such Governments and that the happiness of a State consists not in the Greatness and Extent of its Bounds and Empire but in its Internal order and Tranquillity Eleventhly As to the great publick inconveniencies of a Monarchs turning a Tyrant It is observable First That the marks of a Tyrant are so variously and dubiously given by the enemies of Monarchy that it is very hard for the most Ingenious much more for the Vulgar to determine where any Governour deserves this odious Character 2dly If every man would industriously imploy himself in the proper business of his own calling and capacity there would be little time and less occasion for these unprofitable Inquiries into the Councils and Actions of Princes which of necessity must be kept more closs and mysterious then these of private men And yet we see how lyable these are to be often and greatly misrepresented 3dly Tho there is no shadow of true reason to imagine that Monarchs are accomptable to their Subjects for their Administration which is an Errour no less absurd an accomptable Monarch being an inferior Supreme then it is pernicious both in Government and Religion Yet Princes cannot but remember that as Subjects are accountable to their Soveraign and Superior So Monarchs are to theirs the Great GOD and Governour of the World by whom Kings reign and against whom only they sin 4ly We cannot fancy very few Monarchs so void of common sense as not to understand that their Honour and safty does depend on the happiness and prosperity of their Subjects so it is next too impossible that they can design their general hurt and oppression 5ly When some Severities actually happen which are generally lookt upon as excesses of Government they are never so heavy in Nature nor so Universal in their Extent and Duration as the dreadful Calamities of Civil War which is the common cause of the frailtie and mortality of Empires and which is thus always so unluckie as to produce the same and more and greater Evils then are pretended to be feared or suffered from the Lawful Superior and whoever by his fears discontents and grievances will needs disturb the Government or would circumscribe it must asurdly suspect himself to a power which he must acknowledge to be greater otherways he cannot dream how he can set Limits to the former But lastly which is a sufficient answer when it is asked what if a Monatch abuse the Power neglect the dictates or Laws of his Kingdom we ask the enemies of Monarchie what if in their forms of Government the Major part or Respresentatives and Trusties of the People do the same If they say that these can be resisted or judged by the rest then it seems very evident that there can be no Government at all or at least none that can be promised to be of a weeks continuance if these cannot be justly opposed or resisted then it is clear that the difficultie proposed is at least equal in all forms of Government but that it is greater on the Re-publicans side we are able to bring from impartial History many more example of Popular Governments generaly vitiated or in which avaritious irreligious and licentious Men have had the whole swey then can be produced of wicked Monarchs And this one matter of Fact being true is enough to destroy all the empty Objections of the Enemies of Monarchie as to that case of the Alteration of Civil Laws besides that these have no force nor obligation but what they intirely derive from the Soveraign And we are by all the Rules of Discretion and Charity to suppose that when ever there happens any change in any of them it is intended for the better and for the more general convenience of which the Soveraign always is Judge who ever thinks the perpetuity of Laws an advantage to a State or Society most have the less esteem of Popular Government when after examination ye shall find that never was there a greater number of partial and ridiculous constitutions never more frequent abrogations vicissrudes and changes of Laws then in the Roman Athenian and such other Republicks which has given occasion to that remark of some Lawyers That any considerable alteration in the Civil Laws cannot be expected in Monarchies in less then the Revolution of 30 years generally speaking but in the Popular Governments with every Callends of January Twelfthly From what has been said in the general concerning Monarchy it is easie to observe that these Monarchies are most perfect which are Hereditary Being in their Nature of the most equable Stability for seeing every Successor in such a Series has a full right to the intire Soveraignity This Right can never prescribe or be diminished And tho the Wisdom of the most Absolute Monarchies is in all Ages thought to use several Methods and Forms of Consulting their Subjects in the great and weighty Affairs of the Government yet no Concession whatsoever to subjects no custom be it never so long of imploying them or any number of them for private or more solemn Counsels or in administration of Justice can Allienat any part or making any shares of the Supreme Authority the Society may also Reasonably expect the greatest care and sincerest love from Hereditary Princes who considering