A lei e o príncipe: uma disputa pela justa prerrogativa do rei e do povo

LEX, REX: The Law and the Prince.

A Dispute for the just PREROGATIVE of KING and PEOPLE.

Containing the Reasons and Causes of the most necessary Defensive Wars of the Kingdom of SCOTLAND, and of their Expedition for the ayd and help of their dear Brethren of ENGLAND.

In which their Innocency is asserted, and a full ANSWER is given to a Seditious Pamphlet, Intituled, Sacro-sancta Regum Majestas, or The Sacred and Royall Prerogative of Christian Kings; Under the Name of J A But penned by Jo: Maxwell the Excommunicate P Prelat.

With a Scripturall Confutation of the ruinous Grounds of W Barclay, H Grotius, H Arnisaeus, Ant. de Domi P.

Bishop of Spalato, and of other late Anti-Magistratical Royalists ; as, The Author of Ossorianum, D Fern, E Symmons, the Doctors of Aberdeen, &c In XLIV QUESTIONS Published by Authority.

But if you shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your King.

London: Printed for Iohn Field, and are to be sold at his house upon Addle-hill, neer Baynards -Castle Octob. 7. 1644 The PREFACE.

W Ho doubteth (Christian Reader) but in nocencie must be under the courtesie and mercy of malice, and that it is a reall mar tyrdome, to be brought under the law lesse Inquisition of the bloody tongue? Christ, the Prophets and Apostles of our Lord, went to Heaven with the note of Traytors, Sediti ous men, and such as turned the world upside down: calumnies of treason to Caesar, were an ingredient in Christs cup, and therefore the author is the more willing to drink of that cup that touched his lip, who is our glorious forerunner: what if conscience toward God, and credit with men, can not both go to heaven with the Saints, the author is sa tisfied with the former companion, and is willing to dis misse the other.

Truth to Christ, cannot be treason to Caesar, and for his choise he judgeth truth to have a nea rer relation to Christ Jesus, then the transcendent and boundlesse power of a mortall Prince.

He considered that Popery and defection had made a large step in Britain, and that Arbitrary Government had over-swelled all banks of Law, that it was now at the highest float, and that this sea approaching the farthest border of fancied absolutenes, was at the score of ebbing: and the naked truth is, Prelats, a wild and pushing cattle to the lambs and flock of Christ, had made a hideous noyse, the wheeles of their chariot did run an equall pace with the blood-thirsty mind of the Daughter of Babell.

Prela cie, the daughter planted in her mothers blood, must verifie that word, As is the mother, so is the daughter: why, but do not the Prelates now suffer? True, but their suffrings are not of blood, or kindred, to the calamities of these of whom Lactantius saith, l. 5. c. 19 O quam honesta vo lunt ate miseri erant The causes of their suffring are, 1.

Hope of gain and glory, stirring their Helme to a shoare they much affect; even to a Church of Gold, of Purple, yet re ally of clay and earth. 2.

The lye is more active upon the spirits of men, not because of its own weaknesse, but be cause men are more passive in receiving the impressions of error, then truth; and opinions lying in the worlds fat wombe, are of a conquering nature, what ever notions side with the world, to Prelates and men of their make are very efficacious.

There is another cause of the sicknesse of our time; God plagued Heresie, to beget Atheisme and security, as A theisme and security had begotten Heresie, even as clouds through reciprocation of causes engender rain, rain be gate vapours, vapours clouds, and clouds rain, so do sins overspread our sad times in a circular generation.