Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/258

 220 Readings in European History they agree in the person of a king. God hath power to create or destroy, make or unmake at his pleasure, to give life or send death, to judge all and to be judged nor account- able to none, to raise low things and to make high things low at his pleasure, and to God are both soul and body due. And the like power have kings : they make and unmake their subjects, they have power of raising and casting down, of life and of death, judges over all their subjects and in all causes and yet accountable to none but God only. They have power to exalt low things and abase high things, and make of their subjects, like men at the chess, — a pawn to take a bishop or a knight, — and to cry up or down any of their subjects, as ^ftey do their money. And to the king is due both the affection of the soul and the service of the body of his subjects. . . . James tells I would wish you to be careful to avoid three things in the commons t ^ e mat ter of grievances : should not do First, that you do not meddle with the main points of government ; that is my craft : tracte?it fabrilia fabri, — to meddle with that were to lessen me. I am now an old king; for six and thirty years have I governed in Scotland per- sonally, and now have I accomplished my apprenticeship of seven years here ; and seven years is a great time for a king's experience in government ; therefore there should not be too many Phormios to teach Hannibal : I must not be taught my office. Secondly, I would not have you meddle with such ancient rights of mine as I have received from my predecessors, possessing them, more majorum ; such things I would be sorry should be accounted for grievances. All novelties are dangerous as well in a politic as in a natural body, and therefore I would be loath to be quarreled in my ancient rights and possessions ; for that were to judge me unworthy of that which my predecessors had and left me. And, lastly, I pray you beware to exhibit for grievance anything that is established by settled law, and whereunto (as you have already had a proof) you know I will never