Thomas Paine: “She is the only power who could practise the prodigal barbarity of tying men to mouths of loaded cannon and blowing them…”

The Aristocracy had hitherto opposed the despotism of the Court, and affected the language of patriotism; but it opposed it as its rival (as the English Barons opposed King John) and it now opposed the nation from the same motives.

War is their trade, plunder and revenue their objects.

In fine, society performs for itself almost everything which is ascribed to government.

The Parliaments on their part insisted that they had not only a right to remonstrate, but to reject; and on this ground they were always supported by the nation.