Book of Knox of the Monstrous Government of Women 6. And John Leisley Bishop of Ross in Scotland confuteth the first point 1 That the Statute that beareth the inheritance of Aliens made 25 Edw. 3. is only to be understood of particular men's inheritance 2 There is express exception of the King's Children and Off-spring in the Statute 3 The Practice both before and since the Conquest to the contrary 7. The second If Henry 8. made such a Testament it could not hold in Law But that he made it not besides many probabilities the testimonies of the Lord Paget Sir Edw. Montague Lord Chief Justice and William Clark who set the King's stamp to the Writing avowed before the Council and Parlament in Queen Maries time That the testament was signed after the King was past sens and memory 8. Robert Heghington Secretary to the Earle of North writeth in favor of the King of Spain as next Heir to the House of Lancaster Another writeth in the behalf of the Dukes of Parma as next Heir of Portugal another for the Infanta of Spain as the Heir of Brittanie CAP. II. Of the Succession of the Crown from the Conquest unto Edward the Third's time The issue of VVilliam the Conquerer WILLIAM the Conqueror had four Sons and five Daughters Sons 1. Robert Duke of Normandie 2. Richard died in his youth 3. William Rufus 4. Henry the first Daughters 1. Sicilie a Nun 2. Constantia wife of Alain Fergant Duke of Britanie 3 Adela or Alice wife of Stephen Earle of Bloys c. The other two died yong Robert Duke of Normandie Robert of Normandie and his Son William were ruined by Henry 1. Robert pined away in the Castle of Cardiff William slain before Alost in Flanders whereof he was Earl by an arrow Henry 1. Of all the Children of Henry 1. Mande first married to Henry 5. Emperor had issue Henry 2. by Geoffrey Plantagenet Duke of Anjou c. her second Husband he Reigned after King Stephen The beginning of the House of Britanie Constantia the Conquerors second Daughter had issue Conan 2. le Gros who had issue Hoel and Bettha wife of Eudo Earle of Porrhet in Normandie her Father made her his Heir on his death bed disadvowing Howel she had issue Conan 3. He Constantia wife to Geoffrey third Son to Henry 2. by whom she had Arthur whom King John his Uncle put from the Crown of England and murthered After which Constantia married Guy Vicount of Touars a Britan and their issue have continued till this in the infanta of Spain and the Dutchess of Savoy her sister whose Mother was sister unto the last King of France Anna the Heir of Britanie had by Lewis the 12. of France one Daughter Claudia of whom and Francis the first came Henry 2. whose Daughter was Mother to the Infanta c. King Stephen Adela or Alice the Conquerors third Daughter had issue Stephen Earle of Bouloyne chosen King after Henry 1. before Mande his Daughter because a Woman and before her Son Henry 2. because he was but a Child and a degree further off from the Conqueros but especially by force and friends whereby he prevented also the Duke of Britain Son to his Mothers eldest sister He had two sons who left no issue and Mary wife to the Earle of Flanders whose right if any is discended to the Spaniard Henry 2. his Sons Henry 2. had issue by Eleonora the Heir of Aquitaine William who died yong Henry Crowned in his Fathers time and died without issue 3. Richard Coeur de Lyon who died without issue 4. Geoffrey who married Constance the Heir of Britain as aforesaid 5. John the King who had issue Henry the third Henry 2. his Daughters His Daughters were 1. Eleonora married to Alphonso 9. of Castile 2. to Alexis the Emperor 3. to the Duke of Saxonie 4. to the Earle of Tholouse Eleonora had Henry of Castile who died without issue and Blanche married to Lewis of France of the Race of Valois whose issue continueth and Berenguela married to the Prince of Leon whose Son Ferdinando by the death of his Uncle Henry without issue was chosen King of Castile before Saint Lewis the son of Blanche aforesaid because a stranger 16. The right which France had to Aquitain Poictiers and Normandie came to them by the aforesaid Blanche who was married thither on condition to have for her dower all that John had lost in France which was almost all hee had Henry 3. his Issue Henry 3. had Edward 1 hee Edw. 2. hee Edw. 3. and Edmund Crook-back Earl or Duke of Lancaster whose heir Lady Blanch married John of Gant the third son of Edw. 3. from whom came the hous of Lancaster Also Beatrix married to John 2. Duke of Britain from whom descended the Infantas Mother That Edward Crook-back was not elder then Edward 1. Edward Crook-back was not Edw. 1. elder brother and put by onely for his deformitie 2. hee was born 18 Junii 1245 and Edward 16 Junii 1239. Matth. West who lived at the same time 2. hee was a wise Prince and much imploied by his father and brother in their wars 3. his father advanced him in England and would have made him King of Naples and Sicilie 4. having the charge of the Realm at his father's death and his brother absent hee attempted