cuncti vota facerent that is he was made King with such universall joy contentment of all men as every man contended who should pray and make most vows to God for his happy reign and according to this was the successe for he was a most excellent Prince and almost miraculously he reigned with great peace void of all war at home abroad for the space of almost 20 yeers after so infinit broyls as had beene before him ensued after him yet his title by succession cannot be justified as you see for that his eldest brothers Son was then alive to wit Prince Edw. surnamed the outlaw who in this Kings reign came into England brought his wife three lawfull children with him to wit Edgar Margaret and Christian but yet was not this good K. Edw. so scrupulous as to give over his kingdome to any of them or to doubt of the right of his own title which he had by election of the Common-wealth against the order of succession This K. Edward being dead without issue Polidor saith that the States made a great consultation whom they should make King first of all it seemeth they excluded him that was only next by propinquity in bloud which was Edgar Aledin son to the said Prince Edw. the outlaw now departed and Nephew to K. Edmond I tonside the reason of this exclusion is alleadged by Pol. l. 8. in these words is puer id aetatis nondum regno gubernando maturus erat that is he beinâ— a child of so small yeers was not ripe enough to govern the kingdom and then he saith that Harald son of Earl Goodwin by a daughter of Canutus the first proclaymed himself King an 10â—â— morover he addeth Nond spt cuit omninoid factum populo qui plurimum spei in Haraldi virtue habehat itaque more majorum sacratus est which is this fact of Harald displeased not at all the people of England for that they had great hope in the vertue of this Harald so was he annoinâ—ed crowned according to the fashion of the ancient Kings of England by which words we may see that Harald had also the approbation of the Realm to be King notwithstanding that little Edgar was present as hath been said so as this was the 4. breach of succession at this time But in the mean space William Duke of Normandy
SEVERALL SPEECHES Delivered At a Conference concerning the Power of Parliament to proceed against their KING for MISGOVERNMENT In which is Stated I. That Government by blood is not by Law of Nature or Divine but only by humane and positive Laws of every particular Common-wealth and may upon just causes be altered II. The particular forme of Monarchies and Kingdomes and the different Laws whereby they are to be obtained holden and governed in divers Countries according as each Common-wealth hath chosen and established III. The great reverence and respect due to Kings and yet how divers of them have been lawfully chastised by their Parliaments and Common-wealths for their misgovernment and of the good and prosperous successe that God commonly hath given to the same IV. The lawfulnesse of proceeding against Princes what interest Princes have in their Subjects goods or lives how Oathes do binde or may be broken by Subjects towards their Princes and finally the difference between a good King and a Tyrant V. The Coronation of Princes and manner of their admitting to their authority the Other which they doe make in the same unto the Common-wealth for their good Government VI. What is due to onely Succession by birth and what interest or right an Heire apparent hath to the Crown before he is Crowned or admitted by the Common-wealth and how justly he may be put back if he have not the parts requisite VII How the next in succession by propinquity of blood have often times been put back by the Common-wealth and others further off admitted in their places even in those Kingdoms where succession prevaileth with many examples of the Kingdomes of Israel Spaine VIII Divers other examples out of the States of France and England for proofe that the next in blood are sometimes put back from succession and how God hath approved the same with good successe IX What are the principall points which a Common-wealth ought to respect in admitting or excluding their King wherein is handled largely also of the diversity of Religions and other such causes LONDON Printed by Robert Ibbitson dwelling in Smith field neere the Queens-head-Tavern MDCXLVIII The first Speech THe Examples of a mad or furious Heir apparent or of one that were by Education a Turke or Moor in Religion or by Nature deprived of his Wit or Senses do plainly prove that propinquity of Birth or Bloud alone without other circumstances is not sufficient to be preferred to a Crown for that no Reason or Law Religion or Wisedom in the World can admit such Persons to the Government of the Common-wealth by whom no good but destruction may be expected to the same seeing that Government was ordeined for the benefit of the Weal-publique and not otherwise And though some in these our Dayes have affirmed the contrary and published the same in writing for the defence flattery or advancement of the Prince they favour affirming that even a fool mad or furious man or otherwise so wicked as he would endeavour to destroy the Common-wealth were to be admitted to the Seat Royal without further consideration if he be next in Bloud yet this is manifestly agaist all reason and conscience and against the very first end and purpose of institution of Common-wealths and Magistrates Hereof it doth ensue that some other Conditions also must needs be requisite for coming to Government by Succession besides the onely propinquity or priority in Bloud and that the Conditions must be assigned and limited out by some higher Authority than is that of the Prince himselfe who is bound and limited thereby and yet it seemeth evident they are not prescribed by any Law of Nature or Divine for that then they should be both immutable and the selfe-same in all Countries as God and Nature are one and the same to all without change where notwithstanding we see that these Conditions and Circumstances of succeeding by Birth are divers or different in different Countries as also they are subject to changes according to the diversity of Kingdomes Realmes and People whereby we are forced to conclude that every particular Countrey and Common-wealth hath prescribed these Conditions to it selfe and hath Authority to do the same For better proof whereof it is first of all to be supposed that albeit sociability or inclination to live together in company Man with Man whereof ensueth both City and Common-wealth as Aristotle gathereth in his first Book of Politiques be of Nature and consequently also of God that is Authour of Nature though Government in like manner and jurisdiction of Magistrates which do follow necessarily upon this living together in company be also of Nature yet the particular Forme or manner of this or that Government in this or that Fashion as to have many Governours few or one and those either Kings Dukes Earles or the like or that they should have this or that Authority more or lesse for longer or shorter time or be taken by Succession or Election themselves and their Children or next in Bloud all these things I say are not by Law either Natural or Divine for then as hath been said they should be all one in all Countries and Nations seeing God and Nature is one to all but they are ordained by particular positive Lawes of every Countrey But now that sociability in Mankinde or inclination to live in company is by Nature and consequently ordained by God for the common benefit of all is an easie thing to prove seeing that all ground of Realmes and Common-wealths dependeth of this point as of their first Principle for that a Common-wealth is nothing else but the good Government of a Multitude gathered together to live in one and therefore all old Philosophers Law-makers and Wise men that have treated of Government or Common-wealths as Platâ— in his ten most excellent Bookes which he wrote of this matter intituling them of the Common-wealth Plato de repub Cicero de repub Arist. Polit. And Marcus Cicero that famous Councellour in other six Books that he writ of the same matter under the same Title And Aristotle that perhaps excelleth them both in eight Bookes which is called his Politiques All these I say do make their entrance to treat of their Common-wealth affaires from this first Principle to wit That man by Nature is sociable and inclined to live in company whereof do proceed first all private Houses then Villages then Townes then Cities then Kingdomes and Common-wealths This ground and Principle then do they prove by divers evident reasons as first for that in all Nations never so wilde and barbarous we see by experience that by one way or other they endeavour to live together either in Cities Townes Villages Caves Woods Tents or other like manner according to the Custome of each countrey Pompon Mela. lib. 3. cap. 3 4. Tacit. lib. 8. which universal instinct could never be in all but by impression of Nature it selfe Secondly they prove the same by that the use of speech is
