The serpent salve, or, A remedie for the biting of an aspe wherein the observators grounds are discussed and plainly discovered to be unsound, seditious, not warranted by the laws of God, of nature, or of nations, and most repugnant to the known laws and customs of this realm : for the reducing of such of His Majesties well-meaning subjects into the right way who have been mis-led by that ignis fatuus.

Answer.

There is a double right considerable; the right to the Crown, and the right of the Crown: the right and title to the Crown is with us undoubted, there needs no Angell from Heaven to confirme it, where no man can pretend against it. The Right of the crown is the onely subject in question. This is from the Law of God, the Law of Nature, and the Law of Nations. That this Power in an absolute Conquerer may be limited by Statutes, Charters, or municipall Laws, in Court of Conscience, in Court of Justice, to God, to his People, I grant, without communicating So∣veraigne Power to subordinate or inferiour Subjects, or subjecting Majesty to censure: Which Limita∣tion doth no•…•… proceed from mutuall pactions, but from acts of Grace and Bounty. I would know to what purpose▪ the Observer urgeth this distinction of Laws, will it •…•…er •…•…he State of the question, or the obliga∣tion of Subjects? Nothing lesse. Whether the calling of the Prince, be ordinary or extraordinary, mediate or immediate, the title of the Prince, the tye of the Subject is still the same. Those Ministers who were immediately ordeined by Christ or his Apostles, did farre exceed ours in personall perfections: but as for the Ministeriall Power, no tract of time can bring the least diminution to it. God was the first Institu∣ter of Marriage; yet he never brought any couple to∣gether but Adam and Eve; other marriages are made by free election: yet for as much as it is made by vertue and in pursuance of Divine Institution, we doe not

doubt to say and truely, those whom God hath joyned together. His Majesties title is as strong, the obliga∣tion and relation between him and his Subjects is the very same, as if God should say from Heaven, take this Man to be your King. Again, if the Libertie of the Subject be from Grace, not from pactions or agree∣ments, is it therefore the lesse? or the lesse to be regar∣ded? what is freer then gift? if a Nobleman shall give his Servant a Farme, to pay a Rose or Pepper∣corn for an acknowledgement, his title is as strong as if he bought it with his Money. But the Observer deales with his Majesty, as some others doe with God Al∣mighty in point of merit; they will not take Heaven as a free gift, but challenge it as Purchasers. In a word, the Authour of these Observations, would insinuate some difference betwixt our Kings and the Kings of Israell, or some of them who had immediate vocation, wherein he would deceive us or deceiveth himselfe, for their request to Samuell was make us a King to judge us like all other Nations.

Notes

• •…•…am. 8. 5.