of Edinburgh, Session 1880 - 81 . 
153 
republicanism in the polity of Knox, while the oppressions of 
Elizabeth in England were never forgotten. 
But subsequent events, and the progress of opinion, soon threw 
Rutherford’s simple and manly tenets into the shade. Five 
years afterwards came the trial and death of the king, an event 
which shook European society to its centre, and threw round the 
principle of absolute monarchy a tinge of romance and sentiment 
not yet extinct. True to the principles of monarchy, and by no 
means sympathising with the more advanced opinions of the 
Independent party, Scotland, on the king’s death, had proclaimed 
Charles II. But in England the Commonwealth arose on the 
ruins of the monarchy, and the absolutist and republican elements 
confronted each other in a war of words which rang throughout 
Europe. In the midst of the excitement and consternation which 
the proceedings of the English parliament had produced, two 
champions stepped into the lists who drew the eyes of all 
onlookers. One was a Frenchman of the name of Saumaise, or 
Salmasius, according to his Latinised patronymic; the other was 
John Milton, Cromwell’s secretary, and the author of the “ Paradise 
Lost.” 
Jean Saumaise was a professor at Leyden, and was attached to 
the court of Queen Christina of Sweden. He had the reputation 
of being the most learned man in Europe ; and notwithstanding the 
frantic personalities of the controversy which ensued, undoubtedly 
deserved his fame. He was originally a barrister, but ultimately 
pursued the avocation of a grammarian and schoolmaster. In 
1749 and 1750 he was in great repute, and Charles II., when a 
fugitive abroad, retained him to write a treatise in defence of the 
late king, and gave him a honorarium — I suppose a considerable 
sum in those days — of a hundred Jacobuses. 
This famous work was published in 1649, the year of the king’s 
death. It is entitled, “Defensio Regia pro Carolo Primo, ad 
Serenissimum Magnae Britanniae Regem Carolum Secundum, Filium 
natu majorem, Heredem et Successorem legitimum. Sumptibus 
Regiis.” Such is the title page. I quote the title page for a reason 
which will immediately appear. 
I have no intention of travelling through this bulky, but with 
us, at least, forgotten volume. The tenets which it advocates are 