the best as the Romans many yeares were governed by Consuls and Senatours and at this day the States of this countrey of Holland do imitate the same or else Monarchia which is the Regiment of one and this again either of an Emperour King Duke Earle or the like these particular Formes of Government I say are not determined by God or Nature as the other two points before for then they should be all one in all Nations as the other are seeing God and Nature are one to all but these particular Formes are left unto every Nation and countrey to chuse that Forme of Government which they shall like best and thinke most fit for the Natures and conditions of their People which Aristotle proveth throughout all the second and fourth Books of his Politiques very largely laying down divers kindes of Governments in his dayes as namely in Greece that of the Milesians Lacedemonians Candians and others and shewing the causes of their differences which he attributeth to the diversity of Mens Natures customes educations and other such causes that made them make choice of such or such Forme of Government And this might be proved also by infinite other Examples both of times past and present and in all Nations and countries both Christian and otherwise which have not had onely different fashions of Governments the one from the other but even among themselves at one time one Forme of Government And another at other times for the Romans first had Kings and after rejecting them for their evil Government they chose Consuls which were two Governours for every Year whose Authority yet they limited by a multitude of senatours which were of their counsel and these Mens power was restrained also by adding Tribunes of the People and sometimes Dictatours and finally they came to be governed last of all by Emperours The like might be said of Carthage in Africa and many Cities and Common-wealthes of Grece which in divers seasons and upon divers causes have taken different Formes of Government to themselves The like we see in Europe at this day for in onely Italie what different Formes of Government have you Naples hath a King for their Soveraigne Roma the Pope and under him one Senatour in place of so many as were wont to be in that Common-wealth Venice and Genua have Senatours and Dukes but little Authority have their Dukes Florence Farara Mantua Parma Vrbin and Savoy have their Dukes onely without Senatours and their power is absolute Milan was once a Kingdom but now a Dukedom the like is of Burgundy Lorain Bavire Gasconie and Britaine the lesser all which once had their distinct Kings and now have Dukes for their supreme Governours The like may be said of all Germany that many Yeares together had one King over all which now is divided into so many Duke â—omes Earldomes and other like Titles of Supreme Princes But the contrary is of Castile Aragon Portugal Barcelona and other Kingdomes this day in Spain which were first Earldomes onely and after Dukedomes and then Kingdomes and now again are all under one Monarchy The like is of Bohemie and Polonia which were but Dukedomes in old time and now are Kingdomes The like may be said of France also after the expulsion of the Romans which was first a Monarchy under Pharamond their first King and so continued for many Yeares under Clodion Meronys Childrik and Clodovaus their first christened Kings but after they divided it into four Kingdomes to wit one of Paris another of Suessons the third of Orleans and the fourth of Metts and so it continued for divers yeares but yet afterwards they made it one Monarchy again England also was first a Monarchy under the Britaines and then a Province under the Romans and after that divided into seven Kingdomes at once under the Saxons and now a Monarchy again under the English and all this by Gods permission and approbation who in token thereof suffered his own peculiar People also of Israel to be under divers manners of Governments in divers times as first under Patriarchs Abraham Isaac and Jacob then under Captaines as Moses Joshua and the like then under Judges as Othoniel Aiod and Gideon then under high Priests as Heli and Samuel then under Kings as Saul David and the rest and then under Captaines and high Priests again as Zorobabel Judas Machabeus and his Brethren untill the Government was lastly taken from them and they brought under the power of the Romans and forreigne Kings appointed by them So as of all this there can be no doubt but that the Common-wealth hath power to chuse their own fashion of Government as also to change the same upon reasonable causes as we see in all times and Countries and God no doubt approveth what the Realme determineth in this point for otherwise nothing could be certain for that of these changes doth depend all that hath succeeded In like manner is it evident that as the Common-wealth hath this Authority to chuse and change her Government so hath she also to limit the same with what Lawes and conditions she pleaseth whereof ensueth the great diversity of Authority and power which each one of the former Governments hath as for example the Consuls of Rome were but for one year other Officers and Magistrates were for more or lesse time as their Common-wealth did a lot them The Dukes of Venice at this day are for their lives except in certain cases wherein they may be deposed and those of Genua onely for two yeares and their power is very small and much limited and their Heires have no claime or pretence at all after them to that Dignity as the children and next of kin of other Dukes of Italy have though in different sort also for that the Dukedomes of Ferara Vrbin and Parma are limited onely to Heires male and for defect thereof to return to the Pope or Sea of Rome Florence and Mantua for like defects are to returne to the Empire and do not passe to the Heires female or to the next of kin as Savoy and some others do And now if we respect God and Nature as well might all these Governments follow one Law as so different for that neither God nor Nature prescribeth any of these particular Formes but concurreth with any that the Common-wealth it selfe appointeth and so it is to be believed that God and Nature concurred as well with Italy when it had but one Prince as now when it hath so many and the like with Germany and also with Swizerland which once was one Common-wealth onely under the Dukes and Marquesses of Austria and now are divided into thirteen Cantons or Common-wealths under popular Magistrates of their own as hath been said so as when Men talke of a natural Prince or natural Successour as many times I have heard the word used if it be understood of one that is borne in the same Realme or Countrey and so of our own natural Bloud it hath some
sense though he may be both good or bad and none hath been worse or more cruel many times than home-borne Princes but if it be meant as though any Prince had his particular Government or interest to succeed by institution of Nattre it is ridiculous for that Nature giveth it not as hath been declared but the particular constitution of every Common-wealth within it selfe The second Speech FIrst of all is to be considered that of all other Formes of Government the Monarchy of King in it selfe appeareth to be the most excellent and perfect and so do hold not onely Aristotle in his fore-named Bookes of Politiques and namely in his third with this onely condition that he governe by Lawes but Seneca also and Plutarch in his Morals and namely in that special Treatise wherein he discusseth An sens sit Respub tractaâ—â—da whether an old man ought to take upon him the Government of a Common-wealth or no where he saith that Regâ—um inter omnes respub consummatissima prima est a Kingdom is the most perfect Common-wealth among all other and the very first that is to say the most perfect for that it hath most commodities and least inconveniences in it selfe of any other Government and it is the first of all other for that all People commonly made their choise at the beginning of this kinde of Government so as of all other it is most ancient for so we reade that among the Syrians Medes and Persians their first Governours were Kings and when the children of Israel did aske a King at the hands of Samuel 1 Reg. 8. which was a thousand yeares before the coming of Christ they alledged for one reason that all Nations round about them had Kings for their Governours and at the very same time the chiefest Cities and Common wealths of Greece as the Lacedemonians Athenians Corinthians and others whereof divers afterwards took other Governments unto themselves for the abuses in kingly Government committed at that time were governed by Kings as at large proveth Dyanisius Halicarnasseus Coruelius Tacitus Cicero and others Dyonis Hal. l. 5. Cornel. Tac. l. 3. Cic. l. 1. Offic. The Romans also began with Kings as before I have noted and the reason of this is for that as our Christian Doctours doe gather especially Hierome and Chrisostome Hierom. l. 2. Epist 12. Chrisost hom 23. this kinde of Government resembleth most of all the Government of God that is but one it representeth the excellency of one sun that lightneth all the Planets of one soul in the body that governeth all the powers and members thereof and finally they shew it also to be most conforme unto Nature by example of the Bees which do choose unto themselves a King and do live under a Monarchy as the most excellentest of all other Governments to which purpose also I have heard alleadged sometimes by divers those words of Peter Subjecti estote omni humanae creaturae propter Deum sint Regi quasi precellenti sive ducibus ab co missis c. 1 Pet. 2. Be you subject