Page:The Maid's Tragedy Altered - Waller (1690).djvu/90

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Mr. Waller's Speech

found, that to live by one Mans Will, became the Cause of all Mens Misery: (these are his Words) concluding, That this was the Original of inventing Laws. And if we look further back, our Histories will tell us, that the Pre­lates of this Kingdom have often been the Me­diators between the King and His Subjects, to present and pray redress of their Grievances: and had reciprocally then as much Love and Reve­rence from the People.

But these Preachers, more active than their Predecessors, and wiser than the Laws, have found out a better Form of Government. The King must be a more Absolute Monarch, than any of his Predecessors; and to them he must owe it: though in the mean time, they hazard the Hearts of his People; and involve him in a Thousand Difficulties. For, suppose, this Form of Government were inconvenient; and yet this is but a Supposition, for these Five hundred Years it hath not only maintained us in safety, but made us Victorious over other Nations; but, I say, suppose they have another Idea of one more convenient: we all know how dange­rous Innovations are, though to the better, and what hazard those Princes must run, that enterprize the change of a long establisht Govern­ment. Now of all our Kings that have gone before, and of all that are to succeed in thishappy

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