Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/7

 HOUGH it is very difficult to trace the firſt rudiments of the policy and laws eſtabliſhed in England, yet we have the greateſt reaſon to believe, that the natives, even in the earlieſt ages, were divided into ſmall communities, in which a kind of democracy had the aſcendant. , on his invaſion of this iſland, ſeems to confirm this opinion in ſeveral paſſages of his commentaries, and expreſsly tells us, “The chief command and adminiſtration of the war was, by the common council, beſtowed on .” In emerging from a ſtate of rudeneſs and ſimplicity, men generally act from that ſpirit of independance to which they have been accuſtomed. It is probable, therefore, that the old inhabitants had no monarch; but, upon any extraordinary occaſion, ſummoned a national meeting and choſe a chief from among thoſe who were the moſt diſtinguiſhed for their abilities.

the Romans had withdrawn their protection, and the Britons were expoſed to the inſults of the Picts and Scots, they invited over the ;