KING james His Iudgement of a KING and of a TYRANT. Extracted out of His own Speech at White-Hall, to the Lords and Commons in Parliament, 1609. With certain Notations anent the same.  
Also 28 Questions, worthy due consideration and solution, in these dangerous times of England.  Ecclesiastes 4. 13. Better is a poor and wise Child, then an old and foolish King, who will no more be admonished. 
A KING( saith King JAMES) in a settled kingdom, binds himself to a double Oath; to the observation of the fundamental Laws of His kingdom, Tacitly; as by being a King, and so bound to protect, as well the People, as the Laws of his kingdom: and expressly, by his Oath at his Coronation. So as every just King in a settled kingdom is bound to observe that Paction( or Covenant) made to his People by his Laws, in framing his government agreeable thereunto, according to that Paction made with Noah after the Deluge( Gen. 9. 22.) And therefore a King governing in a settled kingdom, leaves to be a King, and degenerates into a Tyrant, as soon as he leaves off to rule according to his Laws. Therfore all Kings that are not Tyrants, or perjured, willbe glad to bound themselves within the limits of their Laws; and they that persuade them the contrary, are Vipers and Pests, both against them and the commonweal: This was the opinion of our geud King JAMES.  
Whence I Observe, in the first place, the occasion whereupon the King spake these words: for in the beginning of the Parliament( as the custom in England is) a Bishop preaching, in his Sermon he treated at large of the Prerogative of Kings, how boundless it was, labouring to prove it out of Gods word. Whereat great offence being taken by the Parliament: the King to pacify them, made this Speech, blaming the Bishop in this, that he did not distinguish between a King at large, and the King of England, which is a settled kingdom, of which his forementioned words are spoken. So as the occasion gives much strength to his words.  
And sithence they are the Kings own words, I advice every wise man in England to take the better notice of them, and to Observe these particulars.  
1. That though the King of England at his Coronation did take no Oath at all: yet his very being a King implies as much as an Oath, and is instead of an Oath to oblige him to protect as well the People, as the Laws of his kingdom. Seeing the Office of a King binds him, even by the very law of nature, to be a Protector, as an Observator lately well observed. So far is it, that any pretended, swelling exuberant and boundless Prerogative should assume to itself a right of power to overturn the law of nature by destroying both his People and Laws at his pleasure, and exposing the kingdom to ruin, in stead of protecting and defending it.  
2. That every King of England is bound expressly by his Oath at his Coronation to be a just King, in observing his solemn Covenant made with his People.  
3. That this his paction is by the Law of the Land agreeable to that whereunto he is to frame his Government.  
4. That this his Covenant ought to be as firm and inviolable, as that Covenant which God made with Noah after the Deluge, which was never yet broken, nor ever shal be.  
5. That a King governing in a settled kingdom, as the kingdom of England is, leaves to be a King so soon as he leaves off and failes to rule according to his Laws. And so leaving off to be a King, the Covenant on his part is infringed, so as the People are no longer his Subjects to obey him in his lawless Government, then he is their King governing them according to his Laws.  
6. Such an one leaving to be a King and degenerating into a Tyrant, doth therb● alt●r ●he whole frame of the State, as turning the kingdom into a Tyranny, which are two opposite forms of Government, the one excluding the other, as being inconsistent together: seeing a Kings Function is to protect and preserve safe and sound the Laws and Subjects of the kingdom: but a Tyrant overthrows and destroys all Laws of the kingdom, and all the Rights, liberties, and privileges of the true natural liege people.  
7. If a King, so soon as he leaves off to rule according to his Laws, leaves off, and ceases ●o be a King, and degenerates into a Tyrant, then much more He, that not only hath begun to leave off to rule according to his Laws, but obstinately, perversely, wilfully, witting, yea and palpably holds on, and continues, yea stiffly maintains under the Title of Prerogative, a most boundless, swelling, exuberant and lawless Tyranny; yea moreover( which is one infallible mark and property of all Tyrants) doth take up arms against the faithfullest, honestest and godliest liege people of his Land; yea against the whole body of the Land, when assembled in Parliament, s●tting for the good of the kirk and State, to preserve and vindicate the Laws of the Land, with the Rights, Liberties and privileges of the freeborn liege people from Tyranny, and so from perpetual bondage and Slavery, both of soul and Body, and Estate▪ which Tyrannicall Government( but ever under the counterfeit colour and vizard of maintaining the Laws and Liberties of the Subject, with privileges of Parliament, and what not? and all this bound in with solemn Protestations, Declarati●ns, and calling God and the world to witness, when they can witness nothing, but that of all this, there is hardly a word true and all this, to seduce and blind not only the simplo and well minded people, but even those that are prudent, saving that they have not observed the manifold shilliings of the Court) will of necessity bring upon the kingdom, if they can but come once to open the sluices of the Sea to let in foreign auxiliary Forces, as some second Spanish Fleet. For this is a constant maxim and practise of Tyrants, to call in foreign power, as confiding more in them then in the native liege people, which being freeborn, do naturally hate and abhor to become the vild vassals and slaves to lawless Tyrants, to which if they cannot be won by flattery, faire words, and big promises,( but all as false as the Father of lies) then desperate and down-right force must do it, as we have both seen woeful proof in Ireland; and( but that Gods never failing mighty Providence had not so many times prevented) both our Brethren in England, and we also in Scotland, had before this day felt.  
