Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-23
OUR MONTHLY LONDON CORRESPONDENCE.



The reign Of the Tudor dynasty was an
epoch of despotism, but i led to remarkable
changes In the position of the aristocracy. 80
absolute was the sway Of Henry VIII, that
during his twenty seven years OF remorseless
tyranny, the guardians Of the public purse DIS,
PLAYED no other activity than the activity OF
obedicnco True it is that he held out the
nowerful lure of avarice to needy and covetous
courtiers and the plumber Of the Church re-
warded their devotion, and gilded their base
ness. The oonfscated lands, transferred IN zee
simnle 10 members of both Houses OF Parlla
mont secured their votes and rendered the
ROYAL prerogaiiye irresistible. The extent OF
this nluader was enormous Ia 1886, the lesser
inconsistencies, amounting to 376, were suppress
ed and their plato was appropriated 20 the
King. In 1888, the great inconsistencies shared
the same fate On the whole, GAO m0nasterles
were seized, of which 20 had mitrcd abbots,
who sat in Parliament, from which they were
now expelled. Ninety colleges, distributed in
various counties, were closed, as well as 1874
chantries and free chapels, and 10 hospitals
The aggregate revenue Of these establishments
then amounted to fl6l 900 sterling-a large
moneyed rental in those times--but it gives no
adequate idea Of the enormous wealth which
ultimately came into the hands OF the descend
ants Of the original SPECTATORS Mining indus
try had then made little progress; but at .
later date, the rich treasures OF minerals and
metals, stored mp beneath the snrfaco, yielded
and still yield princsly revenues.
Henry next suppressed the order OF the
knights Of st John of Jerusalem, otherwise
called The knights Of Malta, and confscated
their property Other colleges and hospitals
attracted the cupidity Of tho courticrs, who
cndeavored TO persuade the governors and
Al. IL IN ,dav
their revenues to the King, they receiving a
personal compensation, and eight accepted the
bride. There was q clause in all the charters
Of these foundations, that no deed Of aliena-
ton was valid, without the consent of all the
fellows: aud AS it was not 80 easy to corrupt
ell Of them as the governors and presidents,
Parliament annulled all the charters, and the
courters divided the spoil. Thus the coolest.
astical estates passed to the territorial propri-
etors and increased their opulence. The proof
still remains in the titles of many arist0cratic
domains. as Woburn Abbey, and Tavirtock
Priory, which fell tn the lot Of the Russell fam
ily and now belong to tho Dukes of Bedford.
Nor was it only in the confscation Of prop
erty that corrupt Legislature became the de-
graded instrument Of despotic monarch
Their seryility extended to matters Of religion
The Bill Of Six Articles called by the Protest.
ants the Bloody Bill, was enacted, and the
Kings proclamation received the same force as
the statutes Of Parliament; and that Assembly
60 framed the law as to make it appear as sim
ply declaratory and explanatory Of the nature
and extent Of the prerogative, which amount
ed TO surrepder Of the rights Of the Legisla-
ture. When the King in 1910, sent COM
plant to Parliament Of the heresies in the
kingdom, the Vicar General Cromwell, made
a in ov of fha
House of Peers and Henry was 30 we'll pleased
that he declared Cromwell ought to be Vicar
General Of the universe and, ON the appoint
ment of royal commission to frame reli-
gion, Parliament resolved, before even single
step was taken in the business, that whatever
articles or creed were drawn up they should
be received as the law Of the land So com
plete was the despotism Of Henry, that tho
Legislative assemblies had become mere regis
ter cfhces Of his will and pleasure, and the
people dared neither petition nor remonstrate
This fastidions and sensual tyrant passed law
condemning any woman to death who was not
q virgin Mt the date of nuptials but finally, to
make sure that he was not duped, he married
q widow, Catharine Parr.
Under the short reign Of his son and success
or, Edward vi, the Dake of Somerset, AZ Pro-
tector OF the Realm, completed the religious
govoiOttbU, Hthh kuNt lbtIty W Tile TFOtceL~.
ants but there were no guarantees for its con-
tinuance, based on constitutional principles.
The principal men in the country were engaged
in political intrigues to set aside the claims Of
Mary and Elizabeth, and settle the crown ON
the heirs Of the Duchess Of Suffolk, a sister Of
Henry VIII, who, in second nuptials, had mar
ried the Earl Of Suffolk Amidst these cabals
the real interests Of the country were over
looked.
When Mary assembled the throne the obse
quious Parliament repealed all the laws pared
IN favor OF Professionals during the life Of her
brother. Two hundred and seventy seven per-
sons were burned as heretics, and many moro
punished by fne coniscation, and imprison-
ment. Tho powerless state Of the Legislature
and Of the Judicial tribunals is evident, from
the casa Of Sir Nicolas Thogmorton, who was
tried on suspicion q having aided Hyatts con.
spiracy, and acquitted, ON which the Queen
imprisoned the jury, and fined them-some
1000, and others 60 900 Under such sys-
tep, there could Le no security for property or
personal freedom
The reign OF Elizsbeth, glorious by the
naval victory over the Armada, the circumnay.
igation Of the globe by Drake, and the coIoni
zation Of trsnssaarine possessions was az des.
potic as that q her tyrannical father. Parlia-
ment Vas debased its humble, nay, abject re-
monstrances were fcorned it's voice was mere
" consultative, and the fear Of offending the
Queen paralyzed action. Two facts suffice to
pant the spirit Of the epoch. Wentworth was
sent 20 the Tower for having asked if the Par
lament had the right Of delibsrafing in pri-
vate. and If the Privy Council could change the
laws A Star Chamber was established ; il was
tribunal Of ultimate appeal dependent on the
Court
During the whole period Of the Tudor dy-
nasty, the Government Of England must he
considered as practically an absolute Govern
rnent; for though The forms Of freedom remain
ed the substance had disappeared The nobIi.
~ we're bribed into submission, and they sub.
mitted to any indieuity, lest resistance might
deprive 81 the church lands 30 newly acquired;
the people feared tho return of Papal power
more Than the dsspotsm Of the throne. and
were grateful to one tyrant for having relieved
Tier, f~nr,. x..cfh.~ n..t tl,...~i p.-Iu.