State tracts, being a farther collection of several choice treaties relating to the government from the year 1660 to 1689 : now published in a body, to shew the necessity, and clear the legality of the late revolution, and our present happy settlement, under the auspicious reign of their majesties, King William and Queen Mary.

Some known Maxims taken out of the Law-Books.

1. Respecting the King.

• That the Kings of England can do nothing as Kings but what of right they ought to do.
• That the King can do no wrong, nor can he dye.
• ...That the King's Prerogative and the Subjects Liberty are determined by Law.
• ...That the King hath no Power but what the Law gives him.
• That the King is so called from Ruling well, Rex à bene Regendo [viz. according to Law] Be∣cause be is a King whilst be Rules well, but a Tyrant when he Oppresses.
• That Kings of England never appear more in their glory, splendor, and Majestick Sovereignty, than in Parliaments.
• That the Prerogative of the King cannot do wrong, nor be a Warrant to do wrong to any. Plowd. Comment. fol. 246.

2. Respecting the Parliament.

• ...That Parliaments constitute, and are laid in the Essence of the Government.
• ...That a Parliament is that to the Common-Wealth, which the Soul is to the Body, which is only able 〈…〉〈…〉 and understand the symptoms of all Diseafes which threaten the Body-politick.

• ...That a Parliament is the Bulwark of our Liberty, the boundary which keeps us from the Inundation of Tyrannical Power, Arbitrary and unbounded Will-Government.
• ...That Parliaments do make new, and abrogate old Laws; Reform Grievances in the Commonwealth, settle the Succession, grant Subsidies; And in sum, may be called the great Physician of the Kingdom.

From whence it appears, and is self-evident, if Parliaments are so absolutely necessary in this our Constitution, That they must then have their certain stationary times of Session, and continuance, for providing Laws essentially necessary for the being, as well as the well-being of the People; and redressing all publick Grievances, either by the want of Laws, or of the undue Execution of them in being, or otherwise: And suitable hereunto are those Provisions made by the Wisdom of our Ancestors, as recorded by them both in the Common and Statute-Law.