To
which if we add, that monarchy being simple and most obvious to men,
whom neither experience had instructed in forms of government, nor the
ambition or insolence of empire had taught to beware of the
encroachments of prerogative or the inconveniencies of absolute power,
which monarchy, in succession, was apt to lay claim to and bring
upon them; it was not at all strange that they should not much trouble
themselves to think of methods of restraining any exorbitances of
those to whom they had given the authority over them, and of balancing
the power of government by placing several parts of it in different
hands. They had neither felt the oppression of tyrannical dominion,
nor did the fashion of the age, nor their possessions or way of
living, which afforded little matter for covetousness or ambition,
give them any reason to apprehend or provide against it; and,
therefore, it is no wonder they put themselves into such a frame of
government as was not only, as I said, most obvious and simple, but
also best suited to their present state and condition, which stood
more in need of defence against foreign invasions and injuries than of
multiplicity of laws where there was but very little property, and
wanted not variety of rulers and abundance of officers to direct and
look after their execution where there were but few trespassers and
few offenders.
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