merous, the moſt uſeful, even the moſt virtuous, and conſequently the moſt venerable part of mankind, conſiſting of thoſe who ſtudy the laws and the ſciences; of traders, of artificers, in a word, of all who were not tyrants; that is, thoſe who are call'd the people; theſe, I ſay, were by them look'd upon as ſo many animals beneath the dignity of the human ſpecies. The Commons in thoſe ages were far from ſharing in the government, they being Villains or Peaſants whoſe labour, whoſe blood were the property of their Maſters who entitled themſelves the Nobility. The major part of men in Europe were at that time what they are to this day in ſeveral parts of the world, they were Villains or Bondſmen of Lords, that is, a kind of cattle bought and ſold with the land. Many ages paſt away before juſtice cou'd be done to human nature; before mankind were conſcious, that 'twas abominable numbers ſhould ſow, and but few reap: And was not France very happy, when the power and authority of thoſe petty Robbers was aboliſh'd by the law-
