BEFORE THE RESTORATION.

33

exceeded its powers, ought without delay to apply to Parlia- chap.

ment for an act of indemnity. But such were not the feelings--

of the Englishmen of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

They were little disposed to contend for a principle merely asa principle, or to cry out against an irregularity which was notalso felt to be a grievance. As long as the general spirit of theadministration was mild and popular, they were willing toallow some latitude to their sovereign. If, for ends generallyacknowledged to be good, he exerted a vigour beyond the law,they not only forgave, but applauded him, and, while theyenjoyed security and prosperity under his rule, were but tooready to believe that whoever had incurred his displeasurehad deserved it. But to this indulgence there was a limit: norwas that King wise who presumed far on the forbearance ofthe English people. They might sometimes allow him tooverstep the constitutional line; but they also claimed the pri-vilege of overstepping that line themselves, whenever his en-croachments were so serious as to excite alarm. If, not con-tent with occasionally oppressing individuals, he dared tooppress great masses, his subjects promptly appealed to thelaws, and, that appeal failing, appealed as promptly to the Godof battles.

They might indeed safely tolerate aKing in a few excesses;for they had in reserve a check which soon brought the fiercest ordinary

* ^ C beck on

and proudest King to reason, the check of physical force. It tyranny in

is difficult for an Englishman of the nineteenth century to din ages'image to himself the facility and rapidity with which, fourhundred years ago, this check was applied. The people havelong unlearned the use of arms. The art of war has beencarried to a perfection unknown to our forefathers, and theknowledge of that art is confined to a particular class. A hun-dred thousand troops, well disciplined and commanded, willkeep down millions of ploughmen and artisans. A few regi-ments of household troops are sufficient to overawe all the dis-MtxcuuUiy, History. I. 3