nd the violent
currents which perpetually ran between the monarchy and the aristocracy,
and though that house might easily be brought, at a particular time,
to make the most unwarrantable concessions to either, the general
institutions of the state still remained invariable; the interests of
the several members continued on the same footing; the sword was in the
hands af the subject; and the government, though thrown into temporary
disorder, soon settled itself on its ancient foundations.

During the greater part of this reign, the king was obliged to court
popularity; and the house of commons, sensible of their own importance,
began to assume powers which had not usually been exercised by their
predecessors. In the first year of Henry, they procured a law, that no
judge, in concurring with any iniquitous measure, should be excused by
pleading the orders of the king, or even the danger of his* own life
from the menaces of the sovereign.[*] In the second year, they insisted
on maintaining the practice of not granting any supply before they
received an answer to their petitions, which was a tacit manner of
bargaining with the prince.[**] In the fifth year, they desired the king
to remove from his household four persons who had displeased them, among
whom was his own confessor, and Henry, though he told them that he knew
of no offence which these men had committed, yet, in order to gratify
them, complied with their request.[***] In the sixth year, they voted
the king supplies, but appointed treasurers of their own, to see the
money disbursed for the purposes intended, and required them to deliver
in their accounts to the house.[****] In the eighth year, they proposed,
for the regulation of the government and household, thirty important
articles, which were all agreed to; and they even obliged all the
members of council, all the judges, and all the officers of the
household, to swear to the observance of them.[*****] The abridger of
the records remarks the unusual liberties taken by the speaker and the
house during this period.[******] But the great authority of the commons
was but a temporary advantage, arising from the present situation. In a
subsequent parliament, when the speaker made his customary application
to the throne for liberty of speech, the king, having now overcome
all his domestic difficulties, plainly told him that he would have
no novelties introduced, and would enjoy his prerogatives. But on the
whole, th