n the
Church, and that the king's majesty may be secured both
from the attempts of open bloody enemies and
machinations of treacherous heretics and schismatics,
we, the vice-chancellor, doctors, proctors, and masters
regent, met in convocation, in the accustomed manner,
the one and twentieth day of July, in the year 1683,
concerning certain propositions contained in divers
books and writings, published in the English and also
in the Latin tongue, repugnant to the Holy Scriptures,
decrees of councils, writings of the fathers, the faith
and profession of the primitive Church, and also
destruction of the kingly government, the safety of his
Majesty's person, the public peace, the laws of nature,
and bonds of human society, by our unanimous assent and
consent, have decreed and determined in manner and form
following:--

"The 1st Proposition.--All civil authority is derived
originally from the people.

"2. There is a mutual compact, tacit or express,
between a prince and his subjects, that if he perform
not his duty, they are discharged from theirs.

"3. That if lawful governors become tyrants, or govern
otherwise than by the laws of God and man they ought to
do, they forfeit the right they had unto their
government.--_Lex Rex_; _Buchanan, de Jure Regni_;
_Vindiciae contra tyrannos_; _Bellarmine, de Conciliis,
de Pontifice_; _Milton_; _Goodwin_; _Baxter_; _H. C._

"4. The sovereignty of England is in the three estates,
viz., Kings, Lords, and Commons. The king has but a
co-ordinate power, and may be overruled by the other
two.--_Lex Rex_; _Hunter_, of a united and mixed
monarchy. _Baxter, H. C. Polit. Catechis._

"5. Birthright and proximity of blood give no title to
rule or government, and it is lawful to preclude the
next heir from his right and succession to the
crown.--_Lex Rex_; _Hunt's Postscript_; _Doleman's
History of Succession_; _Julian the Apostate_; _Mene
Tekel_.

"6. It is lawful for subjects, without the consent, and
against the command, of the supreme magistrate, to
enter into leagues, covenants, and associations, for
defence of themselves and their religion.--_Solemn
League and Covenant_; _Late Association_.

"7. Self-preservation is the fundamental law of nature,
and super