to every humane creature for God's cause whether it be to a King as the most excellent or to Dukes sent by God for the punishment of evil men and praise of the good cut of which words some do note two points first that as on the one side the Apostle doth plainly teach that the Magistrates Authority is from God by his first institution in that he saith We must be subject to them for God's cause so on the other side he calleth it a humane creature or a thing created by man for that by man's free choice this particular Forme of Government as al other also is appointed in every Common-wealth and that by mans election and consent the same is laid upon some particular man or woman according to the Lawes of every Countrey all which maketh it rightly to be called both a humane creature and from God The second point which divers do note out of these words is that Peter calleth a King most excellent which though it may be understood in respect of the Dukes Authority whereof immediately there followeth mention yet may it seem also to be taken and verified of kingly Authority in respect of all other Governments seeing that at this time when the Apostle wrote this Epistle the chief Governour of the world was not called King but Emperour and therefore seeing in such a time Peter affirmeth the state of kingly Government to be most excellent it may seem he meant it absolutely signifying thereby that this is the best kinde of Government among all others though to confesse the truth between the Title of King and Emperour there is little or no difference in substance but onely in name for that the Authority is equal every King is an Emperour in his own Kingdom And finally the excellency of this Government above all other is not onely proved by the perfection thereof in it selfe as for that it is most ancient simple and conforme unto Nature and most resembling the Government of God himselfe as hath been said but by the effects also and utility that it bringeth unto the Subjects with farre lesse inconveniences than any other Forme of Government whatsoever if we compare them together for in the Monarchy of one King there is more unity agreement and conformity and thereby also celerity commonly in dispatching of businesses and in defending the Common-wealth than where many Heads be lesse passions also in one man than in many as for example in Demecratia where the common people do bear the chief sway which is Bellua multorum capitum as Cicero wisely said that is a Beast of many heads Cicero l. 1. Offic. Democratis There is nothing but sedition trouble tumults outrages and injustices committed upon every little occasion especially where crafty and cunning men may be admitted to incense or asswage them with sugred words such as were the Oratours in Athens and other Cities of Greece that had this Government and the Tribunes of the People of Rome and other such popular and plausible men who could move the waves raise up the windes and inkindle the fire of the vulgar Peoples affections passions or furies at their pleasure by which we see that of all other Common wealths these of popular Government have soonest come to raine which might be shewed not onely by old examples of Greece Asia and Africa but also of many Cities of Italy as Florence Bolonia Siena Pisa Arezzo Spoleto Perugio Padua and others which upon the fall or diminution of the Roman Empire under which they were before took unto themselves popular Governments wherein they were so tossed with continual sedition mutinies and banding of Factions as they could never have end thereof untill after infinit murders massacres and inundation of bloud they came in the end to be under the Monarchy of some one Prince or other as at this day they remain so that of all other Governments this is the
of the other two formes of Government also and namely in England all three do enter more or lesse for in that there is one King or Queen it is a Monarchy in that it hath certain Councels which must be heard it participateth of Aristocratia and in that the Commonalty have their voyces and Burgesses in Parliament it taketh part also of Democratia or popular Government All which linitations of the Princes absolute Authority as you see do come from the Common-wealth as having authority above their Princes for their restraint to the good of the Realme From like Authority and for like considerations have come the limitations of other Kings and kingly power in all times and Countries from the beginning both touching themselves and their posterity and successours as briefly in this place I shall declare And first of all if we will consider the two most renowned and allowed States of all the World I mean of the Romans and Grecians we shall finde that both of them began with Kings but yet with farre different Lawes and restraints about their Authorities for in Rome the Kings that succeeded Romulus their first Founder had as great and absolute Authority as ours have now a dayes but yet their children or next in bloud succeeded them not of necessity but new Kings were chosen partly by the Senate and partly by the people as Titus Livius testifieth Livil 1 dec 1. So as of three most excellent Kings that ensued immediatly after Romulus to wit Numa Pompilius Tullius Hostilius and Tarquinius Priscus none of them were of the Bloud Royal nor of kin the one to the other no nor yet Romans borne but chosen rather from among strangers for their vertue and valour and that by election of the Senate and consent of the People In Grecce and namely among the Lacedemonians which was the most eminent Kingdom among others at that time the succession of children after their fathers was more certain but yet Aristotle noteth Arist l. 2. c. 8. Pol. Plutarch in Lycurg Their authority and power was so restrained by certain Officers of the people named Ephori which commonly were five in number as they were not onely checked and chastened by them if occasion served but also deprived and somtimes put to death for which cause the said Philosopher did justly mislike this eminent jurisdiction of the Ephori over their Kings but yet hereby we see what authority the Common-wealth had in this case and what their meaning was in making Lawes restraining their Kings power to wit thereby the more to binde them to do justice which Cicero in his Offices uttereth in these words Justitiae fruendae causa apud majores nostros in Asia in Europa bene morati Reges olim sunt constiti c. at cum jus aquabile ab 〈◊〉 viro homines non consequerentur inventae sunt leges Cic. l. 2. Offic. Good Kings were appointed in old time among our Ancestours in Asia and Europe to the end thereby to obtain justice but when men could not obtain equal justice at one mans hands they invented Lawes The same reason yeildeth the same Philosopher in another place not onely of the first institution of Kingdomes but also of the change thereof again into other Government when these were abused Omnes antiquae gentes regibus quondam paruerunt c. Cic. l. 3. de legibus That is All old Nations did live under Kingdomes at the beginning which kinde of Government first they gave unto the most just and wisest men which they could finde and also after for love of them they gave the same to their posterity or next in kin as now also it remaineth where kingly Government is in use but other Countries which liked not that forme of Government and have shaken it off have done it not that they will not be under any but for that they will not be ever under one onely Thus far Cicero and speaketh this principally in defence of his own Common-wealth I mean the Roman which had cast off that kinde of Government as before hath been said for the offence they had taken against certain Kings of theirs and first of all against Romulus himselfe their first Founder for reigning at his pleasure without law as Titus Livius testifieth for which cause the Senatours at length slew him and cut him in small pieces And afterwards they were greatly grieved at the entring of Scrvius Tullius their sixth King for that he gat the Crown by fraud and not by Election of the Senate and special approbation of the people as he should have done but most of all they were exasperated by the proceeding of their seventh King named Lucius Tarquinius sirnamed the proud who for that he neglected the Lawes of Government prescribed to him by the Common-wealth as namely in that he consulted not with the Senate in matters of great importance and for that he made War and Peace of his own head and for for that he appointed to himselfe a Guard as though he had mistrusted the People and for that he did use injustice to divers particular men and suffered his children to be insolent he was expelled with all his posterity and the Government of Rome changed from a Kingdom unto the Regiment of Consuls after two hundred yeares that the other had endured And thus much of those Kingdomes of Italy and Greece and if likewise we will look upon other Kingdomes of Europe we shall see the very same to wit that every Kingdom and Countrey hath his particular Lawes prescribed to their Kings by the Common wealth both for their Government Authority and Succession in the same for if we behold the Roman Empire it selfe as it is at this day annexed to the German Electours though it be first in Dignity among Christian Princes yet shall we see it so restrained by particular Lawes as the Emperour can do much lesse in his State than other Kings in theirs for he can neither make War nor exact any contribution of men or money thereunto but by the free leave and consent of all the States of the German Dieâ— or Parliament and for his children or next in kin they have no action interest or pretence at all to succeed in their Fathers Dignity but onely by free Election if they shall be thought worthy nay one of the chiefest points that the Emperour must swear at his entrance as Sleydan writeth Sleydan l. 8. Anno 1532. is this That he shall never go about to make the Dignity of the Emperour peculiar or bereditary to his Family but leave it unto the seven Electours free in their power to chuse his Successour according to the Law made by the Pope â—regory the fifth and the Emperour Charles the fourth in this behalfe Blond Dicad 2. l. 3. Crant l. c. 25. The Kingdomes of Poloma and Bohemia do go much after the same fashion both for their restrant of power and succession to their Kings For first touching their
