The Trew Law of a Free Monarchy

The True Lawe of Free Monarchies is a treatise by King James I of England and Scotland, written in 1598. It outlines his political philosophy, advocating for the divine right of kings. James argued that monarchs derive their authority directly from God and are therefore accountable only to God, not to their subjects or any earthly power like Parliament. He believed the king's power was absolute, akin to a father's authority over his family, and that kings were divinely appointed to rule. This work was a significant defense of royal absolutism, contrasting with the growing power of Parliament in England during his reign. James's theories laid groundwork for conflicts with Parliament that would later escalate under his son, Charles I.1234