have it. They preferve and improve their own Interests most by complaining of that, which makes most for it, that is, the extravagant Expences of the Crown, which confequently reduce it to Wants; and the supplying of those is the only Thing that renders them confiderable, though the Crown is forced to pawn all its own Jewels to them for mere Brokage and Forbearance: For they are but a kind of Scriveners that put out the Nations Money, of which they have the disposing, for all Sorts of their own Advantages, but nothing lefs than that of the Public. They feek all Occafions (as if they had not too many offered them) to pick Quarrels with the Government, as Hectors do with Chowfes, until the Business is compounded, and then they are made Friends and reconciled for ever after, and are well paid for doing that, which in all good and wife Governments they would be punished and hanged for. This is one of the most barbarous Knaveries in the World, though but a juft Judgment upon those unhappy Princes, who bring themselves into a Condition to be fo wretchedly baffled by their Subjects, to be forced to pay Fines to them for their Mifcarriages, and the ill Management of their own

Affairs; and fue out their Pardons of those very Perfons, whom the Laws of the Land deny all Pardon to, and afterwards truft and employ them; as if Sale Faith were not, like all Things elfe that are made for Sale, flight and adulterate.

They are never useful but to the best Princes, who best know how to manage them; nor neceffary to the People, but in the Government of the weakest. For when all Things are brought into Disorder, they usually restore them with greater, as Agues are cured by being turned into Fevers: for no Phyfic will work upon the Body Politic, but only fuch as is fit for Beasts to take, and Mountebanks or Farriers to give. And yet for all this they are fo necessary an Evil, that the Nation does as little know how to fubfift without them; as to endure the Inconveniencies, which they fuffer by them.

END OF VOL. I.