Even absolutism’s own champion concedes a king may forfeit his crown

Evidence

In these cases Barclay, the great champion of absolute monarchy, is forced to allow, that a king may be resisted, and ceases to be a king. That is, in short, not to multiply cases, in whatsoever he has no authority, there he is no king, and may be resisted: for wheresoever the authority ceases, the king ceases too, and becomes like other men who have no authority. And these two cases he instances in, differ little from those above mentioned, to be destructive to governments, only that he has omitted the principle from which his doctrine flows: and that is, the breach of trust, in not preserving the form of government agreed on, and in not intending the end of government itself, which is the public good and preservation of property. — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 302

Categorization

• XREF: Locke turns the absolutist Barclay into a witness for popular resistance—a rhetorical move like Hamilton’s use of opponent testimony for ratification. — connects to: Medieval rulers could be deposed for being useless in office — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 1219; A ruler who makes law objectively subordinates himself to that law.; The root principle of law above the King has enduring significance. — Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking…, 399 (+2 more)

Related

• A ruler who acts by private will forfeits all right to obedience (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• The root principle of law above the King has enduring significance. #corroborates (0.80) — Winston Churchill, A History of the English-Speaking…, 399
• Medieval rulers could be deposed for being useless in office #corroborates (0.75) — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 1219
• A ruler who makes law objectively subordinates himself to that law. #corroborates (0.72)