to the Dictates of Nature, or the Law and Custom of
Nations: And then that only is Law (they say) which shall
be declared by the prevailing party.
They affirm likewise, that if the Authority be divided betwixt
a King and his people in Parliament, so that the King
hath one part, the people another; the King offering, to in-croach
upon that part which is none of his, the people may
lawfully oppose him by, force of Arms, because he exceeds
the Bounds of his Authority; And not only so, but he may
lose his own part like wise by the Lane of Arms From whence
it is plainly to be inferred; That if a King may thus by Right
of warn lose his share and Interest Authority and Power,
being conquered; than on the other side, by Right of warr,
the whole must needs reside in that part of the people which
prevailed over him, there being no middle power to make any
Claim: And so it must be a clear Consequence, that the
whole Right of Kingly Authority in England, being by military
decision resolved into the prevailing party, what Government
soever it pleases them to erect, is as valid de Jure, as if
it had the content of the whole Body of the people.
Thursday, September. 26.
BY Letter from Edenburgh, of the 18th Instant it is certified,
That the Army was some dayes before advanced
to Sterlin, with a resolution to attempt it, if at present they
found it fesible; and to this end They took a weeks provision
along with Them, it being the Master-piece of the Scotish
policie to defeat their enemies sooner by famine than by
the sword, driving all away still before Them, whereby
they make the Country a verier wildernes, so that the Souldier
hath little to subsist upon besides his own provender,
which hee carries, in his knap-sack; and therefore about seven
dayes hence wee expect their Return back hither.
In the mean time, wee are busie still in making up the Fortifications
at Leith, which in some competent, time may bee
finished. It is the chiefe Port of Scotland; it lies most commodiously
to receive our Shipping, and hath a great, Influence
over this part of the Country, but especially upon this