the Government and Society as their Property and Inheritance will watch over it with the more dilligent and circumspect exactness that they may transmit it in the more secure and flourishing condition to their posterity Thriteenthly And now in the last place what is the fixed and established Government of this ancient Kingdom we cannot explain or assert in words more clear and comprehensive then these In which at several times and different occasions the Subjects of this Realm have solemnly sworn either inviolable fidelity and allegiance and in which the Representatives of the Body of this Nation in their most solemn and lawful Convocations have openly declared to the World the unquestionable Rights of this Monorchical Government in these it is solemnly owned and acknowledged for Subjects give no Prerogative but assert them in several publick Oaths and Declarations that the Kings Majesty is the alone Supreme Governour of this Kingdom and above all Persons in it whatsomever that he is a free Prince of a Soveraign Power having as great Liberties and Prerogatives as any other King Prince or Potentate whatsomever that his Majesty is a Soveraign Monarch Absolute Prince Judge and Governour over all Persons Estates and Causes in this Realm That the Kings sacred Majesty and his Heirs and Successors for ever hold the Royal Power from God Almighty over this Kingdom And that there are great Obligations from the Laws of GOD the Laws of Nations the Municipal Laws of the Land and Oath of Allegiance to maintain and defend the Soveraign Power and Authoritie of the Kings Majesty and that sad consequences do accompany any incroachments upon or diminitions thereof they acknowledge the great happiness that this Kingdom hath for many Ages
enjoyed under the Princely Government of their Royal Kings who by the special blessing of Almighty God have reigned over them in so long and unparalelled a Series of Royal Discents and the Obligations thereby lying on them in Conscience Honour and Gratitude to own and assert the Royal Prerogatives of the Imperial Crown of this Kingdom which the Kings Majesty holds from God Almighty alone and to vindicate the same from all Invasions made upon it that all Government and Jurisdiction within his Majesties Ancient Kingdom does Originally recide in his Sacred Majestys Lawful Heirs Successors and it being impossible to invent any surer way of knowing the Government of any Kingdom who e're impartially considers these with many such other Declarations whereof some have been made when any doubt arose concerning any particular of the Royal Prerogatives and some after a sad experience of the fatal consequences of Sacrilegious Invasions upon them and all to express the publick sense of the Nation concerning the rights of their Sacred Soveraign Who ever take notice that our Kings have ever been the Fountain of Civil Justice making Laws of Universal unquestioned Obligation on all the Subjects sometimes by themselves alone sometime by the Advice and consent of their Barrons sometimes of their Earls sometimes of their Prelats and sometimes of their Representatives of the Generality of their Subjects which have been assembled by their Authority and are in these Laws frequently called their great Council or Parliament And in a Word who ever considers the whole threed of our free and unbaysed History cannot but be convinced how clear and certain it is if it be possible for words clearly to express any thing That this ancient Government is properly Monarchical And that in the Sacred Person of our King is lodged the Supreme Power and Authority with all these inviolable Rights and Prerogatives which belongs to the intire Soveraignity Fourtenthly In Buchannan who has been justly called a reproach as well as any Ornament of our Country we admire the empty loosnes of his reasoning no less then we do the purity of his Latine his frothie Dialogue is an instance how farr Malice Passion and mistaken interest can lead men out of the common Rod of sense and reason his Characters of a King and of a Tyrant are so Chimerical and Imaginarie and with all so nyce and possitive that according to his discriptions there were never King or Tyrant in the World. But in short if his intended paralel of a King and Physician be in many things impertinent if it be inconsistant that his King be sometimes the perfectest thing in the World or otherways to be resisted or expelled and sometimes very imperfect that he may get Laws to govern him just as the Latine and the Rapture takes the Author if he is blindly in Love with the word Laws without considering the thing who shall make them if it do not follow that because some Kings have been Ill men therefore there should be no King Or if the same reason hold in the Popular Government and if there have been at least as many and great corruptions in Popular Governments as in Monarchies which are things any can demonstrate who are not strangers to Reason and History Then all these Rhetorical Florishes which makes up this Authors Book about Government which hath abused some whose considerations go not beyond the surfice of things do conclude nothing but that if he had