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.

* 1.1(2.) The Danger caused by Incertainty of the Laws of Suc∣cession of the Crown, (and that this is a Great Danger, and necessary to be Remedied by a Declaration by King and Par∣liament) appears likewise by the Preamble of the Statute of 25 H. 8. cap. 22. in these words, viz.

Wherefore we your said most humble and Obedient Subjects in this present Parliament Assembled, calling to our Remembrance the great Divisions which in time passed have been in this Realm, by reason of several Titles pretended to the Imperial Crown of the same, which sometime and for the most part insued, by Reason of Ambi∣guity and Doubts, then not so perfectly Declared, but that men might upon froward intents, expound them to every man's sinister Appetite and Affection after their Sons, Contrary to the Right Le∣galty of the Succession and Posterity of the Lawful Kings and Em∣perors of this Realm, whereby hath insued great Effusion and De∣struction of man's Blood, as well of a great number of the Nobles, as of other Subjects, and especially Inheritors in the same, and the greatest occasion thereof, hath been because no perfect and substan∣tial Provision in Law hath been made within this Realm of it self, when Doubts and Questions have been moved and proponed of the Certainty and Legalty of the Succession and Posterity of the Crown.

By which Statute appears the Judgment of the King and Parliament to be, That the great incertainty of the Law in points of Succession of the Crown, was one great Cause of the great Mischiefs of effusion of Blood both of Nobles and Com∣mons which insued thereby, and the fittest Remedy to be the Declaration of the Successor incertain by the King and Parlia∣ment; which is accordingly therefore done in the same Sta∣tute.

And it likewise appears that the same Doubt in Law was raised then as to Succession, which is now, Whether the King's Marriage and Issue by the Mother of Queen Elizabeth was Lawful and Legitimate, which is Declared by this Act of Parliament that it was. And H. there is first intendency there to Declared a Legitimation of the same Marriage with Queen Ann, the said Mother of Queen Elizabeth: And that all the Issue had and procreate, or to be had procreate (without saying Lawfully) between the King and Queen Ann, shall be his Lawful Children, and be Inheritable to the Crown; Then is the Crown Declared to be to the King for Life, and the Re∣mainder to be to the first Son of his Highness of his said Law∣ful Wife Queen Ann begotten, and to the Heirs of the Body of the said first Son Lawfully begotten; and for default of such Issue, with divers Remainders over, and make it High Trea∣son to slander the King's Marriage in prejudice of the Heirs of the same.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. Danger by the incertainty of the Laws of Succession of the Crown.