things they were never fond of before, and to make some Settlement of
the Peoples Claims which they always had oppos'd, and which they
would since have been very glad to have repeal'd.

So great an Ascendant had the Personal Spleen of this Party over
their other Principles, that they were content to let the Liberties
of the People be declar'd in their highest Claims, rather than not
obtain this one Article, which they knew would so exceedingly mortify
their Prince, and strengthen the Nations Enemies. They freely join'd
in Acts of Succession, Abjuration, Declaration of the Power and
Claims of the People, and the Superiority of their Right to the
Princes Prerogative, and abundance of such things, which they could
never be otherwise brought to.

'Tis true these were great things, but 'twas thought all this might
have been obtain'd in Conjunction with their Prince, rather than by
putting Affronts and Mortifications upon the Man that had next to the
Influence of Heaven been the only Agent of restoring them to a Power
and Capacity of enjoying, as well as procuring, such things as
National Priviledges.

'Twas vigorosly alledg'd that Standing Armies in times of Peace, were
inconsistent with the Publick Safety, the Laws and Constitutions of
all the Nations in the Moon.

But these Allegations were strenuously answer'd, that it was true
without the consent of the great National Council, it was so, but
that being obtain'd, it was not illegal, and publick Necessities
might make that consent, not only legal, but convenient.