no innovation nor hee nor any of his children made any claim to the Crown after that 5. If hee had been elder the title of Lancaster in John of Gant his Issue whose mother was heir unto Edmund had been without contradiction nor could the house of York have had any pretence of right The Issue of Edward Crook-back Henry the second Earl of Lancaster and grand-childe to the aforesaid Edmund was created Duke of Lancaster by Edward 3. Hee had but one childe the Ladie Blanch wife of John of Gant by whom hee became also Duke of Lancaster His three sisters were matched one to the Lord Maubery of whom the Howards of Norfolk Joane 2. Mary married to the Earl of Northumberland from whom the now-now-Earl 3. Eleonor married to the Earl of Arundel of whom the late Earle descended CAP. III. The Succession from Edward 3. The houses of Lancaster and York Edward 3. his Issue EDward the third had five sons 1. the Black Prince hee Richard second in whom his line ceased 2 Lionel Duke of Clarence 3. John of Gant Duke of Lancaster by his wife Blanche 4 Edward of Langley Duke of York 5. Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester The Title of the Hous of York Lionel of Clarence had one onely daughter and heir Philippe married to Edmund Mortimer Earl of March they Roger hee Anne Mortimer married to Richard Earl of Cambridg second son of Edmund L. of York His son Richard by the death of his Uncle slain at Agincourt came to bee Duke of York his father of Cambridg beeing executed for a Conspiracie against Henry 5. And was the first of the
hous of York that challenged the Crown and died in the quarrel His son was Edward the 4. The Issue of the Duke of Glocester Thomas of Woodstock had onely one childe Anne married to the Lord Stafford whose issue came after in regard of this marriage for Thomas was Earl of Buckingham too to bee Duke of Buckingham som of whose blood are yet in England The Issue of John of Gant by his first Wife John of Gant had three Wives 1 Blanch the heir of Lancaster aforesaid by whom hee had Henry 4. and Philippe married to John King of Portingal from whom are lineally descended such as at this day claim interest in that Crown and Elisabeth married to John Holland Duk of Exceter whose grand-childe Henry left onely Anne married to Sir Thomas Nevil Knight from whom the Earl of Westmerland is lineally descended By his second Wife By his second Ladie Constance daughter of Peter King of Castile hee had onely one daughter Katharine married to Henry the third King of Castile of whom the King of Spain that now is is lineally desended By his third Wife Henry 7. his Title His third Katharine Swinford daughter to a Knight of Henault and attending on his wife Blanch hee used as his Concubine in his wife Constance's time and begat of her three sons and one daughter and after married her to Swinford an English Knight who dead and his wife Constance also hee married her Anno 1396 and caused his said children by her to bee legitimated by Parlament Anno 1397. Henry 7. his Title from Lancaster His sons were 1. John Duke of Somerset 2. Thomas Duke of Excester 3. Henry Bishop and Cardinal of Winchester His daughter Jane married to the Earl of Westmerland The Issues of all these were soon spent except of John of Somerset who had two sons John and Edmund John one onely daughter Margaret married to Edmund Tidder Earl of Richmond by whom hee had Henry 7. Edmund and his three sons all died in the quarrel of the Hous of Lancaster without Issue The line of Clarence and Title of the Earl of Huntington George Duke of Clarence second brother of Edw. 4. had Issue Edw. Earl of Warwick put to death by Henry 7. and Margaret Countess of Salisbury married to Sir Richard Poole of Wales by whom hee had Henry Arthur Geoffroy and Reynald after Cardinal Henry Lo. of Montague put to death with his mother by H. 8. had Katharine married to the Earl of Huntington they the now Earl c. and Wenefred married to Sir Tho. Barrington Arthur Marie married to Sir John Stanny and Margaret to Sir Tho. Fitzherbert Geoffrey Geoffrey Poole hee Arthur and Geoffrey which yet live in Italie Henry 7. his Issue The Title of Scotland and of the Ladie Arbella Henry 7. had by the eldest daughter of Edw. 4. for of all the other three remaineth no issue besides Hen. 8. Margaret first married to the K. of Scots they James 5. who Mary mother to the now King After married to the Earl of Anguis they Margaret married to the Earl of Lenox they Henry married to the last Queen and murthered 1566. and Charles married to Elisa Ca4dish by whom the Ladie Arbella The Title of the Lord Beacham and his brother Marie the second daughter first married to Lewis 12. of France without issue then to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk they Francis married to Henry Gray Marquis Dorset after Duke of Suffolk beheaded by Q. Mary they Jane married to Dudley both beheaded Katharine first married to the Earl of Pembroke and left by him to the Earl of Hartfort as themselves affirmed in the Tower