Persons.

And because some of our _Princes_ in this last Age, did their utmost
Endeavour to destroy this Union and Harmony of the _Three Estates_, and
to be _arbitrary_ or _independent, they_ ought to be looked upon as the
_Aggressors_ upon our Constitution.

This drove the other _Two Estates_ (for the Sake of the publick
Preservation) into the fatal Necessity of providing for themselves; and
when once the Wheel was set a running, 'twas not in the Power of Man to
stop it just where it ought to have stopp'd. This is so ordinary in all
violent Motions, whether mechanick or political, that no body can wonder
at it.

But no wise Men approved of the ill Effects of those violent Motions
either way, cou'd they have help'd them. Yet it must be owned they have
(as often as used, thro an extraordinary Piece of good Fortune) brought
us back to our old Constitution again, which else had been lost; for
there are numberless Instances in History of a Downfal from a State of
_Liberty_ to a _Tyranny_, but very few of a Recovery of _Liberty_ from
_Tyranny_, if this last have had any Length of Time to fix it self and
take Root.

Let all such, who either thro Interest or Ignorance are Adorers of
_absolute Monarchs_, say what they please; an _English Whig_ can never
be so unjust to his Country, and to right Reason, as not to be of
Opinion, that in all Civil Commotions, which Side soever is the
_wrongful Aggressor_, is accountable for all the evil Consequences: And
thro the Course of his reading (tho my Lord _Clarendon's_ Books be
thrown into the Heap) he finds it very difficult to observe, that ever