Page:Common sense - addressed to the inhabitants of America.djvu/23

Rh Henry in his turn was driven from the throne, and Edward recalled to ucceed him: The Parliament always following the tronget ide.

This contet began in the reign of Henry the ixth, and was not entirely extinguihed till Henry the eventh, in whom the families were united; including a period of 67 years, viz. from 1422 to 1489.

In hort, Monarchy and Succeion have laid (not this or that kingdom only) but the World in blood and ahes. It is a form of government which the word of God bears tetimony againt, and blood will attend it.

If we enquire into the buines of a King, we hall find that in ome countries they have none; and after auntering away their lives without pleaure to themelves or advantage to the nation, withdraw from the cene, and leave their ucceors to tread the ame idle round. In abolute Monarchies the whole weight of buines civil and military lies on the King; the children of Irael in their requet for a King urged this plea, "that he may judge us, and go out before us and fight our battles." But in countries where he is neither a judge nor a general, as in England, a man would be puzzled to know what is his buines.

The nearer any government approaches to a Republic, the les buines there is for a King. It is omewhat difficult to find a proper name for the government of England. Sir William Meredith calls it a Republic; but in its preent tate it is unworthy of the name, becaue the corrupt influence of the Crown, by having all the places in its dipoal, hath o effectually wallowed up the power, and eaten out the virtue of the Houe of Commons (the Republican part in the contitution) that the government of England is nearly as Monarchical as that of France or Spain. Men fall out with names, without undertanding them. For it is the Republican and not the Monarchical part of the contitution of England which Englihmen glory in, viz. the liberty of chooing an Houe of Commons from out of their own body—and it is eay to ee that when Republican virtue fails, lavery enues. Why is the contitution of England ickly? but becaue Monarchy hath poioned the Republic; the Crown hath engroed the Commons.

In England a King hath little more to do than to make war and give away places; which, in plain terms, is to impoverih the nation, and et it together by the ears. A pretty buines indeed for a man to be allowed eight hundred thouand terling a year for, and worhipped into the bargain! Of more worth is one honet man to ociety, and in the ight of God, than all the crowned Ruffians that ever lived.

N the following pages I offer nothing more than imple facts, plain arguments, and common ene: And have no other preliminaries to ettle with the reader, than that he will divet himelf of prejudice and prepoeion, and uffer