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.

* 1.1Danger if the Successor assume the Crown without the Assent of the People by their Representative in Parliament, the Right of a Successor is not here Disputed, nor the Law whether he is King before Coronation, or not until Contract with his Parliament, and Coronation received from them. Highest a Successor can say, is only as Paul saith, 1 Cor. 10.23. All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: All things are lawful for me, but all things edifie not. Though the manner whereby a Successor ascends the Throne may be lawful, yet may it not be Expedient; neither may it Edifie the Throne. H. 8. was a King of great Courage and Wisdom, and doubted not the Right of him and his Posterity to the Crown; Yea, though he had more than any other King, Power granted him by Act of Parliament, himself to Declare his own Successor, ei∣ther by his Letters Patents or last Will; yet he shewed therein his great Wisdom and Moderation, and would not do it with∣out Assent of his Subjects; as appears in the already mentioned Statute 35 H. 8. cap. 1. in these words, viz.

And albeit that the King's most Excellent Majesty, for default of such Heirs as are Inheritable by the said Act, might by the Autho∣rity of the said Act give and dispose the said Imperial Crown, and other the Premisses by his Letters Patents under his Great Seal, or by his Last Will in Writing, Signed with his most gracious Hand, to any Person or Persons of such Estate therein as should please his Highness to Limit and Appoint. Yet to the Intent that his Maje∣stie's Disposition and Mind therein should be openly Declared, and Manifestly known and notified, as well to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, as to all other his Loving and Obedient Subjects of this his Realm, to the intent that their ASSENT and CON∣SENT might appear to Concur with thus far as followeth of his Majestie's Declaration in this behalf.

For so Wise a King well know, that let the Right of a Suc∣cessor be what it will, yet if he lose the Love of his People, which cannot be obtained without their Assent and Consent, he loseth the Chief Defence under God, of that, and all other Right he hath; if therefore a Successor is Declared by Act of Parliament, so great a Danger is avoided of not having the Assent and Consent of his Subjects; seeing such an Act of Par∣liament cannot be without the Assent and Consent of the ma∣jor part of the People included in the plurality of Votes of their Representative.

Notes

• * 1.1

  8. Danger with∣out Assent of the People.