The Monarchomach Project

Revised: 26 April 2026

Introduction | Works by the Monarchomachs

Introduction

As with many other advocates of liberty (the Levellers” for example), they were given a derogatory name by their opponents. “Monarcho-machs” means “king fighters or opponents”, whereas in fact they were just trying to hold kings accountable to the people for their actions when they overstepped the bounds and threatend the “Salus populi” (the health or well-being of the people). In the absence of a written constitution, legal norms, or the “checks and balances” provided by other powerful bodies such as “Parlaments” (associations of lawyers and jursits), economic “corporations”, independent nobles,or an established church, a tyrannical “prince” might have to be restrained by force on the part of the “lesser magistrates”, not by the people acting on their own as these jurists hastened to add.

Works by the Monarchomachs in the Library

 

No. Author Title Date ePub
Boétie, Étienne de la (1530-1563)



See other works by this author		 Discours de la servitude volontaire (A Speech on Voluntary Servitude) (1553)

Étienne de la Boétie, Discours de la servitude volontaire (1553). Not published in his lifetime but many editions later.
  • I have many editions online which are listed here
  • the English translation of 1735: Stephen de la Boetie, Discourse of Voluntary Servitude. Wrote in French By Stephen de la Boetie. One of the King’s Councelors in the Court of the Parliament at Bordeaux, in the Reign of Charles IX of France. London: Printed for T. Smith, and sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster, 1735. In enhanced HTML and facs. PDF, and ePub versions.
  • a modern French edition by Bonnefon: Étienne de La Boétie, Discours de la servitude volontaire : suivie du Mémoire touchant l’édit de janvier 1562 [inédit] et d’une lettre de M. le conseiller de Montaigne. Introduction et notes de Paul Bonnefon. Conservateur de la Bibliothèque de L’Arsenal. Orné d’un portrait gravé sur bois par Ouvré (Paris : Bossard, 1922). In enhanced HTML and facs. PDF, and ePub versions.
  • See also the introduction by Murrary Rothbard to the 1975 Free Life Editions version. In enhanced HTML, facs. PDF, and ePub versions.
 1553, 1735, 1922

Ponet, John (c. 1514-1556)



See other works by this author		 Shorte Treatise of politike power (1556)

John Ponet, A Shorte Treatise of politike pouuer, and of the true Obedience which subiectes owe to kynges and other ciuile Gouernours, with an Exhortacion to all true naturall Englishe men, Compyled by D. I. P. B. R. VV. (Strasbourg: Printed by the heirs of W. Köpfel, 1556). 		1556

Goodman, Christopher (c. 1520-1603)



See other works by this author		 How superior powers oght to be obeyd (1558)

Christopher Goodman, How Svperior Powers oght to be obeyd of their subiects: and Wherin they may lawfully by Gods Worde be disobeyed and resisted. Wherin also is declared the cause of all this present miserie in England, and the onely way to remedy the same (Printed at Geneua by Iohn Crispin. 1558). 		1558

Bèze, Théodore de (1519-1605)



See other works by this author		 Droit des magistrats sur leurs subjets (1574)

Théodore de Bèze, Du droit des magistrats sur leurs subjets. Traitté très-nécessaire en ce temps pour advertir de leur devoir, tant les magistrats que les subjets. publié par ceux de Magdebourg l’an M.D.L. : et maintenant reveu et augmenté de plusieurs raisons et exemple (Genève: Jacob Stoer, 1578). 		1574

Hotman, Francis (1524-1590)



See other works by this author		 Franco-Gallia (1574)

Francis Hotoman, Franco-Gallia: Or, an Account of the Ancient Free State of France (1574).
  • 3rd Latin edition of 1576: Franc. Hotomani, Ivrisconsvlti, Francogallia. Editio tertia locupletior. (Ex officina Iohannis Bertulphi. MDLXXVI). In facs. PDF.
  • English translation of 1721: Francis Hotoman, Franco-Gallia: Or, an Account of the Ancient Free State of France, and most other Parts of Europe, before the Loss of their Liberties. Written Originally in Latin by the Famous Civilian Francis Hotoman, In the Year 1574. And Translated into English by the Author of the Account of Denmark. The Second Edition, with Additions, and a New Preface by the Translator. London: Printed for Edward Valentine, at the Queen’s Head against St. Dunstan’s Church, Fleetstreet, 1721. In enhanced HTML, facs. PDF, and ePub versions
 1574

Buchanan, George (1506-1582)



See other works by this author		 Jure regni apud Scotos (1574)

George Buchanan, De jure regni apud Scotos (On the Rights of the Government over the Scots) (1574).
  • Latin edition of 1579: George Buchanan, De iure regni apud Scotos, dialogus, authore Georgio Buchanano Scoto (Edinburgh : Printed by John Ross, Anno Do. 1579). In facs. PDF.
  • English translation of 1680: George Buchanan, De jure regni apud Scotos, or, A dialogue, concerning the due priviledge of government in the kingdom of Scotland, betwixt George Buchanan and Thomas Maitland by the said George Buchanan ; and translated out of the original Latine into English by Philalethes. (1680). In enhanced HTML, facs. PDF, and ePub versions.
 1574

Languet, Hubert (1518-1581)



See other works by this author		 Vindiciæ contra tyrannos (1579)

Junius Brutus (Hubert Languet), Vindiciæ contra tyrannos: a defence of liberty against tyrants (1579).
  • The Latin edition of 1579: Stephano Iunio (Bruot Celta), Auctore. Vindiciæ contra tyrannos: Sive de Principis in Populum, Populique in Principem legitima potestate. Edimburgi, Anno MDLXXX (1580). In facs. PDF.
  • An English translation of 1648: Junius Brutus (Hubert Languet), Vindiciæ contra tyrannos: a defence of liberty against tyrants. Or, of the lawfull power of the prince over the people, and of the people over the prince. (London: Matthew Simmons and Robert Ibbitson, 1648). In enhanced HTML, facs. PDF, and ePub versions
 1579

Mariana, Juan de (1536-1624)


See other works by this author		 Rege et Regis Institutione (1599)

Juan de Mariana, Ioannis Marianae Hispani, E Soc. Iesu, De Rege Et Regis Institutione Libri III. Ad Philippum III. Hispania Regem Catholicum. (Toleti: apud Petrum Rodericum typo. Regium. 1599). "On the King and the Education of the King". 		1599

[to come]