The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 06 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
_A._ I think they never thought of that; but I am sure they never meant
the sovereignty should be wholly either in one or both houses. Besides,
they were loath to desert the King, when he was invaded by foreigners;
for the Scotch were esteemed by them as a foreign nation.
_B._ It is strange to me, that England and Scotland being but one
island, and their language almost the same, and being governed by one
King, should be thought foreigners to one another. The Romans were
masters of many nations, and to oblige them the more to obey the edicts
and laws sent unto them from the city of Rome, they thought fit to make
them all Romans; and out of divers nations, as Spain, Germany, Italy,
and France, to advance some, that they thought worthy, even to be
senators of Rome, and to give every one of the common people the
privileges of the city of Rome, by which they were protected from the
contumelies of other nations where they resided. Why were not the Scotch
and English in like manner united into one people?
_A._ King James at his first coming to the crown of England did
endeavour it, but could not prevail. But for all that, I believe the
Scotch have now as many privileges in England as any nation had in Rome,
of those which were so as you say made Romans. For they are all
naturalized, and have right to buy land in England to themselves and
their heirs.
_B._ It is true of them, that were born in Scotland after the time that
King James was in possession of the kingdom of England.
_A._ There be very few now that were born before. But why have they a
better right that were born after, than they that were born before?
_B._ Because they were born subjects to the King of England, and the
rest not.
_A._ Were not the rest born subjects to King James? And was not he King
of England?
_B._ Yes, but not then.
_A._ I understand not the subtilty of that distinction. But upon what
law is that distinction grounded? Is there any statute to that purpose?
_B._ I cannot tell; I think not; but it is grounded upon equity.
_A._ I see little equity in this; that those nations that are bound to
equal obedience to the same King, should not have equal privileges. And
now seeing there be so very few born before King James’s coming in, what
greater privilege had those ingrafted Romans by their naturalization in
the state of Rome, or in the state of England the English themselves,
more than the Scotch?
_B._ Those Romans, when any of them were in Rome, had their voice in the
making of laws.