and did drive him out of his Realme into Castilla where he lived all the rest of his life in banishment and dyed in Toledo without ever returning and this Decree of the Councell and Pope at Lyons for authorizing of this fact is yet extant in our Common Law in the sixt Book of Decretalâ— now in print Lib. 6. de cret tit 6. de supplenda cap. Grand 1. And this King Don Alonso the third which in this sort was put up against his brother was peaceably and prosperously King of Portugal all the dayes of his life Garibay in hist de Portug lib. 34. cap. 20. 21. and he was a notable King and among other great exployts he was the first that set Portugal free from all subjection dependence and homage to the Kingdome of Castile which unto his time â—t haâ— acknowledged and he left for his successor his soâ—â— and heire Don Dionysiâ—el Fabricador to wit the great builder for that he builded and founded above forty and foure great towns in Portugal and was a most rare Prince and his off-spring ruleth in Portugal unto this day Infinite other examples could I alleage if I would examine the lives and discents of these and other Kingdoms with their Princes and namely if I would speak of the Greek Emperours deprived for their evill government not so much by popular mutiny which often hapned among them as by consent and grave deliâ—eâ—ation of the whole State and Weal-publick Glicas in Annal. part 4. Zon. Annal. co 3. in vita Michael Calapha as Michael Calaphates for that he had troden the Crosse of Christ under his feet and was otherwise also a wicked man as also the Emperor Nicephorus Botoniates for his dissolute life and preferring wicked men to authority and the like whereof I might name many but it would be too long What should I name here the deposition made of Princes in our dayes by other Common-wealths as in Polonia of Henry the third that was King of France and before that had been sworne King of Polonia of which Crowne of Polonia he was deprived by publick act of Parliament for his departing thence without license and not returning at his day by the said State appointed and denounced by publick Letters of peremptory commandement which are yet extant In literis reip Polon ad Henr. Valesium pag. 182. 184. Vide Gagneum part 1. de rebus Polon In Suetia What should I name the deprivations of Henry King of Suetia who being lawfull successor and lawfully in possession after his Father Gustavus was yet put downe by that Common-wealth and deprived and his brother made King in his place who was in England in the beginning of Queen Elizabeths reigne whose sonne reigned King of Polonia Polin 1. 32. Histor de Franc. An. 1568. and this fact was not only allowed of at home by all the States of that countrey but also abroad as namely of Maximilian the Emperor and appointed also by the King of Denmarke and by all the Princes of Germany neer about that Realme who saw the reasonable causes which that Common-wealth had to proceed as it did And a little before that the like was practised also in Denmarke against Cisternus their lawfull King if we respect his discent in blood for he was sonne to King Iohn that reigned afore him and crowned in his fathers life but yet afterwards for his intolerable cruelty he was deprived and driven into banishment together with his wife and three children all which were disinherited and his Vncle Frederick Prince of Holsatia was chosen King whoâ—e Progeny yet remaineth in the Crowne and the other though he were married to the sister of Charles the fifth last Emperour of that name and were of kin also to King Henry the eight in England yet could he never get to be restored â—â—â—pessed his time miserably partly in banishment and partly in prison untill he died Sleydon l. 4. hist An. 1532. Muâ—st lib. 3. Cosmogra in dâ—script Dâ—â—i'e Paulus Iovius in viris illust But it shall be best perhaps to end this narration with example out of England it selfe for that no where 〈◊〉 have I read more markeable accidets touching this point then in England and for brevity sake I shall touch only a few since the Conquest for that I will goe no higher though I might as appereth by the example of King Edâ—in and others neither will I begin to stand much upon the example of King Iohn though well also I might so that by his cruell government he made himselfe both odious at home and contemptâ—ble abroad After him King Henry the third was admitted and he proved a very worthy King after so cruell a one as had gone before him and had been deposed which is a circumstance that you must alwayes note in this narration and hee reigned more yeares then ever King in England did before or after him for he reigned full 53 years and left his son and heire Edward the first not inferiour to himselfe in manhood and vertue who reigned 34. yeares and left a son named Edward the second who falling into the same defects of government or worse then King John his great Grandfather had done was after 1. yeares reigne deposed also by act of Parliament holden at London the yeare 1326. Polyd. l. 18. hist Anglicanae Anno 1326. and his body adjudged to perpetuall prison in which he was at that present in the Castle of Wallingford whither divers both Lords and Knights of the Parliament were sent unto him to denounce the sentence of the Realme against him to wit how they had deprived him and chosen Edward his son in his place Stow in the life of King Edward the 2. for which act of choosing his son he thanked them heartily and with many teares acknowledged his owne unworthinesse whereupon hee was degraded his name of King first taken from him and he appointed to be called Edward of Carnarvan from that houre forward And then his Crowne and ring were taken away and the Steward of his house brake the staffe of his office in his presence and discharged his servants of their service and all other people of their obedience or allegiance toward him and towards his maintenance he had only a 100 marks a year allowed for his expences and then was hee delivered also into the hands of certain particular keepers who led him prisoner from thence by divers other places using him with extreme indignity in the way untill at last they took his life from him in the Castle of Barkley and his son Edward the third reigned in his place who if we respect either valour prowesse length of reigne acts of chevalry or the multitude of famous Princes his children left behind him was one of the noblest Kings that ever England had chosen in the place of a very evill one But what â—hall we say Is this worthinesse which God giveth commonly to the successours at these changes perpetuall or certaine by discent no
no man without hearing his cause but to suffer the course of law to have his place in all and whatsoever he shall doe otherwise that it be void and of no Validitie at all Vnto all these Articles he sweareth first by his Legates and then he giveth a copy of his Oath in writing to every one of the six Electors and after this he goeth to the City of Aquis-gran to be crowned in the great Church where about the middle of the Masse the Arch Bishop of Colen goeth unto him in the presence of all the people and asketh whether he be ready to sweare and promise to observe the Catholick Religion defend the Church Minister Iustice protect the Widdows and Fatherlesse and yeald dutifull honour and obedience to the Pope of Rome whereunto he answering that he is ready to do all this the Arch-Bishop leadeth him to the high Alter where he sweareth in expresse words all these Articles which being done the said Arch-Bishop turning himselfe to the Princes of the Empyre and people there present doth aske them whether they be content to swear obedience and fealty unto him who answering yea he is annointed by the said Arch-Bishop before the Alter and then do come the other two Arch-Bishops of Moguntia and Treveris and do lead him into the Vestery where certain Deacons are ready to apparrel him in his robes and do set him in a Chayre upon whom the Arch-Bishop of Colen saith certain prayers and then delivereth him a Sword drawn and putteth a Ring upon his Finger and giveth him a Scepter in his hand and then all the three Arch-Bishops together do put on the Crown upon his head and leading him so crowned and appareled uâ—to the high Alter again he sweareth the second time that he will do