§. 165. And therefore he that will look into the history of England will find
that prerogative was always largest in the hands of our wisest and best
princes, because the people observing the whole tendency of their actions to be
the public good, or if any human frailty or mistake (for princes are but men,
made as others) appeared in some small declinations from that end, yet it was
visible the main of their conduct tended to nothing but the care of the public.
The people, therefore, finding reason to be satisfied with these princes,
whenever they acted without, or contrary to the letter of the law, acquiesced
in what they did, and without the least complaint, let them enlarge their
prerogative as they pleased, judging rightly that they did nothing herein to
the prejudice of their laws, since they acted conformably to the foundation and
end of all laws — the public good.
