Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-02
For tho National Era.
THE ARIsTOcRACY or ENGLAND.-NO. 4

THE ARIsTocRACY OF ENGLAED-H0 A.
The revolution of 1858 completed the aris-
tocratic policy commenced at the Rebellion,
fixed defined boundary to the royal preroga-
| tive and converted the feudal into q limited
monarchy. II declared the Crown elective,
and by the Rill of Rights secured numerous
guarantees for public liberty. This epoch will
| be ever memorable in political history; for
! though 1t established Constitution vastly in
ferior to that Of the United States, it must be
remembered what was the general state OF
Europe when these great events occurred.
There was not even the semblance Of liberty
| in the continental monarchies, and to dethrone
king was deemed as criminal az sacrilege.
No doubt the revolution was tainted by selfish
ness in the aristocracy, as will be hereafter
shown, but it conseorated the invaluable prin-
| ciple Of progress it settled points that were
doubtful, and gave fixity and precision TO laws;
if it did not put an end TO episcopacy, it extin-
gushed the spiritual pretensions OF Rome; and
though the Dissenter from Church Of England
lam remained under pains and penalties, he
was freed from foreign dictation and ultra
montana influence. In word 1t terminated
the contest between prerogative and privilege
which had ragged from the accession OF the
Stuarts, with the short interregnum of the
Protectorate. We can better appreciate this
momentous and protracted struggle by consid-
ering some antecedent circumstances, and by
sketching the opinions entertained of royalty
BY King James the First
In proclamation, issued before he convened
his first parliament, he instructed the electors
as to the qualifications of representatives they
ought to choose and reject, threatening, in
case the spirit Of his instructions were disobey-
ed, to deprive the offending cities and boroughs
of their suffrage, and fine and imprison, by his
own arbitrary will, any members Of whom he
disapproved. A book, called "Cowelps Inter
prefer was written, at the instigation Of
Archbishop Bancroft, and approved Of by the
King. 1t laid down the three following princi-
pies: First, that the King was soltttus legibus,
and not even bound by his coronation oath.
Secondly, that it was not er necessstdts that
the King should call q Parliament but be might
do it, if he pleased, by bis absolute power.
Thirdly, thatit was q favor to admit the con-
sent of his subjects in giving Subsidies The
first act of his Parliament was formally to rec
ognise his title, at which he was highly dis
pleased, as he was fully satisfied Of his Divine
right, and disdained the national sanction.
The servility of many Of the aristocracy added
to his inflated pride. In . letter from Lord
Thomas Howard to Sir John Harrington, in
which the former points out 10 the latter the
best means Of pushing his fortunes ct court, are
the following passages, illustrating the debased
character of the age: aIn your discourse, you
must not dwell too long on any one subject
and touch but lightly on religion. Do not of
yourself say This is good or bad but, If it
were your Msjesty's good opinion, | should
think so and So" He then refers to this spe-
cial point, which is supremely ridiculous to us
but all-important at that time: aThe roam
jennet on which the King rideth every day,
must not be forgotten to be praised, and the
good furniture, withal; the want Of which
attention lost great man much notice the
other day. A noble did come in q suit Of
place, and saw the King mounting the roam,
delivered his petition, which was needed and
read, but no answer was given. The noble
departed, and came to court the next day, and
got no answer again. The Lord Treasurer was
then pressed to move the Kings pleasure,
touching the petition. When the King was
asked for answer thereto, he said, in some
wrath, Shall King give heed to dirty beg
spursp Now, it fell out that the King had
him in the courtyard, but he was overcharged
ing the dressing of the horse Thus, good
knight our noble failed in his suit His
lordship, having impressed on the mind of his
correspondent the absolute necessity of paying
court to Robert Carr, the Kings favorite, and
assured him that his knowledge of ancient and
modern languages would avail him nothing,
proceeds thus in his advice. "Say that the
stars are bright jewels, fit for Carr's eyes; that
the roam jennet surpasses Bucephalus and is
worthy to be bestridden by Alexander: that
his eyes ere fire, his tail is Berenice's locks
and a few more such fances"
James was the first King Of England who as
sumed the style Of "most sacred Majesty,
and he was q perfect autocrat in religious mat
ters At the Hampton Court Conference, held
in January, 1904, at which the Calvinists and
Puritans petitioned for religious privileges, the
King made known his determination to support
Episcopacy. Sir John Harrington, who was
present at the meeting, says The King used
upbraidings, instead Of arguments and told
the petitioners that they wanted to strip Christ
again, and bid them away with their snivelling
The bishops seemed much pleased, and said
his Majesty spoke by the power of inspiration.
wist not what they mean but the spirit was
rather foul-mouthed.p The King made the
following address TO the Puritans: "If you aim
at Scotch Presbytery, it agrees as we'll with
monarchy as with God and Devil. Then Jack
and Tom and VIII and Dick shall meet, and
at their pleasure consume me and my Council
Then, turning to the prelates, he said III
once you were out and they in, | know what
would become Of my supremacy. No Bishop
no King. have learned Of what cut they have
been, who, preaching before me since my COM
ing into England, passed over with silence my
being supreme Governor in causes ecclesiasti-
CAL" Then, turning to DR.. Reynolds the lead
ing representative Of the Puritans, he sternly
said al will make your party conform them
selves or else barrie them out Of the land, or
do worsen
James carried his despotism into courts of
justice. In 1908, Fuller pleaded for two Puri-
tans, Lad and Maunscl charged with having
attended an illegal convertible. He argued for
their discharge, on the ground that the eccle-
siastical commissioners :" have not power, by
virtue of their commission, to imprison, to put
Ia the oath or oficio or To fine anv of his