was decreed, that for the re-establishing the State
of the Commonwealth, and the easing the People of the Burthen of their
Taxes, and to compensate their Losses, 36 Men shou'd be elected, who
shou'd have _Regal Authority_; viz. 12 out of the _Clergy_, 12 out of
the _Knights_, and 12 _skilful_ in the Laws of the Land; to whom Power
should be given of inspecting and enquiring into the Grievances and
Mischiefs under which the Kingdom laboured, and to apply Remedies to
all: And the King gave his Promise _in Verbo Regis_, That whatsoever
those 36 Men shou'd appoint to be done, he wou'd ratify and confirm."

_Oliver de la Marck_, a _Flemming_, in his History, _cap. 35._ writes
the same Thing, and mentions the same Number of 36 _Guardians_ or
_Curators_ of the _Commonwealth_. And he farther adds; "That because the
King did not stand to his Promise, but _violated_ his _Faith_, and the
_Solemn Oath_ which he had publickly sworn, a most _cruel War_ was
kindled in _Francogallia_, which set it all in a Flame, and continued
near 13 Years. Thus that King's Perjury was punish'd both by his own
Infamy, and the People's Destruction."

Upon the whole Matter 'tis plain, that 'tis not yet a hundred Years
compleat, since the Liberties of _Francogallia_, and the _Authority_ of
its _annual General Council_, flourished in full Vigor, and exerted
themselves against a King of ripe Years, and great Understanding; for he
was above 40 Years old, and of such great Parts, as none of our Kings
have equall'd him. So that we may easily perceive that our
_Commonwealth_, which at first was _founded_ and _establish'd_ upon the
_Principles of Liberty_, maintained it self in the same free and sacred
State, (even by Force and Arms) against all the Power of Tyrants for
more then Eleven Hundred Years.

I cannot omit the great Commendation which that most noble Gentleman and
accomplish'd Historian, _Philip de Comines_, gives of this Transaction;
who in his 5th Book and 18th Chapter, gives this Account of it, which we
will transcribe Word for Word.--"But to proceed: Is there in all the
World any King or Prince, who has a Right of imposing a Tax upon his
People (tho' it were but to the Value of one Farthing) without their own
Will and Consent? Unless he will make use of Violence, and a Tyrannical
Power, he cannot. But some will say there may happen an Exigence, when
the Great _Council of the People_ cannot be waited for, the Business
admitting of no Delay. I am