A29375:67
The truth of the times vindicated whereby the lawfulness of Parliamentary proceedings in taking…The truth of the times vindicated whereby the lawfulnesse of Parliamentary procedings in taking…
The truth of the times vindicated whereby the lawfulness of Parliamentary proceedings in taking up of arms, is justified, Doctor Ferns reply answered, and the case in question more fully resolved / by William Bridge ...The truth of the times vindicated whereby the lawfulnesse of Parliamentary procedings in taking up of arms, is justified, Doctor Fernes reply answered, and the case in question more fully resolved / by William Bridge ...
London: printed by T.P. and M.S. for Ben. Allen, 1643
Title page typeset from the transcription.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE READER. › Chapter 2AN INTRODVCTION TO THE READER. › Chapter 2
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. II.
Having now spoken of power in general, I shall say somewhat of the governing and ruling power of England; yet because that concerns the Parliament to declare (which they have done) and Lawyers for to clear which they do, I shall but touch upon it, and no more then comes within the compass and verge (I do not say) of a divine but subject. I find therefore in learned Fortescue, Lord Chief-Justice, and after Lord Chancellor in King Henry the sixth time, that he doth distinguish of governed or ruling power into two sorts, the one merely royal, and the other politic. When Kingdoms are ruled by royal government, saith he, then men in atimes past excelling in power, and greedy of dignity and glory, did many times by plain force subdue unto themselves their neighbours the Nations adjoining, and compelled them to do them service, and to obey their commands, which commands, they decreed afterwards to be unto the people, very Laws. Cap. 12. The form of institution of a politic Kingdom is that where a King is mad, and ordained for the defence of the Law of his Subjects, and of their bodies and goods, whereunto he receiveth power of his people, for that he cannot govern his people by any other ⟨p. 16⟩power. Cap. 13. Now, saith he, the King of England cannot alter or change the Laws of his Realm at his pleasure, for he governeth his people by power, not only Royal, but also politic. And accordingly Will. the Conqueror (to go no higher, in whose entrance to the Crown Dr. F. makes the first contrivement of his English government for conscience to rest upon) seems to me to have possest himself of this Kingdom, who though he did conquer the same, yet the first claim or title that he laid to this Crown was gift, which Edward the Confessor2 had made to him; Herald the former King having promised the Crown also to him. In this right he first set foot on the English shore, not in the right of a conquest, but in the right of a gift and promise, as Speed, Camden and others affirm.