A Defence of Liberty against Tyrants. Or, of the Lawfull power of the Prince over the People, and of the People over the Prince. Being a Treatise written in Latin and French by Junius Brutus, and translated out of both into English. Small 4to. p. p. 148. Lond. 1648.

The preceding pseudonymous production, published under the name of Junius Brutus, is attributed to Hubert Languet. The French translation made much noise in its day, and by well informed persons is said to have been rigorously suppressed, and consequently to have been sought after with an avidity. which renders its rarity very great. Peignot, in his Dict. des Livres condamnés au feu, tom. i. p. 2, says, "this is the production of an ardent Republican, who, in treating of the power of the Prince over the People, and of the People over the Prince, leans toward the People."

According to the English translation, the questions discussed in this Treatise are as follow:

1. Whether subjects are bound and ought to obey Princes, if they command that which is against the law of God.

2. Whether it be lawful to resist a Prince which doth infringe the law of God, or ruine the Church, by whom, how, and how farre it is lawfull?

3. Whether it be lawfull to resist a Prince which doth oppresse or ruine a publique State, and how farre such resistance may be extended; by whom, how, and by what right or law it is permitted?

4. Whether neighbour Princes or States may be, or are bound by law, to give succours to the subjects of other Princes, afflicted for the cause of true religion, or oppressed by manifest tyranny?

Of the Latin original there are, besides the original edition, standing at the head of this article, editions, Frankfort, 1608, and Amst. 1660.

I shall give one extract from this Book, which treats amply of the subjects before enumerated; in order to shew the manner in which the author handles his subject, and for the style in which the translation is made.

Who may truly be "Hitherto we have treated of a King; called Tyrants. it now rests wee doe somewhat more fully describe a Tyrant. Wee have shewed that he is a King, which lawfully governes a kingdome, either derived to him by succession, or committed to him by election. It followes therefore that he is reputed a Tyrant, which as opposite to a King, either gaines a kingdom by violence, or indirect means, or being invested therewith by lawful election or succession, governes it not according to law and equitie, or neglects those contracts and agreements, to the observation whereof he was strictly obliged at his reception. All which may very well occurre in one and the same person. The first is commonly called a Tyrant without title: the second a Tyrant by practise. Now it may well so come to passe, that he which possesseth himselfe of a kingdome by force, to governe justly, and he on whom it descends by a lawfull title, to rule unjustly. But for so much as a kingdom is rather a right than an inheritance, and an office than a possession; he seems rather worthy the name of a Tyrant, which unworthily acquits himselfe of his charge, than he which entered into his place by a wrong door. In the same sence is the Pope called an intruder which entered by indirect means into the Papacy: and he an abuser which governs ill in it."*

P. 103 and 4 of the English Translation.

G.

"And to conclude this discourse in a word, piety commands that the Law and Church of God be maintain'd: Justice requires that Tyrants and Destroyers be compelled to reason: Charity challenges the right of relieving and restoring the oppressed. Those that make no account of these things doe as much as in them lies to drive pietie, justice, and charity out of this World, that they may never more be heard of."*

Mc Crie, in his Life of Andrew Melville, vol. i. p. 424, 8vo. 1819, says, this Work resembles Hottoman's Franco Gallia, and that Languet's Work is properly only an enlargement of Beza's suppressed Work, De Jure Magistratuum, and although more guarded, yet still far from evasive in the expression of liberal opinions.

The Court and Kitchen of Elizabeth, called Joan Cromwell, the Wife of the late Usurper, truly described and represented. 12mo. With her Portrait as a frontispiece. Lond. 1664.

Mason, 1798, 27. 12s. 6d.; Woodhouse, 1803, 77. 108.; G. Nassau, 1824, 47. 6s.

Underneath the frontispiece are the following lines :

From feigned glory and usurped Throne,
And all the greatness to me falsely shewn,
And from the arts of government set free;

See how Protectress and a Drudge agree.

Over the right shoulder of the portrait is represented a monkey, in allusion to a vulgar adage. Mr. Noble, in his Memoirs of the Cromwell Family, has caused a copy to be en

* P. 148 and Finis.

graved of the said head, but has at the same time apologized for inserting the monkey, and thereby tending to perpetuate the allusion.

The book itself, which is very scarce, is a violent satire.

Loyalty at that period was shewn in satire; to be loyal was to abuse all the opposite party guilty or innocent.*

Granger+ says of the subject of this satire, "Elizabeth, daughter of Sir James Bourchier, and wife of Oliver Cromwell, was a woman of an enlarged understanding, and an elevated spirit. She was an excellent housewife, and as capable of descending to the kitchen with propriety, as she was of acting in her exalted station with dignity. It has been asserted that she as deeply interested herself in steering the helm, as she had often done in turning the spit; and that she was as constant a spur to her husband in the career of his ambition, as she had been to her servants in their culinary employments: certain it is that she acted a much more prudent part as Protectress, than Henrietta did as Queen; and that she educated her children with as much ability, as she governed her family with address.".

Cromwell-The Perfect Politician, or a full View of the Life and Actions of Oliver Cromwell, with Portraits. 8vo. 1680. A copy, with two portraits of Cromwell, Desbrow, and Ireton, added, sold at Holles' sale, April, 1817, for 291.

The most copious and satisfactory account of the various Lives of the Protector Oliver, by the different authors who

* Noble's House of Cromwell, vol. i. p. 131.
Biographical Hist. of England, vol. iii. p. 13.

preceded, is given by Mr. Noble, in his Memoirs of the Protectoral House of Cromwell, vol. i. 8vo. Lond. 1787, pages 294 to 300.

The character of the Protector Oliver, after the ablest scrutiny of his Biographers, both favourable and adverse-both subsequent to and since the publication of Mr. Noble's minute. investigation-seems never to have been more correctly drawn than in Granger's short summary.

"This great man, whose genius was awakened by the distractions of his country, was looked upon as one of the people till he was upwards of forty years of age. He is an amazing instance of what ambition, heated by enthusiasm, restrained by judgment, disguised by hypocrisy, and aided by natural vigour of mind, can do. He was never oppress'd with the weight, or perplexed with the intricacy of affairs: but his deep penetration, indefatigable activity, and invincible resolution, seemed to render him a master of all events. He persuaded without eloquence; and exacted obedience, more from the terror of his name, than the rigour of his administration. He appeared as a powerful instrument in the hand of Providence, and dared to appeal to the decisions of heaven for the justice of his cause. He knew every man of abilities in the three kingdoms, and endeavoured to avail himself of their respective talents. He has always been regarded by foreigners, and of late years by the generality of his countrymen, as the greatest man this nation ever produced. It has been disputed which he deserved most, a halter or a crown;' and there is no less disparity betwixt the characters drawn of him, and the reports propagated by his enemies and his friends."

Mr. Noble sensibly enough remarks, that the cognizance of