Salmasius his buckler, or, A royal apology for King Charles the martyr dedicated to Charles the Second, King of Great Brittain.

All other Governments are but the corruption and and shreds, of Monarchy, which is the most glorious and most profitable of all sorts of Governments; when, and how Aristocracy and Democracy begun ra∣ther by Gods permission than institution. The pro∣per Character of a Common-wealths man, or the De∣finition of an English Changeling, with his flexible, and mutable qualities. The absence of our King is the cause of the presence of our many sins and divisions

IF you remember, in my Division of Govern∣ments, I made mention of Aristocracy and Demo∣cracy, &c. which indeed had their first Original from the corruption of Monarchy, and are but shreds of Monarchy, as all Politicians hold: Therefore I will not spend time and paper to abuse your patience with anie thing, but a Description of them: For

Virg. Verum haec tantum alias inter caput extulit urbes Quantum lent a soleni inter viburna cupressi.

Monarchy doth as far excell all other sorts of Government, in glory, profit, conveniencie for the people, and in all other good qualities, as the Sun doth the Moon, or the Moon the twinckling stars, and is like the lofty Cedar amongst the

servile shrubs. Hence it cometh, that even the Re∣publicans who hate a King because he is their Sove∣raign Master, are compelled to suffer and use Petite Monarchies (as one may say) under them: as one Ma∣ster over everie Familie, one Maior over everie City, one Sheriff over everie Countie, one Rector over everie Parish Church, one Pilot over every ship, one Captain over everie Troop, one Admiral over the Fleet, and manie other Offices of trust and places wherein Pluralitie of persons would prove most obnoxious: But Monarchie is and alwaies hath been proved and approved the best and most abso∣lute lie good.

Aristocracy is the Government of a Common-wealth by some select number of the better sort of the people, preferred for their wisdome and other vertues for the publick good.

Oligarchy is the swarving or distortion or Ari∣stocracy, or the Government of a few rich, yet wicked men, whose private end is the chiefest end of their Government; tyrannizing over Law, Re∣ligion and the people.

Democracy or popular estate is the Government of the multitude. Where the people have the su∣pream power, and Soveraign autority.

Ochilocracy or a Common-wealth is the corrup∣tion and deprivation of Democracy, where the ras∣cal Rabble or viler sort of the people govern by reason of their multitude.

These kinds of Government were not heard of a long time after Monarchy began, and the impul∣sive

causes of them were contention and confusion, and were rather permitted than ordained by God, as the bill of Divorce was by Moses; For non erat sic ab initio, there was no such Government at the beginning; for God did not create it, as he did Monarchy when he made all things; but the people being stragled up and down in the world, and so in processe of time became out of the knowledge of their lawfull King, rather than they would indure the miserable effects of Anarchy; for Plebs fine Rege ruit, there can be no family, no society, indeed no living without rulers, they, re••igned up their whole power and libertie to some few select men, or else to many, who made Laws for them, and so tied up the hands of the unrulie and wicked, and defended the just from the violent tempests and storms of the unjust, to which before they lay open and naked: which God seeing that it was better for them to have such a Government, than none at all, did al∣low of it, but it hath no comparison with Monar∣c••y, becuase that was instituted by Gods primarie Ordinance, and the further men go from Gods original institution they have the more corrupti∣on, Nay, if compared to Monarchy it is a curse; for Solomon saith, Prov. 28.2. For the transgressions of a Land, many are the Princes thereof, but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

—summo dulcius unum Stare loco, sociisque comes discordia regnis.

How sweetlie doth the Poet sing, when he saith, that it is most sweet for one to govern; for a companie of Governors have alwaies discord to be their companion. Monarchia nihil habet durum praeter nomen, populare contra regimen nihil lene praeter nomen. Monarchy hath nothing harsh but its name, but on the contrarie, a popular estate hath no∣thing delightfull or taking but its name. Our times are so full a Commentarie, and so plain an Exposition of the evil events of a popular estate, that I will not, neither need I recite the opinions of the Antients, wherewith they have contemned it, as the worst of Governments, most subject to dissension and change, and most obnoxious to the people. And I think, no Nation under the Sun could ever produce a more notorious example than mutable England, where everie man as if he had ser∣ved an Apprentiship to novelty, forgeth new inven∣ions everie day: he changeth his mind as often as children would change their cloaths, and fitteth his conscience to everie opportunitie and purpose. His heart (though hollow) will bend like a flexi∣ble osier, and incline to anie thing that is profita∣ble, though never so wicked, his resolutions will break to pieces like ropes of sand, and like the Moon are alwaies changing. He never standeth to anie thing so fast, but that he can slip away from it when he pleaseth. Neither did he ever love any Religion 'so well, but that he could love another as well at any time, and for a need entertain tw••n∣tie together, twentie did I say? Nay, 'tis his fa∣shion

to change his Religions everie day, if no every hour, and so, much Religion makes him an ir∣religious changeling.

But for brevities sake take his Epitome, viz Constant onely in inconstancy. And this man thu•• qualified is one of the main pillars of the Govern∣ment of England; for you must know too, that h•• hath sometimes a great mind to be a Governor, nay, he is so hot upon it, that sometimes he will do a∣ny thing rather than fail. If his own father stands between the Throne and him, he will make him stand by, or else make him go into another world. He can pull off Kings Crowns, as often as he can pull off his own Hat. He can break a great Oath as easie as he can break a little ••hreed, and Perjury with him is a Cardinal vertue, if it do but add a∣ny thing to his Design. And you will make it a miracle, if this man should not make a good Com∣mon-wealths man, if not a good one, however one would think that he might keep his place long enough, being so well furnished with all these sweet, flexible and easie conditions, but no, he cannot, and the reason is, because there is a great Litter of these Whelps gathered together of the same kind with himself, and being so many, they often snarl one at another for the bone: so the Go∣vernment Proteus like changeth it self into what shape they please, sometimes one of them is pro∣moted to the Government, just like a Malefactor on a Woodden Horse, whom they pull down when they please, and them run open mouthed

with a full cry after it again, un∣till that at length one being nim∣bler footed, or quicker mouthed, catcheth it into his paws, by and by all of them like Acteons dogs fall up∣on him, and although he crieth out

Actaeon ego sum, Dominum cognoscite vestrum.

I am he which use to hunt with you, and be your master Huntsman, yet such is the furious madnesse of these Animals, that they tear him in pieces, and hang the Government on another, and so they tosse it about from one to the other, as children do a three half penny ball, thinking it is no sport, if the ball lie long still in one of their hands. Regni sacra fames quid non morialia pectora cogis? What doth not the thirst of ruling compell these mor∣tals to do? Every one cuts his fellows throat if he thwarts him in the Government; they make the people swear to be faithfull to a single person one day, and to swear against a single person the next. It is high Treason to speak against one kind of Government one hour, and high Treason or worse not to speak against it the next; and what is the reason of these turnings, and twinings, and various alterations? Because in these dayes there is no King in England, and every man doth that which is right in his own eys, Judg. 21.25.

Velle suum cuique est, nec voto vivitur ••no.

Notes

• Omnibus esse Lupos licet in regione Lupo∣porum.
• Gal. 2.18. If I build again the things which I destroyed, I make my self a transgressour.