The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-04-08
IL THURS DAY, APRIL 8, 177s

the wo I'd of command, TO cut the throats of
any who ihall dare to murmur. This is ole
| OF the many dreadful as we'll as unconiiitu-
'ional evils introduced by monarchy. Charles
the fecond, notwithstanding all the parade
about bis peoples .feetion, dared not to truff
them, but placed his lolc reliance upon an
armys the fupPoTt Of which colt the nation
greater fun than 2oo,oool. per annum. In
ihort If companion be fairly made between
the two governments, republican and mon.
aEchial, lam clearly ofopinion, that unleis
under fuch an sxreLm King as the brsjsnf,
every man of fenfe and independency muR
give the preference to well contributed
REPUBLIC, for it might be eaGly fhewn
tia. by a long tit of Kings who have go-
verned this kingdom before the revolution,
we have gained no other advantage than a
vaf increafe oisdebt and taxes. Now, as /
before obferved, the cafe is o,herwife; we
live ia the reign of vpry pious prince, born
to do Us lsmt good, of which heaven knows
we Rand very much in need. Monarchy, in
this reign, and indeed lince the exalta,ion of
this family, is a national blsDT.g, and know
of few reigns before the revolution, in which
the throne was not filed by knaye, fool
or complication Of both.
nv am not peculiar in my notion of Kings
E6t monarchial governments beiides all the
s1ptienss who sdjsdged them tyraA,s beGdes
the Jewilh people whom God, in his wrath
splagued with vengeance BY giving them
King be6des thefe, moderns nnumerable
are on my fde; nay, an EngIlh parliament,
wearied with the bad condua of their King,
TENT him meGage letting him know the
power they had to depofe him, which i'm
piled refoluiion to exercIfe that power, un-
lefs he altered bis behaviour. The menage TO
which I aIlude was fent from the parliament
to Richard the iecond, il is upon record and
runs Is follows: i" We find, laid they, in an
s. ancient Ratute, and it hath been done in
I" fact, not long ago, that if the King,
{" through any evil council or fooliih con.
" tumacy, or out of fcorn, or fome angular
Z" petulant wil Of his own, or by any other
&C irregular means, GhslI ALLEVIATE himfeIf
/" from his people, and fhall refule TO
&C be governed and guided by the laws of
&C the realm, and the fatutes and laudable
ordinances thereof, together with the
whoIelome advice of the Lords and great
men Of his realm, but perfiRing head
" firong in his own hare-biained councils,
s. lhall petulantly profecuse bis own iingu-
" lar humour, that then il lhzll be lawful
s. for them, with the common anent and
I" content of the people Of the realm to DE-
POSE that fameKing from his regal throne
60 and TO fet up fome other of the royal blood
in his room.
I" H. Knighton. Coll. 1884,"
Thus then although Kings have bean
cure TO this and every other country where
they have gained footing; though they
have cut their way to thrones by blood
fhed and laughter; though fome Of them
have plundered US of our rights, delfroyed
our contribution, and undermined our liberties,
though they have offered to bride US with Cur
own money and like ungrateful paricides,
turned the fword with which we enruRed
them, for the administration of juilice, TO
our own throats. Though this hath been
the cafe, we are now happily btDSd with
prince Of difSrsst famp; bur ihoald in
future, any hare Drained, obiinate, petulant
King, refafe to make the law of the land the
rule Of bis conduit /; fhouid he turn a deaf
earto the complaints Of his people; fbould
he ALLEVIATE himfeIf from their affections
hould be be guided By evil councils, or Pc
tuIantly Profecuss bis own 6aGular bumour