The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates - Softcover

Milton, John; Allison, William Talbot

Softcover

ISBN 10: 153742582X ISBN 13: 9781537425825

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016

Synopsis

The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates - John Milton - Edited with Introduction and Notes by William Talbot Allison.. In February 1649, less than two weeks after Parliament executed Charles I, Milton published The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates to justify the action and to defend the government against the Presbyterians who initially voted for the regicide and later condemned it, and whose practices he believed were a “growing threat to freedom.” Milton aimed to expose false reasoning from the opposition, citing scripture throughout the Tenure of Kings and Magistrates to counter biblical reference that would cast holy and public disapproval on Parliament’s actions. “Milton’s case was not that Charles I was guilty as charged, but that Parliament had the right to prosecute him.” Milton later remarked that the piece was “written to reconcile men's minds, rather than to determine anything about Charles”. The work also rebuts theories posited by Robert Filmer and Thomas Hobbes. Specifically, Milton took issue with the notions that a separation of powers leads to anarchy and that the king's power was naturally absolute. The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates Proving, That it is Lawfull, and hath been held so through all Ages, for any who have the Power, to call to account a Tyrant, or wicked KING, and after due conviction, to depose and put him to death; if the ordinary MAGISTRATE have neglected or deny’d to doe it. And that they, who of late, so much blame Deposing, are the Men that did it themselves.

About this title

About the Author:

John Milton

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 153742582X
• ISBN 13: 9781537425825
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 124
• Editor: Allison William Talbot