from whom descendeth the Lord Beacham and Edward Seymer his brother The Title of the Hous of Derbie Eleonor second daughter to Ch. Brandon and the Queen of France was married to Henry Clifford Earl of Cumberland they had issue Margaret married to Henry Earl of Derbie who had issue the last and the now Earl CAP. IV. The Controversie between the Houses of Lancaster and York The Pretence of the Hous of York BY Richard Duke of York son of Richard Earl of Cambridg aforesaid c. That considering hee had by descent joined in him the right aswell of Lionel Duke of Clarence second son to Edw. 3. as of Edward Duke of York the fourth son of Edw. 3. hee was to bee preferred before the Hous of Lancaster claiming onely from John of Gant the third son of Edward 3. Richard 2. Deposed Edward 3. in his old age for the love hee bare to the black Prince confirmed the Succession by Parlament to Richard 2. his son and caused the rest of his sons to swear thereunto Richard 2. for his misgovernment was deposed by common consent and Henry 4. chosen in his place which himself and his issue possessed about 60 years The question is Whether King Richard were rightfully deposed or no That a King may bee deposed on just causes First that a King on just causes may bee deposed is proved by Reason becaus the rule beeing given by the Common-wealth on condition of just government that much violated the condition is broken and the same Common-wealth may take the forfeiture This proved by the autoritie of all Law-makers Philosophers Divines and Governors of Common-wealths and by example of divers Depositions which God himself hath blessed with good success Proved by reasons and examples of Divinitie An ill Prince is an armed enemie with his feet set on the Realm's head whence hee cannot bee plucked but by force of Arms Object God may cut him off by sickness or otherwise and therefore wee are to attend his good pleasure Answ. God alwaies bindeth not himself to work miracles nor often with extraordinary means but hath left upon earth unto men and Common-wealths power to do justice in his Name upon offendors Examples hereof are Ehud stirr'd up by God to kill Eglon King of the Moabites by a stratageme Judg. 3. and the Philistins to kill David to persecute Saul Jeroboam to rebell against Roboam the son of Solomon 2 Reg. 11. 12. Jehu to depose Joram and Q. Jezabel his mother 4. Reg. 9. The Captains of Jerusalem at the persuasion of Jehoiada the high-Priest to conjure against Q. Athalia whom they deposed and Joash chosen in her room 4. Reg. 11. All which hee might have removed without blood-shed if hee would But hee appointed men to work his Will by these violent means to deliver that Common-wealth from oppression and for the greater terror of all bad Princes Allegations of the Lancastrians that King Richard 2. was justly Deposed Just causes of Deposing Richard 2. were Hee murthered his Uncle the Duke of Glocester without form of Law or process Hee put to death the Earl of Arundel banished Warwick Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury and Henry Duke of Hereford and Lancaster and after King whose goods and inheritance descending to the said Henry from his Father hee wrongfully seized on Hee suffered the Earl of Oxford
or three S 7. yet 't is plain it was his own Will because he commanded it to be drawn written and sealed and never revoked it Besides it is subscribed by many witnesses and inrolled in the Chancery by his own command enough to make it good against the assertion of those few who to please the time wherein they spake in Queen Maries time might say and ghess the King was past memory when his stamp was put to it Now to make good what he did two Acts of Parlaments 28 35. of his Reign gave him full authoritie to dispose of this Point of Succession as he and his learned Council should think best for the Common-wealth By a Statute made in the 27th of Elisabeth 27. Elisah a Statute was made That whosoever shall be convinced to conspire attempt or procure the Queens death or is privie or accessary to the same shall loose all right title pretence claim or action that they or their heirs have or may have to the Crown of England Now the late Queen of Scots being attainted and executed by the authoritie of the said Parlament and for breach of the said Statute 't is easie to determine what Title her Son hath claiming only by her The Uniting of Scotland with England dangerous to the English or like to be 1. Only the increase of Subjects but those rather to participate the Commodities of England than to impart any from Scotland 2. The natural hatred of that People unto us and their ancient inclination to joyn with our enemies the French and Irish against us are Arguments of great mischiefs likely to ensue by that conjunction 3. The Scot must needs hold in jealousie so many Englishmen competitors of the Blood Royal and therefore will fortifie himself against them by those Forrein Nations of whom he is discended with whom he is allyed as the Scots French Danes