A collection of papers relating to the present juncture of affairs in England

Proposals humbly offered in behalf of the Princess of Orange, Jan. 28.

IT is a Maxim of the Law of England concerning the Govern∣ment, That there is no Interregnum. Of necessity there must be a Change in the Person, yet there is a Continuation of the Government. Which shews the Prudence and Perfection of the Constitution, in preventing that, which of all things is most De∣plorable, a Failure of Government. This Rule is therefore of that Importance, as not to be given up upon the trivial Saying of Ne∣mo est haeres viventis.

'Tis true, the common and ordinary cause of a Change in the Person that is invested with the Royal Authority, is Death.

But we are now in a rare and extraordinary Case, where the King is living, and yet may be said to be divested of the Royal Of∣fice, as having by his Encroachments upon the Peoples Rights, provoked them to resort to Arms; and being vanquished by that Force, followed with a total Defection from him, and his Relin∣qui••hing the Kingdom thereupon, without providing any ways for the Administration of the Government.

This seems to be a Cesser of this Government, and may in Civil and Politick Construction amount to as much as if he had died.

But because this is a Cess of that nature that requires a Judgment to be made upon it, it seems necessary to have a Convention of the Estates of the Nation, to make a Declaration thereupon (for 'tis not for private Persons to determine in the Cases aforesaid, how or when the King has lost his Government) and till such Authorita∣tive Declaration made, the King may be supposed in some kind of possession of the Kingly Office.

B••t after the Judgment made and declared, there seems to be no d••fference in the consequence and result of the thing, between such an extraordinary case of the Cesser of the Royal Dignity, and the

case of Death or voluntary Resignation; or as if the King had been prosest, and made himself a Recluse in a Religious House.

Then it must devolve upon the next Heir, her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange.

As to the pretended Prince of Wales, if there had been no Suspi∣cions as to his Birth, (as there are many violent ones) yet his be∣ing conveyed into unknown Places, by Persons in whom no credit can be reposed, and at an Age which exposes him to all manner of Practices and Impostures, touching his Person; then can there here∣after be no manner of Certainty of him, so as to induce the Nation ever to consider any Pretence of that kind.

These things being considered;

First, Whether will not the declaring her Royal Highness Queen of England, as next in Succession, be the surest and be••t Founda∣tion to begin our Settlement upon; rather than upon a groundless Conceit of the Government being devolved to the People, and so they to proceed to Elect a King?

Secondly, If that Conceit of devolving to the People be admit∣ted, Whether must we not conclude, that the Misgovernment of King Iames the Second, hath not only determin'd his Roylaty, but put a period to the Monarchy it self? And then 'tis not only a loss as to his Person, but to the whole Royal Family.

Thirdly, Whether those Persons that have started this Notion, upon pretence of giving the Nation an opportunity of gratifying his Highness the Prince of Orange, in proportion to his Merits (which it must be acknowledged no Reward can exceed) if they were searched to the bottom, did not do it rather to undermine this Ancient and Hereditary Monarchy, and to give an Advantage to their Republican Principles, than out of any Affection and Gra∣titude to his Highness? For if the latter was that they had t••e chief respect to, would it not be the more proper way to declare her Royal Highness Queen, which will immediately put the Nation un∣der a regular Constitution and posture of Government? Then it will be capable of expressing its Gratitude to the Prince of Orange, in matters touching even the Royal Dignity it self, without making such a Stroke upon the Government, as the Electing of a King, or making any other immediate Alteration in the right of the Monar∣chy (before the Parliament is compleated and constituted in all its parts) must amount unto.