bestowed a little of that time which he spent in acquiring of Language on the study either of Law or Geometry he might have Learned to pursue this malicious design a little more closly while as now he hath only made it appear that he was capable to write a Play but not either Law or Reason concerning Government SIR These Assertions and Observations are owned by the whole Body of this University since they seem to be founded on clear Methedical and Permanent Reasons If they do not displease your Majesty we shall be carefull to insert them in our most Solemn Records to remain as a perpetual Monument of the unalterable Principles of this Society We do not offer to your Majesty without the special Approbation of the most Reverend Chancellor of this University the great and happy Influence of whose Example and Council on the Loyalty Order of this Place is sutable to the geeatness of his Trust Interest in it We shall rejoyce in our happiness if what we have said can do any service to Dissipate the clouds of Ignorance or Prejudice that are on the minds of any who have not leasure or advantages of long and Laborious Inquiries into the Reasonable Foundation of their Allegience there being nothing dearer to us then the Fidelity and Affection we bear to the most Ancient and Royal Government of this Kingdom and to your Majesties sacred Person who is the breath of our Nostirls and who has been graciously pleased to take the State of your Universities among the first and principal Concerns of Your Government and who we do not doubt will continue to confirm and enlarge with Your Empire the Learned Glory of Your Kingdoms And we dare with the sincerest boldness of our honest Hearts assure Your Majesty that the just and never unfashionable Notions of our Duty with the intire Trust and Confidence we repose in Your Majesty shall ever preserve us from being diverted or frighted from our Love and Obedience and shall excite from Your Majesty and Kingdoms happiness the perpetual Prayers of c. Signed by Arthur Arch-bishop Chancellor Alexander Skeen Vice-chancellor Richard Waddel Arch-deacon James Lorimer D. D. All Regents Charles Kinnard John Menzies Alexander Skeen Patrick Mcgill William Comery James Ross John Monro A LETTER From the Arch-bishops and Bishops to the King 's most Excellent Majesty May it please Your most Sacred Majesty WE prostrate our selves to pay our most Devoute Thanks and Adoration to the Soveraign Majesty of Heaven and Earth for preserving Your Sacred Life and Person so frequently exposed to the greatest hazards and as often delivered and you miraculonsly prospered with Glory and Victory in the Defence of the Rights and Honour of Your Majesties August Brother and of these Kingdoms and that by his Merciful Goodness the Ragings of the Sea and madness of unreasonable Men have been stilled and calmed Your Majesty as the Darling of Heaven peaceably seated on the Thrones of Your Royal Ancestors whose Long Flustrious and Vnparallelled Line is the greatest glory of this Your Ancient Kingdom We pay our most humble gratitude to Your Majesty for the Repeating Assurances of Rour Yoyal Protection to our National Church and Religion as the Laws have Established them Which are very suitable to the Gracious Countenance Encouragement and protection Your Majesty was pleased to afford to our Church and Order whilst we were happy in Your presence amongst us We Magnifie the Divine Mercy in blessing Your Majesty with a SON and us with a PRINCE whom we pray Heaven may bless and preserve to sway Your Royal Seepters after you and that he may Inherit with Your Dominions the Illustrious and Heroick Vertues of his August and most Serene parents We are amazed to hear of the Danger of an Invasion from Holland which excites our prayers for an universal repentance to all Orders of Men that God may yet spare his people preserve your Royal person and prevent the Effusion of Christian Bloods and to give such success to your Majesties Arms that all who Invade your Majesties Just and Vndoubted Rights and Disturb or interrupt the peace of your Realms may be Disappointed and clothed with shame so that on your Royal Head the Crown may still flourish As by the Grace of God we shall preserve in our selves a firm and unshaken Loyalty so we shall be careful and zealous to promote in all your Subjects an Intemerable and stedfast Allegiance to your Majesty as an Essential Part of their Religion and of the Glory of our Holy profession not doubting but that God in his great mercy who hath so often preserved and delivered your Majesty will still preserve and deliver You by giving You the Hearts of your Subjects and the Necks of your Enemies So pray we who in all Humility are May it please your most Sacred Majesty your Majesties most Humble most Faithful and most Obedient Subjects and Servants Edinburgh Nov. 3. 1688. Signed by Arch St And Jo. Glasgow Alexr Edinburgen Jo Galloviden Jo Dunkelden Gec Abredonen Will Moravien Ja Rossen Ja Brichen Ro Dumblanen Arch Sodoren And Orcaden FINIS