again, these two last Notations following from our geud departed Kings said Speech do easily infer thus much, That if Kings cease to be Kings, setting up an absolute Tyranny over the people, to govern them no longer by the Laws as freeborn liege people but lawlessly as vassals and slaves; then on the other side the people leaving to be Subjects do own them no more obedience, as being none of their Kings, but usurping Tyrants. For as a King turning Tyrant, practising Tyranny under the name of Prerogative, hath broken the bonds of the kingdom: so the Subjects owe him no more duty of liege people, except they will avow themselves his Slaves, and so betrayers of their own and the public Liberties, which ought to be more precious unto them then their lives and lands.  
8. A King so degenerating into a Tyrant, is by the verdict of our geud K. james departed, a perjured Man, seeing he leaves off to bound himself within the circled of his Laws, which he hath solemnly sworn and vowed to keep, with many Protestations, as afore spoken. And perjured men as they are odious to God, so they bring an Execration upon a Land, zach. 5.  
9. Such as council the King so to turn Tyrant, are Vipers and Pests, both against Him, the kirk and Common wealth. And therefore though the Tyrant will needs in despite of the Body of the kingdom maintain and nourish such Vipers and Plagues in his bosom to the ruin both of himself, the kirk and Commonwealth: yet it stands not with the safety of the State to suffer such Vipers and Plagues, but to spew them out. According to that counsel of K. Salomon, Take away the wicked from before the King, and his Throne shalbe established in righteousness. Pro. 25. 5. I will conclude this with a scruple or case of Conscience, which is this▪ 
A case of Conscience.  Many in these dayes dare not out of the softness of their Conscience, put to their helping hand by affording part of their estate, or hazarding their persons for the defence of the Common weal, though they have both seen the bleeding example of Ireland, and have and do see the sanguineous attempts of a crew of wash-bucklers and cut-throats, to make England a second Stage whereon to Act their bloody Tragedy, in sacrificing the lives of all those that will not lay down their crages under the yoke of perpetuted vassilage and tyranny over their goods, liberties, lives and laws, yea souls and all. And their reasons are two especially.  
First, because they think they cannot use defensive means for the commonweal, but they must prove offensive to their King, as the case now stands.  
Secondarily, because their King hath used so many solemn Protestations with execrations and imprecations, upon himself and his off-spring( as in his bypassed answer, pag. 5.) invoking God to witness oft times, if ever he intend to alter the Protestant Religion, or the form of the re-publike established upon good laws, or to gather Forces, save onely for the Guard of His Person, and no way to make war against the Parliament, and the like.  
