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deed that he has literally cited the corrupt maxim, but he has manifestly laid
principle in the Government and Police of France, viz. the pernicious and dangerous Policy of maintaining a standing army; for which the people were compelled to provide quarters and provisions, in all the great towns and villages.
Also the abominable oppression of the Salt-Tax, whereby the poor were compelled to purchase of the King a certain quantity of Salt (whether they chose to have it or not) at an excessive price; by which, together with the assessments to pay the troops, and various other tallage rateable at the King's pleasure, the common people were reduced to extreme penury, and want of every comfort in life. And, with respect to persons of higher rank, if any Nobleman or Gentleman was accused of a crime, even by his enemies, he was liable to be dragged to a private examination, by the intermediation of messengers in the King's chamber, or elsewhere, in a private place, without seeing his accusers, (himself alone being seen); and, when the King (or perhaps his Minister) has been pleased to judge him guilty, the poor passive Subject popped into a sack, and in the night-time cast into the river by the Marshal's servants. Howsoever incredible such abominable injustice may appear to Englishmen, yet the worthy Chancellor, who wrote this account for the instruction of Edward Prince of Wales (the son of King Henry VI.) when in France, appeals to the young prince's own knowledge of the notoriety of such facts: “You have heard," (says he,) “that more men (by much) have died in this manner than by the ordinary course of justice; yet nevertheless” (says he ironically) “whatsoever hath pleased the King (according to the Civil Law ) has the force of Law. And while you have been in France, and in the neighbourhood of that Kingdom,” (continues the