and Circumstances and with all are of so great and general importance that it can never be unreasonable and so often necessary for honest Men to Declare and Assert them and there may be as much indutyful malignity in affected and disintended silence as in malicious Grievances and Clamour Sir For these and the like considerations it appears to us your Majesties Servants in this your Ancient and Honourable University a necessary part of our duty humbly to beg your Majesties pardon and allowance that we publish and Declare to the World these clear distinct and certain Verities which exact and deliberate Examination has fixed in our minds concerning the Natural and perpetual Foundations of Society Government and Subjection we reduce them shortly to these plain Proposals Observations First As the Being Nature and whole Perfection of Mankind are from GOD the Infinitely Perfect Being and the Supream Author of all things so there are some certain and fixed Methods and Means by which He will have these preserved and which He has given us sufficient light to discover and therefore whatsoever means are thus found to be absolutely requisire for the Being and preservation of Mankind are for that reason of Divine Right and Original and are the Ordinance of GOD. Secondly Of such means it is evident that Society and consequently Government are the chiefest for besides that the natural Order in which GOD has designed the preservation of Mankind is by the Posterity and Succession of one Generation to another which it is hard to conceive possible without Society the infirmities of Humane Nature and the necessities of our Life are such that there are many things without which we cannot live Which nevertheless no Man that is alone and separate from all others can procure to himself And as the Author of our Being hath made this Society so necessar for preserving us He has also in several respects fitted us for it by implanting in our Nature a strong inclination to preserve ourselves and in our Posterity an earnest desire of Knowledge and Information not to speak of the appetire of some and which is most remarkable by affording us these Organs and Instruments of speech Conversation from all which put together it is that the generality of Philosophers and Wryters concerning Government in all Ages having called Man a Sociable Creature Thirdly And as Mankind cannot subsist without Society so neither can Society without Government this is not only true in the matter of fact and certain experience of all the World but who ever considers humane nature will necessarly see that it most be so And that as man is partly fit he is also partly unfit for Society if every one were left to his own Liberty and Government the furious vehemency of contrare passions the indelible love and esteem of our selves above others the unbanded desires of many towards the same things the weakness and pusilaminity of some compared with the strength and ability of others should produce nothing better then unavoidable violence rapine fear murder and dissolation The very Speculative Supposition of which state illuminates us fully to understand the absolute necessity unspeakable usefulness of a power and authority Superiour to every man and every faction of men in the Society which may constitute and regulate every Mans Rights Circumscribe the Licentious Extensions of mens Passions and desires to defend the Weak from the Injuries and Invasions of the Stronger punish the Transgressors of these Bands set on them And in a word may deliberate and do what ever may Contribute to the good and security of the whole Society and of the whole parts of it and it is the Power we call Government or Soveraignity Fourthly As any Society should quickly be destroyed if every man in it were his own absolute Governour the same Reasons demonstrate that in one and the same Society there cannot be a Plurality of distinct and Co-ordinate Governments for the ends above mentioned For these should be as absurdlie lyable to the same inconveniencies if not more and greater and as unpracticable as the single Governments of every Man by himself and tho in every well ordered Society their may and must be for the conveniencies both of the Soveraign and the Subject some Inferiour subordinate Powers yet all these that there be not a confused and endless Series of Subordination most originally derive their being and duration from one that is Supream and seeing there can be no Society preserved unless every man have his own will in it and pleasure absolutely subjected to be Governed and Regulated by the Supreme and Soveraign in all things which concern him as a Member of that civil Corporation then who ever goes about to plead Immunity from this Universal and Absolute Subjection does upon the matter please the Society to be dissolved and so mankind to be destroyed and consequently he is to be considered as an enemy to Mankind from all which it follows by the clearest light of Reason that the Government and Soveraignity of every formed State and civil Society is in its nature One indivisible Supreme and Absolute Fifthly There is nothing serves more to free us of the prejudices that arise in the Ignorant or Inadvertent from the sound of these Words then distinctly to reflect and consider that this Supremacie of