the part of a good Christian and Catholick Emperor Which being ended he is brought back and placed in the Emperiall Seat and Throne where all the Princes of the Empyre do sweare obedience and faith unto him begining with the three Arch-Bishops and continuing on with the three other Electors and so all the rest in order which is a notable and magesticall manner of admitting and authorizing of a Prince as you see and it is to be marked among other things that the Emperour sweareth three times once by his depuâ—ies twice by himselfe before his Subjects sweare once unto him And yet will Malignants needs have subjects only bound to their Princes and the Prince nothing at all bound to them againe In Polonia which being first a Dukedom was made a Kingdom about the same time that this forme of electing of the German Emperour was prescribed the manner of Coronation of their Kings is in substance the very same that we have declared to be of the Emperour For first of all the Arch-Bishop of Gnesua metropolitan of all Polonia cometh to the King standing before the high Alter and saith unto him these words Whereas you are right noble Prince to receive at our hands this day who are though unworthily in place of Christ for execution of this function the sacred annointing nnd other Ceremonies Ensignes and Ornaments appertaining to the Kings of this Land it shall be well that we admonish you in a few words what the charge importeth which you are to take upon you c. Alex Gua guinterum Polon Tom. 1. Oricho in Chimer fol. 9. and 106. Thus he begineth and after this he declareth unto him for what end he is made King what the obligation of that place and dignity bindeth him unto and unto what points he must sweare what do signifie the Sword the Ring the Sceptor and the Crown that he is to receive and at the delivery of each of these things he maketh both a short exhortation unto him and prayer unto God for him And the Kings Oath in these words Promiâ—o coram Deo angelis ejus I do promise and sweaâ—e before God and his Anâ—els that I will do Law and Justice to all and keepe the peace of Christ his Church and the union of his catholick Faith and will do and cause to be done duâ— and canonicâ—ll honour unto the Bishops of â—his Land and to the rest of the Clergy and if which God forbid I should break my Oath I am content that the Inhabitants of this Kingdom shall owe no duty or obedience unto me as God shall help me and Gods holy Gospels Bodin derep l. 2. c. 9. After this Oath made by the King and received by the subjects the Lord Martiall Generall of the whole Kingdom doth aske with a loud voice of all the Councellors Nobility and people there present whether they be content to submit themselves unto this King or no who answering yea the arch Bishop doth end the residue of the ceremonies doth place him in the royal Throne where all his Subjects do homage unto him and this for Polonia In Spayne I do find that the manner of admitting their Kings was different and not the same before and after the distruction thereof by the Moores buâ— yet that in both times their Kings did swear in effect the self-same points which before have been mentioned in other Kingdoms For first before the entring of the Moores when Spayne remained yet one generall Monarchie under the Gothes it is recorded in the fourâ—h nationall Councel of Toledâ— which was holden the year of our Lord 633. according to Ambrosio Morales the most learned and diligent historiographer of Spayne Amb. Morales li. 11. c. 17. hist Hisp praefat ejusdem concilij though others do appoint it some few years after in this Councel I say it is said that their new King Sâ—ssinandus who had expelled Suintila their former King for his evill Government This King Sissinandus I say coming into the said Councel in the third yeare of his reigne acâ—ompanied with a most magnificient number of Nobles that waited on him did fall down prostrate upon the ground before the Arch-Bishops and Bishops there gathered together which were 70. in number and desired them with teares to pray for him and to determine in that Councel that which should be needfull and most convenient both for maintaining of Gods Religion and also for upholding and prospering the whole Common-Wealth whereupon those Fathers after matters of Religion and reformation of manners which they handled in 73. Chapters In the end and last Chapter they come to handle matters of Estate also Concil Tol. 4. c. 74. And first of all they do confirme the deposition of King Suintila together with his Wife Brother and Children and all for his great wickednesse which in the Councel is recounted and they do deprive them not onely of a little to the Crown but also of all other goods possessions moveables and immoveables saving only that which the new Kings mercy should bestow upon them and in this Councel was present and subscribed first of all others â—sidorus Arch-Bishop of Siuil who writing his History of Spayne dedicated the same
unto this King Sissinandus Ambros Maral l. 11. cap. 17. and speaketh infinite good in the same of the vertues of King Suintila that was now deposed and condemned in this said Councel whereby it is to be presumed that he had changed much his life afterward became so wicked a man as here is reported After this the Councel confirmeth the Title of Sissinandus and maketh decrees for the defence thereof but yet insinuateth what points he was bound unto and whereunto he had sworn when they said unto him To quoque pâ—â—aesentem 〈◊〉 Ac juturos aelatum sequentium principes c. We do require you that are our present King and all other our Princes that shall follow hereafter with the humility which is convenient that you be meeke and moderate towards your Subjects and that you govern your people in justice and piety and that none of you do give sentence alone against any man in cause of life and death but with the consent of your publike Councell and with those that be Governours in matters of judgement And against all Kings that are to come we do promulgate this sentence that if any of them shall against the reverâ—nce of our Lawes exercise cruel authority with proud domination and Kingly Pompe only following their own concupiscence in wickednes that they are condemned by Christ with the sentence of excommunication and have their separation both from him and us to everlasting judgement But in the next two yeares after the end of this Councel King Sissinandus being now dead and one Chintilla made King in his place there were other two Councels gathered in Toledâ— the first whereof was but Provinciall and the second Nationall and they are named by the names of the fifth and sixt Councels of Toledo Ambros Moral l. 11. cap. 23. 24. In the which Councells according to the manner of the Gothes who being once converted from the Arrian haereâ—ie were very catholick and devout ever after and governed themselves most by their Clergy and not only matters of Religion were handled but also of State and of the Common Wealth Concil 5. cap. 2 3 4. 5. conc 6. cap. 16. 17 18. especially about the succession to the Crown safety of the Prince provision for his Children friends Officers and favorites after his death and against such as without election or approbation of the Common-Wealth did aspire to the same all these points I say were determined in these Councels and among other points a very sâ—vere decreâ— was made in the sixt Councel concâ—rning the Kings Oath at his admission in these words Consonan une corde ore promulgamus Deo placituram sententiam Coucil Td. 6. c. 3. We do promulgate with one heart and mouth this sentence agreeable and pleasing unto God and do decree the same with the consent and deliberation of the Nobles and Peeres of this Realme that whosoever in time to come shall be advanced to the honor and preferment of this Kingdom he shall not be placed in the Royall Seat untill among other conditions he hath promised by the Sacrament of an Oath that he will suffer no man to break the Catholick Faith c. By which words especially among other conditions is made evident that those Princes sweare not only to keepe the Faith but also such other conditions of good Government as were touched before in the fourth Councel and these things were determined while their King Chintillâ— was present in Tolledo as Ambrosio Morales â—oteth Ambros Moral lib. 1. cap. 23. The distruction of Spayne Before the entrance of the Moores and before the dividing thereof into many Kingdoms which happened about â— hundreth yeares after this to wit in the year of our Saviour 713. and 714. But after the Moores had gayned all Spayne and divided it between them into divers Kingdoms Ambros Moral li. 13. c. 1. 