The remarkable History of King James the first of Scotland, fitteth this purpose very well. The Passage is this: King James the first going into France, was taken by the English, and kept prisoner by them for many years. In that time the King of England goes to France, to make War; and at his arrival there, he finds an Army of Scots ready to fight for the Ally of Scotland, the French King, against the English. Upon this, the King of England moves King ⟨image 32⟩James, whom he had taken along with him, to write unto the Scots, and to charge them, upon their Allegiance, not to draw their Sword against the party where he their King was in person. The Scots answered, That they were sent into France to assist their Allies against the common enemy. As for him who writ unto them, since he was a prisoner, and not a free man, they neither owed him Allegiance, nor would they give him any, so long as he was in prison; but if he were set at liberty, and were living among them, they would obey him according to the Laws of the Country; since the Crown was settled upon him by the consent of the States, and so they did; for these Kingdoms were governed in his name, without any communication with him, during the time of his imprisonment, which was very long; but when he went home, he was received and obeyed as King. From this Princes may learn, that although people do submit themselves to their Government; the resignation is not so full as to devest themselves of all power in such a way, That the Prince may dispose of them as he thinks right or wrong, he ordinarily being misled and kept captive, by those that are about him; who for the most part, have no regard to the public good, nor to the credit and esteem of him, to whom in show they profess themselves so addicted; the people have constantly reserved even unto themselves by the consent of all men, yea, of the greatest Court-parasites and Sycophants of Princes, that the Prince cannot, nor ought not to enslave or subject the people to any Foreign Power; and where Princes by Pusillanimity and ill counsel, have essayed or attempted such a thing, they have smarted for it, witness Balliol, who not only was excluded himself from the Crown, but also his Posterity; and it was settled upon the next Branch, to wit, Robert Bruce, with his descendants, where it continues to this day by Gods providence.
The remarkable History of King Iames the first of Scotland, fitteth this purpose very well. The Passage is this: King Iames the first going into France, was taken by the English, and kept prisoner by them for many yeers. In that time the King of England goes to France, to make Warre; and at his arrivall there, he findes an Army of Scots ready to fight for the Alliay of Scotland, the French King, against the English. Upon this, the King of England moves King ⟨image 32⟩Iames, whom he had taken along with him, to write unto the Scots, and to charge them, upon their Allegiance, not to draw their Sword against the party where he their King was in person. The Scots answered, That they were sent into France to assist their Alliays against the common enemy. As for him who writ unto them, since he was a prisoner, and not a free man, they neither owed him Allegiance, nor would they give him any, so long as he was in prison; but if he were set at liberty, and were living among them, they would obey him according to the Laws of the Countrey; since the Crown was setled upon him by the consent of the States, and so they did; for these Kingdoms were governed in his name, without any communication with him, during the time of his imprisonment, which was very long; but when he went home, he was received and obeyed as King. From this Princes may learn, that although people do submit themselves to their Government; the resignation is not so full as to devest themselves of all power in such a way, That the Prince may dispose of them as he thinks right or wrong, he ordinarily being misled and kept captive, by those that are about him; who for the most part, have no regard to the publike good, nor to the credit and esteem of him, to whom in shew they professe themselves so addicted; the people have constantly reserved even unto themselves by the consent of all men, yea, of the greatest Court-parasites and Sycophants of Princes, that the Prince cannot, nor ought not to enslave or subject the people to any Forreign Power; and where Princes by Pusillanimitie and ill counsell, have essayed or attempted such a thing, they have smarted for it, witnesse Baliol, who not onely was excluded himself from the Crown, but also his Posterity; and it was setled upon the next Branch, to wit, Robert Bruce, with his descendents, where it continues to this day by Gods providence.
