the Archon) were invited to dispute their own interests, or
propose whatever they thought fit (in order to the future
government) to the council of the prytans, who, having a guard of
about two or three hundred men, lest the heat of dispute might
break the peace, had the right of moderators, and were to report
from time to time such propositions or occurrences as they
thought fit, to the Council of legislators sitting more privately
in the palace called Alma.
This was that which made the people (who were neither safely
to be admitted, nor conveniently to be excluded in the framing of
the commonwealth) verily believe, when it came forth, that it was
no other than that whereof they themselves had been the makers.
Moreover, this Council sat divers months after the publishing
and during the promulgation of the model to the people; by which
means there is scarce anything was said or written for or against
the said model but you shall have it with the next impression of
this work, by way of oration addressed to and moderated by the
prytans.
By this means the Council of legislators had their necessary
solitude and due aim in their greater work, as being acquainted
from time to time with the pulse of the people, and yet without
any manner of interruption or disturbance.
Wherefore every commonwealth in its place having been opened
by due method -- that is, first, by the people; secondly, by the
Senate; and, thirdly, by the magistracy-the Council upon mature
debate took such results or orders out of each, and out of every
part of each of them, as upon opening the same they thought fit;
which being put from time to time in writing by the clerk or
secretary, there remained no more in the conclusion, than putting
the orders so taken together, to view and examine them with a
diligent eye, that it might be clearly discovered whether they
did interfere, or could anywise come to interfere or jostle one
with the other. For as such orders jostling or coming to jostle
one another are the certain dissolution of the commonwealth, so,
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