
with it. That among other Animals, Bees and Ants had the Reputation of more
Industry, Art, and Sagacity than many of the larger Kinds. And that, as
inconsiderable as he took me to be, I hoped I might live to do his Majesty some
signal Service. The King heard me with Attention; and began to conceive a much
better Opinion of me than he had ever before. He desired I would give him as
exact an Account of the Government of England as I possibly could; because, as
fond as Princes commonly are of their own Customs (for so he conjectured of
other Monarchs by my former Discourses) he should be glad to hear of any thing
that might deserve Imitation.
    Imagine with thy self, courteous Reader, how often I then wished for the
Tongue of Demosthenes or Cicero, that might have enabled me to celebrate the
Praise of my own dear native Country in a Style equal to its Merits and
Felicity.
    I began my Discourse by informing his Majesty, that our Dominions consisted
of two Islands, which composed three mighty Kingdoms under one Sovereign,
besides our Plantations in America. I dwelt long upon the Fertility of our Soil,
and the Temperature of our Climate. I then spoke at large upon the Constitution
of an English Parliament, partly made up of an illustrious Body called the House
of Peers, Persons of the noblest Blood, and of the most ancient and ample
Patrimonies. I described that extraordinary Care always taken of their Education
in Arts and Arms, to qualify them for being Counsellors born to the King and
Kingdom; to have a Share in the Legislature, to be Members of the highest Court
of Judicature from whence there could be no Appeal; and to be Champions always
ready for the Defence of their Prince and Country by their Valour, Conduct and
Fidelity. That these were the Ornament and Bulwark of the Kingdom; worthy
Followers of their most renowned Ancestors, whose Honour had been the Reward of
their Virtue; from which their Posterity were never once known to degenerate. To
these were joined several holy Persons, as part of that Assembly, under the
Title of Bishops; whose peculiar Business it is, to take care of Religion, and
of those who instruct the People therein. These were searched and sought out
through the whole Nation, by the Prince and wisest Counsellors, among such of
the Priesthood, as were most deservedly distinguished by the Sanctity of their
Lives, and the Depth of their Erudition; who were indeed the spiritual Fathers
of the Clergy and the People.
    That, the other Part of the Parliament consisted of an Assembly called the
House of
