Philip Hunton ( 1600–1682) was an English
clergyman
Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...
and political writer, known for his May 1643 anti-absolutist work ''A Treatise of Monarchy''. It became a banned book under the Restoration.
A Treatise of Monarchie (1643)
At the time of publication, it provoked a much better-known rebuttal, the 1648 ''Anarchy of a Limited and Mixed Monarchy'' by
Robert Filmer
Sir Robert Filmer (c. 1588 – 26 May 1653) was an English political theorist who defended the divine right of kings. His best known work, '' Patriarcha'', published posthumously in 1680, was the target of numerous Whig attempts at rebuttal ...
. It was part of a pamphleteering exchange initiated by the royal chaplain
Henry Ferne
Henry Ferne (1602 – 16 March 1662) was an English bishop.
Life
Ferne was born in York. He was educated at Uppingham School to which he was sent by Sir Thomas Nevill of Holt who had married his mother. He was admitted to St Mary Hall, Ox ...
.
Hunton was among the few who attempted to chart a 'middle course' between the royalists and the Long parliamentarians. In his ''Treatise'', he cites both
Charles Herle
Charles Herle (1598–1659) was a prominent English theologian, of moderate Presbyterian views.
He graduated from Exeter College, Oxford with an M.A. in 1618. He was vicar of Winwick, Lancashire, from 1626.
In a controversy with Henry Ferne, a ...
(a Parliamentary supporter) and royalist Henry Ferne (against whom much of the ''Treatise'' was directed). This was though only to contradict both, and chart a new position. He outlined a theory of active/passive obedience, and active/passive resistance, arguing that, unless the defense of the ''whole'' community is at stake, it is unlawful to actively/violently resist the most tyrannous and unlawful actions of the ruler. According to
William Haller, Hunton
Christopher Hill, however, calls him a "representative thinker".
His is among the few major works of the period to provide a holistic theory of the balance of powers. While other writers would make the case for Parliament in the present circumstances, and as to why Parliament should be considered supreme (indeed, Herle admits, for example, that the realm was arbitrarily subject to Parliament), Hunton argued that no power in a 'mixed government' could be supreme, and all the powers were coordinate. Indeed, it was best to be 'undecided' about the relative strength of the powers, rather than to try and enforce the supremacy of one, as that would alter the structure of government.
Later attitudes
Unlike some other Parliamentary supporters, in his reprisals, Hunton remained consistent throughout, as one can see in his ''Vindication of the Treatise of Monarchy'' of March 1644. Unlike
Henry Parker, who arguably moderated some of his claims regarding popular sovereignty in ''Jus Populi'' (in the face of
John Maxwell's January treatise and Ferne's work), and
William Bridge
William Bridge (c. 1600 – 1670) was a leading English Independent minister, preacher, and religious and political writer.
Life
A native of Cambridgeshire, the Rev. William Bridge was probably born in or around the year 1600. He studied at Em ...
(whose work takes on a distinctively more radical note), Hunton essentially repeats all his points unchanged.
Later life
In favour under the Commonwealth, he was made provost of
New College,
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three K ...
's foundation in
Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
. His fortunes declined under
Charles II. In 1683 his books were included in a book-burning by the
University of Oxford
, mottoeng = The Lord is my light
, established =
, endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019)
, budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20)
, chancellor ...
, along with those of
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter (12 November 1615 – 8 December 1691) was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymnodist, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he ...
,
John Harrington,
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes ( ; 5/15 April 1588 – 4/14 December 1679) was an English philosopher, considered to be one of the founders of modern political philosophy. Hobbes is best known for his 1651 book ''Leviathan'', in which he expounds an influ ...
and
John Milton.
[Hill, ''The Experience of Defeat'' (1984), p. 198.]
Primary sources
*''Treatise of Monarchy'' (1643)
*''Vindication of Treatise'' (1644)
*''Sacro-Sancta Regum Majestas'' (Maxwell)
*''Jus Populi'', ''Observations'' (Parker 1644 and 1642 respectively)
*''Wounded Conscience'' (William Bridge)
*''Fuller Reply to Dr. Ferne'' (Charles Herle)
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunton, Philip
1600s births
1682 deaths
English political writers
Year of birth uncertain