 too important to be otherwise filled, than by the Concurrence of the three Estates, by the joint and solemn Act of the PARLIAMENT or COMMUNE CONCILIUM REGNI.
These Truths are attested by many ancient Records and parliamentary Acts. And, although this most highly ennobling Custom was, at particular Times, infringed by particular Tyrants; it was inviolably adhered to by the best of our
English
Kings, and was observed even by the Worst, excepting a few Instances, till the Reign of
Harry
VII. who wished to give Consequence to the
third Estate,
by deducting from the Honours and Powers of the
Second.
In Truth, it is not to be wondered that any Kings, who were ambitious of extending their own Power, should wish to break and weaken that of the Nobility, who had distinguished themselves, by so many glorious Stands, for Maintenance of Liberty and the Constitution, more particularly during the Reigns of
John, Henry
III. the Second
Edward,
and Second
Richard.
Till
Harry
VII. the Nobles were looked upon as so many Pillars whereon the People rested their Rights. Accordingly we find that, in the Coalition or grand Compact between
John
and the collective Body of the Nation, the King and People jointly agree to confide, to the Nobles, the Superintendance of the Execution of the great Charter, with Authority to them, and their Successors, to enforce the due Performance of the Covenants therein comprized.
What an illustrating Distinction must it have been, when Patriot Excellence alone (approved before the Country in the Field or the Council) could give a Claim to Nobility, and compel, as it were, the united Estates of King, Lords, and Commons, to call a Man up to the second Seat in the Government and Steerage of the Nation.
Such a Preference must have proved an unremitting Incitement to the Cultivation and Exercises of every Virtue; and to such Exertions, Atchievements, and Acts of public Beneficence, as should draw a Man forth to so shining a Point of Light, and set him like a Gem in the Gold of the Constitution.
The Crown did not, at once, assume the independent Right of conferring Nobility.
Henry
III. first omitted to call some of the Barons to Parliament who were personally obnoxious to him, and he issued his Writs or written Letters to some Others who were not Barons, but from whom he expected greater Conformity to arbitrary Measures. These Writs, however, did not enoble the Party till he was admitted, by the second Estate, to a Seat in Parliament; neither was such Nobility, by Writ, hereditary.
To supply these Defects,