which we speak has been and is actually in all constituted Societies whatsoever The distinctions of Monarchical and Popular Authority are not from the Nature of the Power it self but from the diversities of the form Subject or administration of it The bigot Re-publicans cannot deny but that the Plurality of Governours or the Major part of them in the Ancient Athenian or such other popular Estates were all as Supream Absolute and incontrollable as the Persian Assyrian or whatsoever other Monarchie in the World and every single Athenian as Absolutly subject as any single Person or other Asiatick So that the Liberty of the Subject is a meer empty name to amuse and delude the Turbulent and Unthinking Rable and they needed no less then the highest Airie flourishes of the Roman or Grecian Rhetorick which was ordinarly imployed in managnifing themselves in every thing above all the World to set of so manifest a contradiction and who ever seriously considers the substantial grounds of all the unhappy contentions that have been in the World about Government shall find that too many among them who know what they say the question is not if there is or most be a Supreme and absolute Authority in every State and civil Society for that as it is necessary and unavoidable so it is highly convenient but in whose hands the Supremacie is which is a thing the Seditious ever Labour to perplex and obscure or with whom it may be left intrusted whither with one or with a multitude or Plurality which are the differences of Form we are in the natural Order to compare and examine in this place it is
fit to observe that not only is the Supreme Power as hath been said in it 's own nature One and Indivisible but in all States and civil Societies it is lodged in one Person either in a Natural or Moral sense For even in the more Popular parts these many who are said to have a share in the Government have this power properly Lodged in them according to the principles of the highst Re-publicans no otherwayes then as they are Morally Civilly or Virtually one that is as they aggree in one Mind Will or Determination And therefore when we speak of Government in the general they as well as Monarchs they may be called by one single Name the Soveraign Sixthly We do the more fully comprehend the Nature of the Supreme Power and Soveraignity by taking a distinct view of some of the most Considerable and Essential things that belong to it And first whoever has the Supreme Authority is the Author and Pountain of all Civil Law and Justice For to have the trust and care of preserving the Unity and Peace and Society of the whole and every part of the Society necessarly includes a Power of deliberating and judging what is fittest for these ends of prescribing these Rules Measures and directions by which the Subjects whose Wills as to these things that concern the Society are submitted to the Supreme are in their several Capacities to Regulat their Actions as also of fortefying these Laws against all contempt and disobedience and of punishing the Transgressors seeing the most perfect Laws without being armed with the Coactive Strength and Authority should be Naked Ridicoulous and Ineffectual And whoever is the Supreme giver of the Laws is for the same Reasons Vested with a Power to Interpret Correct and change them as necessitie requires Strict Riged and Litteral Laws is the Severest and Bloodiest Master in the World And therefore it belongs to the Supreme Power in which is the Paternal care of the Subject to Interpret and Mitigate the severity of the Law or suspend its Execution as may best agree with the end of the publick safety and the wholsome intention of all Laws whatsoever The perpetual multitude of new Actions and qualities of Actions which cannot be foreseen is so vast that no Laws can be made so general and extensive as expresly to comprehend them and therefore it belongs to the Universal trust care of the Supreme Power there immediatly or by inferior deputed Judges and Ministrators not only to declare these Actions about which the Laws were directly intended but also to apply the general and material Justice of the Laws to the varieties of Actions and Emergencies which they cannot explicitly comprehend the condition of Humane Affairs the Tempers and Inclinations of the People the means of advancing the most general ease and conveniences of the Government and the Subject care remarkably Various Mutable not only in different Nations and Societies but at different times in one and the same Therefore the wisest and celebrated Law Givers have acknowledged that their Laws were not the best they could have framed but only the best the condition of their People could bear at the time of their making and were therefore with the alteration of their condition and circumstances to be Rectified or Improven Yea even these Laws which the Sacred History tells us were conveyed by Moses from GOD himself to the Jewish Nation cannot be said to be the most compleat and perfect Directions that could be given to Mankind otherways all the World at least such as heard of them should indispensably be oblidged to their Observation but their