Now anent the former of these two reasons, it is sufficiently solved from what is gathered by necessary consequence from King james his own words as afore. For a King ceasing to govern according to his laws, to which he is obliged by oath, and according to which he is by solemn Covenant with his liege people taken for their King, he ceaseth to be a King and degenerates into a Tyrant. Now never any of the Subjects of England, not their Parliament, not any of those that now stand up to defend the Kings boundless Prerogative in England, which he intends to be no less then an absolute tyranny, ever gave their assents( for ought that ever I could yet red or observe in their government) or made a Covenant; that they would bee slaves under a Tyrannicall, or Arbitrary lawless Government. So that whosoever doth stand for the Kings lawless Prerogative( for such he understands it to be, as plainly appeareth by all his anti-Parliamentary courses, tending to the utter ruin and desolation of the fice-borne Liege people of England, together with their Rights, laws and Liberties, as hath been unanimously Voted by both their Houses of Parliament, the highest and most unpartial Judge, for the declaring of the laws of their Land) whosoever( I say) doth so stand up in defence of the Kings boundless and swelling Prerogative against the Parliament is a most notorious enemy of the kirk and commonweal, of the Laws, and Liberties of their Native Country, and so of themselves, their families, and posterities for ever. And this is a maxim in nature, that the whole is to bee ●nte▪ poned before any part: and herefore every member ought to collate its whole strength for the conservation of the whole state. Sundry heathens have willingly perished to save their Country. And so much the rather, when it stands, even with rational prudence, that the relinquishing of a part, yea the one half, preserves that which remaines, which otherwise, with the owner himself, and all his would necessary perish. And in such a case of necessity, all persons, or Members of the commonweal ought to bee forced( if otherwise unwilling) to contribute liberally, according to their severallabilities, to the preservation of it. And above all, when we see the true Religion struck at, and so Christs kirk or Kingdom openly invaden, that so both it, and the commonweal might fall and perish together. And shall we do nothing for Christ, and for the salvation of our souls?  
To the second Reason I answer, that all the Kings solemn oaths, vows, protestations▪ Declarations Imprecations and Execrations upon himself and posterity, calling God to witness, and the like, should bee examined what truth is in them by comparing therewith his ordinary and daily practices, and that even from the first entrance of H●s reign, ever since he wrote that letter of his to the Pape of Rome, lately published in English▪ with the Papes letter to him In which letter▪ he professeth and voweth to the Pape( whom he stiles, most holy Father) his service and zeal to imitate his Progenitors and Ancestors, as who exposed their estates and lives▪( as he writes) for the exaltation of the holy chair, or See of Rome. This he accounts his greatest honour, that he is descended of such Progenitors. He commends his father for endeavouring unity with Rome, and other her confederates: and the Pape his holiness for his Wisdom in contriving& designing the match with the Infanta of spain, thereby to reduce all to one Religion, which he calls the true Religion▪ and that he expresseth to bee the catholic apostolic, Roman Religion, for the maintenance whereof( saith he) I have resolved to spare nothing that I have in the World, but will hazard estate and life, and suffer all incommodities for a thing so pleasing to God, and for the Protestant Religion, he saith, I entreat your holinesse to believe, that I have been always very far from encouraging novelties, or to be a part of any faction against the catholic, apostolic, Roman Religion: but on the contrary, I have sought all occasions to take away the suspicion that might rest upon me, and that I will employ, myself for the time to come, to have but one Religion, and one faith. And again It is very certain, I shall never be so extremely affectionate to any thing in the World, as to endeavour alliance with a Prince, that hath the same apprehension of the true Religion with myself. Thus it is expressed in the letter, signed( as the Story shows) with Charles Steward. Thus we see a precontract made thee with Pape of Rome, which nulls& makes void and of none effect all other vows, promises, Protestations &c. contrariwise, considering also, that though he married not the Infanta, but the daughter of France, all is one in point of Religion, this having the same conditions, and articles with that of spain, which( I hope) do in nothing cross the contents of the said letter, neither hath he renounced either those articles, or the said Letter for ought that can yet bee discerned. And therefore I think England hath no reason to confided in such Protestations, as are so palpably contradicted both by such a league and by so many practices ever since that letter was written, and that match made, to this very day. And for such Protestations, though they seem to reach as far as Heaven and are such▪ as the worst of the Heathen would detest; yet the most holy Father, the Pape, giving a dispensation thereunto, it is a warrant sufficient both to God dishonour to delude men, and to injure their own consciences, yea and without repentance to damn their own souls, and yet for all this, bee innocent catholic men of Rome, in the Papes esteem.  
The example of David in sparing King Saul, his heart also smiting him for having cut off the skirt of his garment in the cave, is objected as an argument, to prove the unlawfullnesse of taking up arms against the King in these dayes.  
Whereto I answer: 1. It is confessed, and the Scripture disalows it not, as being the law of nature, that David got together an Army of 600. valiant men, for his and their defence against Sauls tyranny, who sought to kill David, whom God had designed and anointed for the kingdom of Israel. And if one particular man,( though as yet a private person in comparison) might lawfully defend himself against a Tyrant, that sought his life: then much more a whole state, or body representative of a kingdom, may use means to defend themselves, and the kingdom, by whom they are put in trust, even by force of arms in a Military way, when a King goes about to overthrow their Laws, Liberties, and livelihood, and to bring them and their posterity being freeborn liege people under the tyrannicall yoke of perpetual slavery.  
