CHARLES I.

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are resolved, that the fabric, which they havegenerously undertaken to rear for the protectionof liberty , sliall not be left to future ages insecureand imperfect. At the time when the petition ofright, that requisite vindication of a violated con-stitution, was extorted from the unwilling prince;-ivho but imagined , that liberty was at last secured,and that the laws would thenceforth maintainthemselves in opposition to arbitrary authority ?

' But what was the event ? A right was indeedacquired to the people, or rather their ancientright was mcire exactly defined : But as the powerOf invading it still remained in the prince, nosooner did an opportunity offer, than he totallydisregarded all laws and preceding engagements,and made his will and pleasure the sole rule ofgovernment. Those lofty ideas of monarchicalauthority, which he has derived from his earlyeducation, which are united in his mind \\nth theirresistible illusions of self-love, \Hiich are cor-roborated by his mistaken principles of religion,it is in vain to hope , that, in his more ad-vanced age, he will sincerely renounce, from anyfhbsequfent Reflection or experience. Such con-versions , if ever they happen , are extremely rare ;but to expect , that they will be derived fromnecessity, from the jealousy and resentment ofantagonists , from blame, from reproach, fromopposition, must be the result of the fondest andmost blind credulity. These Violences , howevernecessary, are sure to irritate a prince against:limitations so cruelly imposed upon him j and

it a Pi

IV.

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