Page:A Letter from a Person of Quality, to His Friend in the Country (1675).pdf/25

 but took care that his Safety should be in Them, as theirs was in Him. Though these were the Objections to this Head, yet they were but lighty touch'd, and not fully insisted upon, until the debate of the second Head, where the Scope of the Design was opened clearer, and more distinct to every Man's capacity.

The second was, And that I do abhorr that Trayterous Position of taking Armes by His Authority against His person. To this was objected, That if this be meant an Explanation of the Oath of Allegiance to leave men without pretense to oppose where the individual person of the King is, then it was to be considered, that the proposition as it is here set down is universal, and yet in most cases the position is not to be abhorred by honest or wise men: For there is but one case, and that never like to happen again, where this position is in danger to be Trayterous, which was the Case of the Long Parliament, made perpetual by the King's own Act, by which the Government was perfectly altered, and made inconsistent with its self; but it is to be supposed the Crown hath sufficient warning, and full power to prevent the falling again into that danger. But the other cases are many, and such as may every day occurr, wherein this position is so far from Traiterous, that it would prove both necessary and our duty. The Famous instance of Hen. 6. who being a soft and weak Prince, when taken Prisoner by his Cousin Edward 4. that pretended to the Crown, and the great Earl of Warwick, was carryed in their Armies, gave what orders and Commissions they pleased, and yet all those that were Loyal to him adhered to his Wife and son, fought in a pitcht battel against him in person, and retook him: This was directly taking up Armes by His Authority against his person, and against those that were Commission'd by Him, and yet to this day no Man hath ever blamed them, or thought but that, if they had done other, they had betray'd their Prince. The great Case of Charles 6. of France, who being of a weak and crazie Brain, yet govern'd by himself, or rather by his Wife, a Woman of passionate, and heady humour, that hated her Son the Dolphin, a vigorous and brave Prince, and passionately loved her Daughter; so that She easily (being pressed by the Victory of Hen. 5. of England) comply'd to settle the Crown of France upon Him, to marry her Daughter to Him, and own his Right, contrary to the Salique Law. This was directly opposed with Armes and Force by the Dolphin, and all good French Men, even in his Father's life time. A third instance is that of King James of blessed Memory, who when he was a Child, was seized, and taken Prisoner by those, who were justly thought no friends to His Rh