2. again, tis a different case for a private man to lay violent hands upon the person of a Tyrannicall King, to take away his life,( which I utterly disallow) and for a whole state to stand up to defend themselves against tyrannicall usurpation. David would not, nor durst do the former: but he and his men did the latter, so far as concerned them and theirs, for their safety.  
3. I answer from an other example in Scripture: when the 10. Tribes complained of their unjust burdens to the young King Rehoboam, and petitioned to him,( like Englands petition of right) that he would ease their yoke &c. and the King rejecting the counsel of his grave Senators, who had been the Councellors of King Sal●mon his Father, and following the unsound counsel of his younkers and mad Cavaliers: they thereupon( and that by( 1 Ki. 12.) Gods own approbation) set up a new King over them, and so became a distinct Kingdom from Iuda. And this I say) God himself confirmed; so that if the new King jeroboam, had not in his foolish policy lead the Ringdome away to Idolatry, God would have made it a constant and a happy kingdom to him and his. And when at the first parting, Rehoboam would have with an Army recovered his loss, 1 Kings 12. the Lord would not allow of it. And according to the Proverb. Vox populi, Vox Dei: when there is a general Vote and agreement of the people, or of the whole body of the State representative concerning the safe-guarding and defending of the Civill Government when invaded by Tyrannicall violence, and usurpation, threatening confusion of the whole State; then surely the God of order and not of confusion, and the greatest preserver of kingdoms and States, and the most wise Governor and disposer of them to whom he will, doth clearly appear in such public unanimity of the people to restrain and regulate unjust, usurpers& unsationable, cruel, and bloody Tyrants▪ whose lusts nothing can satisfy, but the ruin of all, rather then their proud tyranny shall fall to ground.   

certain queries of things done since King Charles his Reign began.  
1. WHen our geud King james his death was by one of his Phisitians tendered to the King, and Parliament, to be examined, why the Parliament was oft soon dissolved?  
2. When in the first and succeeding Parliaments, they began to fall upon Reformation in kirk and State, why still were the Parliaments dissolved?  
3. Why, presently after the Petition of Right in England was signed, it was violated and nulled by imprisoning of sundry members of Parliament, which cost some of them their lives?  
4. Why at length came Parliaments to bee so out of date and request, as that a Proclamation was published inhibiting the least mention of ever having any more Parliaments in England?  
5. Why against the Petition of Right was tonnage and poundage extorted?  
6. Why against the Petition of Right was shipmoney levied?  
7. Why against the petition of Right was Coat and conduct money imposed?  
8. Why against the Petition of Right was such an infinite number of Monopolies to the draining and exhausting of the Subjects, granted?  
9. Why was it attempted to make all England a forest, and so to make the people so many Deere for Nimrods to hunt?  
10. Who is the author of all the evils and grievances in the kingdom, and so the great troubler of Israel, seeing so many malefactors, and delinquents, and instruments of cruelty, are authorised and protected as Innocents?  
11. Who aided the French King with 8. Ships, by means whereof the protestants in Rochel were most miserable destroyed, and all the rest in France left to the mercy of papists; the more easily to exercise their massacres upon them?  
12. How, or by whom was it, that we poor harmless, yet much oppressed Scots, were proclaimed Rebells, when we onely sought for right and Justice?  
13. By whose authority, and for what end was it, that that more then heathenish Beuk for sports, to profane the Lords day, was published in every kirk in England?  
14. By whose countenace was it, that so many Novations have taken place, so much Idolatry and Superstition hath overspread England, so many, notorious papish Beuks in English of late dayes printed with their high dedications, so much restraint of preaching, so grievous persecuting of preachers even unto blood and banishment, with all ways and crafts to root out the gospel and to set up popery every where, and so to put the Prince of the Apostles ( Peter, or the Pape) in possession of that noble and long flourishing iceland?  
15. Who hath murdered so many Innocents in Ireland, by the long retarding of sending succours in due time, by means whereof so many thousands, and they Protestants, might have been preserved from such horrid and bloody butcheries? Or how came it to pass( then when the plot among us in So●tland for murdering some of our prime Nobles, in the Kings chamber, should have taken place) that the Rebellion in Ireland began to break forth just about the same time? Such a sympathy and harmony( it seems) there was between these two?  
16. What was the end of plotting, the coming up of the york army towards the City and Parliament?  
17. What was the end of the Kings going to the Parliament with his armed troops of furious Cavaliers, and their manner of carriage there?  
