The Contents.

That the first Kings were Fathers of Families.

(1) THE Tenent of the Natural Liberty of the People, New, Plausible, and Dangerous. (2) The Question stated out of Bellarmine, and some contradictions of his noted. (3) Bellarmine’s Argument answered out of Bellarmine himself. (4) The Royal Authority of the Patriarchs before the Flood. (5) The Dispersion Edition: current; Page: [ix] of Nations over the World after the Confusion of Babel, was by entire Families, over which the Fathers were Kings. (6) And from them all Kings descended. (7) All Kings are either Fathers of their People; (8) Or Heirs of such Fathers, or Vsurpers of the Right of such Fathers. (9) Of the Escheating of Kingdoms. (10) Of Regal and Paternal Power, and of their Agreement.

It is unnatural for the People to Govern, or chose Governours.

(1) ARistotle examined about the Freedom of the People, and justified. (2) Suarez disputes against the Regality of Adam. (3) Families diversly defined by Aristotle, Bodin, and others. (4) Suarez contradicting Bellarmine. (5) Of Election of Kings, (6) By the major part of the People, (7) By Proxie, and by silent Acceptation. (8) No example in Scripture for the Peoples chosing their King. Mr. Hooker’s Judgment Edition: current; Page: [xi] therein. (9) God governed always by Monarchy. (10) Bellarmine and Aristotles judgment of Monarchy. (11) Imperfections of the Roman Democratie. (12) Rome legan her Empire under Kings, and perfected it under Emperours. In danger the People of Rome always fled to Monarchy. (13) Whether Democraties were invented to bridle Tyrants, or whether they crept in by stealth. (14) Democraties vilified by their own Hystorians. (15) Popular Government more Bloody than Tyranny. (16) Of a mixed Government of the King and People. (17) The People may not judg not correct their King. (18) No Tyrants in England since the Conquest.

Positive Laws do not infringe the Natural and Fatherly Power of Kings.

(1) REgal Authority not subject to Positive Laws. Kings were before Laws. The Kings of Judah and Israel not tied to Laws. (2) Of Samuel’s Description of a King. (3) The Power ascribed to Kings in the New Testament. (4) Whether Laws were invented to bridle Tyrants. (5) The Benefit of Laws. (6) Kings keep the Laws, though not bound by the Laws. (7) Of the Oaths of Kings. (8) Of the Benefit of the Kings Prerogative Edition: current; Page: [xiii] over Laws. (9) The King the Author, the Interpreter, and Corrector of the Common Laws. (10) The King Judge in all Causes, both before the Conquest and since (11) the King and his Council anciently determined Causes in the Star-Chamber. (12) Of Parliaments. (13) When the People were first called to Parliaments (14) The Liberty of Parliaments not from Nature, but from the grace of Princes. (15) The King alone makes Laws in Parliament. (16) He Governs Both Houses by himself, (17) Or by his Council, (18) Or by his Judges.