The centrifugal force had been too much developed, and, combining with the mutual jealousy of corporations, had often made the nation weak against a common foe.

Instead of popular rights there were state rights, for the large cities, with extensive districts and villages under their government, were rather petty states than municipalities.

Although the supreme legislative and executive functions belonged to the sovereign, yet each city made its by-laws, and possessed, beside, a body of statutes and regulations, made from time to time by its own authority and confirmed by the prince.

Thus a large portion, at least, of the nation shared practically in the legislative functions, which, technically, it did not claim; nor had the requirements of society made constant legislation so necessary, as that to exclude the people from the work was to enslave the country.

There was popular power enough to effect much good, but it was widely scattered, and, at the same time, confined in artificial forms.