18. What was the end of turning out our faithful brother Sir William Pelphore from being lieutenant of the Tower, and placing in his room that desperate Cavalier Lunsford?  
19. By what authority was it, that the Captaines, that were by the Parliament sent into Ireland to suppress the Rebells there, came into England again to help the Malignant party against the Parliament?  
20 Whether the present taking of Portsmouth by the King, through the infamous perfidiousness of Goring, may not stand the Malignants in as good stead against the Parliament and people, as Hull, considering that Portsmouth is nearer both to France and spain?  
21. Whether the Kings Commission of Array, though it may seem to have in general some countenance from the Law, yet can possibly be imagined to have any Law at this time, when the King stands out against his Parliament, to overthrow their Militia, which is to no other end, but to preserve both King and kingdom from imminent ruin: considering that no Laws of the kingdom are destructive thereof but preservative only?  
22. Whether the Gentry of England, who now appear for the King against the Parliament, and so against the whole kingdom, be true bread English men and Gentlemen, or no: or if true bread, whether they be not so far degenerate, as to become enemies of God and their country, and with Esau to sell their birthright of laws and Liberties for a mess of broth and so to purchase to their House a perpetual Slavery, by shedding the blood of their Brethren, which they prise at so vile and ignoble a rate?  
23. Whether the displacing of the good Old Justices all over England, and setting up of new, being of the Malignant party▪ and enemies of the kingdom, do not hasten the ruin therof▪ while they labour to root out the gospel, and all goodness, to destroy the Parliament and all geud Laws, and to countenance and maintain the most profane in the Land, who are ready every where to make war against the gospel, and all the faithful preachers thereof?  
24. Whether the wounding of Religion by reproachful names, as calling all the true professors thereof Roundheads and the like, be not a slight of jesuits to set the Protestants together by the ears, and their Swords in one anothers sides, that so they may all perish together?  
25. Whether it be not the wisdom of all true hearted English and such as account it their honour to be called and be true Protestants, and namely such as are enemies to Papistry, however they may differ in opinion in matter of Religion, according to the different degrees of light in their souls, yet not to differ in their Affections one to another, but to be fast united in the bond of Charity, and combined in a firm resolution for the rooting out of all Papery, according to the late Protestation, which no true Protestant, and such as is not Papishly affencted, nor a lover of Antichrist, and so a hater of his own soul and Salvation, will ever refuse to take profess▪ and maintain.  
26. Why notwithstanding so many Protestations, and Declarations to the contrary, are Papish-Priests and jesuits, after they are justly condemned, according to the Law for Traitors, reprieved, time after time, so as no justice can be executed on them?  
27. Whether so many Proclamations, Declarations, Protestations or Remonstrances, as are published in the Kings name▪ being so full of manifest and palpable falshoods, and shameless untruths, whereby the true meaning people are most pitifully abused, seduced, deluded and blindfoulded, to the undoing of themselves and of their dear country by betraying it and themselves into the hands of most wicked Tyrants and cut-throats, and open enemies both of God and Men, ought not to be laid upon the King himself, as the supreme Author of them, seeing he is pleased to be the owner and maintainer of them? And whether, in particular, it be not a mere mockery to sand forth Proclamations against Papish-Recusants, inhibiting and forbidding them upon pain of high displeasure to approach the Kings person, Court, or army, whenas, for all this, most of them that be of the Kings Cavallry, and of his Commanders, are Papists, having nothing to excuse them from being Recusants but merely the Papes Dispensation for going to kirk; and all men know by experience, that Kirke-Papists are the worst and most dangerous?  
28. Whether the setting up of the Kings Standard against the Parliament and the best Subjects of the kingdom, be not an actual unkinging of him, as whereby he professeth an open Hostility against that kingdom and State, which at His Coronation, he swore to protect; and as now, intending and endeavouring with Might and main to come in as a conqueror, and so to set up a lawless and Tyrannicall Government over His Land, and so to make good whathe hath promised, and( in His Letter to the Pape of Rome lately published in English, as aforesaid) solemnly protested and vowed.  
These Queres and Questions being seriously and impartially satisfied and soiled; it cannot but most evidently appear to every intelligent heart, that will not be wilfully blind, what is the aim and end of the malignant party now in England, from the head to the foot of them; and how much it concerns them all who love their Religion, Laws, and liberties to look about them, and timely to endeavour( by Gods assistance) to prevent their great and imminent Dangers.  
Septem. 8. 1642.  
FINIS.