and uncivil Irish which will prove intolerable to the English 4. The King both for his own safety and for the love he beareth to his own Nation will advance them and plant them about him in chief Places of credit which must needs breed Emulations and Controversies between them and the English Then must he of Force secretly begin to favor and fortifie his own to the incredible calamitie of the other as Canutus did his Danes and William the Conqueror his Normans neither of them enemies to the English blood nor evil Kings but careful of their own safeties for herein it is impossible to be neutral 5. The Romans with all their Power and Policie could never unite the hearts of England and Scotland in peace nor hold the Scots and North-Irish in obedience of any authority residing in England What then are we to hope for of this King herein The Religion of Scotland unpleasing to our State His Religion is neither fit for our State wherein Archbishops c. and Officers of Cathedral Churches are of much dignitie and there suppressed nor will be pleasing to our Nobilitie to be subject to the exorbitant and popular authoritie of a few ordinary Ministers which the King himself is there content to yield unto And therefore it is likely that few will be forward to entertain that King for the reforming of Religion here that hath no better Order in his own at home For the Ladie Arabella For the Ladie Arabella is alleged her being an equal degree of Discent with the King of Scots Her being above him in all hopes for herself or benefit to the English that can be expected in an English Prince and a Prince born in England Against Her Neither she nor the Scot are properly of the House of Lancaster and the Title of Lancaster is before the Pretence of York ut suprà 2. The testament of King Henry 8. barreth her as well as the Scot 3. Her Discent is not free from Bastardie for Queen Margaret soon after the death of her first Husband married Steward Lord of Annerdale who was alive long after her marriage with Anguis and it is most certain also That Anguis had another Wife alive when he married the said Queen All this confirmed by the Lord William Howard Father to the now Admiral sent into Scotland by Henry 8. of purpose to enquire thereof who reported it to King Henry Queen Mary and divers others For this cause King Henry would have letted the marriage between Anguis and his Sister and chiefly caused him to exclude her issue 4. She is a Woman and it were perhaps a great inconvenience that three of the weak sex should succeed one the other 5. All her Kindred by her Father is meer Scotish In England she hath none but by her Mother the Candishes a mean Familie and Kindred for a Princess CAP. VI Examination of the Title of the House of Suffolk being Darby and Hartford Sect. 29. 30. The Earle of Hartford's Children illegitimate THe Children of the Earle of Hartford Discending of Ladie Frances the eldest Daughter of Charles Brandon are proved illigitimate 1. Because the Ladie Katharine Gray their Mother was lawful Wife to the Earle of Pembroke when they were born not separated from him by lawful authority or for any just cause but abandoned by him because her House was come into misery and disgrace 2. It could never be lawfully proved that the said Earle and Ladie Katharine were married but only by their own Assertions not sufficient in Law Therefore was the marriage disannulled in the Arches by publick and definitive sentence of Parker Archbishop of Canterbury not long after the Birth of the said Children 3. When the Marquess of Dorset married their Grandmother the Ladie Frances he had another lawful Wife sister to H. Fitz-allen Earle of Arundel whom he put away to obtain so great a marriage as was the Lady Frances This bred much hate between the Marquess and Earle ever after but the Marquess favor with K. Henry deprived the other of all remedy And therefore may their Mother the Lady Katharine seem illegitimate too Bastardie in the issue of Charles Brandon Charles Brandon had a wife alive when he married the Queen of France by which wife he had issue the Ladie Powyse wife of the Lord Powyse and this wife of his lived some time after his marriage with the Queen Darby's Evasion This Wife say the Friends of Darby died before the birth of the Lady Eleonor the yonger daughter their ancestor though after the Birth of the Lady Francis Hartford's ancestor Hartford's Confutation of the first Bastardie To the first Bastardy of Hartford their Friends affirm That the Contract between the Lady Katharine and the Earl of Pembrook was dissolved lawfully and judicially in the time of Queen Mary Hartford's evasion of the second Bastardie in the behalf of his Second born Edward Seymore The Lady Katharine being found with Child affirmed the Earle of Hartford to be the Father Hereupon he being sent for out of France where he was with Sir N. Throgmorton and had got leave to
