The right of primogeniture, in succession to the kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland as declared by the statutes of 24 E.3 cap 2. De Proditionibus, King of England, and of Kenneth the third, and Malcolm Mackenneth the second, Kings of Scotland : as likewise of 10 H.7 made by a Parliament of Ireland : with all objections answered, and clear probation made : that to compass or imagine the death, exile, or disinheriting of the King's eldest son, is high treason : to which is added, an answer to all objections against declaring him a Protestant successor, with reasons shewing the fatal dangers of neglecting the same.

It Cantons Kingdoms.

* 1.1For so writes Justin of Alexander the Great. Alexander rogatus quem Haeredem faceret Imperii, respondit dignissimum; qua voce veluti Bellicum inter Amicos cecinisset, aut malum discordia immisisset; ita omnes in aemulationem consurgunt, & ambitione vulgi tacitum favorem Militum. Alexander being asked whom he would make Successor to his Empire, answered, The most Wor∣thy; By which, as though amongst his own Friends, he had sounded a Charge to Battel one against another, or had thrown the Apple of Discord amongst them, so did they rise together in Contention, and by courting the vulgar seek the secret favour of the Souldiers, and afterwards Canton'd out to themselves severally all the Provinces of the Empire. Ptolomy seized Egypt, and Cyrene, Laomedon Syria, Phylotus Cilicia, Pitho Media, Eumenes Capadocia, Antigonus Pamphilia, Licia and Phrigia major, Cassander Caria, Minander Pontus and Phrigia minor, Leonatus Assyria, Seleucus Persis, Lysima∣chus Thrace, Antipater Macedonia. The other Parts of the Persian Empire being left in their hands, unto whom Alexan∣der in his life-time had intrusted them. And the reason of this pulling to pieces of the Empire was, because as Curtius saith, Sine certo Regis Haerede, sine Haerede Regin' Publicas vires ad se quem{que} tracturum, without a declaring in certain of the Heir of the King, and of the Heir of the Kingdom, every one will catch what he can of the Publick strength to himself, and to what purpose but to destroy himself by destroying the

Publick? For this Division continued not long, neither would it have done though they had been all Brothers; for every one thinks his share is not equal to his worth, when they have no publick Judge to judge equally between them; and in the end, the greatest part of them by Mutual Wars destroyed one ano∣ther, and left their shares for a prey to their Enemies. Clap∣marius as to this Destruction ensuing the not declaring of a Successor, saith farther, Sumo hoc pro arcano Regio adversus Regni Proceres, ubi enim Successor in incertò est ibi facile ad pristinum statum relabitur, ut olim Caroli Magni stirpe sublata cum postremus Germanorum Rex Neminem adoptasset, Regnum momento Devolutum est ad quinquaginta quatuor Imperii Principes. Sic Lon∣gobardi Mortuo sine Legitimo haerede Cleophonio in Populi potestateni lapsi sunt. Et in Polonia post quam stirps Lechi defecisset Comitiis de Constituenda Republica habitis Regnum duodecim invaserunt No∣biles. Et rursum cum stirps Craeci defecisset ad eandem Oligarchiam eadem occasione reversi sunt. I take this for an Arcanum of Kings against their great Men; for where the Successor is not decla∣red in certain, a Common-wealth doth easily relapse to its Ori∣ginal confusion. As when the Issue of Charles the Great failed, and the last Emperor of the Germains had Adopted no Suc∣cessor, the Empire in a Moment fell into the hands of Four and fifty Princes of the Empire. So the Lombards, Cleophonius their King being dead without Lawful Heir fell into the hands of the People. And in Poland after the Issue of Lechus failed, there being a Convention of Estates to constitute a Common-wealth, Twelve Nobles seized on the Kingdom. And again, when the Issue of Cracus failed, they fell back again on the same occa∣sion into an Oligarchy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  14. Danger of Cantonizing Kingdoms.