Edward Forsett facts for kids
Edward Forset (1553–1630) was an English writer, a government official, and a politician. He was known for his political writings and for writing plays.
Edward Forset's Early Life and Career
Edward Forset was born in 1553. He was the fourth son of Richard Forsett, who was a lawyer and also a member of the English Parliament. Edward went to Christ's College, Cambridge and Trinity College, Cambridge for his education. He earned his first university degree (a Bachelor of Arts, or B.A.) in 1572. Later, he became a Fellow at Trinity College, which meant he was a senior member of the college, from 1574 to 1581.
Edward Forset worked for an important person named Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury. Forset also served as a justice of the peace, which meant he was a local official who helped keep law and order. In 1605, he was involved in legal work for the government during a time of important events. In 1606, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the town of Wells. This meant he was elected to represent Wells in the English Parliament.
Edward Forset's Writings
Edward Forset wrote several important works:
- Pedantius (1581): This was a play written in Latin, which was a common language for scholars at the time. It was a comedy that made fun of a person named Gabriel Harvey.
- A Comparative Discourse of the Bodies Natural and Politique (1606): In this book, Forset wrote about the traditional idea that a king had two "bodies." One was his normal human body (the body natural). The other was his special role as the leader of the country (the body politic). This idea helped explain why kings had so much power. Forset compared the king to the heart of the country, showing how important the king was. This book was an important source for later ideas about the divine right of kings, which said that a king's power came directly from God.
- A Defence of the Right of Kings (1624): This book was written to defend the power of kings. It argued against the idea that the Pope (the leader of the Catholic Church) had power over kings. Forset also supported the Oath of Allegiance, which was an oath people had to take to promise loyalty to the king. This book was part of a big debate at the time about who had more power: the king or the Pope.
