Hume
historical figure · 1 work · 4 mentions · 9 anchored passages
in the texts
An Essay on the Trial by Jury
Historian quoted at length on the freedom and limited kingship of the Germanic and Saxon peoples.
Hume says:
“The Saxons, who subdued Britain, as they enjoyed great liberty in their own country, obstinately retained that invaluable possession in their new settlement;
The military despotism, which had taken place in the Roman empire, and which, previously to the irruption of those conquerors, had sunk the genius of men, and destroyed every noble principle of science and virtue, was unable to resist the vigorous efforts of a free people, and Europe, as from a new epoch, rekindled her ancient spirit, and shook off the base servitude to arbitrary will and authorit …