travel into Italie confessed it at his return and both of them affirmed they were man and wife but because they could not prove it by witnesses and for attempting such a matter with one of the Blood Royal without privitie and license of the Prince they were both committed to the Tower where they used means to meet afterwards and had the second Son Ed. Seymore Now the first Son may be ligitimate before God yet illegitimate before men and therefore incapable of Succession For the second to be legitimate whereas there wanteth nothing but witnesses for the presence of Minister is not absolutely necessary to justifie their marriages by Law The Queen herself her Counsel and as many as had the Examination of these parties upon their first act or Child-birth are witnesses unto them besides their resolution to continue man and wife protested before them and confirmed by this effect of their second carnal meeting in the Tower CAP. VII Examination of the Title of the Houses of Clarence and Britanie Against the House of Clarence in general THeir Claim is founded only upon the Daughter of George Duke of Clarence yonger Brother of Ed. 4. So that as long as any lawful issue remaineth of the Daughters of the elder brother no claim or pretence of theirs can be admitted 2. If the pretence of Lancast be better than that of York as before it seemeth to be proved S. 36. 38. 40. 42. c. then holdeth not this of Clarence which is meerly of York 3. The House of Clarence hath been often attainted 1. In George himself 2. In the Countess of Salisbury his Daughter and Heir 3. In the Lord Montague her Son and Heir whereby their whole interests were cut off For albeit since those attainders it hath been restored in Blood yet hath not that been sufficient to recover unto that House the ancient Lands and Titles of Honor thereunto belonging for they were forfeited to the Crown as is also to the next in Blood unattainted the prerogative of succeeding to the Crown unless special mention had been made thereof in their restauration Against the Earle of Huntington in favor of the Pooles Upon the attainder of the Lord Montague with his Mother of Salisbury all such right as they had or might had being cut off in them fell upon Geoffrey brother of the said Lord 1. Because he was not attainted 2. He was a degree neerer unto the Duke of Clarence and thereby hath the Priviledge of an Uncle before the Neece S. 34. 40. than the Lady Katharine 3. He was a man she a woman and neither of their Fathers in possession of the thing pretended which priviledge of Sex got the last King of Spain the Kingdom of Portugal 4. Inconvenience of Religion this point altered by the death of the last Earle First Title of the Infant as Heir unto the House of Britain from William the Conqueror Sect. 12. She is discended of the antient Royal Blood of England from the eldest Daughter of the Conqueror Constance whereof her friends infer two Consequences 1. When the Conqueror's sons died without issue or were made incapable of the Crown as Henry 1. seemed to be for the violence used to his elder brother Robert and his son William Sect. 11. then should the elder sister have entred before King Stephen who was born of Alice or Adela her yonger sister The coming of a Woman no bar to inher in England Though the Salick Law seemeth to exclude her from the Crown of France yet from the inheritance of England Britanie Aquitayne c. coming to her by Women and falling ordinarily in Women nor that nor other Law excludeth her Second Title of the Infant by France whereof she is Heir general from Henry 2. She is Lineally descended from Eleonor the eldest daughter of Henry 2. Sect. 15. by whom she is Heir general of France and thereby of England Sect. 15. for three reasons 1. King John by the murther of his Nephew Arthur of Britanie forfeited all his states whatsoever Now this happened four years before his son Henry 3. was born and therefore the Crown by right should have come to the said Eleonor his elder sister 2. Arthur being prisoner in the Castle of Roan and suspecting that he should be murthered by his Uncle John nominated the Lady Blanche daughter and heir to Eleonor to be his Heir which were it not good yet when he and his sister was put to death she and her Mother were next of kinn unto them for any more of England S. 12. 3. John was actually deposed by the Barons and States of the Realm 16 Regni sui and Lewis of France the Husband of Blanche elected and admitted with their whole consent to whom they swore Fealtie and Obedience in London for him and his heirs and posteritie 1217. giving him possession of London and the Tower and many other important places Now ableit that they chose after his John's son Henry 3 Yet Titles and Interests to Kingdoms once rightly gotten never die but remain ever for the posterity to set a foot so came Hugo Capetus to the Crown of France Odo Earle of Paris his ancester being once elected admitted and sworn King though after deposed and Charles the simple chosen Third Title of the Infanta from Henry 3. She is Lineally discended of Beatrix daughter of Henry 3. S. 17. Now seeing that