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10. that Kings are vested with this Power for the most part, as well as the supreme Magistrate, whatever He be called, in inferior States, From hence it may be concluded plausibly enough to impose, that there is a deficiency of Power in our Kings by the constitution of the Monarchy: but the very example I have quoted, that of Queen Elizabeth, will demonstrate the contrary. No Prince could be less controlled than She was in the exercise of Her Power whilst She sate on this throne, and She might have said very justly of Her Kingdom, what Harry the fourth said to Catherine of Medicis of La Rochelle which was His place of arms & where He then resided, underline I do whatever I desire at La Rochelle, because I desire nothing that is unreasonable nor against the publick good. /underline A bad Prince may be restrained, and it is fit he should be so, by the British Constitution; A good Prince can never be embarrassed much less distressed by the natural effects of it.

However absolute Pewer has been acquired, it must be maintained by Force, which is an expedient always hateful to the People, and therefore not always safe for the Prince. Popularity is to Him who has Talents to acquire it, a safer & more agreeable, and a more effectual expedient to enable Him to govern virtually if not nominally by will, and to write in Himself in that manner the absolute Power which is divided in our Constitution between the King, the Lords and the Commons.

There is an Anecdote in Kemophon’s Life of Cyrus worthy to be quoted in favour of Popularity. Creesus had immense treasures in his coffers, and Cyrus, who conquered Him afterwards and resided then at his court, was despised for his Poverty; the Persian maintained that he was not less rich than the King of Lydia, but that his Treasures were to be found in the purses of his