2 de la Chron. de Espâ— yet God provided that within foure or five yeares the Christians that were left and fled to the Mountaines of Asturias Biscay found a certain young Prince named Don Pelayo of the ancient blood of the Gotish Kings who was also fled thither and miraculously saved from the enemies whom they chose straight wayes to be their King and he began presently the recovery of Spayne and was called first King of Asturias and afterward of Leon and after his successors got to be Kings also of Castilia and then of Toledo and then of Aragon Barcelona Valentia Murcia Cartagena 〈◊〉 Cortuba Granado Siuil Portugall and Nauarra all which were different Kingdoms at that time so made by the Moores And all these Kingdoms were gained againe by little and little in more then 700. yeares space which were lost in lesse then two years and they never came again indeed into one Monarchy as they were under Don Rodâ—igo their last King that lost the whole untill the yeare of our Lord 158â— when Don Philippe King of Spayne re-united again unto that Crown the Kingdom of Portugall which was the last peece that remayned seperated and this was almost 900. yeares after Spayne was first lost But now to our purpose the Chronicler of Spain named Ambrosio Morales doth record in his Chronicle a certain Law written in the Gotish-tongue left since the time of this Don Pelayâ— the first King after the universal distruction of Spain the title of the Law is this Como se an delevantar Reyen Espùa y como el ha de lurar los fueros Ambros Moral l. 13. c. 2. that is to say how men must make their King in Spain and now he must swear to the priviledges and liberties of that Nation then he putteth the Articles of the Law whereof the first saith thus before all things it is establishâ—d for a law liberty and priviledge of Spayne that the King is to be placed by voices and consent perpetually and this to the intent that no evill King may enter without consent of the people seeing they are to give to him that which with their blood and labours they have gained of the Moores Lucas Episcop Tuyens in histor Hispan Loudou de molin lib. de hered Thus far goeth this first article which is the more to be marked for that divers and those most ancient Spanish Authors do say that from this Don Pelayo the succession of Kings descended ever by propinquity of blood and yet we see that election was ioyned there withall in expresse termes The second part of the law containeth the manner of ceremonies used in those old dayes at the admission of their Kings which is expressed in these words let the King be chosen aud admitted in the Metropolitan City of this Kingdome or at least wise in some Cathedrall Church and the night before he is exalted let him watch all night in the Church and the next day let him here masse let him offer at Masse a peece of Scarlet and some of his own money and after let him communicate
and when they come to lift him up let him step upon a buckler or target and let the cheife and principall men there present hold the Target so lifting him up let them the people cry three times as hard as they can Real Real Real Then let the King command some of his own money to be cast among the people to the quantitie of the hundrâ—d shillings and to the end be may give all men to understand that no man now is above him let himselfe tye on his own Sword in the form of a crosse and let no Knight or other man beare a Sword that day but only the King This was the ould fashion of making Kings in Spain which in effect and substance remaineth still though the manner thereof be somewhat altered for that the Spanish Kings be not Crowned but have an other ceremony for their admission equall to coronation which is performed by the Arch-Bishop of Toled primat of all Spain as the other Coronations before mentioned are by the Arch-Bishop of Moguntia to the Emperour and by the Arch-Bishop of Guesna to the King of Polonia and by the Arch-Bishop Praga to the King of Bohemia and by the Arch-Bishop of Praga to the King of Portuga as was by the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to the King of England and by the Arch-Bishop Rhemes to the King of Fraunce of which Realme of France we may not omit to say somewhat in particular seeing it is so goodly a Kingdome and so neere to England not only in Cituation but also in Lawes manners and customes and as the race of English Kings have come from them in diverse manners since the conquest so may it be also supposed that the principall ceremonies and circumstances of this action of Coronation hath beene received in like manner from them First then touching the act of Cornation and admission of the King of France even as before I have said of Spayne so also in this Kingdom do I find two manners of that action the one more ancient which the French doe say hath indured in substance from their first Christian King named Clodoueus unto this day which is nigh Twelve hundred yeares for that Clodouius was Christened the yeare of our Lord 490. in the City of Rhems by Remigius Bishop of that City and annointed also and Crowned King by the same Bishop which manner and order of anoynting and Coronation endured after for about six hundred yeares unto the time of Henry the first and King Phillip the first his sonne both Kings of France At what time which is about 500. yeares a gone both the Chroniclers and Cosmographers of France do testifie that there was a peculier booke in the library of the Church of Beuais conteining the particuler order of this action Belfor l. 3. c. 20. Thevet cosmograph univers l. 15. c. 2. Papir masson annal l 3. pag 2. 15. which had endured from Clodoâ—eus unto that time Which order for so much as toucheth the solemnite of officers in the Coronation and other like circumstances was far different at that time from that which is now for that in those dayes there were no Peers of France appointed to assist the same Coronation which now are the chiefe and the greatest part of that Solemnitie Yea Girard du Hailan Secretarie of France in his third booke of the affaires and state of that Kingdom sayth that the ceremonies of Crowning their ould Kings were much after the fashon which I noted a little before out of the law of Dan Pelayâ— first King of Spaine after the Moores for that they were lifted up and carried about upon a Target by the chiefe subjects there present as the Spaniards were But as touching the principal point of that action which is the substance of admitting the King unto his Royal authority and oath by him made oâ— Governing well and justly and of the reciprocall oath of obedience made to him againe by his subjects it was not much different from that which now is as shall appeare by the Coronation of the foresaid Phillip the first who was crowned in the life and presence of his Father King Henry after the fashion then used in the yeare of Christ 1059. and it was in manner following as Nangis and Tillet both authours of great authoritie among the French do recount it and Francies Belforest out of them both repeateth the same at large in these words following Francis Belfor hist Fran. lib. 3. c 20. in vita Philip 1. King Henry the first of this name seeing himselfe very ould and feeble made an Assembly of all the states of France in the City of Paris in the yeare of Christ 1059. where bringing in his young sonne and heire Philâ—p that was but 9. yeares of age before them all he said as followeth The speach of the Father Hetherto my deare freinds and subjects I have bin the head of your Nobility and men at armes but now by mine age and disposition of body I doe well-perceive that ere it be long I must be seperated from youâ— and therefore I dâ—sire you that if ever you have loved me you shew it now in giving your consent and approbation that this my sonne may be admitted for your King and apparaled with the Royall ornaments of this Crowne of France and that you will sweare fealtie unto him and do him homage Thus said the King and then having asked every one of the assistance in particuler for his consent apart and afterwards the whole assembly ingenerall whether they would swear obedience to him or no and finding all to promise with a good will he passed over the feast of the assention with great ioy in Paris and after went to Rhemes with all the Court and Tryan to celebrate the Coronation upon the feast of Whitsunday Thus far are the words of William de Nangis alleadged in the story of France by Balforest and it is to be noted first how the King did râ—quest the nobility and people to admit his sonne and secondly how â—e did aske there consents a part for that these two points do evedently confirm that which I said at the begining that only succession is not sufficient but that Coronation ever requireth a new consent which also includeth a certain election or new approbation of the Subjects This is proved also most manifestly by the very order of Coronation which ensueth in Belforest taken word for word out of Tillet in his Treatise of Recordes in the Chapter of â—nnointing the Kings of France in these words In the yeare of grace 1059. and 32. of the Reign of King Henry the first of this name of France and in the 4â— yeare of the seat and Bishoprick of Geruays Arch-Bishop of Rhemes and in the 23 day of May being Whitsunday King Philip the first was anointed by the said Arch-Bishop Geruays in the great Church of Rhemes before the Alter of our Lady with the order and ceremony that ensueth The Masse being bâ—gun when it
