The

were infamous in a slave: but that proved to small security, when the worst of slaves cam govern them. Nevertheless it is probable they ceeded cautiously: the first alterations were, haps innocent, or it may be, for the best. 1 when they had once found out the way, they stud at nothing that seemed for their purpose. This s like the plague of leprosy, that could not be cured; the house infected was to be demolished; the pi sonous plant must be torn up by the root; the trust that had been broken, was to be abolished; they who had perverted or frustated the law, were no longer to be suffered to make the least alteration; and that brave prince readily joined with his people, to extinguish the mischievous abuse that had been introduced by some of his worthless predecessors. worst and basest of them had continual disputes with their parliaments, and thought that whatever they could detract from the liberty of the nation, would serve to advance their prerogative. They delighted in frauds, and would have no other ministers, but such as would be the instruments of them. Since their words could not be made to pass for a law, they endeavoured to impose their own, or their servants' inventions, as acts of parliaments, upon the deluded people, and to make the best of them subservient to their corrupt ends, and pernicious counsels. This, if it had continued, might have overthrown all our rights, and deprived us of all that men call good in the world. But the providence of God furnished our ancestors with an opportunity of providing against so great, so universal a mischief.

They had a wise and valiant prince, who scorned to encroach upon the liberties of his subjects, and abhorred the detestable arts by which they had been impaired. He esteemed their courage, strength, and love, to be his greatest advantage, riches, and glory. He aimed at the conquest of France, which was only to be effected by the bravery of a free and well satisfied people. Slaves will always be cowards, and enemies to their master: by bringing his subjects into that condition, he must infallibly have ruined his own designs, and made them unfit to fight, either for him or themselves. He desired, not only that his people should be free, during his time, but that his successors should not be able, by oblique and fraudulent ways, to enslave them. If it be a reproach to us, that women have reigned over us, it is much more to the princes that succeeded our Henry, that none of them did so much imitate him in his government, as Queen Elizabeth. She did not go about to mangle acts of parliament, and to pick out what might serve her turn; but frequently passed forty or fifty in a session, without reading one of them. She knew that she did not reign for herself, but for her people; that what was good for them, was either good for her, or that her good ought not to come into competition with that of the whole nation; and that she was, by oath, obliged to pass such laws, as were presented. to her on their behalf. This not only shews, that there is no such thing as a legislative power placed in kings by the laws of God and nature, but that nations have it in themselves. It was not by law, nor by right, but by usurpation, fraud, and perjury,

that some kings took upon them to pick what they pleased out of the public acts. Henry the Fifth did not grant us the right of making our own laws; but, with his approbation, we abolished a detestable abuse, that might have proved fatal to us. And, if we examine our history, we shall find, that every good and generous prince has sought to establish our liberties, as much as the most base and wicked to infringe them.

THE LETTERS REFER TO THE VOLUME, AND THE FIGURES TO
THE PAGE.