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60 their nocturnal meetings, or only to try, by this odd and whimical prohibition, how far it was poible for one Man to extend his power over his fellow Creatures. 'Tis true indeed that the Englih had Parliaments before and after William the Conqueror; and they boat of them, as tho' thee aemblies then call'd Parliaments, compos'd of eccleiatical Tyrants, and of plunderers entitled Barons, had been the guardians of the publick liberty and happines. Barbarians who came from the hores of the Baltick, and ettled in the ret of Europe, brought with them the form of government call'd States or Parliaments, about which o much noie is made, and which are o little undertood. Kings indeed were not abolute in thoe days, but then the people were more wretched upon that very account, and more completely enlav'd. The Chiefs of thee avages who had laid wate France, Italy, Spain and England, made themelves Monarchs. Their generals divided among themelves the everal countries they had conquer'd, whence prung thoe