Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/257

 Struggle for Constitutional Government 2 19 were brought in and well settled, and by these means made strong enough to undertake the matters of reformation themselves. Then, lo, they began to make small account of her supremacy, nor would longer rest upon her author- ity, but took the cause into their own hand; according to that more light wherewith they were illuminated, made a further reformation of religion. How they used that poor lady, my mother, is not unknown, and with grief I may remember it ; who, because she had not been otherwise instructed, did desire only a private chapel wherein to serve God, after her manner, with some few selected per- sons ; but her supremacy was not sufficient to obtain it at their hands. And how they dealt with me in my minority you all know ; it was not done secretly, and though I would, I cannot conceal it. . . . But if once you [my lords the bishops] were out, and they in place, I know what would become of my supremacy. No bishop, no king, as before I said." James I gave an interesting summary of his absolutist theory of kings and their rights in his speeches before Parliament in 1609. The state of monarchy is the supremest thing upon earth ; for kings are not only God's lieutenants upon earth, and sit upon God's throne, but even by God himself they are called gods. There be three principal similitudes that illustrate the state of monarchy : one taken out of the word of God ; and the two other out of the grounds of policy and philos- ophy. In the Scriptures kings are called gods, and so their power after a certain relation compared to the divine power. Kings are also compared to fathers of families ; for a king is truly pare7is patriae, the politic father of his people. And lastly, kings are compared to the head of this microcosm of the body of man. Kings are justly called gods, for that they exercise a manner or resemblance of divine power upon earth ; for if you will consider the attributes to God, you shall see how 303. James I proclaims in Parlia- ment the divine right of kings (1609).