were obliged to meet at a certain Time every Year. And this
very same Institution we find to have been that of many other Nations.
First in our Ancient _Gallia_, where the Administration of Publick
Affairs was intrusted with the _Common Councel of the chosen Men in the
whole Nation_ as we have above demonstrated. But because we are now
speaking of a Kingdom, I shall give Instances of them. 'Tis man felt,
that in old Times the Council of the _Amphictions_ was instituted in
_Greece_ (as _Suidai_ and others testify) by King _Amphyction_, Son of
_Deucalion_; and therein it was ordained, that at a certain appointed
Time every Year, _Representatives_ chosen out of the Twelve
Commonwealths of _Greece_ shou'd meet at _Thermopylae_, and deliberate
concerning all the weighty Affairs of the Kingdom and Commonwealth: For
which Reason, _Cicero_ calls this the _Common Council of Graecia_,
_Pliny_ calls it the _Publick Council_.

We find the like Wisdom in the Constitution of the _German Empire_,
wherein the _Emperor_ represents the _Monarchical_ State, the _Princes_
represent the _Aristocratical_, and the _Deputies of the Cities_ the
_Democratical_; neither can any Matter of Moment appertaining to the
whole _German Republick_ be firm and ratified, but what is first agreed
upon in that _great Convention of the Three Estates_. To this End was
framed that ancient and famous Law of the _Lacedemonians_, which joyned
the _Ephori_ to their _Kings_; "Who, as Plato writes, were designed to
be like Bridles to the Kings, and the Kings were obliged to govern the
Commonwealth by their Advice and Authority." _Pliny_, lib. 6. cap. 22.
makes mention of the like Practice in the Island of _Taprobana_, where
the King had thirty Advisers appointed by the People; by whose Counsel
he was to be guided in the Government of the Commonwealth; "For fear
(says he) lest the King if he had an unlimited Power should esteem his
Subjects no otherwise than as his _Slaves_ or his _Cattel_."

Furthermore, we find the very same Form of Administration of the Kingdom
of England, in _Polydore Virgil_'s History of _England_, lib. 11. where
he has this Passage in the Life of _Henry_ the First.--"Before this Time
the Kings used to summon a publick Convention of the People in order to
consult with them, but seldom: So that we may in some Manner say, that
the Institution derived its Original from _Henry_: which took such deep
Root, that it has always continued ever since, and