the posterity of both her brothers Edward and Edmond the heads of the two Houses of Lancaster and York have oftentimes been attainted and excluded from the Succession by sundry Acts of Parliament and at this day are at contention among themselves why may not the right of both Houses by Composition Peace and Comprimise at least be passed over to their Sisters issue Objections against the Infanta 1. These her Claims are very old and worn out 2. Her claims are but collateral by sisters 3. She is a stranger and Alien born 4. Her Religion is contrary to the State Answered by those that favor her Title Antiquity hurteth not the goodness of Titles to Kingdoms when occasion is offered to advance them which commonly are never presumed to die nullum tempus occurrit Regi 2. Collateral Lines may lawfully be admitted to enter when the direct either fail or are to be excluded for other just respect 3. The point of forrein birth is sufficiently answered before Sect. 50. 4. The impediment of other Religion is not universal nor admitted in the judgment of all men but onely of such English as differ in Religion from her to the rest and those many it will rather bee a motive to favor then hinder her title CAP. VIII Examination of the Houses of Spain and Portugal The Dutchie of Lancaster belong's to Portugal THe King of Spain is lineally descended from the two daughters of John of Gant by his two first wives Sect. 23 24. the former whereof the Ladie Blanche beeing heir of the Duchie Sect. 19. when the posteritie of his issue male
4. his time 2 Dukes 3 Earles 2 Barons 3 Knights and many other afterwards for this was but in the beginning of his Reign But when all doubt of Contention about Succession which moved those two Kings the more excusably to these cruelties was taken away in Henry 8. his time were either cut off or clean put down 2 Queens his wives 3 Cardinals 3 Dukes 1 Marquess 2 Earles 2 Countesses 6 Lords 6 or 7 Abbots Knights in great number Gentlemen infinite What Spaniard could or durst have done so much Better to live under a Great than a little Monarch 1 He is best able to defend and protect his subjects 2 He hath ordinarily least need to Pill and Pole them for a little King though never so mean will keep the State of a King which his subjects must maintain 3 He hath more to bestow upon his subjects for reward of Virtue or Valor A great Prerogative unto every subject to be born under one that hath much to give whereas he that is born in the Cities of Geneva or Genoa let him be of what abilitie or worth soëver can hope for no more preferment than those Common-wealths can give which is all too little what then would it be were there many worthie men born there at one time A Forrein Prince living among us without Forrein Forces Another manner of living under Forrein Princes is when the Prince cometh to dwel among us without Forces As did King Stephen and Henry 2. who were natural Frenchmen and as King Philip in Queen Maries time here in England and the last King of France in Polonia so should his Brother Monsieur have done here if the marriage between him and the Queen had gone forward Fit for our present State and beneficial to any No danger nor inconvenience can justly be feared from such a King The benefits are 1 He subjecteth himself rather to the Realm and Nation than they to him and if he live and marrie in England both he and his Children will quickly become English 2 For his assurance he must be inforced to cheerish the English thereby to gain and perpetuate to himself their good-will and friendship 3 He entereth with indifferent mind towards all men having no kindred or alliance within the Land to whom he is bound nor enemie against whom he may be incensed so as only merit and demerit of each man must move him to favor or dis-favor a great foundation of good and equal Government 4 He might be admitted upon such Compositions and Agreement as both the Realm should enjoy her antient Liberties and perhaps more for Forrein Princes upon such occasions of their preferment commonly yield to much more than the Domestical and the home-born Pretenders should remain with more security than they can well hope for under an English Competitor A Forrein Prince with Forrein Support A third manner is when the Prince bringeth Forces with him for his own assurance and these either present as the Danish Kings and after them the three first Norman Princes who either by the help of their first subjects already in England or by others brought in by them afterwardes wrought their evil Or that his Forces be so neer as he may call them in when he listeth and that without resistance as may the Scot whom no Sea divideth from us Insupportable to our or any State whatsoever All danger and inconveniences may justly be feared from such a King yea all the mischiefs either of Domestical or Forrein Governments For those of a Domestical Prince are Pride Crueltie Partialitie pursuing of Factions particular Hatred extraordinary advancing of his own Kindred extreme