words in thâ— name of all the Cleargie and Churches of France Sir that which we require at your handes this day is that you promise unto us that you will keep all canonicall priviledges law and Justice due to be kept and dâ—fendâ—d as a good King is bound to do in his Realme and to every Bishop and Church to him Committed whereunto the King answered I do promise and avow to every one of you and to every Church to you committed that I will keep and maintaine all canonicall priviledges law and Justice due to every man to the uttermost of my power and by Gods helpe shall defend you as a good King is bound to doe in his Realme This being done the King did sweare and make his Oath laying his handes upon the Gospell in these words following Auâ—nom de Iesus Christ ie Jure promots aw peuple Christiâ—n a may suject cos thoses c. Which is in English in the name of Jesus Christ I do sweare and promise to all Christian people subject unto me these poiuts ensuing first to procure that all my subjects be kept in the union of the Church and I will defend them from all excesse rapin extortion and iniquitie Secondly I will take order that in all iudgments justice shall be kept with equity and mercy to the end that God of his mercy may conserve unto me with my people his holy grace and mercy 3. I shall endeavour as much as possibly shall lie in me to chuse and drive out all my Realm and all my Dominions all such as the Church hath or shall declare for Heriticks as God shall help me and his holy Gospells Thus sweareth the King and then kisseth the Gospells and immediately is sung Te Deum laudamus and after that are said many particular prayers by the Arch-Bishop and then is the King vested and the ring scepter Crown and other Kingly Ornaments and Ensignes are brought and put upon him with Declaration first what they signifie and then particuler prayers are made to God that their signification may be by the King fulfilled And after all ended the Arch-Bishop with the Bishops do blesse him and say these words unto him God which reigneth in Heaven and governeth all Kingdoms blesse you c. Be you stable and constant and hold your place and right from henceforth which here is committed and layd upon you by the Authority of Almighty God and by this present tradition and delivery which we the Bishops and other Servants of God do make unto you of the same and remember you in place convenient to bear so much more respect and reverence unto the Clergy by how much nearer then other men you have seene them to approach to Gods Alter to the end that Jesus Christ Mediatour of God and man may confirme maintaine you by the Clergy and people in this your Royall Seat and Throne who being Lord of Lords and King of Kings make you raigne with him and his Father in the life and glory everlasting Thus saith the Arch-Bishop unto him and after this he is led by him and the other Peeres unto the seat Royall where the Crown is put upon his head and many other large Ceremonies used which may be read in the Author aforesaid and are to long for this place And yet have I bin the larger in this matter of France for that I do not think it to be improbable which this Author and others do note to wit that most Nations round about have taken their particuler formes of Anointing and Crowning their Kings from this ancient Custome of France though the substance thereof I meane of their sacring and Anointing be deduced from examples of far more antiquity to wit from the very first Kings among the people of Israel 1. Reg. 10. 16. 2. Reg. 2. whom God caused to be anointed by his Priests and Prophets in token of his election and as a singuler priviledge of honour and preheminence unto them whereof King David made so great accompt when he said to the Souldier that had kissed Saul his enemy in the war 2. Reg. 1. quaere non to â—uisti mittere manum tuam in Christum Domini Why diddest thou not feare to lay thy hands upon the Anointed of God and he put him to death for it notwithstanding Saul had been long before deposed and rejected by God and that himselfe had lawfully borne Armes against him for many dayes so much was that ceremony of Anointing estemed in those daies and so hath it been ever since among Christian people also for that Kings hereby are made sacred and doe not only participate with Priests but also with Christ himselfe who hath his name of this circumstance of Anointing as all the world knoweth Probable then I say it is that albeit the substance of this ceremony of Anointing King be much elder then the Christian Kingdom of France yet is this particuler rule and maiesticall manner of doing the same by way of Coronation the most ancient in Frauce aboue all other Kingdomes round about especially if it began with their first Christian King Clodovious not full 500. Yeares after Christ as French Authors doe hold At what time also they recount a great miracle of holy Oyle sent from Heaven by an Angell for Anointing Clodouâ—us whereof they say they have still remaining for the Anointing of their Kings at Rhemes which point I will not stand to treat or discourse in this place but rather will referr my reader to the foresaid Chapter of Francis Belforest Chronicler of France Belfo. l. 3. Cap. 17. who alleadgeth divers writers of almost 500. year antiquitie that write of the same but howsoever that be very propable it seemeth that all the ceremonies of Coronation in Germany and Polonia before receited which had their begining long after the reigne of Clodoneus might be taken from thence so the affinity likenesse of one to the other doth seeme to agree and Garibay also the Chronicler of Spaine and Nauarra in his 22. Booke Estevan Garribay lib. 22. c. 1. talking of this custome of annointing and Crowning the Kings of Nauarra saith that this excellent custome began there I meane in Nauara about 800. yeares past and was brought in by certain Earls of Champain of France named Theobaldes who comming to attaine that Crowne brought with them that reverent ceremony of Anointing and Crowning their Kings according to the use of the French which custome endureth untill this day in that part of Navarra that is under the house of Vandome albeit in the other that is under the Spaniards which is firr the greater it was left of in the Year 1513. when Fardinande surnamed the Cathol que King of Spaine entred thereupon for the Spanish Kings are never Anointed nor Crowned but otherwise admitted by the Common wealth But among all other Kingdomes it seemeth that England hath most particularly taken this custome Ceremony from France not only for the reason before
that her Mother Lady Elenor was their sister daughter to K. Henry the 2. and K. Iohn made this mariage therby to make peace with the French was content to give for her dowry for that he could not tell how to recover them again all those Townes Countries which the said K. Phil. had taken upon the English by this Kings evill Government in Normandy Gascoyn and moreover promise was made that if P. Henry of Spain that was the only brother to the said Lady Blanch should dye without issue as after he did then this Lady should succeed in the Crown of Spain also but yet afterward the State of Spain would not perform this but rather admitted her younger sister Dona Berenguela maryed to the Prince of Leon and excluded both Blanch her son the King S Luis of France against the evident right of succession propinquity of bloud the only reason they yeelded hereof was not to admit strangers to the Crown as Garabay testifieth This hapned then I do note by the way that this Dona Berenguela second daughter of Q. Elenor the English woman was maried as hath bin said to the Prince of Leon had by him Don Fernando the 3. of that name K of Castilia surnamed also the Saint so as the two daughters of an English Queen had two Kings Saints for their Sons at one time the elder of France the yonger of Spain After this again about 60 yeers the Prince of Spain named Don Alonso surnamed de la cerda for that he was borne with a great gristle haire on his breast called cerda in Spanish which Don Alonso was Nephew â—o the King Fernando the Saint marryed with the daughter of S. Lewis K. of France named also Blancha as her grand mother was had by her two sons called Alonso Hernando de la cerda as the Prince their Father was named which Father of theirs dying before the King the Grand father left them commended to the Realm as lawful heire apparent to the crowne yet for that a certain Uncle of theirs named Don Saâ—cho younger brother to their father which Don Sancho was surnamed afterward el bravâ— for his valour and was a great Warrier and more like to manage wel the matters of war then they he was made heir apparent of Spain add hey putbâ—ck in their Grandfaâ—hers time and by his and the Realms consent their Father as I have said being dead and this was done at a generall Parliament holden at Segovia in the yeer 1276. and after this Don Sancho was made King in the yeer 1284 the two Princes put into prison but afterward at the suit of their Uncle King Philip the 3 of France they were let out again endued with certain lands so they remain unto this day and of these do come the Dukes of Medina Celi all the rest of the houâ—e of Cerda which are of much Nobility in Spain at this time K. Philip that reigneth cometh of Don Sancho the yonger Brother Not long after this again when Don Pedro surnamed the cruel King of Castile was driven cut his bastard brother H 2. set up in his place the Duke of Lancaster John of Gant Gar. l. 15. c. 1. an 1363. having maried Dona Constantia the said King Padroes daughter and heir pretended by succession the saidâ— Crowne of Castile as indeed it appertâ—ined unto him but yet the State of Spain denyed it flatly and defended it by arms they prevailed against John of Gant as did also the race of H the Bâ—stard against his lawfull brother the race of Don Sancho the uncle against his lawfull