Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos
A Defense of Liberty Against Tyrants

by Junius Brutus
attributed to Philippe Duplessis-Mornay

VINDICIAE, CONTRA TYRANNOS:

SIVE,

DE PRINCIPIS IN

Populum, Populique in Principem, legitima postestate

STEPHANO IVNIO

Bruto Celta, Autore.

• Question One: Whether subjects are bound to obey princes...

  • The Covenant between God and Kings

• Question Two: Whether it is lawful to resist a prince who infringes the law of God.

  • Whether private men may resist by arms.

  • Whether it be lawful to take arms for religion.

• Question Three: Whether it is lawful to resist a prince who oppresses or ruins a public state.

• Kings are made by the people.

• The whole body of the people is above the king.

• The assembly of the three estates.

• Whether prescription of time can take away the right of the people.

• Why kings are created.

• Kings receive laws from the people.

• If the prince may make new laws.

• Whether the prince have the power of life and death over his subjects.

• If the king may pardon those whom the law condemns.

• Subjects are the king's brethren, and not his slaves.

• Whether the goods of the people belong to the king.

• Whether the king be the proper owner of the kingdom.

• Whether the king be the usufructer of the kingdom.

• Question Four: Whether neighbor princes may, or are bound by law to aid the subjects of other princes.

The text is from a 17th century translation. We are in process of modernizing the language somewhat. Thanks to Kevin Gowen for work on revisions.

This book is available as a paperback from Still Waters Revival Books

A new, complete and much superior translation is available from Cambridge University Press, edited and translated by George Garnett. (1994). Because of copyright, we cannot make it available online.