pinching and punishing of the Subject being sure of his own partie within the Realm by reason of his presence and therefore the less respective of others These vices such a Forrein Prince is the more subject too than the Domestical as having both external Counsel of a People that hate us to incense him and their external Force to effect his and their Designs The mischiefs of Forrein Government are Tyrannie of the Prince the servitude of the People filling and planting the Realm with strangers and dividing among them the Honors Dignities Riches and Preferment thereof All which are incident in all probabilitie to the third kind of Government and to be feared in the succession of the King of Scots whose case is within the second Branch thereof and may hereafter be within the first Forrein Princes affected by some Countries Best Romane Emperors strangers Where Kings go by Election commonly they take Strangers in the second kinde Sect. 105. so did the Lacedemonians and Romans in their first Monarchie and of late the Polonians in the Succession of their three last Kings and the Venecians by way of good Policie have made a perpetual Law That when they are to War and must needs chuse a General he be a stranger to wit some Prince of Italie who is out of their own States thereby to have him the more indifferent and equal to them all Among the latter Romans their best and most famous Emperors were strangers as Trajan and Adrian Spaniards Septimius Severus an African Constantine English Their worst Romans as Caligula Nero Heliogabalus Commodus Forrein Government which best which worst This Second then S. 105. is the best In the first kinde of being under Forrein Government and as a Province to be ruled by Deputies Viceroy's c. as the States mentioned S. 19. and as all the Provinces of the old Roman's States were all things considered and one taken with another the Commodities and Securities are more and the damages and danger less than in the Government of Domestical Princes And all the mischiefs of Forrein Government are only incident to the third and last S. 105. Other imputations to the other two proceeded from the blindness and passion of the vulgar and some private men most likely to be interessed therein S. 91. An Answer to the former Objection S. 89. against Forrein Government Upon other occasions and humors the vulgar will do as much against their own Country-men and Princes as the Sicilians did against the French c. S. 89. and often have both in England and else where when they have been offended or that seditious heads have offered themselves to lead them into tumults Aristotle Answered S. 89. Aristotle in his Politicks never handled expresly this our Question and consequently weighed not the reasons on both sides and so left it neither decided nor impugned and he that was Alexander's Master the Master of so many Forrein Countries could not well condemn it Demosthenes Answered S. 88. Demosthenes was well feed by the King of Asia to the end he should set Athens and other Grecian Cities at ods with Philip On the other side if Athens a Popular Government wherein the force of his tongue made him have greatest sway and authoritie were to have come under a Monarch he should have been in like credit as he fell out
to be for all the time that Alexander lived he continued in banishment Answer to the Objection out of Deut. S. 90. When the Command was given in Deut. no Nation besides the Jews had true Religion among them the chiefest and highest think to be expected in the admission of any Magistrate for that it concerneth the true and highest end of a Common-wealth and of all humane society but Christ's coming into the world took away this restraint So that all Christian Nations are alike for so much as belongeth unto Government CAP. XI Examination of the likelihood of each Pretender to the Crown of England Whereby a Pretender may soonest prevail THe prevailing or not prevailing consisteth either in the Religion of the Pretender or in the Strength of his particular Familie Friends and Allies both at home and abroad Every one will prefer a Prince of his own Religion Religion being at this day threefold viz. Protestancy Puritanism and Papistrie is likely to be of much respect in the Advancement or Depression of each Pretender And albeit in the entrance of King Ed. 6. Queen Mary and her Majestie divers men of different Religions for other respects concurred together in those Princes Advancement which many of them repented after at better leisure yet t is now likely to be otherwise 1 Because the Titles of Pretenders are now more doubtful 2 Men are become more resolute in matters of Religion and by long contending the greater enemies 3 Men of a good Conscience will hold it a point of little zeal at least if not of Atheism to set their hands to the Advancing of a Prince of contrary Religion to themselves 4 Men of discretion hold it to be against all Rules of Policie to promote to a Kingdom in which themselves must live one of a contrary