A Treatise of Monarchy, Title page – Table of contents
A TREATISE OF MONARCHIE, Containing two Parts:
1. Concerning Monarchy in generall.
2. Concerning this particular Monarchy.
Wherein all the maine Queſtions occurrent in both, are ſtated, diſputed, and determined:
And in the cloſe, the Contention now in being, is moderately debated, and the readieſt meanes of Reconcilement propoſed.
Done by an earneſt Deſirer of his Countries Peace.
LONDON, Printed for John Bellamy, and Ralph Smith, and are to be ſold at the three golden Lions in Corn-hill.
Anno Dom. 1643.
THE PREFACE:
I Write not this Diſcourſe to foment or heighten the wofull diſſention of the Kingdome; but if poſsible to cure, or at leaſt to allay it: That former too many have done already, this latter, much too few.
When a Patient lies ſicke under the deſtroying paroxiſmes of a Fever, every ſtander-by will be telling his Medicine, though he be no Phyſitian: O then let no Sonne of this State account it preſumption in me, for putting in my judgement, and ſpeaking that which I conceive might, if not remove, yet mitigate this fatall diſtemperature of our common Mother: at another time perhaps it might be cenſurable, but in this exigence laudable.
Something I was full of, which I conceited might doe good; here I have produced it. And now if any man can finde a better way to appeaſement, for the ſake of peace let him ſpeedily declare it.
I intend not theſe enſuing Diſputes to any high-flowne judgements, who looke downe on all mens, but their owne, to cenſure, not to be informed, nor to any which hath deſignes of his owne, which on the opportunity of this Diviſion hee meanes to follow; nor to any who is already poſſeſſed by an opinion, which hee reſolves to make good: But to the calme and impartiall ſpirit of every judicious, peacefull man; Let him weigh my Aſſertions by my grounds on which I build them, and if he find them any where unſound, let him ſhew mee in what, and I will gladly and thankfully reforme my errour: For as I love not obſtinacy in groundleſſe opinions in others, ſo I would avoid it in my ſelfe.
I have not annexed my Name, not that I am aſhamed to owne what I conceive to be the truth; but becauſe I know who I am, and that my Name could adde no eſtimation to the Treatiſe: Nor do I deſire it ſhould: They who ſearch for Truth muſt regard Things, not Perſons: Give me therefore the now common Liberty to goe nameleſſe; many have taken it for worſe ends. If any condemn me for any thing here, it muſt be for endevouring a thankleſſe Moderation 'twixt two Extremes. But I will detaine you no longer at the doore.
The Contents of the enſuing Treatiſe.
Part. 1. Of Monarchy in generall.
Cap. 1. Of Politicall Government.
ITs Originall: How farre forth is is from God? Sect. 1.
Its end: whether the end of government be the peoples good? Sect. 2.
Its diviſion into ſeverall ſorts. Sect. 3.
Cap. 2. Of the diviſion of Monarchy into abſolute and limited.
Whether abſolute Monarchy be a lawfull Government? Sect. 1.
Of three degrees of abſolutenes in Monarchy. Sect. 2.
Whether Reſiſtence be lawfull in abſolute Monarchy? Sect. 3.
What it is which conſtituteth a Monarchy limited? Sect. 4.
How farre ſubjection is due in a limited Monarchy? Sect. 5.
How farre reſiſtence is lawfull in a limited Monarchy? Sect. 6.
Who ſhall be Iudge of the exceſſes of a limited Monarch? Sect. 7.
Cap. 3. Of the diviſion of Monarchy into elective and ſucceſſive.
Elective and ſucceſſive Monarchies, what they are? Sect. 1.
Whether all Monarchy be originally from the peoples conſent? Sect. 2.
Of Monarchy by divine Inſtitution. Sect. 3.
Of Monarchy by preſcription. Sect. 4.
Of Monarchy by Conqueſt. Sect. 5.
Whether Conqueſt can give a juſt Title? Sect. 5.
Whether a ſucceſsive Monarch may not be alſo limited? Sect. 6.
Cap. 4. Of the diviſion of Monarchy into ſimple and mixed.
Simple and mixed Monarchy what they are? Sect. 1.
What it is which conſtituteth a Monarchy mixed? Sect. 2.
How farre the Princes power extends in a mixed Monarchy? Sect. 3.
Part 2. Of this particular Monarchy.
Cap. 1.
Whether the power wherewith our Kings be inveſted be an abſolute or limited and moderated Power?
The Queſtion ſtated. Sect. 1.
Proved radically limited. Sect. 2.
Contrary Arguments anſwered. Sect. 3. & 4.
Cap. 2. Wherein and how this Monarchy is limited and defined?
Cap. 3. Whether it be of a ſimple or mixed conſtitution?
It is proved to be fundamentall mixed. Sect. 1.
The Arguments for the contrary are anſwered. Sect. 2.
Whether the Authority of the two Houſes be ſubordinate and derived from the Kings? Sect. 3.
The Queſtion reſolved and cleared. Sect. 4.
Cap. 4. How farre forth this Monarchy is mixed, and what part of the power is referred to a mixed ſubject?
Cap. 5. How farre forth the two eſtates may oppoſe the Will and proceedings of the Monarch?
The Queſtion duly ſtated. Sect. 1, 2.
Whether Reſiſtence of Inſtruments of illegall Commands be lawfull? Sect. 3.
Proved lawfull. Sect. 3.
Contrary Arguments diſſolved. Sect. 4.
Cap. 6.
In what caſes the other Eſtates may aſſume the Armes of the Kingdome for reſiſtence of Inſtruments of arbitrary Commands? Anſwered negatively. Sect. 1.
Affirmatively. Sect. 2.
Cap. 7.
Where the legall power of finall Iudging of theſe caſes doth reſide, the three eſtates differing about them?
The Queſtion is ſtated and determined. Sect. 1.
Arguments contrary are anſwered. Sect. 2.
What to be done in ſuch diſſention. Sect. 3.
Cap. 8.
The former Truths brought home to the preſent contention. Sect. 1.
A moderate debate concerning the preſent contention. Sect. 2.
The ſpeedieſt meanes of Reconcilement propoſed. Sect. 3.