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De Jure Regni apud Scotos

George Buchanan 1843
Buchanan's influential political treatise argues for limited monarchy and the right of subjects to resist tyrannical rule, establishing foundational concepts for Scottish constitutional thought and early modern political theory.

Translated from the Latin (1579) by Robert Macfarlan (1799). Printed with Rutherford's Lex Rex, Edinburgh 1843 (Internet Archive scan, OCR); separated from doc 1134 on 2026-10-19 when Lex Rex was replaced with the 1644 first edition from EEBO-TCP.

From the text

The opening of the work as printed, in the spelling of this edition.

A DIALOGUE CONCERNING THE RIGHTS OF THE CROWN IN SCOTLAND. BY GEORGE BUCHANAN. TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY ROBERT MACFARLAN, A.M. I GEORGE BUCHANAN WISHES MUCH GOOD HEALTH TO JAMES THE SIXTH, KING OF THE SCOTS. Several years ago, when public affairs were in the greatest confusion, I wrote on the prerogative of the Scottish crown a Dialogue, in which I endeavoured to explain from their very cradle, if I may use the expression, the mutual rights of our kings and of their subjects. Though that book seemed to have been serviceable at the time, by shutting the mouths of certain persons, who with importunate clamours rather inveighed against the existing state of things than weighed what was right in the scale of reason, yet influenced by the return of a little tranquillity, I also laid down my arms with pleasure on the altar of public concord.

ting state of things than weigh what was right in the scale of reason, yet influenced by the return of a little tranquillity, I also laid down my arms with pleasure on the altar of public concord. But having lately by accident lighted on this composition among my papers, and thought it interspersed with many remarks necessary to a person raised like you to an eminence so interesting to mankind, I have judged its publication expedient, that it might both testify my zeal for your service and also remind you of your duty to the community. Many circumstances also assure me that my endeavour on this occasion will not be fruitless; especially your age not yet corrupted by wrong opinions; and a genius above your years spontaneously urging you to everything noble; and an easy flexibility in obeying not only your preceptors, but also all wise monitors; and that judgment and sagacity in disquisition, which prevent you from allowing great weight to authority, when it is not supported by solid arguments.

Only your preceptors, but also all wise monitors; and that judgment and sagacity in disquisition, which prevent you from allowing great weight to authority, when it is not supported by solid arguments. I see also that, by a kind of natural instinct, you so abhor flattery, the vile nurse of tyranny and the very pest of legal sovereignty, that you hate the solecisms and barbarisms of courtiers no less than they are relished and affected by those who in their own eyes appear connoisseurs in every species of elegance, and, as if they were delicate seasonings to conversation, interlard every sentence with majesties, lordships, excellencies, and, if it be possible, with other expressions of a still more offensive savour. Though you be at present secured from this error, both by the goodness of your natural disposition and by the instructions of your governors, yet I cannot help being somewhat afraid that the blandishments of that pander of vice, evil communication, should give a wrong bias to a mind that is yet so pliant and tender; especially as I am not ignorant with what facility our other senses yield to seduction.

That pander of vice, evil communication, should give a wrong bias to a mind that is yet so pliant and tender ; especially as I am not ignorant with what facility our other senses yield to seduction. This treatise, therefore, I have sent you not only as a monitor, but also as an importunate and even impudent dun ; that in this critical turn of life it may guide you beyond the rocks of flattery, and not only give you advice, but also keep you in the road which you so happily entered, and, in case of any deviation, replace you in the line of your duty. If you obey its directions, you will insure to yourself and to your family in the present life temporal tranquillity, and in the future, eternal glory. Farewell. At Stirling on the 10th of January in the year of the Christian Era 1679. ) DE JURE REGNI APUD SCOTOS; A DIALOGUE THE RIGHTS OF THE CROWN IN SCOTLAND.

LEX REX; E JURE REGNI APUD SCOTOS: A DIALOGUE OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CROWN IN SCOTLAND.

When, upon Thomas Maitland's return lately from the continent, I had questioned him minutely about the state of affairs in France, I began, out of my attachment to his person, to recommend to him a perseverance in that career to glory which he had so happily begun, and to inspire him with the best hopes of the progress and result of his studies. For, if I, with moderate talents, with hardly any fortune, and in an illiterate age, had still maintained such a conflict with the iniquity of the times, as to be thought to have achieved something, assuredly those who were born in happier days, and possess time, wealth and genius in abundance, ought not to be deterred from so honourable a purpose by its labour; and, when aided by so many resources, cannot reasonably yield to despair. They should therefore proceed to use every effort in communicating splendour to literature, and in recommending themselves and their countrymen to the notice of posterity.

