de Jure Maiestatis, Or, Political Treatise of Government (1628-30) (Volume 1); And, the Letter-Book of Sir John Eliot (1625-1632). Now for the First T (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882. Excerpt: ... Metellus shall not wee beleeue our princes to whose care, our safety life, body, & goods are comitted, sith a Kings words ought to be of as much credit as a private mans oath: Puora. it asAlphonsussayth. The Esseni thought a man convinced of lying, that was Joseph. de bell. not beleeued wout god." , ui lib. .--'. cap. 7. Neither cann Buchanan, Brutus, Buchorius or any other of their sort, pduce one example out of scripture, that. either Kings did swear or were bound to swear vnto the / people. David indeed made a league w the tribes Israeli but 1 Chron. rii. ther is noe word of any oath. S"n Neither doe I see whenc they learned y the meaning and purpose of the league was, that if one ruled well he should be well obeyed: when as David did not ill in obeying Saul that ruled ill Asa made a league w the people wc h did rather binde the people, then the Kinge. But ther is in that place noe more mention of an oath then ther is in the place where Elias is commanded to anoynt Hazaell King of Syria & Jehu King of Israeli. Now wee are come to the third kinde of oath/ w bindes princes not only to these things wch doe appteyne to their office, but also doth subiect them to the lawes, and sett certaine lymitts and bonds to their power, so that they doe come to the Kingdome noe otherwise then vpon condition of forfeiture if they doe offend. ' In this sort were the Lacedemonian Kings compelled Xenophon. de every moneth to swear to observe the lawes. LnfiioS.' Aventin.-nn.3. The old Bavarians did in like manner prescribe to their Kinge that he should governe according to the old lawes and customes. chytr. lib. 3. Such an oath took also Steven Batorius, when he was 'to be King of Poland. I swear & pmise that I will keep / all the rights, liberties, securities, pri...