THE DECLINE AND FALL

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chap, arms, and it was constantly to be dreaded, lest

_an irregular multitude, inflamed with faction

and strong liquors, should use those arms toenforce, as well as to declare, their furiousresolves. We may recollect how often the dietsof Poland have been polluted with blood, andthe more numerous party has been compelled toyield to the more violent and seditious. 2Authority A general of the tribe was elected on occasions

primL danger; and, if the danger was pressing andand magis- extensive, several tribes concurred in the choicees ‘ of the same general. The bravest warrior wasnamed to lead his countrymen into the field,by his example rather than by his commands.But this power, however limited, was still invi-dious. It expired with the war, and in time ofpeace the German tribes acknowledged not anysupreme chief.* Princes were, however, ap-pointed in the general assembly, to administerjustice, or rather to compose differences, b intheir respective districts. In the choice of thesemagistrates, as much regard was shewn to birthas to merit.* To each was assigned, by thepublic, a guard, and a council of an hundredpersons ; and the first of the princes appears tohave enjoyed a pre-eminence of rank and honour

1 Even in our ancient parliament, the barons often carried a ques-tion, not so much by the number of votes, as by that of their armedfollowers.

* Caesar de Bell. Gal. vi, 23.

* Minuunt controversias, is a very happy expression of Caesar's.

* Rcges ex nobilitate, duces ex virtute sumunt. Tacit. Germ. 7.