perfection consisted in their being Proportionated and adopted to the Capacity Temper and Circumstances of that Rude Ignorant Supperstitious Unthankful and Sensual People for whole Benefit they were given Aand when the Observation of these Laws and Ceremonies were designed to separate and distinguish from the Luxurious and corrupted Nations And so for the alteration of Times and Circumstances and the Diminution of the Hazards against which they were intended Some of the most Considerable of them were innocently dispensed with and is continued and at last the whole or Genetality abrogated and loused their Obligation from all which it is evident that generally speaking an immutable Humane Law is an absurdity or contradiction and when ever former Laws and Constitutions appear to the Supreme Power who is the only Judge in such Cases to fail of their Subserviencie to the more general Happiness and Conveniencies of the Society the Soveraign has not only unquestionable Right but is found by the nature of supream Power and Trust which is from the Gracious and the bountiful Governour of the World to Alter Correct or Abrogate them as may be most expedient 2dly The Soveraign to whom belongs the Care not only of the Internal Order and Happiness of the Society but also of the securing of it from External Violence and preserving its Ballance and Proportion with the Neighbouring States and Societies has the undoubted power of making War and Peace and consequently of the raising and disposing of Forces making Confederacies sending Ambassadours keeping Correspondences and prescribing the necessar Expences affoorded by the Subjects for these and other Necessities of the Government and for the supporting the Strength Honour and Interest of the Nation 3dly And it belongs to the Soveraign only in whom is the Supremacie and Original Jurisdiction and whose it is to Judge of the Qulifications and Fitness of such as may be imployed in any inferiour Administration to Errect and Regulate the Freedoms and Priviledges of all inferiour Corporations to Constitute Magistrates to Appoint and Nominate all publick Ministers Officers of State Judges Counsellours and in a word all that serve in any Publick Civil Trust Capacity whatsoever Seventhly These are the Foundamental and Vital Prerogatives of Government and Supremacy to which all the other Particulars by Consequence and Connexion are easily Reduceable And now from what has been said in the General concern of Government the inference is Natural and Obvious that whosoever murmurs against the Being or Exercise of the Supream Authority who absurdly pretends to limit it for some seeming present advantage endeavour to incroach upon the Prerogative of the rightful Soveraign is guilty not only of the greatest wickedness by contemning the Power and resisting the Ordinance of God but also of the greatest Folly by doing what in him lyes to subvert the Foundations of all Peace and Tranquillity and to shake and unsettle that surest Rock on which his own and his posterities perpetual security and happiness is built Eightly As to the different Forms of Government it may be observed first that seeing no man denyes but that it is possible in any Society to have it sufficiently known and publickly acknowledged what is their form of Government or in whose hands the Soveraignity is Lodged it is certain that that Society is in so far the happiest of all others in
which this is most Distinctly and Universally known 2dly When we are inquiring into the best form of Government is not to be expected that any one can be found which is absolutly perfect for in this our frame and imperfect State it is impossible to find any humane Administration that is attended with no inconveniencie or imperfection but by the most perfect Government in this State of things we are to understand that which is lyable to the fewest inconveniencies and from which the most advantage and the more solid and permanent can be justly expected to the Society Ninthly And so tho we are not rashly or dogmaticaly to condemn the ancient and established Government of any Nation by which it has enjoyed its security yet we cannot be so blind as not to understand that of all the several forms of Government which the witt or subtility of man can imagine the Monarchical that is where the Soveraiguty is lodged in one single person in the natural sense is evidently lyable to the fewest and smallest inconveniencies and is most exactly proportionated for the attaining and preserving the Peace and Security and all the other ends of Society and Government when we consider first that it is the most natural Being the Modal and Draught of the Paternal or Patriarchicall Power from which it has its Original In the constituted Order of the World Men are not dropt down from the clouds but Born and Educated in some Family and Society which thing is enough to destroy the vain presence of the natural Liberty and equality of all men from the subjection of the Children to their Parents from whom they have their Being by whom they are Preserved and Educated is so clear by the light of Nature and has been so universally acknowledged by all