The present Dispute being about the _Government_ of the Kingdom, and the chief _Administration_ of Publick Affairs, we have thought fit not to omit this Question: Whether _Women_ are not as much debarr'd from the _Administration_, as from the _Inheritance_ of the Kingdom? And in the first Place we openly declare, that 'tis none of our Intention to argue for or against the _Roman_ Customs or Laws, or those of any other Nation, but only of the Institutions of this our own _Francogallia_. For as on the one Hand 'tis notorious to all the World, that by the _Roman_ Institutions, _Women_ were always under _Guardianship_, and excluded from intermeddling, either in publick or private Affairs, by Reason of the _Weakness_ of their Judgment: So on the other, _Women_ (by ancient Custom) obtain the _Supreme Command_ in _Some_ Countries. "The (_Britains_ says _Tacitus_ in his Life of _Agricola_) make _no Distinction of Sexes_ in _Government_." Thus much being premised, and our Protestation being clearly and plainly proposed, we will now return to the Question. And as the Examples of some former Times seem to make for the affirmative, wherein the Kingdom of _Francogallia_ has been administered by _Queens_, especially by _Widows_ and _Queen-Mothers_: So on the contrary, the Reason of the Argument used in Disputations, is clearly against it. For she, who cannot be Queen in her _own Right_, can never have any Power of Governing in another's Right: But here a Woman cannot reign in her own Right, nor can the Inheritance of the Crown fall to her, or any of her Descendants; and if they be stiled _Queens_ 'tis only accidentally; as they are _Wives_ to the _Kings_ their _Husbands_. Which we have prov'd out of Records for twelve hundred Years together.