The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 17Dryden, John
General
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 17
Dryden, John
English literature
both as to the right of it, and to the interest of the people: one main
argument of the other side is, how often it has been removed from the
right line? as in the case of King Stephen, and of Henry the Fourth, and
his descendants of the house of Lancaster. But it is easy to answer them,
that matter of fact, and matter of right, are different considerations:
both those kings were but usurpers in effect, and the providence of God
restored the posterities of those who were dispossessed. By the same
argument, they might as well justify the rebellion and murder of the
late king; for there was not only a prince inhumanly put to death, but
a government overturned; and first an arbitrary commonwealth, then two
usurpers set up against the lawful sovereign; but, to our happiness,
the same providence has miraculously restored the right heir, and, to
their confusion, as miraculously preserved him. In this present history,
to go no further, we see Henry the Third, by a decree of the Sorbonne,
divested, what in them lay, of his imperial rights: a parliament of
Paris, such another as our first Long Parliament, confirming their
decree; a pope authorising all this by his excommunication; and an Holy
League and Covenant prosecuting this deposition by arms: yet an untimely
death only hindered him from reseating himself in glory on the throne,
after he was in manifest possession of the victory.[20] We see also the
same Sorbonists, the same pope, parliament, and league, with greater
force opposing the undoubted right of King Henry the Fourth; and we see
him in the end, surmounting all these difficulties, and triumphing over
all these dangers. God Almighty taking care of his own anointed, and
the true succession; neither the Papist nor Presbyterian Association
prevailing at the last in their attempts, but both baffled and ruined,
and the whole rebellion ending, either in the submission, or destruction
of the conspirators.
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