An Answer to a Question that Nobody thinks of, viz., But what if the Queen should Die?Defoe, Daniel
History
An Answer to a Question that Nobody thinks of, viz., But what if the Queen should Die?
Defoe, Daniel
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1702-1714
First of all, it may be noticed, that the present safety of this
nation, whether we respect liberty, religion, property, or public
safety and prosperity, depends upon this one fundamental, viz., that
alluding reverently to that text of Scripture, we are all built upon
the foundation of the late revolution, established law and right being
the chief corner-stone. By this it is that her majesty is made our
queen, the entail of the crown being reserved in the remainder to her
majesty in the act of settlement made at the filling up the vacant
throne, and by all those subsequent acts which her majesty's title was
confirmed by, during the life of the late king. This revolution is
that upon which the liberties and religion of this nation were rebuilt
after the conflagration that was made of them in the calamitous times
of King Charles II., and King James II., and from hence to the love
of liberty which is found almost to be naturally placed in the hearts
of true Britons; and upon the view whereof they have acted all along
in the late war, and in all their transactions at home has obtained
the title of a "revolution principle." Noting this then, as above,
that her majesty is our queen by virtue of the revolution, and that
during her reign that establishment alone must be the foundation of
all her administration, this must effectually secure us against any
apprehension that the persons acting under her majesty can act in
behalf of the pretender during her majesty's life; for that they must
immediately overthrow the throne, turn the queen out of it, and
renounce the revolution, upon which her majesty's possession is
established: as the revolution, therefore, is the base upon which the
throne of her majesty is established, so her majesty, and all that act
under her, are obliged to act upon the foot of the said revolution,
even _will_ they, _nil_ they, or else they sink immediately out of
rightful power to act at all; her majesty's title would fall to the
ground, their own commissions would from that hour be void; they must
declare their royal mistress and benefactress a subject to the
pretender, and all her pretences of rightful possession injurious, and
an usurpation. These things being so plain, that he that runs may read
them, seem to stop all our mouths from so much as any suggestion that
anybody can attempt to bring in the pretender upon us during the life
of her present majesty. But what if the queen should die?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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