Religion for let what bargains agreements vain hopes promises soever be made before hand yet the Princes once settled they are sure to be opprest by degrees So that they must either dissemble or suffer persecution The likelihoods of the Protestant partie The Protestant that hath the power and authority of the State in his hands is likely to do much especially if he can conceal for a time the decease of her Majestie until he may put his Affairs in order but this is held to be either impossible or very hard so ardent are men's minds in such occasions and so capable of new designments impressions and desires are all kinde of subjects upon such great changes The most wealthy and strong Member of this Bodie is the Clergie as Bishops c. and their followers the Nobilitie and Privie Council are uncertain The House of Hertford was wont to be in their favor but of late they are the more devoted to Arabella and the House of Derby Privie Council out of office during the vacancie of Princes Though the authority of the Privie Council be supreme during the Prince's life yet it is not so afterwards nor have they any publick authority at all but according to their several former callings of Noblemen and Gentlemen Then is every man free until a new Prince be established by the Common-wealth which establishment dependeth not upon the appointment or will of any few or upon any man's proclaiming of himself for divers are like to do so but upon a general Consent of the whole bodie of the Realm The Strength and Affection of the Puritans The Puritans whose profession seemeth to be the more perfect are more generally favored throughout the Realm if not of Papists than the Protestant which make's even all those Protestants who are less interessed in Ecclesiastical livings or other preferments depending on the State very much affected to them Their side is held to be the most ardent quick bold resolute of any other as those which have a great part of the best Captains and Souldiers and great Towns where Preachers have made the more impression in the Artificers and Burgesses much devoted to them Nor want they probabilities of having the City of London the Tower and most part of the Navie much enclined to them Their Forrein partie will be the reformed Churches of France now not many and of the Low Countries The Earle of Huntington was the Lord Beacham by reason of his marriage is most affected by them The King of Scots if not a stranger would also be for his Religion very plausible The Strength and Affection of the Papists The Papists least in shew because held under yet are of small consideration in respect of their home and forrein partie At home they are either Recusants or such as accommodate themselves for wordlie respects unto all external proceedings of the time and State of which sort are the most part of the Countrie People of whom the contrarie Preachers are not so frequent To them such as are discontented do easily joyn also omnes qui amaro animo sunt cum illis se conjungunt 1 Reg. 22. 2. as the most afflicted by the present state Besides there is ever likely a certain natural compassion in most men towards those that suffer and of compassion cometh affection of affection desire to help Moreover the persecution against the Papists hath much stirred them up to far more eager defence of their Cause and hath wrought a great impression in their hearts Their affection is thought indifferent towards any one be he Stranger or Domestical who is likest to restore their religion not much inclined to any one of the pretenders in particular a point of great Consequence by reason of the incertainty and likely to give them great sway wheresoever they shall bend at that day The Forrein Strength of the Papists very great and important The Forrein Helps are besides the exiled English who have both Friends and Kindred at home the affections of Forrein Princes States Favorers of their Religion whose Ports Towns and Provinces be near upon England round about and for such a time and purpose cannot want commoditie to give succor which thing weighed together with the known inclination that way of Ireland and the late declaration made by many of the Scottish Nobilitie and Gentrie to favor that Cause are arguments that this Bodie is also great and strong and likely to bear no small sway in the deciding of this Countroversie For and Against the King of Scots Likelihoods of the Scot besides the Prioritie of his Title in vulgar opinion are his Youth his being a King his moderate Nature having shed little blood hitherto his affection in Religion to such as like thereof On the other-side the Reasons of State before alleged against him especially his Alliance with the Danes and dependance of the Scottish Nation seem to weigh much with Englishmen S. 53. For and Against the Lady Arabella For Arabella is alleged her being a yong Ladie and thereby fit to procure affections and that by her marriage she may joyn some other title with her own and therby friends Against her her being