This great diadge, brought on in a manner by itfelf,
iKras haftencd by a caufe which deferves to be obferved. All
the European govcrtimcnts were than ariftocratic. The
cbief of every republic was perpetuallv at war widi his ba-
rons* Being for the moft part unable to reiift them by
fetxre, he was obliged to iiave recourfe to artt£toe. That
grtilice,* which was employed to the greateft advantage,
was to protcft the fhtves againft the tyranny of their maf-
tiers, and to^tindennlne the power of the nobles, by dirni*
QtQiing th^ dependence of their fubjeds. It is not impro-
bable 9«t tlrat fome kings favoured the fpnit of liberty,^
from the only motive of general utility ; but mod of them.
were vifiUy induced to adopt this fortunate |>oh'cy». niorc
on account of their perfonal interefts, than froitv j^rj^ciptei^
0[ huioadty and benevdence.
However this may be^ the reyohition t^as fo compl^ew
that liberty became more general throughout the greattflT






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