Note 155 — DIALOGUE V. ON THE CONSTITUTION OF THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT. (continued 2)

The reader may not be displeased to see the words of old Fortescue on this subject of the origin of the English government, which are very remarkable. In his famous book De laudibus legum Angliæ, he distinguishes between the REGAL and POLITICAL forms of government. In explaining the latter, which he gives us as the proper form of the English government, he expresseth himself in these words—“Habes instituti omnis POLITICI REGNI formam, ex quâ metiri poteris potestatem, quam rex ejus in leges ipsius aut subditos valeat exercere: ad tutelam namque legis subditorum, ac eorum corporum et bonorum rex hujusmodi erectus est, et hanc potestatem A POPULO EFFLUXAM ipse habet, quo ei non licet potestate aliâ suo populo dominari.” Cap. xiii.