I reasonably yield to despair. They should therefore proceed to use every effort in communicating splendour to literature, and in recommending themselves and their countrymen to the notice of posterity. If they continued for a little their joint exertions, the consequence would be, that they would eradicate from the minds of men an opinion, that in the frigid regions of the globe the learning, politeness and ingenuity of the inhabitants diminish in proportion to their distance from the sun; for, though nature may have favoured the Africans, Egyptians, and most other nations with quicker conceptions and greater keenness of intellect, yet she has been so unkind to no tribe as to have entirely precluded it from all access to virtue and glory. …

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Contents

  1. I see also that, by a kind of natural instinct, you so
  2. A DIALOGUE
  3. ^But the more distant foreign nations
  4. When the exercise of the supreme executive power is become the ridicule of the
  5. Do not you then see how easily the
  6. The figure of both, which I have in
  7. Why not? since the lesson inculcated by the greatest sages is, that men
  8. And sit to be the lord of all the rest,"
  9. I who shall perform the part of piiysician to
  10. For both are injured by a certain
  11. Undoubtedly; for the people have
  12. Bj no means; for I recoUect that
  13. M.^In whatever regards the creation of
  14. Hence, we must still adhere steadily to what
  15. ^Mark, I beseech you, the egregious
  16. His sheep, his shepherds, and his gods were laid ;"
  17. BoannerB, but into the heart of Greece, and
  18. B.— The written precepts of their arts
  19. Not much, if he should not be some
  20. What do you find here most ossensive?
  21. Of the truth of that observation I
  22. And thvart each liberal purpose of his soul f
  23. Laws, theresore, become an obiect of desire,
  24. If any question of this kind should
  25. If I am guilty of any such thing, it
  26. Where, I beseech you, are these
  27. This is the first time that I e^er
  28. What enormity of this kind did he
  29. We seemed to be pretty well agreed
  30. B.— You dread, as you allese, the charge
  31. In one law, then, jou see what various kinds
  32. Still ape their betters, eren in clothes and face."
  33. All is ezplor'd by same's qnick prying eyes.*'
  34. But that I may, in some measure, delineate
  35. Have I not rather brought nim forward
  36. For, as the blessings conferred by good
  37. That is likewise my opinion. For
  38. Tarquins, and to the name of dictator .after
  39. First, then, by what name shall he,
  40. M.— What, then, shall we say of those
  41. Can he, then, be called a father, who
  42. I should c<Misider them as enemies
  43. You have not forgotten, I imagine,
  44. Hence arose a certain emperor's threats,
  45. None bat the wretches who in vice and lies delight."
  46. ^Nor is it a less settled point, that
  47. But what will follow, if the people,
  48. You will certainly allow it to be an
  49. They were not, perehaps. But let
  50. But I fear that kings will not be
  51. First of all, it was our opinion that a
  52. My judgment is more decisively swayed by
  53. God to preside over them ; and he had for
  54. B.— In comparing the writings of all Uie
  55. Besides, if you attend to the cause which
  56. D£ JURE REGNI APUD SCOTOS ; OR,
  57. Yes. For what do you allege to
  58. That hint I sh^ certainly take into
  59. And, without mentioning others, the Pope
  60. DE JT7BE BBGNI APUD SCOTOS ; OR,
  61. Lord, though light, releases us from the ties
  62. Christians under an interdict to abstain from
  63. Everything, that properly relates to us, might
  64. These arguments, perhaps, will,
  65. ^What do you say of him, who, at his
  66. On this assertion you would insist
  67. Because the people is the parent, or
  68. ^Here, I think, I nearly see how far
  69. All the remaining dregs- of the sink, those
  70. Bv no means. But he will call not
  71. Now mark the force and tendency
  72. For he that condemns or acquits in judicial
  73. By his 0¥m voice it should seem, as
  74. Lucan seems to me to have spoken with no
  75. ^What do you call a war undertaken
  76. But when war is, for a just cause,
  77. The truth of this observation may be evinced
  78. DE JURE RE6NI APUD 8C0T0S ; OR,
  79. That opinion has certainly great
  80. Theodosius was excluded by Ambrose from
  81. Muscovy is attached to a despotism. We

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