still does so; _viz._
That whatever related to the Well governing or Conservation of the
_Commonwealth_, ought to be debated and determin'd by the _great
Council_. And that if either the _King_ or the _People_ shou'd act any
thing _alone_, it shou'd be esteemed _invalid_, and as _nothing_, unless
it were first approved and established by the _Authority of that
Council_. And for fear this _Council_ shou'd be cumbred with the
Opinions of an _unskilful Multitude_, (whose Custom it is to distinguish
nothing justly) it was at first establish'd by a certain Law, what
_Sort_ of Persons, and what _Numbers_ either of the _Priests_ or of the
_People_ shou'd be called to this _Council_, which, after a _French_
Name, they commonly call _A Parliament_; which every King at the
Beginning of his Reign uses to hold, and as often afterward as he
pleases, or as _Occasion_ requires." Thus far _Polydore Virgil_.

But among all the Laws and Customs of this Kind, there is none so
remarkable as that of the _Spaniards_; who, when they _elect_ a King in
the _Common-Council_ of _Arragon_, (in order to keep up a perpetual
Remembrance of their Privileges) represent a Kind of Play, and introduce
a certain _Personage_, whom they call by the Name of _The Law of
Arragon_, [Footnote: _La justitia di Arragon._] whom (by a publick Decree)
they declare to be greater and more Powerful than their King; and
afterwards they harangue the King (who is elected upon certain Terms and
Conditions) in Words which (because of the remarkable Virtue and
Fortitude of that Nation in repressing the _unbridled Will_ of their
Prince,) we will here set down at length.--"Nos que valemos tanto come
vos, ii podemos mas que vos; vos elegimos Reii con estas ii estas
Conditiones; intra vos ii nos un que manda mas que vos: That is, We, who
are of as great Value as you, and can do more than you, do elect you to
be our King, upon such and such Conditions: Between you and us there is
_one_ of _greater Authority_ than you."

Seeing then that the Case is so, and that _this has always been a
constant and universal Law of all Nations, that are governed by a
Kingly, and not by a Tyrannical Power_: 'Tis very plain, that this most
valuable Liberty of holding a _Common-Council_ of the Nation, is not
only a Part of the _People's Right_; but that all Kings, who by Evil
Arts do oppress or take away this _Sacred Right_, ought to be esteemed
_Violators of the Laws of Nations_; and being no better