related to the Well governing or Conservation of the Commonwealth, ought to be debated and determin’d by the great Council.  And that if either the King or the People shou’d act any thing alone, it shou’d be esteemed invalid, and as nothing, unless it were first approved and established by the Authority of that Council.  And for fear this Council shou’d be cumbred with the Opinions of an unskilful Multitude, (whose Custom it is to distinguish nothing justly) it was at first establish’d by a certain Law, what Sort of Persons, and what Numbers either of the Priests or of the People shou’d be called to this Council, which, after a French Name, they commonly call A Parliament; which every King at the Beginning of his Reign uses to hold, and as often afterward as he pleases, or as Occasion requires.”  Thus far Polydore Virgil.

But among all the Laws and Customs of this Kind, there is none so remarkable as that of the Spaniards; who, when they elect a King in the Common-Council of Arragon, (in order to keep up a perpetual Remembrance of their Privileges) represent a Kind of Play, and introduce a certain Personage, whom they call by the Name of The Law of Arragon, [Footnote:  La justitia di Arragon.] whom (by a publick Decree) they declare to be greater and more Powerful than their King; and afterwards they harangue the King (who is elected upon certain Terms and Conditions) in Words which (because of the remarkable Virtue and Fortitude of that Nation in repressing the unbridled Will of their Prince,) we will here set down at length.—­“Nos que valemos tanto come vos, ii podemos mas que vos; vos elegimos Reii con estas ii estas Conditiones; intra vos ii nos un que manda mas que vos:  That is, We, who are of as great Value as you, and can do more than you, do elect you to be our King, upon such and such Conditions:  Between you and us there is one of greater Authority than you.”

Seeing then that the Case is so, and that this has always been a constant and universal Law of all Nations, that are governed by a Kingly, and not by a Tyrannical Power:  ’Tis very plain, that this most valuable Liberty of holding a Common-Council of the Nation, is not only a Part of the People’s Right; but that all Kings, who by Evil Arts do oppress or take away this Sacred Right, ought to be esteemed Violators of the Laws of Nations; and being no better than Enemies of Human Society, must be consider’d not as Kings, but as Tyrants.