This fire about the middle of the reign of Adoxus began to
break out. And whereas the predecessors of this King had divers
times been forced to summon councils resembling those of the
Teutons, to which the lords only that were barons by dominion and
tenure had hitherto repaired, Adoxus, seeing the effects of such
dominion, began first not to call such as were barons by writ
(for that was according to the practice of ancient times), but to
call such by writs as were otherwise no barons; by which means,
striving to avoid the consequence of the balance, in coming
unwillingly to set the government straight, he was the first that
set it awry. For the barons in his reign, and his successors,
having vindicated their ancient authority, restored the
Parliament with all the rights and privileges of the same, saving
that from thenceforth the kings had found out a way whereby to
help themselves against the mighty by creatures of their own, and
such as had no other support but by their favor.. By which means
this government, being indeed the masterpiece of modern prudence,
has been cried up to the skies, as the only invention whereby at
once to maintain the sovereignty of a prince and the liberty of
the people. Whereas, indeed, it has been no other than a
wrestling-match, wherein the nobility, as they have been
stronger, have thrown the King, or the King, if he has been
stronger, has thrown the nobility; or the King, where he has had
a nobility, and could bring them to his party has thrown the
people, as in France and Spain; or the people, where they have
had no nobility, or could get them to be of their party, have
thrown the King, as in Holland, and of later times in Oceana.

But they came not to this strength, but by such approaches
and degrees as remain to be further opened. For whereas the