Nations and People that it were but a loss of time to prove it in the particulars And it being also certain from the most Ancient Authors that all the Primitive Governours were Paternal and Monarchical Kingdoms then being nothing else but larger and more extended Families has given occasion to the later Authors to observe that all Governments by plurality as they are in themselves unnatural so they appear from the Historie to have had their Beginning from some odd and mutable change or from most unjust usurpation and violence But then 2dly not to insist in resembling Monarchy to the Supreame Providence and Government of the World or in illustrating the Argument of most part of all Divines to prove the unity of the Deitie from Its Being unconceiveable how there can be two or moe supream Governours of all things there seems to be in all pluralities of Humane Governours a fatal necessity and perpetual natural occasion of Faction and Division things directly opposite to all the good Designs of Laws Government and Society it being next too impossible but that among many equal sharers of Authority there will be always some who are acted by partial Interest some by Ambition and the Emolation of their Rivals some by a vanity of shewing their Parts some by an uneasie pride and singularity and tho there were no thing else the diversity of Opinions which is unavoidable is able to produce Jealousies Envy and Animosities and these are able to weaken embroyl or disturb any Society 3dly In a plurality any one that is disaffected to a Design if he have sense or a little popularity can create more difficulties and delayes then many are able to answer or overcome the just opportunity of doing publick affairs are often lost by their contentions tedious consultations and even when they come to a conclusion it happens frequently that as some of the Ancients were wont to rail the Athenian Councils tho wise men consult and deliberat fools and mad men determine 4hly In a multitude of Governours the publick is neglected frequently whiles any single man thinks himself but little concerned and that he will be blamed for the Errors of the Government and these who are more active and have been esteemed the wisest men in such Governments have alwayes endeavoured to gain Reputation to their Councils by being supported by the popular favour And by what mean and unworthy Arts that is procured and when attainted how light and inconstant it is all the World knows 5ly Secrecie which is a thing undoubtedly requisite for the safety and expedition of publick Councils is very rare and almost impossible in a Plurality 6ly A Monarchical Government be cause it is free of these and the like heavy inconveniencies because it is casier to find a good and wiseman then many because the Vulgar which is always the greatest part of any multitude or plurality is ever ignorant rash and untractable and because of the manifold advantages of this Government it has been always thought in all Ages and Nations absolutely necessar in Armies and the same reasons hold as naturaly and clearly in Civil Societies And therefore it is no wonder that Monarchs have been more solid and permanent and of far longer duration then Popular Governments and their Subjects more universally pleased under the exercise of their Authority Tenthly That those inconveniencies of Government by plurality are not airly speculations will be clear to any who seriously considers the miserable face of that Republick which by the Admirers of Popular Government was set up as the greatest beloved Idol for when we see that after the most unjust expulsion of the Roman Kings the Consuls usurped their Authority and carried it higher than ever they did that the Tribunies these Incendiaries of the Rable when they had got their Being and a little footing managed a continual design sparing no Artifice or violence to diminish the consular Authority as being to Arbitrary and Tyrannical and to get it into their own hands in which they became by desires more and more succesful on pretence of giving it to the People that during the more seemingly Popular form of Government never were their greater roarings and complaints of Oppression in any state of the World that the constant Discentions betwixt the Nobility and the People produced perpetual Tumults where the Streets were filled with the Blood and Gore of their Citizens and all places with the sad Calamities of Civil War and Confusion And when we consider that in all their greatest hazards and difficulties they were found to run to the expedient of a Monarchical Dictator And that as all their Authors Confesses they had been at last utterly destroyed and sunk under their civil Calamities if they had not again fallen under a lasting Monarchical Government These are sufficient demonstrations when People Sacrilegiously encroach on the Right of their lawful Superiours It is hard for them ever to fix on any thing of solid duration that the famous Roman Libertie was properly but an Impunity for cutting one anothers Throats that Faction and Disorder which all the wisdom strength of that people could not prevent all the natural effects of