Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to give me your considered opinion concerning the interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentences?

Environed by them, while the Woodman and the Farmer worked unheeded, those two of the large jaws, and those other two of the plain and the fair faces, trod with stir enough, and carried their divine rights with a high hand.

with a high hand = haughtily, arrogantly, willfully, audaciously, boldly, authoritatively ??????????

The children of Israel went out with a high hand.

with a high hand = with power; in force

They governed the city with a high hand.

with a high hand = in an overbearing manner, arbitrarily

V.