The English barons had privileges, which they knew to have been violated; they had always kept up the memory of the ancient Saxon liberty; and if they were the conquerors of Britain, they did not think that their own servitude was the just fruit of their victory.
Burke emphasizes the historical awareness of the English barons regarding their rights and liberties.
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This was reserved to our time, to quench the little glimmerings of reason which might break in upon the solid darkness of this enlightened age.
Every honest mind, every true lover of liberty and humanity, must rejoice to find that injustice is not always good policy, nor rapine the high-road to riches.
Let us imitate their caution, if we wish to deserve their fortune or to retain their bequests.
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