nephews that of Dona Berenguela against her elder sister all which races do reign unto this day these three changes of the true line hapned within two ages and in the third and principall discent of the Spanish Kings when this matter of suceession was most assuredly perfectly established yet who will deny but that the Kings of Spain who hold by the latter titles at this day be true lawfull Kings Well one example will I give you more out of the kingdom of Portugal so will I make an end with there countries This king Henry the bastard last named 〈◊〉 Spain had a son that succeeded him in the crown of Spain named Iohn the 1 who marryed the daughter heâ—r named Dona Beatrix of k Fernando the 1. of Portugal but yet after the death of the said k. Fernando the States of Portugall would never agree to admit him for their King for not subjecting themselvs by that means to the Castilians for that cause they rather took for their king a bastard brother of the said late k. Don Fernando whose name was Dondulan a youth of 20 yeers old who had bin Master of a military order in Portugal named de Avis so they excluded Dona Beâ—trâ—x Q. of Cast l. that was their lawfull heire chose this young man marryed him afterwards to the Lady Philip daâ—ghter of Iohn of Gaunt D. of Lancaster by hâ—s first wife Blanch Duches heir of Lancaster in whose right the kings of Portugall their discendents do pretend unto this day a certain interest to the house of Lancaster Hereby we see what an ordinary matter in hath been in Spain Portugall to alter the line of next succession upon any reasonable consideration which they imagned to be for their weal publike and the like we shall find in France and England The eighth Speech AS concerning the state of France although since the entrance of their first king Pharaniond with his Franks out of Germany which was about â—he yeere of Christ 419. they have never had any stranger come to wear their crown which they attribute to their law Salike that forbiddeth women to reign ye among themselves have they changed twise their whole race linage of kings once in the entrance of k. Pepin that put out the line of Pharamond about the yeer 751. again in the promotion of k. Hugo Capetus that put out the line of Pepin in the yeer 983. so as they have had 3 discents races of Kings as well as the Spaniards the first of Pharamond the 2. of Pepin and the 3. of Capetus which endureth to this present if it be not altered now by the exclusion that divers pretend to make of the King of Navar and other Princes of the bloud Royall of the house of Burbon I will here set pâ—sse the first rank of all of the French Kings for that some men say perhaps that the common wealth and law of succession was not so well setled in those days as it hath been afterward in time of k. Pepin Charles the great and their discendantaâ— as also for that it were in very deed over edious to examine and peruse all three ranks or kings in France as you will say when you shall see what store I have
themselves secure in conscience as you see for doing the same which God hath also since seemed to confirm with the succession happy successe of so many noble and most Christian Kings as have issued out of this line of Hugo Capet us unto this day And this spoken now of the second line of France I take to be sufficient for proof of our purpose without going any further for that if we do but number these Kings already named that have reigned in this second race from K. Pepin downwards unto Hugh Capet which are about 17 or 18 Kings in 238 yeeres we shall find that not some few but the most part of them did both enter and enjoy their crowns and dignities contrary to the law of lineall discent and of next succession by bloud Whereof also there would not want divers examples in the third and last discent since Hugo Capitus his time if we would passe further to examine the stories thereof For not to go further down then to the very next discent after Hugh which was K. Robert his Son Girard affirmeth in his story Gir. l. 6 an 1232. that of his two Sons which he had named Robert Henry Robert the elder was put back his younger brother Henry made K. of France reigned many yeers by the name of H. the 1. and this he saith hapned partly for that Robert was but a simple man in respect of Henry and partly also for that H. was greatly favoured and assisted in this pretence by Duke Robert of Normandy Father to our William the conqueror and in recompence hereof this King Henry afterward assisted the said William bastard Son to Robert for the attaining of the Dukedom of Normandy after the death of the said Duke Robert his Father notwithstanding that Duke Robert had two lawfull brothers alive at that time whose names were Manger Archbishop of Rone and William Earl of Argues in Normandy who pretended by successâ—ion to be preferred Gir. l. 6. an 1032. and 1037. But the States of Normandy at the request of Duke Robert when he went to the Holy land in which journey he dyed as also for avoidâ—ng dissention wars that otherwise might ensue were content to exclude the uncles and admit the bastard son who was also assisted by the Forces of the King of France so as no scruple it seemed there was it those days either to prefer K. Hen. to the crown of France before his elder brother or D. William the bastard son to the Duchy of Normandy before his lawfull uncles upon such considerations as those States may be presumed to have had for their doings I read also that some yeers after to wit in the yeâ—r 1â—10 when Philip the 1. of France son and heyr to this K. Henry was deceased the people of France were so offended with his evill life and government as divers were of opinion to dis-inherit his Son Lewis the 6. surnamed le Gros for his sake and so was he like to have been indeed as may appear by the chronicle of France if some of his party had not caused him to be crowned in hast and out of order in Orleans for prevnting the matter The like doth Philip Cominaeus in his story of K. Lewis the 11dâ— clare how that the State of France had once determined to have dis-inherited his Son Charles named after the 8 to puâ— him back from his succession for their hatred to his Father if the said Father had not dred while the other was very young aâ—â— noted before also that it hapned in K. Hen. the 3 of England wâ—o was once condemned by the Barons to be dis-inherited for the fault of K Iohn his Father Lewis the Prof France chosen in his place but that the death of K. Iohn did alter that course intended by the English Nobiâ—ity so as this matâ—er is neither nâ—w nor unaccustomed in all sorraign Countries and now will I passe also a little to our English stories to see whether the like may be found in them or no. And first of all that the Realm of England hath had as great variety changes diversity in the races of their Kings as any one Realm in the world it seemeth evident for that first of all after the Britains it had Romans for their Governours for many yeer then of them their Roman bloud they had Kings againe of their own as appeareth by that valiant King Aurelius Ambrosius who resisted so manfully prudently the Saxons for a time after this they had Kings of the Saxon English bloud after them of the Daâ—es â—hen of â—he Normans and after them again of the French last of all it seemeth to have returned to the Britains again in K. H. 7. for that his Father came of that race and now you know there bee pretenders of divers Nations I mean both of Scottish Spanish and I alian bloud so that England is liâ—e to perticipate with all their neighbors round about them I for my part do feel my self much of the French opinion before alleadged that so the ship be well and happily guided I esteeme it not much important of what race or Nation the Pylot be but now to our purpose I mean to passe over the first and ancient ranks of Kings as well of the Brittish and Roman as also of the Saxon races unâ—ill K. Egbert me 1 of this name King of the West Saxons almost of all the rest of England besides who therefore is said to be â—roperly the first Monarch of the Saxon bloud and he that first of all commanded that Realm to be called England which ever since hath been observed This man Egbert being a young Gentleman of a noble house in the West parts of England was bad in jelousie by his K. Britricus who was the 16. K. from Cordicius first K. of the West Saxons as he was also the last of his bloud And for that he suspected that this Egbert for his great prowess might come in time to be chosen King he banished him into France where he lived divers yeers was a captain under the famous K. Pepin that was Father to Charlâ—s the great hearing afterwards that K. Britricus was dead he returned inâ—o England where Polidâ—o saith omnium confensu rex creatur Pol. hist. aug l. 4. in sine That he was created or chosen King by consent voyce of all men though yet he were not next propinquity of bloud royall as is most evident and yet he proved the most excellent King that ever the Saxons had before or perhaps after his election hapned in the yeer of Christ 802. when K. Pepin the first of that race reigned in France so as this Monarchy of Egbert and that of Pepin began as it were together and both of them came to their crowns by election of the people as here you see This King Egbert or Egbrich as others do write him left a lawfull Son behind him